You have a larger picture of it?

You have a larger picture of it?

Yes, but my computer that has the photos is being worked on. I'll post it when I get it back.

Thanks. Did you have any success with weedless cirle hooks wacky style out there? I see you used trick worms...love those. Used bubblegum weightless out the Chick last weekend...deadly.

I went for my first time last weekend only ran up on one stump. Just take your time it wasnt to bad

they didnt seem to want to cooperate today fished about every thing in the boat, channel edges on the upper end and laydowns in deeper water mostly what we fished. talked to one of the regs on the upper end said he caught a handfull before 6:30 but the bite died off after the sun. even tried to catch some beding bluegill on a fly rod but they just seemed complacent. The temp is supposed to drop tonight so that might help for the week end

good fishing to you

Thanks. Did you have any success with weedless cirle hooks wacky style out there? I see you used trick worms...love those. Used bubblegum weightless out the Chick last weekend...deadly.

Never seen or heard of a weedless Circle hook. I don't use Circle hooks unless I don't want to catch any.

Gamakatsu has a Weedless Finesse Wide Gap hook with a flimsy plastic weed guard and they can't handle a big bass in heavy cover. The hook point is too close to the hook eye on those with or without the weedguard which causes missed hooksets.

S13john, I catch the most during mid day like around 10:00 to 3:00

Never seen or heard of a weedless Circle hook. I don't use Circle hooks unless I don't want to catch any.

Gamakatsu has a Weedless Finesse Wide Gap hook with a flimsy plastic weed guard and they can't handle a big bass in heavy cover. The hook point is too close to the hook eye on those with or without the weedguard which causes missed hooksets.

S13john, I catch the most during mid day like around 10:00 to 3:00

Yes, those are the hooks I'm referring to. Brought those things a few years ago, and never used them. Not too often that I fish near heavy structure and need a weedless finesse wide gap hook. I used the finesse hooks (without weedguard) for drop shots, do you think that's a bad choice for that same reason, you mentioned above?

Yes, those are the hooks I'm referring to. Brought those things a few years ago, and never used them. Not too often that I fish near heavy structure and need a weedless finesse wide gap hook. I used the finesse hooks (without weedguard) for drop shots, do you think that's a bad choice for that same reason, you mentioned above?

IMHO, the hook shank is too short on the finesse wide gap hooks to get a high percentage of hookups when drop shotting.

Just maybe that the reason for little success I've had drop shoting. Try using a EWG 3/0 hook t-rigged.

Just maybe that the reason for little success I've had drop shoting. Try using a EWG 3/0 hook t-rigged.

If you want more "reach" with the hook for large baits, use a straight shank worm hook.

Most dropshotters use an Octopus hook or a slightly longer shank version of it that is marketed as a dropshot hook. That is for nose hooking the bait.

Went on BPS site...how would you rate the Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook or the Gamakatsu Octopus Hooks? I've always nose hook the bait, never tried using t-rigged plastic.

If you are having trouble catching bass at Briery Lake, just keep on fishing. I live like 10 minutes down 15 toward Keysville and I've been fishing there a lot. I've had my days where you don't catch hardly anything, and then the other days where you find that one location and catch 22! I've seen a 29" bass come out of there so keep your hopes up! There are big bass in that lake, and always have been.

Spent 7 hours on the lake on Thursday.

Really, really worked it from the main ramp to the upper shallow end.

Threw my arm off and got one 3lb fish...rough day I know....here's why

I'm writing though. My friend I fished many colors, sizes ect. on the bottom, he

had nothing I had the one.

He put on an old, beat up bass color super fluke and literally Wham!! He hooked up twice

in 20 minutes,on the drop, 2 fish that were 14 to 16 inches, it got nailed another 3 to 5 times

and was finally torn in half. It was the only fluke style, jerk bait we had.

So here is my question, in a lake like Briery, where we know they are there, if the bite is

not happening on the bottom, does it stand to reason that they are definitely suspended? Also,

do the fish suspend at varied depths for varied reasons i.e bright sun, heat, high/low front?

Can someone in a basic boat with no electronics find the thermocline?

For all of its incredible potential it seems that the standard school of thought is that Briery

is actually a fairly tough lake, most of the time (local legends excluded) anyone here have any

stories or suggestions regarding fishing a suspended pattern? How and what?

went today from 5-9:30 in the evening. i had some good bites but lost them in cover. my buddy caught probably 6 and missed that many more fishing a spook and one on a trick worm. nothing with too much size but it was a good evening fishing.

