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This is an awesome time to get out and fish! Big bass are being caught just
about anywhere that is close to deep water. Deeper water might be a creek channel,
ditch drop off, and channel bend or deeper grass edge. Hard cover or grass,
take
your pick. Also 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.
Starting with grass. Over the top, I am using a Lucky Craft LVR D-7 on 17-pound
test and a 2iG Ultra Strike medium action rod…crawling the bait over the
tops of the grass…as slowly as possible! I am casting parallel to the grass
too, looking for isolated clumps. You can do the same thing with a Mann's Baby
4-Minus when the water is a bit more stained…and for the least visibility,
overcast or choppy water, try slow rolling a Mann's 3/8 Classic Spinnerbait,
Colorado/Indiana blades over the tops of the remaining grass. This bait has gold
blades, white skirt. For the hard cover, try the willow/Colorado blades. 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 much when hooked. Starting to find 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. I have
been trying the new “made in the USA” ARDENT casting reel….so
far…AWESOME! Picked one up on one of my trips! Spooled with 17 and casting
spinnerbaits…putting a lot of miles on it. Stop me to check this machine
out! Light and tough! Casts spinnerbaits well even into the wind.
For the hard cover areas, you need to keep your bait in close contact with
the bottom. Cranking, or spinnerbaits. Slow is the key! I do better with cranks
on
clear water sunny days and the spinnerbait when the water is stained and the
skies are gray and chop on the water. For the spinnerbait, I cast and let it
fall to the bottom. Look for the tighter wiggle cranks. Crankbait colors: reds,
craws, chartreuse with a brown back are the only ones I have used…they
work…but try your favorite colors first. Check your hooks on all cranks
now! After getting snagged and penetrating many fish, all hooks get dull…especially
around hard cover! 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 snap from grass and to set the hook! It is not
too limber or too stiff to keep you from landing fish.
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 am downsizing my line as the water temps fall
to about 6 pound test very soon! I like to use an 8inch 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 grass!
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 78 or 100. I let it sit
as long as 20 seconds! Tough to do, but worth the wait.
In January, I will be giving seminars throughout the month the first one is
Jan 4,5 and 6 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. I'll be handing out all
day…but
giving scheduled seminars. For times, check www.nationsoutdoorshow.com…also
look for two of my favorite speakers! Legendary Guide Ken Penrod and C. Boyd
Pfieffer.
Friday 3:00PM - 8:00PM
Saturday 9:00AM - 8:00PM
Sunday 10:00AM - 5:00PM
It's also time to get the blade baits out…no more 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!
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
What a difference a few days make! Wonderful fishing this time of the year…nice
to wear some of the great cool weather clothes! Still in the TEVA's! The Seal
Skinz Chillblockers make that possible! Fishing has been great, as water temps
have fallen into the upper 40's to low 50's.
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!
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
The 14TH ANNUAL INDOOR BASS FISHING FLEA MARKET is SATURDAY
FEBRUARY 02, 2008, 8 A.M. UNTIL 1 P.M. AT THE HILLENDALE FIRE DEPT.
13511 HILLENDALE DRIVE DALECITY, 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
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!
My Sportsman's Magazine article will focus on some great clothing for now and
for the warmer months!
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.
There is a new style TEVA I just LOVE! 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!
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
Also look for my Tournament Talk column in Woods & Waters. This month the
pros talk about preconceptions and how they can lead you astray! 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. 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.
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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