A.Do?

I think if you talk to the ranger at leesylvania you can get a night permit. I remember them telling us that when we got our year launch pass.

Nice Job Kevin! Looks like I really need to try those slims you keep telling me about! Keep it up!

congrats on the upcoming poop factory. too bad it's a monday. those are the only days i really have to be at work.

Nice! Upper Potomac is definitely becoming one of my new favorites!

Thanks Nitro but I'm assuming this is for lures like rage toads? Trying to see how that works on a SPRO and can't figure it out :-/ ... Mepps#3, Thanks buddy! I just got the pix and was amazed at how dark it really was out there. Let me know when you're free again so we can try topwater without the lightning. ;D

Beautiful fish! Was the fight any different than the bass we have here at home? Congrats again on the great fishing days!

I think Paul's already a pro at that place! I don't remember the last time I've heard/seen him fish there and not pull out atleast a 4lber. Those fish are beautiful, especially compared to that nasty one eyed smallie you caught. Almost threw up my lunch looking at that thing. Paul, I'll have you know I'm having an awesome day at work. : ok fine, not really. >

LOL, YOU JERK! I'm glad you're taking advantage of me not being able to make it out :'(. Very nice set of bass. I'll talk to you about getting together next week. I need some tips in fishing deep water too, but I guess that will be for another outting. Great job out there! On a side note, I thought Plan B moved? Did he just give you tips or was he fishing too?

Awesome quote.

I've tried these on a few outtings with a few blowups. Someone told me it doesn't matter if they run upside down but it happens to me often and it just irks me I have them in watermelon/red and green/white with the later being the only one I've had any success with. Do you just retrieve fast enough for the legs to kick or do you vary it?

71Rig, I think you'll be fine as long as you're not careless. I've seen a few "regular" bass boats out there and quite a few jons. Wouldn't hurt to check current gauge height before you headed out there either.

Thanks for the tips, I'll keep at it and try to pause before setting the hook. I have started to carry multiple rods, usually a spinning and a baitcaster, but that day I had to pack light. This was two sundays ago during the storms (explains the trash bag poncho) I promised a friend that we'd go out and try topwater in the evening so we did. I only had my baitcaster but next time I'll give that a shot. Thanks!

Thanks RW! I tried to refrain from setting the hook until I felt pressure on my rod but sometimes it was too hard to resist! There were also a lot of instances where the fish would strike once, I would pause then continue the retrieve, and the fish wouldn't hit it again.

Went out with some friends last weekend to a local pond during the evening and had a blast on top water. I was throwing a black SPRO frog and I missed soooo many strikes I started to doubt the way I was working them. I tried chugging and walking them with the best results coming from starting the retrieve right when the lure hit the water. This was the biggest of them, coming close to 3lbs and my biggest fish on topwater yet! ;D A few questions: I've heard of people putting trailer hooks on their frogs but does this get hung up a lot? Is it also okay to not use a leader for top water lures and tie directly to braid?

Was this in the shade? I've been catching lots of bass shallow but usually in the shade. If I do catch them shallow and in the sun, they're usually not keeper size.

Did you go to the Rapidan? If so, did you go upstream past the bridge or downstream? Yes we did, we went up river. We got shoulder deep in some water. If we were so tired we would have fished it more and better. The heat was killlller.

woops, my mistake (obvious beginner here). My point is that they ask you to keep bass of certain size.

It was rough, but I was able to atleast get one keeper. Good seeing everyone again. After Simon (my badluck charm, just kidding! ) left the wade I picked the right fly to use and started hooking up with panfish left and right. Ended day with a smallie, a LMB, a lot of bluegill, and a rockbass. Saw a HUGGGGGGGE smallie (22"+) cruising at this one spot but didn't have the tackle to throw a tube and try and hook up with her! DDDDDDDDAAAARN! I'll post the pic up of my friend's 2lb smallie later. Too many people (at the reservoir and the river) for me to really enjoy myself. I think I'm going to stick to fishing on weekdays at places where i know there will be a lot of people. Good seing you buddy! That's why the reservoir promotes anglers to keep slot fish. They really want it to be a trophy bass fishery. This was strike two for me so unless I figure out the secret and how to use it, I probably won't be back anytime soon.

DAN!!!! If weather permits, we're going to wade the Rapidan afterwards to cool down. You down? Double header.

Put me down as Andrew +2

Wayne, do you have any idea what size jon they rent out? I was trying to find out if they rented both 3-man and 4-man jons or just one of the two. Thanks!

HAHA nice fish! I'd rather be skunked than have my GF have a bad time. If she has a good time she'll understand why I love it so much!! Plus it'd make her want to come fishing with me more and she wouldn't be able to pull the "you're not spending time with me!" card. Sorry just venting Your brother's pose is priceless. I might have to do something to top it on my next outting. 8-)

OOOOOOOOOOOh walleye!!!! I hope I have better luck this time than I did the first time.

Dan, $5/hr, $15 min, $40 max. And as an FYI, just found out the park opens at 6:00AM! Sorry for the bad info over the phone Rob!