Zoff

Spent the entire day on SML. Started out slow but we figured out the bite... in the morning it was brownies on a 5" green pumpkin shakeyhead on the points in about 4 to 10 feet. This afternoon and evening it was still the points but was the bigmouths with spinnerbaits slow rolled from shallow to deep. Most were on structure and groups of 5 or 6.

Sorry if this has already been posted... https://www.facebook.com/groups/373982569326768/

My Wife informed me she would like to fish "every now and then" with me. She will never bother to learn to use a baitcaster and hates a spinning reel as well. I have a spare Vendetta sitting around and thought about putting an Abumatic 1276SLi. Anybody have any experience with them? About everything I have now is Abu Garcia and what isn't will be going to the block ASAP. I just like the stuff. So... what about the 1276?

I am the same guy at GunsNet.

Good notice. Those from that pic were brought to the house as we were going to have a fry but decided they should go back. My buddy, who was with me and lives near SML took them back in a portable live well i use in my jonboat. They did live but we decided it could have stressed them very much so will not do that again. Strictly catch and release unless they are slated for the dinner table. The bottom is mostly decomposing leaves near the end of the pond. Several patched of lilly pads and grass in the shallow end. This pond is about 150 years old. Our farm is an old tobacco farm that was part of a larger farm since the 1700's. This pond was built in the late 1800's and it is very well established. We stocked catfish and the hybrid bluegill. The bass and crappie were there when we bought it about 20 years ago. More than likely... someone put the smallies there from someplace else. We very seldom take fish out except for the bluegill and crappie. Occasionally... when we catch a big cat it comes out. There are not many big fish in there. Most average under 3 pounds. There is one 7lb and a 14lb Large in there that get caught every so often. Most of the smallies end up around the 1 pound size. I have seen smallies on beds so I know they are breeding which I know is unusual in a pond so I know they have been there a while or came from another still water environment. BTW... frogs seem to be the food of choice with the bass as i have had them barf up parts and topwater works almost all spring and summer.

It is about 250'x250'. Spring fed and excellent flow. Due to the bottom... it is almost black in color but the water is clear. Runs about 15 feet deep.

No. It was already like this to an extent. Several people I know have brought fish over the years and dumped without asking but I did not due to the threat of gill maggot. I never knew, until a few years ago, that we had them anyway. Not really bad but still have them.

Oh... it has Smallies, Largemouth, Spotted, Hybrid Bluegill, regular Bluegill, crappie, and catfish.

Why do I like having my own private pond? I can get up in the morning and just drop down for some quiet time and this... 3 pounds of brownie at 8 o'clock in the morning... And... yes... it went back alive and well.

Same thing happened to me with my Verdict. I didn't have a reciept as it was a gift and they said send it back anyway. Ther waived the return fee since it was a gift and I had a new one in about 3 weeks. Call the number they have listed. They get thousand of e-mails a day so they could miss yours. They will address the problem ASAP.

Leesville ALL day today. Me and my bud got about 15 or so. 9 of them over 3 pounds each. Started on cranks... 1.5 KVD Chartreuse Blackback... up in Old Woman's Creek. While there we switched to Green Pumpkin Carolina Rig and just knocked the fire out of them. Big surge because of the dams letting in and out water shut the bite off. We moved to some coves and started burning them up with (Me) a Caffeine Smokey Shad and (Him) a white Zoom fluke in the natural cover and both of us with wacky Sinkos around the docks. Color didn't seem to matter so long as it was dark colored. He used black and I used a dark brown/orange craw color. Lots of fish guarding fry in the natural cover. Big females in the deep areas around the docks. Going to back off the bass for a day and catfish tomorrow evening.

Not bad. Where I fish, we seldom catch anything other than blues and channels. Maybe, in 20 years, I have caught 2 flatheads which suits me just fine as I do not like the taste of the "mud-cat". As for where... that's for me to know and for you to... just kidding. I fish on my family's farm just down river (about 3 miles) from Altavista. My parents live here... I built 6 years ago and my brother is getting ready to build... so, I would say it IS a family farm. lol Two ponds and the river. I have a take-out point for small boats like flatbottoms and canoesTo answer the next question that always comes up... Yes we allow people to fish, camp, hunt, and take boats out.

I finally had some good fishing on Leesville Lake. Got in 5 hours and top 5 went 9lb 2oz.. In all honesty... only caught 5... all on a Caffeine Shad in Smokey Shad. Back out in the morning to Leesville and then catfishing Saturday in the Staunton.

<----- 17 years here!

Try looking at the Stratos line of boats. They have some nice F&S. I have a dedicate bass boat from them and love it.

Two GSD's. Had another but he died. The white one is Kiki. She was given to us as her kennel mate tried to kill her. The other is my boy, Jäger. 115 pounds of "lap dog". Both pure GSD with AKC. Tried to breed her but she won't take. Not from him or any other male so I know the problem is her. Shame!!!

I have at lease one of all of the V series. The Veritas is, by far, my favorite. I have had Loomis, and several other high end rods in the past before trying the Abu line. I will stick with the Veritas and up in the Abu line from now on.

I have been considering that. I actually already have a MK 2 bank charger but a 3 would be the better choice.

Yup... that's what I was hoping. I plan on getting a 2 bank charger though. Guess it won't hurt for them to be hooked together.

I spoke with my boat guy and he said parallel the batteries. Use the same battery and it would not mutiply the voltage and should up my run time. This is what he said:

I do know that painting a fiberglass body vehicle like an old Corvette, you wet sand (by hand) the body. As for tearing up the wrap... paint or wrap... you drag it on the ground, it will get torn up. As for painting the inside... sounds like a decent plan if you take care and do it right. IIRC... there is paint specifically for boats. http://www.bottompai...nt-c-13630.html

Looking at the Perko 2 battery setup... when hooking up the charger, will the connection to the ground from one battery to the other affect the chargingprocess? I guess the question... I will add a two bank charger. How will that hook up? How will it hook up?

Yeah... the parallel I knew... 12V+12V=24V or fried motor. Perko switch? Which model? Was hoping for a "kit" lol

I have a Stratros 176XT with a 12V trolling motor system. I am seriously buring through my trolling battery as the day goes on. I have to be conservative. I guess it is because my front Humminbird is also hooked to that system. I want to add a second battery for the "in case" scenario. There is just enough room in the compartment for another battery. Is there a kit or something that I can get to just add it in? Something with a switch (wires and tray, too) to go back and forth between the two batteries so I do not have to replace my 12V with a 24V at this time?

You got me on that. I would suspect it would take some scaffolding and some careful manuvering of the boat to cover it all. Was at a tourney today and saw one of the boats my buddy did. Here is his site... Creative Edge Design