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Topwater poppers are best in low light conditions at any tide, or at lower tides in full sun! Hollow grass frogs over thicker grass, pausing when you get to holes will get some big bites! I caught an 8 pound snakehead this way last week…BTW Fox 5 had me on to talk about the recent surge in snakehead catches. Check out the video on www.myfoxdc.com I believe that not only is the population growing, but there’s another spawn taking place making the fish more aggressive! They are fun to catch!
After topwaters, I like spinnerbaits. I’m adding Water Gremlin ¼ ounce rubber core weights to ¼ ounce spinnerbaits to allow me to run deeper and faster! Open the weight, put it on the hook shaft and replace the rubber, then close with pliers. It won’t slide and allows you to use a smaller profile bait. Willow Colorado Mann’s Classic spinnerbaits are great for this…white skirt…nickel blades or one gold one nickel.
Of course, Mann’s baby 1-Minus is still a winner. Contact grass and rip free. Lucky Craft’s BDS 4, a big-bodied shallow crank with a wide bobbling action works at higher tides. White is a good color here. Also, “waking” baits like the Mann’s Waker or even the Mann’s Mid-Minus in citrus colors or shad patterns are working over grass and around docks and wood! Vary speeds...in clearest water, burn baits! In stained water, slow down. I try to fish stained water, near clear water, unless there is a chop on the surface or low light conditions, then I fish the clearer water.
I’ll be giving seminars at noon at the Hanover Bass Pro Shops in on Sept 13 & 14. I’ll be talking about mat fishing on Saturday and finesse fishing techniques on Sunday. Please stop by and say hi! I’ll also have some giveaways!
I’ve switched batteries to the DEKA AGM deep cycle…I’ve already noticed they don’t take long to recharge! Full article on this new battery technology in this month’s Sportsman’s Magazine! They show no signs of wearing down either and I really use my trolling motor!
Back to topwaters…walkers are a great way to get the big ones to come up! I like Lucky Craft Gunfish in shad patterns. Also, toads like Mann's HardNose Frogs in white, when the sun is out, black on very cloudy days or in off color water, in between green pumpkin…on 5/0 Mustad Ultra Point tube hooks! Braid is the only way to go! I like Spiderwire 65 pound Stealth Ultra cast. Also a good stiff rod with a slightly softer tip for better casting like the 2iG Ultra Strike 7’2” frog rod and a solid reel and hold on!!!!! I’m adding rabbit fur to all of my Mann’s Super Frogs! It’s easy…a drop of Pro’s Soft Bait Glue…JannsNetcraft.com has rabbit fur strips in many colors! I am also using a Furbit popper found at Warbirds in Woodbridge and sfttackle.com. Capt. Karl Bunch turned me on to these about 2 years ago after the Furbit won Best of Show at ICAST…annual Vegas industry tackle show! BTW, Warbirds sponsors Thursday evening tournaments from 5:00pm to 9:00pm at Leesylvania state park. Call store for details 703-878-3111
Topwaters are also a good way to expose mat fish for punching! Best on flat calm, hot sunny days. Tru-Tungsten weights with Tru-Tungsten Smart Pegs are the best way to go! Find high water mats on incoming tides…these have more space underneath! Article coming soon to Sportsman’s Magazine! Interviews with Kelly Jordon, Greg Hackney, and Pete Gluszek!!!!!
Craw patterned chatterbaits…I prefer the new chatterbait style bait, the Rock N Runner…a Road Runner on steroids complete with small silver willow blade on the underside giving a unique action and more flash! This thumper combined with Mann’s HardNose Craw is killer! I’m using green pumpkin and watermelon skirts with contrasting or matching craws! Various retrieves in the grass are working. Look for clear water close to deeper water and stained water for the best bites. I’m playing with a new one from KAOTIK Lures. Tank tossed me a few of these…quality components and a “new” concept…holes in the blades…different disturbance and allows baits to run deeper!
After that…Stick worms and weightless plastics…split shot, drop shot, and slow down! Incoming tides produce cooler water. This activates the fish a bit. Otherwise it’s a slow patient presentation.
