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Winter patterns…slow and slower! Keep baits in one spot for as long as
you can. Find fish faster with Silver Buddy lures. Can't find them? Try the new
ones from PoorBoysBaits.com. Once you learn slow, truly learn slow, then every
other speed is easy! If you can catch fish now, you will never have any trouble
getting fish in other seasons! This time of the year will give you a great understanding
of bass fishing. Water temps have fallen into the low to mid 40's.
Spinning reels are good for all techniques this time of the year and actually
keep your hands warmer than palming a bait caster all day! I really like the
Quantum Energy reels! Great drags, magnetic bail “spring”, titanium
bail wire and a unique system for the line to be trapped” in place to avoid
tangling around the bail arm. I have been demonstrating these at the show and
everyone has been impressed! For line, I downsize to 6-pound test! Try the new
Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon line. You are fishing deeper and further away from
the boat, the lower stretch better sensitivity and thinner diameter will help
you feel the bite, set the hook and keep the fish from feeling you!
There are many techniques I like this time of the year. I will be detailing all
of them at the Baltimore Boat Show at the Convention Center…January 25-27!
I will be conducting seminars every day and just hanging out with everyone! Mann's
Hardnose soft plastics, Berkley Fireline, Stren 100% Fluorocarbon line, and new
Berkley MAXX line, BoatUS hats lanyards and no-stink towels, Grabber warmers.
New Jann's Netcraft catalogs, and REGISTRATION forms for the 12th annual St Jude
Potomac Teams Tournament! The schedule for me is: Friday NOON, 3pm, 6pm, Saturday
11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm, Sunday 11am, 2pm, 5pm. Each of my seminars is open for questions.
Topics include First time fisherman, Seasonal Patterns: Springtime, Post spawn,
Summer Fall, winter and rods, reel, line forum. BUT, I'll be at the show all
day at the TAKE ME FISHING CENTER…look for me!
For the next month or so, deep water out of the current is the best place to
start. Next, look for the steepest drop you can find. These are areas where the
fish don't have to travel very far to get to shallow water when they want. Fish
are always shallow. Look there first, but you have to have some deep water nearby!
For the shallow fish, I like the Mann's Baby 1-Minus! This bait works year round
and can be slowly cranked I shallow water. Also, hair jigs like the Punisher
work in the shallows too. The key this time of the year with all baits is to
slow down. Stop when you can. For extended periods! This is where fish attractants
come in handy. I like Jack's Juice because it really soaks into the plastics
or into the hair on a Punisher jig! Line diameter is also key! It allows baits
to get to the bottom fast and stay there in wind and current. It also allows
easier hook sets when far from the boat. Thinner line offers less resistance!
The reduced resistance also comes in handy when fish pick up a bait. They won't
feel the line either!
If you haven't already, get the blade baits out…not many Silver Buddys
to be found! Too BAD! But, I have found one that works very well! It is made
by Poor Boys Baits...www.poorboysbaits.com. Check them out! Cast, let drop then
burp with VERY short pulls! Do not overwork this bait. The idea is to be a dying
or vulnerable baitfish on the bottom! A short burp of 2-3 inches is perfect!
Fish hit on the drop and you feel weight…set the hook with a pull. Sometimes
the fish move on top of the bait and get foul hooked! Very difficult to land
these fish, don't horse them and you might get the biggest bass of the season!
For soft plastics, I like several presentations. The Mann's Stingray grub 3 inch
in avocado is my favorite, followed by the Mizmo tube and then the drop shot.
For the drop shot, the Mann's Hardnose green pumpkin finesse worm is the best.
The head on this bait is very tough, while the body is very soft! The bait stays
on the hook and the pencil point tail does a whole lot of shaking! I also like
this worm for the shakey head application. I use the plain lead Gerkin jig heads
for shaky head fishing…I heat the head and coat with BROWN vinyl powdered
coat available through lurecraft.com. It is also a good choice for the split
shot rig. For the drop shot and the split shot rigs, I am using a 2/0 Mustad
Ultra Lite Mega Bite hook. I like to use an 8-inch leader on my drop shot. In
either case, I have found the PERFECT drop shot tool! The FISHING Butler will
secure your drop shot weight to your rod when you want to put it away! No VELCRO
or rubber bands! This device is adjustable and can also be used to secure rods
to each other. Fishingbutler.com Smoots and Spoils are great for this. The Carolina
rig is pretty good now too! In Spoils and Smoots and in areas close to deep water!
Note that outgoing tides generally bring warmer water, especially as you get
closer to DC. When that happens, you can be a bit more aggressive. Also take
note of water clarity to determine speed and colors. Around Blue Plains and other
warmer (45-50+) shallow…up to 6 feet…areas with clear water, I use
suspending jerkbaits. The Lucky Craft Pointer is the best around! I like the
78, but will use the 100 in water that isn't as clear or a bit deeper. Keeping
the bait in one spot for a long time is best! 10-pound test!!!! This allows the
bait to run deeper and to stay in one spot for a while. When I get low water
near drops and clear water after the water arms a few degrees in the mid day,
I like to toss the Lucky Craft Pointer and let it sit as long as 20 seconds!
