BrianinMD

Nice job!!!! Out of curiousity where did you do your tourney at? The weekend series and my club went out of Smallwood on saturday.

Grass tends to get into the water intake cutting off water flow. Can get rather annoying.

JamesD, after you see a friend go thru treatments for skin cancer or bury someone you will understand. I see in your profile you are young, as you gain experience in life you will learn to take care of yourself.

I recently purchased the buff version, been very happy with it.

If its ones made out of the elaztec material the are notoriously hard to put on the screw type holders, its not you just the nature of the material.

There are some clubs who do tourney's for non bass boats, but I don't think very many. Honestly I would join into a club as a co-angler get some experience and when you do get your bass boat you are ready to go.

Yes, but be very careful if its a prop motor. There are places the water gets shallow with large rocks. I see people out with prop motors there, just be careful.

Bill, we put in at Edwards Ferry, fished a little just downstream from the ramp but most of the time we ran up river just below Whites Ferry and drifted. Had a pretty good day at Black Hills yesterday, fished with Hellbenderman, we both got a couple over 4 pounds and a few 3 pounders mixed in. Never really got on a hot bite but stayed consistant with bites throughout the day. Doubt I will make it out today, need to get a few things done around the house. But hopefully at least one or two days after work this week I will get out.

Weekend is off to a great start, hit the upper potomac yesterday after work. Lost track of how many smallies we caught. Best part was the popper bite, some outstanding strikes. Today off to black hills to hopefully find some willing largemouth.

I haven't checked the weather but will be going out after work next week a few days. Hopefully catch a decent bite as light fades.

Ken, I am still trying to find an empty backseat for Sunday. Being Father's Day it is a little harder, if I don't find a ride I will join you.

Welcome Mike Yeah, Deep Creek got tough after the fish kill a couple years ago. I have not been up there this year but my club had a tourney up there and things seemed to be better. Hopefully it continues to improve its a beautiful lake, but I won't go up there during summer. Going out Saturday with a Hellbenderman at Black Hills, wife and kid out out of town. Hopefully find someone to fish with Sunday, so far no luck.

Allen, I remember seeing your boat. I was in the blue Tracker. We came in at 2:30, when we got to the ramp I looked back towards main lake and couldn't believe how many boats were out there. The place was just packed, just made a difficult day fishing harder when trying to find productive water. Our next tourney will be the same most likely. Fishing out of Smallwood on the 23rd, just happens to be the same day as the Bassmaster Weekend series at Smallwood.

Yeah the weights were down from last year, not sure why. Do not remember ever seeing so many boats on bh at one time. The club had 19 but there were a lot of other boats out too.

For spinning go with Ultra-Soft, regular works very well but Ultra-Soft is a little more manageable on spinning gear.

Only to know is to use electronics to find the thermocline, if one exist. Otherwise its trial and error, not every body of water will be the same.

The hookset while punching, or fishing heavy cover in general is to not only to get the hook into the fish but to "lift" and "seperate" the fish from the cover before it gets wrapped in it. Get that fish heading towards you and keep the pressure on until its at the boat.

I will be at Black Lake with a few guys from club the last full week of July. Great place to fish!

A strong hookset is a definite advantage, larger diameter hooks require more force, and trying to get the fish turned/heading towards you as quickly as possible.

Great news, CONGRATS!!!!!!

Ken, I never saw a catfish that big come out of BH. I know it wasn't what you were going for but nice catch! Have a tourney there this saturday, will be interesting to see now much weight it will take to win it. I am predicting 22 pounds for boaters 16 pounds for co-anglers.

Set the hook anytime you feel a bite, you cannot tell by what you feel. Sometime of my biggest bass have been caught on those little tick tick tick bites. My biggest tourney fish this year so far, 5lb 10oz, was like that. Gave a half hearted hook set because I thought it was a bluegill. Luckily it was a light wire hook so it penetrated anyway.

Ordered a buff a few days ago, looking for some decent long sleeve UV shirts which are not to expensive. Anyone got suggestions.

Everyones fine here, so far they have confirmed 7 tornados in MD. 3 of them were in the county I live and work in. Had to shelter in place for awhile at work for one that was couple miles away, the 3 in our county were all with 15 minute drive from us.

If you are punching the cover is very think and line visibility should not be an issue. I would forget the leader and stick with straight braid, you need the strenght and an extra knot is just another weak link.