I’m also fishing a lot of Mizmo tubes now! Pitching to marsh clumps in creeks to grass clumps and hard cover. Mann’s HardNose 9 inch worms offer a bigger target to fish with a huge food supply all around. The Spoils area is also a good place for Mizmos! I’m pitching them Texas rigged and with the Gerkin insert heads. I have been using the Gerkin head for 6 years! Made with a Mustad Ultra Point hook...it has a wire weed guard and an elongated lead head…this makes the bait glide. The Gerkin tube head, now owned by R&R Custom Baits can be found at Dance’s Sporting Goods in Colonial Heights, VA or by calling…804-541-4162. Also, hair jigs like the Punisher work too. Jack’s Juice really soaks into the plastics or into the hair on a Punisher jig!
Pro’s Soft Bait Glue is new and improved…how could they? They improved the bottle! No more clogs! Much easier to apply on the water!
In June I went fishing with WUSA Channel 9 sports Anchor Levan Reid! He wanted to go in February! We had a blast! He caught his very first bass! Wait until you see how excited he was! Check out the video.
On all moving baits, I recommend replacing hooks 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 cover and hookset! It’s not too limber or too stiff to keep you from landing fish.
This year I changed insurance companies; I went to the experts in boat insurance, BoatUS! BoatUS Angler’s membership program is part of the nation's largest association of recreational boaters protecting the interests of boat-owning freshwater anglers. BoatU.S. Angler offers insurance policies specifically designed to meet the needs of today's anglers with fishing boats, including coverage for accidents with non-insured boaters, medical coverage for injuries, as well as salvage costs related to the recovery of a sunk or totaled boat. BoatUS offers GUIDE programs!!!! Click on my site link for a free quote.
You can check out the new Skeeters, including the one I run, the Skeeter ZX225! Stop by 1214 Portsmouth Blvd, Suffolk VA 23434 or call for details 757-923-0663, Frank, Jack and Steve will be there. Pick up some Yamalube and Ring Free and also check out their other lines of boats. Under New Management, www.SeaportMarineServices.com. My 2008 ZX225 is for sale…call me! 703-380-7119
How many of you bought a baitcasting reel, tried it and gave up! Apparently there are a lot of you out there! Don’t give up, learn how to use them! Start with a decent reel, $120-140 on up. Then practice…but what do you practice? Check out my free videos (http://www.monkeysee.com/channel/show/89) and you’ll learn how to cast…if you can cast, but with only one hand, you can learn how to use your other hand too!
It’s no secret Maui Jims are the best polarized sunglasses…but they just made a huge improvement for anglers over 40…Maui Readers are equipped with a small magnifier on the bottom of the lens so you can see to tie knots!!! The added magnifier doesn’t interfere with regular vision! I love them! See what you’ve been missing! Mauijims.com. I suggest Maui Jim HCL (high contrast lens) polarized sunglasses for picking up cover in the water and seeing fish. Check around, most serious anglers are wearing them. Eye protection is important!!! Get a quality pair of polarized sunglasses. Sunglass Huts carry these. If you see me on the water, I’ll let you check mine out. Polycarbonate Maui Sports are light as a feather and the optics are great.
Confused over license requirements to guide on the Tidal Potomac River? I worked closely with the PRFC to come up with a grid of requirements to comply with DC, MD, VA and the PRFC on the Tidal Potomac. For a copy, http://nationalbass.com/reports/prfclicense.htm. I support efforts to see to it these rules are enforced!
How about pouring your own swimbaits? Senkos? Now you can! Lure Craft makes it EASY!!! Now they have a DVD that explains and demonstrates the entire process! Now they offer durable and exact aluminum molds that enable you to make “round” baits! You can customize your swimbaits and for a huge savings. Pour some great finesse worms and other soft plastics with precise and easy to use molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the supplies and plastic mixes for floating and for softness. Go on–line to find out more! (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 can even make a mold for your design! Take a look at some of the baits I have made on: www.nationalbass.com (articles/lure-craft.htm)…call now to put your orders in! 1-800-925-9088
Senior BASSMASTER writer, Robert Montgomery has taken 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. Get RONTICO's KILLER BASS FISHING SECRETS here: www.killer-bass-fishing-secrets.com. It's only $19.95…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! Contact Jann's Netcraft for your free catalog! They have a great assortment of do-it-yourself supplies, and 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. The guides take a constant beating too! Toss out the rod that is really still in great shape? No way! I’ve learned how to replace guides on my favorite rods and they’re 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 tools and parts! They also 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 interviewed the makers of Hawg Pockets after they won the ICAST new product showcase award. I had the gadgets in my basement for a while. I took a fishing trip to West Virginia. My wife freaked 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, 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! I now use them on my boat! They keep 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! http://www.hawgpockets.com
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.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
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