Tough to do, but worth the wait. If it's windy, use the spinning rod!!!!
If the
water is warming to 45, try cranking, or spinnerbaits. You need to keep your
bait in close contact with the bottom. Slow is the key! I do better with
cranks on clear water sunny days and the spinnerbait when the water is stained
and skies are gray and chop on the water. Try slow rolling a Mann's 3/8 Classic
Spinnerbait, Colorado/Willow blades along the bottom. This bait has gold blades,
white skirt. I cast it, let it fall to the bottom, then reel as slowly as possible
to just keep the bait moving as slowly as possible, in constant contact with
the bottom. Still using 17-pound test. All of the bites, including the cranks
have been light. The fish really aren't even jumping when hooked. Been catching
light colored bass with a bit of silt on their bellies. For my rods, the Ultra
Strike, 2iG rods are perfect. The med/hvy 6'6” rod is my spinnerbait rod.
For the cranks, look for tighter wiggle cranks: reds, craws, and chartreuse with
a brown back. Check your hooks on all cranks now! After getting snagged and penetrating
many fish, all hooks get dull! I recommend replacing with Mustad Ultra Point
trebles. BTW!!!! The BEST split ring pliers ever!!!!!from Texas Tackle!!! http://texastackle.com/pliers.htm….none
like it anywhere! For cranks, I like the 7” medium action rod like the
2iG Ultra Strike, perfect to feel the cover and to set the hook! It is not too
limber or too stiff to keep you from landing fish.
My new FREE instructional videos are out! If you are learning to cast, or trying
to teach a friend to cast, check them out! Most of us learn how to cast through
a method of “trial and error…and error, and error, etc!” I
have been able to break casting down into small digestible steps! If you can
only cast a bait caster with your dominant hand, then you need to check out these
FREE videos too! http://www.monkeysee.com/channel/show/89
Bob Pettey has scheduled his 14TH ANNUAL INDOOR BASS FISHING FLEA MARKET for
Saturday February 02, 2008, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Hillendale Fire Dept.
13511 Hillendale Drive Dale City, Virginia 22193 Admission: adults $2.00 children
under 12, free! Tables available @ $35.oo each dealers/business welcome CONTACT:
BOB PETTEY (703) 491-3321 rpettey@comcast.net
By the way, there seems to be a lot of confusion over what licenses are required
to guide on the Tidal Potomac River. I worked very closely with the PRFC this
summer to come up with a grid of requirements to comply with DC, MD, VA and the
PRFC on the Tidal Potomac. If you would like a copy, let me know! I support Capt.
Ken Penrod's efforts to see to it that these rules are enforced!
This is a good time to pour some great finesse worms and other soft plastics.
I like the molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the supplies you would
ever need. They even have various plastic mixes for floating and for softness.
Go on -line to find out more! Lure Craft molds are precise and easy to use. (www.lurecraft.com
1-800-925-9088 for a free catalog). Make straight tail finesse worms for shakey
head fishing, drop shots, and split shots! They have a mold for anything and
all of the supplies to pour your own custom poured baits…they can even
make a mold for your design! Ask me to take a look at some of the baits I have
made or check them out on: www.nationalbass.com (articles/lure-craft.htm) check
out the NEW Lure Craft website…call now to put your orders in! 1-800-925-9088
I am the BASS FISHING EXPERT for the Boatus.com website. I will be answering
fishing questions based on my experience as a guide and with a little help from
my friends: other writers, manufacturers, guides and top pros will contribute
to my responses. Check it out at: http://my.boatus.com/askexperts/ If you have
any questions, feel free to email me and I get it answered with a little help
from my friends. If you are a guide or bass boat owner, call BoatUS to get a
free quote. The coverages are better…designed for bass fishermen!!! And
the deductibles are lower! In fact, in many cases the premiums are lower too!
Call now for better coverage!!!!
I keep a few Frogg Toggs on board for sudden showers…whenever they come.
The new Elite Series has become my year-round windbreaker and rain suit. These
new Toggs are amazing and they are loaded with pockets and features…and
come with a very reasonable price tag! Stop me and check it out! Frogg Toggs
(www.froggtoggs.com) are always on board. They block the wind and are breathable!
I carry extras for my passengers!
There is a new style TEVA I just
LOVE! Karnali Wraptor (http://teva.com/ProductDetails.aspx?g=m&productID=6960&model=Karnali+Wraptor)
have a toe guard! They are perfect for water sports…. they have drains
and are great for standing all day! Check out the new TEVA sandals. They are
sport shoes…especially water sports like bass fishing! If you do not wear
the sport sandals from TEVA, you should! Just cover your feet with sunscreen
and you'll feel better! I have tried other footwear, including expensive basketball
shoes. TEVA's are very comfortable and have boat safe surfaces along with anti-microbial
protection. These sandals are comfortable and keep me on my feet...no butt seat
either! Check out www.teva.com.