Spent 7 hours on the lake on Thursday.

Really, really worked it from the main ramp to the upper shallow end.

Threw my arm off and got one 3lb fish...rough day I know....here's why

I'm writing though. My friend I fished many colors, sizes ect. on the bottom, he

had nothing I had the one.

He put on an old, beat up bass color super fluke and literally Wham!! He hooked up twice

in 20 minutes,on the drop, 2 fish that were 14 to 16 inches, it got nailed another 3 to 5 times

and was finally torn in half. It was the only fluke style, jerk bait we had.

So here is my question, in a lake like Briery, where we know they are there, if the bite is

not happening on the bottom, does it stand to reason that they are definitely suspended? Also,

do the fish suspend at varied depths for varied reasons i.e bright sun, heat, high/low front?

Can someone in a basic boat with no electronics find the thermocline?

For all of its incredible potential it seems that the standard school of thought is that Briery

is actually a fairly tough lake, most of the time (local legends excluded) anyone here have any

stories or suggestions regarding fishing a suspended pattern? How and what?

Yes, you can find the thermocline depth with a remote temp sensor thermometer. I use one to verify what looks like a thermocline on my electronics (plankton will look like the thermocline sometimes).

As far as presentations, any slow falling plastic lures will work great. You just have to be patient enough to use them in the whole water column. I caught 41 bass there yesterday and the most productive presentation was my avatar.

For productive locations, the prominent bottom features are the key to finding were they are (steep drops like creek channel edges and points are the most prominent). Finding those without electronics is as easy as paying attention to how long it takes a weighted lure (Tx. Rig or jig)to hit the bottom with several casts in a fan pattern.

For a hint of the thermocline in the summer, leave a jig or Tx rig on the bottom for about 30 seconds when you throw into what seems like deep water. When you reel it in, feel the lure, and if it feels cold, you are fishing too deep. Below the thermocline the water temp is in the 50's when the surface water temp is higher than about 85 degrees. A thermometer is an inexpensive instrument that will give you an idea of what is going on below.

Went on BPS site...how would you rate the Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook or the Gamakatsu Octopus Hooks? I've always nose hook the bait, never tried using t-rigged plastic.

That hook is better for the presentaion than the octopus hook ( longer shank )

For a hint of the thermocline in the summer, leave a jig or Tx rig on the bottom for about 30 seconds when you throw into what seems like deep water. When you reel it in, feel the lure, and if it feels cold, you are fishing too deep. Below the thermocline the water temp is in the 50's when the surface water temp is higher than about 85 degrees. A thermometer is an inexpensive instrument that will give you an idea of what is going on below.

Thanks wayne..... that is a great post and a really good idea.

yea who would have thought to use a thermometer when fishing???

yea who would have thought to use a thermometer when fishing???

I have a couple of versions of this Minn Kota. The ones I have come with 25' cords and will work for most small lakes in Va.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Minn-Kota174-Water-Temperature-Sensor/733944.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dminn%2Btemp%2Bsensor%26x%3D24%26y%3D9&Ntt=minn+temp+sensor

I also have a 50' cord model by another company that is no longer made.

Looking to hit Briery Creek for the first time and wanted to run this issue past anglers more experienced with this water. I fish out of an 11 foot inflatable, the SeaEagle 9, and was obviously a bit concerned with having the amount of trees/stumps that Briery has. While it is constructed out of a vinyl hybrid that's extremely durable (its rated for class 3 rapids), you can understand my concern with the type of vessel. Opinions? Worth going out there? or not without an experienced Briery angler?

Also, for the first time out I saw some concerns earlier in this thread with outboards. First time out, the 4 HP Outboard or rely on the trolling?

I wouldn't want to take an inflatable on that lake. Deflation is just about a sure thing at any speed.

Rapids don't have wooden pointed thingys like Briery has.

finally caught a decent one out here thanks to everyone I finally caught a decent one! best advice do your homework and apply diffrent technics

I'll finally make it out there for the first time this Friday; trying to do my homework for the past few days.

I'll finally make it out there for the first time this Friday; trying to do my homework for the past few days.

I just got back to this site after some screwed up AOL connections.

I fished there Friday 6/24--Slow day, only 38 bass.

I just got back to this site after some screwed up AOL connections.

I fished there Friday 6/24--Slow day, only 38 bass.

LOL...YOU ARE TOO MUCH !!!

I hope I do half that good when I get there in August or September Ha Ha I would consider that a good day !!!