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Local angler comes home for a meet and greet! James Charlesworth fished the BASSMASTER
Classic this year and is doing VERY well in his rookie season on BASSMASTER's
Elite Series trail! Monday June 11 4p-7p, 1831 Wiehle Ave, Reston, VA at the
Virginia Spine Institute. James will be signing autographs and you might get
him to give away some of his Potomac River 'secrets'! What he will be giving
away is a chance to fish with him! For more info, call (703-709-1114 ext 180)
or visit (www.spineMD.com)
Time to mark your calendars for the 11th Annual Mid-Atlantic BASS Tournament
to Benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital on Friday July 6, 2007! Contact tournament
Director Russ Shetley... 540-752-2151... bassman891@aol.com
Water temps are over 70! Many fish are in post spawn patterns... a
few in spawn now. In the grass, particularly on the outside edge... the
real outside edge... ook at your graph to find it or use your
bait! This is where I am getting a lot of post spawners. In areas with docks,
look for them on the deeper pilings or in the grass in deeper water. Near seawalls,
I am looking for the first drop or a piece of anything that might hold a post
spawner.
I really like to activate these fish with topwaters. Especially the Lucky Craft
Gunfish! I can walk this bait very slowly, and the rattles call them up! The
key has been to keep it moving once you get a strike! If you stop it, they don't
seem to come back! Add a tail feather like the Mustad hand tied Ultra Point trebles
in RED! Sometimes a twitch will get the feathers moving and the fish to return
after a hit and miss!
Small 1/8-ounce buzzbaits have also been working at lower tides over grass around
docks and over wood! I like the black skirts on cloudy days!
Topwaters are working best when the tide is low, the water is clear, or you have
cloudy skies. But when the water is low, it's worth a try with the Gunfish, buzzbaits
and other topwaters like the Basirisky!
If I have a high tide under cloudy skies I have been tossing the 3/8-willow tandem
with a firetiger skirt. Chop on the water is better. This doesn't work as well
at high tide when the water is stained. You need to switch to the Classic Indian/Colorado
with a white skirt.
By the way, my client Dan Lewis caught a 5.5-pound Snakehead up near Belle Haven!
This is one of the biggest caught by hook and line! It will be part of a Washington
Post Magazine article coming this summer by Dave Farenthold.
At higher tides, I have been having a lot of success with the Mann's Baby 1-Minus.
My 'new' favorite is the new Elite Series. I like the baby bass color now. Old
standbys, fire tiger, splatterback and desert sunset are also working. Vary your
retrieves. I have caught some burning the bait, crawling it and long pauses.
Carolina rigging with Mann's new Hardnose Lizards in front of grass beds or in
areas without a lot of docks. I have found this works best in the shallows when
it is cloudy. When it is sunny, it works best a bit deeper, like in Spoils, etc.
Hardnose plastics come through heavy grass clumps and around wood and rock and
stay in place and keeping me from getting hung up. Lizards are great this time
of the year, but I have also been getting them with the new version of the old
Mosquito Hawk. June bug, green pumpkin are the colors. I like to use 17-pound
test Berkley XT for my main line than a 14-pound test Berkley Transition leader.
A 2/0 Mustad Ultra Point MEGA LITE hook is perfect for the C-Rig! Add a Tru-tungsten
weight for better feel and you are set!
Over grass, before the sun really drives the fish down into the grass at higher
tides, the Lucky Craft LVR D-7 is my choice in MAD CRAW. In clearer water the
chrome/blue back is working. This bait really gets to the grass and snaps free
easily! They are better balanced and will drop straight down rather than flopping
from side to side on the pause! This is huge this time of the year! It is the
hesitation that gets the bites. I am slowly retrieving this bait over the grass
with my rod tip up. I will drop into holes after contact and that's when the
bites are coming! Check your hooks on all cranks now! I recommend replacing with
Mustad Ultra Point trebles. Try adding a feather Mustad treble to the tail of
a Baby 1-Minus.
For my line, I am using 14-pound test Berkley XT. For my rods, the Ultra Strike,
2iG rods are perfect. The med/hvy 6'6” rod is my spinnerbait
rod. For the lipless and other cranks, I like the 7” medium
action rod. A medium heavy 7-foot graphite rod like the 2iG Ultra Strike is perfect
to snap from grass and to set the hook! It is not too limber or too stiff to
keep you from landing fish. I just ordered the new 7'6” med
action rod for cranking! Longer casts I'm sure!
Drop shot, shaky head, and tubes are great ways to fish docks and pitch to grass
edges and holes. For drop shotting and shaky head fishing I like the green pumpkin
Mann's HardNose finesse worm. 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 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.
For tubes, I use a _ ounce Gerkin weedless insert tube head. I can easily skip
this under docks and overhanging cover. For the 4” Mizmo
tubes, I like the green pumpkin colors and the blue/craw. I also soak all of
my soft plastics in Jack's Juice garlic... lots of it! All of
these are cast on 8-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!
Hit every dock on the river! For grass, use a 3/0 Mustad Ultra Point Tube Hook
Texas rigged with a 3/16 ounce Bullshot.
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/ If you have
any questions, feel free to email me and I get it answered with a little help
form my friends.
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 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!
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 Lake Anna! Guide Wayne Olsen
has been fishing the “Dead Sea” since it
began to fill in the 1970's! Find out why this lake is coming back to life! Wayne
is a great old friend and an awesome teacher. I learned a lot from him! He is
a “guides” guide!
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.
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‚Ñ¢ 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‚Ñ¢ Skeg. In the event of damage to your
original stock skeg the Blackfin‚Ñ¢ 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‚Ñ¢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‚Ñ¢ Skeg
contact Re: The Outdoors at 334-612-0859.
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. 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 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 attention to execution! 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
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