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This weekend at BASS PRO SHOPS it’s time for the
March Madness event, Spring Classic at the Hanover, MD. BASS PRO SHOPS will
not only have great gear on sale, but will feature the best in bass fishing! Jimmy
Houston and Woo Daves will be there signing autographs and giving pointers.
I will be giving cold-water seminars to get you ready for the first signs
of a thaw! I will be speaking at 2pm on 3/3 and at 1pm on 3/4. My main
topics will be cold water fishing…but I will be covering other topics
as well…I will also have a limited supply of Mann’s Hardnose
sample packs to give away…. I hope to see you there!
If you will be fishing this weekend, expect a winter pattern!!!! This means
you need to look for the steep drops near the shallow flats. Water temperatures
have stabilized into the low 40’s or upper 30’s. Fish will
be grouped on drops. Hard cover warms first and outgoing tides are best. The
noon-4pm bite is the warmest water. Lower tides are good too! The Spoils,
Smoot Bay, Hogg Island, the Cliffs in Occoquan, etc. The best baits are served
up on light line! 6-pound test is best! Mann’s Stingray grubs
and the new Hardnose craws are great this time of the year! By the way,
the Hardnose line of soft plastics is the most innovative change in the history
of soft plastics! The nose is made of a harder plastic while the body
is soft and life-like! This means you can Texas rig and the bait will
stay put! It is also great for grub head fishing the craws! I really
like the 5-inch HARDNOSE finesse worm for shakey head fishing! The harder
head really keeps the bait on the jig head! This solves one of the biggest
problems using conventional baits on a shakey head jig head! The pencil
point of the Mann’s bait really has a lot of action! This is also
a great drop shot bait and I also use it for split shot rigs!
Find the THREE INCH Mann’s Stingray grubs, the best soft plastic when
the water gets cold, on a 1/4 ounce round Gerkin jig head…made with
a MUSTAD Ultra Point hook. Also try a Mizmo tube on a ¼ ounce
Gerkin weedless insert tube head. For the 4” Mizmo tubes, I like the
green pumpkin colors and the blue/craw. The Stingray is a 3” avocado!
There appears to be some confusion surround the size of this bait. As far as
I know, there isn’t and never has been a 2 inch version of this bait.
If so, I will stand corrected. This is the only size and color I use.
If I am going to get bites on the bigger bait, I go back to tubes. I also soak
all of my soft plastics in Jack's Juice garlic….lots of it! All of these
are cast on 6-pound test Berkley Sensation line. Spinning tackle with a 6'6” 2iG
Ultra Strike rod. Cast and DRAG! Fish very slowly! The area around
the Wilson Bridge, Spoils and Smoots are hot spots right now!
Silver Buddy lures are hard to find, but easy to fish now the water has remained
cold for a few weeks! You can only get them now through the silverbuddy.com
website! I would get there early. There are limited supplies in stock! Short
burps down drops locate fish. I like to use a medium graphite rod; Graphite
has enough backbone with the medium action to handle bigger fish on treble
hooks. For line, Berkley Big Game has the stretch to land fish and to snap
free when snagged. Keep the hooks sharp or replace! I cut the eye of
a Mustad Ultra Point treble and open just a bit, then snap back into place
to replace hooks. I don’t like the split rings as they allow the hooks
to catch each other.
Of course, Blue Plains is heating up too! Here you can use split shot
rigs, drop shot and Carolina Rigs. Also a shakey head presentation works! For
soft plastics, I like the Mann's Hardnose Finesse Worm in green pumpkin…dip
the tail in chartreuse dye. I also like to use the Punisher hair jigs with
the Punisher chunk and Punisher rattle! I also use the C-Rig in the Spoils
and Smoots. It is best to use a Tru-Tungsten 1 ounce weight. This weight is
smaller and has the sensitivity to offer more bottom feedback. You can find
subtle bottom changes and other cover. Tubes, drop shot and split shot also
are working in other areas along drops.
Have you finished with all of your pre-season maintenance, like…Take
all of your topwater and crankbaits out of the boat and check the hooks. Replace
with Mustad Ultra Point trebles. I even get some fingernail polish
and touch up some of my baits. (I generally add a streak of orange to the bellies
of my crankbaits!) For topwaters, a new feathered treble from Mustad
gets it back in top shape.
Take your spinnerbaits and replace the skirts. I take some nylon sewing thread
and wrap and tie just above the rubber band on the skirt to keep it from slipping
or falling off. I use white. If I am doing this for different colors, then
I take a marker and mark the thread before I tie.
I do the same for jigs. Make sure the hooks are sharp! I also heat the
head and touch up with powdered coat too! This is also a good time to
pour some of your own jigs for shakey head and grub fishing too! The vinyl
powder coat is available through lurecraft.com
After that, I clean all of my rods and the cork with 409 cleaner. I check
all of the guides. I do not use a Q-Tip! I use a magnifying glass and
check the guides from the tip down. If the tip needs to be replaced, do it! Jann’s
Netcraft has everything you need! Get a few extra.
Now the reels. If you do only one thing, clean the exterior and strip
the line. Don’t put fresh line on until you are ready for fishing again!
After that, take the spool bearings off. A soaking in lighter fluid will clean
them out. Spin them a few times and re-soak. Let the air dry for 15 minutes
then add a high-grade oil…just a tiny drop and spin into the bearing
and you are ready to go. If you want to get even more into it, tear your reel
down and clean and re-lube. I use a bit of grease on my worm gears and a drop
of oil. Clean the handle and oil it too.
