Awesome !!!

3 people on here have really influenced me in doing just that, yourself being one of them, RW, and catt, all 3 of you I have respect for when I think of the advice you all have so willingly given over the years.

Thanx Wayne !!!

Someday I hope to get the chance to meet up with you, who knows maybe even get a line wet with you too.

Until then, Good luck and be safe !!!

Wayne, in another post and a different forum I think, you said that using side imaging sonar was like "sight fishing" for you implying that you actually see dots on your sonar that represent fish. But just now, you say that you see structure ("where the fish are---points, creeks, humps, steep drops, etc."). So which is it? I'd like to know because I have a Humminbird 898c SI installed and I see a lot of structure, but rarely (almost never) fish. Am I doing something wrong?

hey guys first post pretty new to the area of northern VA got out and fished the shore of the upper potomac on the va/md border active day couple decent fish lots of missed hooksets trying to get used to fishing rivers but happy to land a few fish.

Wayne, in another post and a different forum I think, you said that using side imaging sonar was like "sight fishing" for you implying that you actually see dots on your sonar that represent fish. But just now, you say that you see structure ("where the fish are---points, creeks, humps, steep drops, etc."). So which is it? I'd like to know because I have a Humminbird 898c SI installed and I see a lot of structure, but rarely (almost never) fish. Am I doing something wrong?

BOTH, my replies are based on the topic and the perceived skill level of those participating.

If you want to see fish, you have to set the unit to display them the best.

First of all consider the size of the fish in relation to the SI Range setting. When using a 100' range in 20' of water, that is 240' displayed on that tiny screen. A 12' fish is not going to be noticeable. A general "rule of thumb" to see fish is set the SI range to three times the depth unless the water is less than10' deep, then set it to a long cast.

Turn off the left side digital readouts to get full screen width SI so stuff will look larger.

Use the Enhance Sharpness setting to highlight the fish--Med or Low works the best without getting the image too grainy looking. Set the screen scroll speed to the GPS speed.

You can use a faster screen scroll speed to make returns appear larger also and stretch a brush pile or tree to see inside the limbs better.

Use a SI color that you can see the best according to the ambient light. I change often during the day. Each person has different likes for color. Adjust the Sensitivity to get the best images all the time don't just "set it and forget it".

All the settings those units have are for a reason--to allow you to get the best images for any condition.

This is shad and crappie with 4 bass on the bottom (right side). How do it know what they are? I know the lake and I caught several crappie and two of the bass after taking this screen shot.

Thanks Wayne P. for the info. I am still entry-level with my sonars. I'm also stuck fishing along the shore.

eddienova and i ventured out to fountain head yesterday morning.. i caught 2 nice ones weight in at 3.1 and 3.12.. bait fish were schooling. and i caught these 2 on a spinner with a white and red skirt

hey guys first post pretty new to the area of northern VA got out and fished the shore of the upper potomac on the va/md border active day couple decent fish lots of missed hooksets trying to get used to fishing rivers but happy to land a few fish.

Welcome to the forum !!!

First post and showing us some nice fish, how cool is that !!!

Congrats on the fishing and thanx for sharing your catch with us, we look forward to seeing and hearing more from you hooper12 !!!!

eddienova and i ventured out to fountain head yesterday morning.. i caught 2 nice ones weight in at 3.1 and 3.12.. bait fish were schooling. and i caught these 2 on a spinner with a white and red skirt

Nice job guys !!!

Good looking fish you got there !!!

I kayak fish Riverbend about x2 a week. The water is up a bit, grass beds are breaking up, and water temp is back down.

Have been out to Audubon x2 in the past 2 weeks in late afternoon/evening on sunny-overcast days. Been tossing a green and rust colored 6" senko wacky and some weighted creature baits under docks. Missed 2 largger 3-4lber by the dam from Thoreau on the senko. Lots of small 6-9" caught on top of the water feeding on big schools of bait fish, mainly in the back part of the lake by the creek. My buddy pulled up a huge ~18" diameter snapping turtle from under a dock on a senko.

I plan on fishing Audubon Friday AM from my kayak. Will update with catch info.

Whoo! it's been a while since i've been on, probably won't be fishing until after hunting season, got all the hunting stuff out and i'm ready to go! Good luck to all you hunting season fishermen!

Whoo! it's been a while since i've been on, probably won't be fishing until after hunting season, got all the hunting stuff out and i'm ready to go! Good luck to all you hunting season fishermen!

Same here lol. First hunting year and got everything I needed.

I did attend the meet and greet last Saturday and had a blast. I will try to get out tomorrow on the Rappahannock river and give my motor finally a try.

I have this plan to do both hunt and fish. Might not sleep for a few months but I am going to try it. Fortunately... most of my hunting is withing 1/2 mile of my house.

I am in the same boat as you Zoff.

Although I need only to walk off my front porch and across the field.

But honestly I would rather be fishing.

Endless glad to hear you had a good time buddy !!!

This is your first hunting year please be careful and enjoy !!!!

Went to the Rappahannock river today to try out my motor and do some fishing. The water temp was 71 and I fished from 7:30 to 11. I landed 3 bass but only took pictures of two.

Great fish there, endless.

I went to Smith Mt. today with hokiebass804 today. Great day but nothing big. The pic is the biggest we got in the livewell. There was one bigger but, after getting it off the hook, I dropped it and it flip-flopped off the boat.

How many you get for the day? Wow they tell me to smile lol.

How many you get for the day?

I think it was 8 total and we worked for those 8. Took some time to figure out the bite and it turned out to be craws in the deep grass.

Wow they tell me to smile lol.

What? That's a smile... sorta... kinda... something like one.

I think it was 8 total and we worked for those 8. Took some time to figure out the bite and it turned out to be craws in the deep grass.

What? That's a smile... sorta... kinda... something like one.

don't listen to him endless he told me only two on the phone LOL !!!

Just kidding !!!

Seriously though nice job guys those are some really good looking fish !!!!

he told me only two on the phone LOL !!!

OK...OK... it was actually 142 but I didn't want you guys to be jealous.

OK...OK... it was actually 142 but I didn't want you guys to be jealous.

WHOA REALLY?? LOL

WHOA REALLY?? LOL

hehehehehe

Your quite the prankster huh !!

Hey nice job hanging in there and getting them figured out you two !!!!

im thinking i should probably try and get to SML one more time this year atleast. i havent fished but an hour at a pond since i last went to SML back at 4th of July...

i do got a trip planned to go out on the chesapeake bay in late october with some people from work, cant wait for that

Went out on saturday before the cold front hit on sunday and they were really aggressive. Caught 8+ fish within a few hours. Found a few schools of bait fish and caught 3 bass off one school with a lake fork magic shad (perfect for fall fishing). And then moved off of the schools to find some bigger bass on some docks with 12" worms and got a 5-6 pounder, and a few others in the 3 pound range.