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Ah, the ignorance and invincibility of youth.

Try some of these sites. The first one is B.A.S.S. Federation Region that fishes Claytor Lake. Contact them and contact trhe director. He may be able to give you some help. Also, go to the GMCO web page and order a Claytor Lake map so you can see what is there and what the guys tell you or what you may find on the web. http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=33&section=fishing http://www.hooked-in.com/waterbodies/show/135 http://www.claytorlakeonline.com/fishing.html You are going to do great!!!!!!!

Ahhhh, for the good ol' days of outhouses and no indoor plumbing. No computers, no video games, might as well say no electronics, at least as we know them. History paints such a romantic image of those eras, but I believe very few youngsters, remember I'm almost 70, would really want to live in those days. It's like folks who go to Disneyworld and think it would be great to work there. It's a totally different perspective from the outside looking in. When you get there, it is most likely to disappoint. It's the "Happiest Place on Earth", or was that Disneyland, for the guests. Not so happy for the "cast members".

you might look at big bite baits flying squirrel.

1/8, 1/4, 3/8 most of the time.

I use a 1/8 to a 3/4 oz. But I have 4 rods that I fish the T rig so I never have to change weights.

1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 for me

Brandon..continued Fishing soft plastic worms (I suggest you start with worms in lieu of other soft plastics), start with a technique and presentation that has a high percentage of strike to hook ratio; the c-rig or finesse C-rig (slip shot). Both these rigs require you to slow down and keep the weight on the bottom. This rig is s-l-o-w-l-y dragged along the bottom and stopped when you feel resistance. You will learn when a rock stops the weight vs a bass; rocks don't move. Weeds are far more difficult, they can feel like a bass pressure bite, so a rod sweep either clears the weeds or sets the hook; weeds don't pull back. Samllmouth tend to peck at plastic worms so let them move the line before sweeping the rod back. Largemouth just bite and swim off, don't wait too long to set the hook, they swallow plastic worms quickly. If you are fishing for smallies or largemouth in slighly off color or clear water; try oxblood with light red flake worm in 6" curl tail (looks like a nightcrawler). Use a size 1 or 1/0 Gamakatsu #11 worm hook (skin hooked), 10 lb mono or FC line. 3/16 oz Top Brass black Pro-Jo weight, red 8MM glass bead, clear Carolina stopper. The weight should be about 24" above the hook to start with. Tom

Brandon, welcome to bass fishing. I have been bass fishing for about 6 decades, a very long time. Soft plastics (rubber worms) started to be popular about the same time that I was learning to bass fish and became the most reliable and successful artifical lure made to date. Here are 10 of the techniques every bass angler should learn to rig. 1. Texas rig; bullet shape weight that is free to slide on the line above a plastic worm style hook. 2. Florida rig; same as the Texas rig, except the bullet weight is pegged agianst the hook. 3. Carolina rig; egg shape sinker that is free to slide on the line and stopped by a swivel above a length of leader line and hook. 4. Split shot rig; round split shot clamped on the line above the hook. 5. Slip shot or finesse C-rig; cylinder shaped weight free to slide on the line, stopped by a pegged glass bead above the hook. 6. Drop shot rig; bell shaped sinker tied to the end of the line, the hook tied directly on the line above the hook. 7. Shakey head jig; ball head jig with worm keeper. 8. Dart head jig; small bullet shape jig head. 9. Spider jigs; Hula grub with single or double tail. 10. Senko's; heavy salted fat bodied stick worm. You rig the above techniques on any type of bass rod/reel combo, however casting outfits are typically used with line size 10 lb or heavier, spinning reel/rod for 10 lbs or less. Line weight should be selected to match the worm & hook size and type of cover you plan to fish. T/F-rig,C-rig, spider jig and Senko's can be used with 10+ line and popular with bait casting outfits. Split, slip, drop shot rig, shakey head jig, dart head jig, are more popular with lighter line; 5 to 10 lb and spinning outfits. Search around this site for rigging and presentation details. Colors are trail and error for each lake and seasonal period. Natural green or brown tones with red, black or purple flakes are always good. Shad colors like translucent smoke with silver, red, black or purple flakes can be good if the lake has shad bait fish. Hooks and line are very important when fishing soft plastic worms; use premium worm hooks and line. If you are interested in any of the above techniques, ask questions regarding them and we can reply in detail. My advice; learn to fish plastic worms when the bass are more active, then you can fish them more effectively when the bass are less active. Tom

How is this