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!
I am now 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/
FYI!!! I receive press releases from many companies. Here’s one I found
interesting. I have friends who have damaged their skegs and either leave them
damaged, affecting performance, or have an expensive lower unit replaced. The
Blackfin™ Skeg is new product made of high impact composite and is easy-to-install,
with no drilling or changes to your original boat or motor. In the event of
an impact; the force is equally distributed in all directions and absorbed
by the flexible nature of the Blackfin™ Skeg. In the event of damage
to your original stock skeg the Blackfin™ Skeg can be used to easily
and inexpensively repair the damage as long as one third or more of the original
skeg is still intact. The added protection and enhanced performance of
the Blackfin™Skeg make this new product a must have for any boating enthusiast. They
are available at Cabela’s, and larger marine stores or conveniently online
at www.blackfinskeg.com. The suggested retail price is $69.95. For additional
information on Blackfin™ Skeg contact Re: The Outdoors at 334-612-0859.
Make your own baits using molds from Lure Craft that 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. They have everything
you need to make some super handpours! They also have Poor Boys Gobys! One
of the hottest lures on the market is the Chatterbait. NEW is the GOLD version….silver
in stock too!
Lurecraft.com has a do it yourself chatterbait kit to convert your favorite
jig into a vibrating swimming jig. Check them out! With blade and snap
and split ring assembly turns most jigs into a chatterbait. Supplies are limited
and they are selling off the shelf…call now to put your orders in! 1-800-925-9088. Try
different colors….Under bright conditions, I like the white. This is
working when fished like a jig now in the colder water!
Each time you search the internet, you can support FishAmerica’s efforts
to keep our fish and waters healthy. Just visit www.goodsearch.com, enter
FishAmerica as your charity of choice, and start searching! Just 500
searches, four times a day will raise about $7,300 in a year without anyone
spending a dime! Download the GoodSearch toolbar to your web browser
such as Internet Explorer. Just visit http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/
and click Download Now!
My Sportsman's Magazine article will focus on catching snakeheads on the Potomac
River. I’ll share what Snakehead Hunter Derek Radoski learned from his
trip to Malaysia!
I use specific products and mention them in my reports. These are products
I have used extensively and have confidence in. By mentioning product
names, it is easier for you to match up with what I am using. I also detail
the features of many of the products I use to demonstrate their benefits.
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!
My new 2007 Pro Staff Skeeter ZX225 with 225 hp HPDI Yamaha hasn’t even
been in the water yet, but it is for sale! I pre-sell these boats for
December 1 delivery, 2007! If you want a great deal on a slightly used,
well-maintained boat, this is the best deal on a used Skeeter anywhere. Factory
warranty transfers! It will be less than a year old and in great shape.
About 50 hours. This is the time to reserve this boat. I am asking only $32,000! This
is a great boat at a great price. SERIOUS CALLS only…. 703-360-3472.
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!
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!
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. While the Mann's Hardnose bait is the only bait on the market
with a super hard nose to stay on the hook better, I still put a drop to keep
it from going anywhere on the head!
As most who see me at the ramp know, I drive a 1995 Nissan 4WD truck. This
old truck really tows my Skeeter with ease! I bought this truck from
PASSPORT Nissan and I have been buying my vehicles from the owner since 1978! If
you have any questions about the NISSAN trucks, please forward to me! Right
now is a great time to consider one, as Nissan is running low interest rates
or cash back on Titan, Frontier and Xterra. Bob Gasbarri knows NISSANS and
he knows trucks! Give him a call at 703-461-5279 with any towing questions! I
will demo many of their trucks throughout the year. Let me know if you
would like to set up a test drive! IF YOU CONTACT ME, I WILL GET YOU A BELOW
INVOICE NO HASTLE PRICE!
I have also found a new product that is awesome! Actually, I interviewed
the makers of Hawg Pockets last year 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
Also look for my Tournament Talk column in Woods & Waters. This month
the pros talk about the “drive” to success….it's full of
potholes…see how they avoid them! I cover B.A.S.S. and FLW tournament
winners! Also check out www.woodsandwatersmagazine.com. There is a limited
supply of these FREE publications 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
of the serious anglers on the Potomac are wearing them. Eye protection
is important!!! Get a quality pair of polarized sunglasses. I recommend
the 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.
TEVA sandals are actually 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! The
TEVA sandals are perfect for fishing! 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.
For 2007 Tides information for the Potomac look under “REPORTS AND TIDES”. Print
a copy for your use.
If you like to weigh your fish or if you are a tournament angler, you NEED
the XTOOLS Digital fish scale and gripper. It is waterproof, floats,
and it grips the fish so I can weigh all of my clients' fish without having
to punch a hole in their mouth. They are a sponsor of the FLW trail and
just about all of the pros are using them. I love mine. I recently
met the great people associated with the company and they demonstrated some
of XTOOLS other products. Get one of the scales…they also have
one for tournament anglers with a culling system that can't be beat! www.xtools.us
If you are new to the river, get a map from GMCO. It is a pro-quality map
for fishing the Potomac and for other Virginia waters. Check out their site:
www.gmcomaps.com. They list some of the popular locations and some of the 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.
Are your boat batteries sluggish? If you have questions about battery care,
check out www.nationalbass.com, go to ARTICLES and then Boat Batteries. There
is also a discount offer on INTERSTATE Marine batteries.
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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