Senior BASSMASTER writer, Robert Montgomery has taken his decades of writing
and fishing experience with the best in the fishing business and compiled it
into one huge E-Book. Ratio's KILLER BASS FISHING SECRETS contains nearly 300
VERY specific tips from pros to help you catch more fish! I found a TON of great
tips to help me. You can get your copy of RONTICO's KILLER BASS FISHING SECRETS
here: www.killer-bass-fishing-secrets.com. It's only $19.95…that's about
a nickel a tip! Well worth it! The site has some FREE tips!
There are some great tackle specials this month at Jann's Netcraft! If you want
to be on the email list for these specials, contact me and I'll take care of
it for you! Contact Jann's Netcraft for your free catalog! They have a great
assortment of do-it-yourself supplies, and they have a great line of soft plastics
too!
By this time of the year, my rod tips are just about worn out on my cranking
rods. Sometimes the guides take a constant beating too! What do you do? Toss
out the rod that is really still in great shape? No way! I have learned how to
replace guides on some of my favorite rods and they are ready to go! Check out
their rod building and repair supplies. Get a tip kit, with many sizes for a
variety of rods. If you want to learn how to make repairs or even build your
own custom rods, they have a great rod-building instructional book and all of
the tools and parts! I also noticed they have everything you need to make crankbaits,
spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits. You can start from scratch or assemble the parts
to build the baits you like to your exact specs…and save money too! Jann's
Netcraft luremaking, flytying, rod building, and soft baits! They've been around
for a long time and have a great selection of lure making materials too! Check
them out at www.jannsnetcraft.com or call 1-800-NETCRAFT!
A note on one of my tools. I like to use PRO's Soft Bait Glue. While a lot of
anglers are really impressed by how much money they save gluing Senkos back together,
I really like the time I save! When I skip stickworms under docks, eventually,
baits tear. Rather than stopping and retying and re-rigging, I just put a drop
of glue on the tear and away I go. One bait will stay rigged nearly all day!
I also have started using with my shakey heads. The Mann's Hardnose bait is the
only bait on the market with a super hard nose and I don't need the glue!
I have
also found a new product that is awesome! Actually, I interviewed the makers
of Hawg Pockets after they won the ICAST award for the new product showcase.
I had the gadgets in my basement for a while. I took a fishing trip to West Virginia.
My wife started to freak out when I started to load my rods with crankbaits into
her new Passport Nissan Murano. She didn't want me to hook her leather interior.
I remembered the Hawg Pockets and read the instructions and snapped them into
place. They did their job. I also found out they didn't tangle when I moved them
and I could see my bait thru them! Check out the website. I am using them on
my boat now and it keeps my rods from tangling and I can see the baits on the
rods. This is the best fishing lure guard I have ever seen! Check them out! www.hawgpockets.com
Look for my Tournament Talk column in Woods & Waters. This month I challenge
a rule reversal from the FLW organization! I cover B.A.S.S. and FLW tournament
winners! Check www.woodsandwatersmagazine.com. A limited FREE supply at Belle
Haven Marina and at Bowes and Arrows.
MIZMO tubes, Punisher Jigs, and most of the Lucky Craft and Mann's baits are
now in Bass Pro Shops latest catalog….look for them!
If you want the best polarized sunglasses for fishing, I suggest Maui Jim HCL
(high contrast lens) polarized sunglasses. These are the best for picking up
cover in the water and seeing the fish. Check around, most serious anglers are
wearing them. Eye protection is important!!! Get a quality pair of polarized
sunglasses. I recommend Maui Jims (www.mauijim.com). Sunglass Huts carry these.
If you see me on the water, I will let you check mine out. I am also trying the
polycarbonate lens Maui Sports…. they are light as a feather and the optics
are great. Now for the over 50 crowd….Maui READERS!
For 2007 Tides information for the Potomac look under “REPORTS AND TIDES”.
Print a copy for your use.
New to the river? Get a pro-quality map for fishing the Potomac and for other
Virginia waters map from GMCO: www.gmcomaps.com. They list popular locations
and hidden dangers of navigating the Potomac.
Check out the biggest bass ever caught on the Potomac. (www.nationalbass.com,
then REPORTS, then BIG FISH) Gary Kincheloe's record is likely to stand longer
that the previous record of nearly 30 years.
Have fun, and I would enjoy hearing from you. If you have questions, comments
or would like to book a trip, e-mail: info@nationalbass.com. I have a lot of
articles on various strategies and techniques on my site. If you have a suggestion
for an article, let me know. Check out my website: www.nationalbass.com. I can't
fish the entire river all of the time, so if you have some information to share,
let me know.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
" Take me fishing!"
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