Nine seems really long to me too, but it's the only MH available in two-pieces, so it came into consideration. I prefer 1-piece, but they can be difficult to get around cause I have a small car.  There's a 7-ft MH and 7-ft H 1-piece.. I take it the MH is all that's necessary? I might be overestimating the strength of these fish, cause the Ugly Stik is a hard gauge (being as flexible as it is). But at least ONE of the bass that leapt into the air was the size of my torso (I'm a 5'6" Asian man, 155lbs, former competitive powerlifter, so I have some 'bulk' to me, but my waist--as in around my stomach beneath my ribcage, not my hips--is only 28" around). So, as far as torso length and width goes, I'm probably a lot smaller than most of you. haha. My guess is that it was 9-10lbs and probably only half or 60% the size of your average white male's torso ('average' being the arbitrarily set metrics of 5'9" in height and 185lbs).

Most of the other fish I saw taking topwater weren't quite as big as that one, but larger than I've ever seen a smallmouth get. My guess is that they were 6-7lbs.

Thanks a lot for the advice. And letting me know it's okay to use an anchor. I don't know why it wouldn't be, but wondered if the boat didn't have one because of like.. ecological damage or something.

It's starting to get good out a little deeper! 

Very sad that this thread has regressed to 4 pages back!!! I have been absent from BR for a while but glad to say the res is fishing very well through this heat and those that want to figure out the deep bite, now is the time!! 

Good to hear!  I've been on the rez a lot less this year since I've been in my yak nearly full time.  I have gone out of BRM a couple times and paddled from Fountainhead and Lake Ridge once each.  Nothing to brag about, I'm afraid.  Early morning bank fish and a few deeper shakey/trig, but I haven't tried deep carolina dragging from the yak yet. 

   I must admit that last time or two out of BRM, I had a very hard time finding fish after the early bite.  I'd think the deeper channels would be best, but the deep ones have eluded me this year.  I can usually find some around the parks, though, since I know those contours a lot better.

Yesterday a friend and i caught 1 keeper each...tough fishing.

It's thought to find them randomly, better chance of finding feeders with a graph for sure!!

Not to brag but my partner and I have won the last two tournaments out there with 28 and 24 pounds. The 28 pound day had one close to 7 and another over 6. Bot days had over 20 keepers each day. They will eat if you know how to look for them deep. The last few years we were getting smoked during the summer and made a vow to teach myself how to find them when it's hot!!

I will sheepishly admit that I was using a graph when I was having trouble finding fish...:)

Chop, it's only taken 30 or so years to figure out what little I actually know about the rez!!!

I wish I knew how to fish deep, even shallow at times lol.... Can't really figure them out and just have to try my best with the small fishfinder I have. 

Been doing pretty well on the D/S

i'm playing hookie and getting out there on friday.  last time out (about a month ago) caught 5 at a few spots (relatively shallow - probably no deeper than 10ft) just above FH.  biggest went 4ish and the smallest was 1.5ish.  It was a stringer I'd take any day of the d**n week out on the Potomac (but pretty average on the rez)!  conditions were a little better for a shallower bite that day though....good cloud cover.

Spent most of Friday trolling down out of Fountainhead.  One short fish up until 5:30 PM when someone flicked a switch.   Last hour on the water was good - quite a few; all on 7 in worms flipped towards cover and/or dragged slowly down ledges.  Crazy the way it went from dead to great.

Went out yesterday morning from about 7-11:30.  Best five went around 12#.  Busy morning out there but no one in my favorite spots right there around fountainhead.  saw a lot of boats on PW side but not many on Fairfax county side (they may have been catching them too on PW side, but that's not where i was).  I didn't get bit until about 8:30 and then it turned on a little bit.  a couple well over 3# and the rest were in the 1.5-2.5 range.  Everything came off of submerged cover in i'd say 6-10 foot of water dragging craw type baits (black and blues).  water was slightly stained and water level is LOW.  my favorite time to fish the rez is right around the corner!

Thanks for the report.  I went down from BRM on Saturday at dawn.  Fish were scattered to say the least.  Got a few up to 3, but nothing worth measuring/weighing/photo-ing.  I did get taken for a ride again by a big 'ol flathead....only about a third as big as last one, but always exciting in a kayak.

Has anyone seen the res in the last day or two who might be able to tell me if it is worth fishing at all tomorrow? I called Fountainhead and they said it was very muddy so I am thinking about launching at Lake Ridge if it isnt a total mess down there.

Good luck.  Take a chatterbait...or two.  I went out at Pohick today and that was muddy, but they found the chatterbait.  Not like the Rez is ever very clear anyway.   I'm debating where to go, too.   Prob Fountainhead or BRM.  Let us know how you do.

Hitting the Rez tomorrow with a friend. Launching out of Foutainhead in my Stratos and fishing with my trolling motor unless the water is muddy in which case I will launch from Lake Ridge for the first time. Last two times out i have done well and got into a good deep crankbait bite the last time. Hope the cold front doesn't shut them all off tomorrow...

 

Anyone else gonna be out there?

Be careful, supposed to be very windy and right there at FH is so open all it does is rip through there! I would recommend you drop in at Lakeridge. A little more sheltered and there are plenty of options in that creek and much easier to get to the Fairfax county side with the wind!! Good luck and let us know how you do!!

I got scared (or smart?) and didn't go out at all Saturday...was tough because the wife was out busy....sad.

Did go yesterday.  Fished from Fountainhead up past Ryan's Dam a ways and back.  Only five bass, all decent but one.  Every one on a chatterbait.  Kept trying to force other stuff, but nothing else worked for me.  My wife did get one on a lipless, however.  Seemed like good conditions for a blade bait.  First cast I landed a huge carp.  Hooked in the mouth.  I've never caught a carp that wasn't snagged before.  Three casts later, I landed an even huger flathead.  Pulled that little jon boat a good ways...lol.  That makes four flathead this year between 15 and 40 pounds; every one on something different.  Also caught a crappie on the blade bait before losing it in submerged woods. 

I launched from Fountainhead on Saturday morning having not seen quanjig's post in time. The wind was insane. Burned through my TM batteries and had to idle back to the ramp at the end of the day. Caught a total of 3 in the backs of creeks on a chatterbait, biggest was 16". Missed a real nice one that I saw come out of a tree and crush it. 

Sorry you didn't see that in time!! 

We threw a big fish tournament Sunday. Surprised at the turn out, we had 15 guys show up that wanted to play!!

My 4 pounder won with a 3-12 second place!! It was a tough day as most of the guys left early. I always stay till the end and bring in my best fish no matter what, you never know, right!!

Nice work! Did you find them in the backs of creeks?

Haven't been able to find any big fish in the backs yet. Mostly main lake still or the first third of the big creeks. Main lake guts and cuts will hold fish right now as well!!

Thanks! I am hoping to launch out of Lake Ridge for the first time on Sunday and I will try to hit main lake spots and the first third of the creeks.

Fished Sunday out of Lake Ridge and had a decent but relatively slow day. We spent too much time in creeks and caught about 8 fish total with the biggest at 2-12 and another at 2-9. Found fish in the reeds on secondary points, on main lake points, and on main lake wood. Green pumpkin creature baits were our main producer, also caught fish on an underspin with white fluke and a small swimbait on a slider head. Couldn't buy a bite on a crank or chatter but the water was really calm most of the day which probably played a big factor.