Brayberry

I'm the king of using a $30 - $60 rod, and sticking on a $150 - $200 reel on it. No complaints. Right now one of my favorite rods was a $20 Field and Stream store brand rod, with a Revo on it. Cast like a dream. Back in middle school (late 90's) I bought a Walmart branded rod (FLW) for $9. Still works great to this day, and I've probally caught 1000+ fish on that rod alone during the last 20 years

Western Branch is clear. The offshore bite is better then the shoreline. Stick to points, aerators, and deeper shorelines and you'll do ok

Smith is a weird lake, I don't remember the exact numbers but the average lake depth is 4-6 feet, and the deepest spot is like 10 foot. It's a mudhole after it rains a lot. I've never done well there, but there's some big ones there. I stick to Suffolk

Another good nuggest of info: In the lakes with aerators, they are all located on the main channel that runs down the lake so if you fish it or follow them you can follow the channel without a fish finder

I was just out at Cahoon today. Fish lately have been off points for me, typically 10 - 15 feet deep. Any bait, dropoff, bushes, humps, etc make it even better. I do well with Carolina Rigs, Jigs, and Cranks. Also in the morning I'll target laydowns and weeds with topwater. In Western Branch and Prince, you can usually find some bass around the aerators. Also look over the Navonics app and when you see a hump or drop off, fish it.

Years ago in Bassmaster magazine, they were interviewing a pro, and this question came up. His response was he always wore a hat while fishing and when he could feel the fish swimming up to jump, he'd toss his hat into the water where the fish was trying to surface. This would scare the bass, and keep him from jumping, then after landing the bass he'd retrieve his floating hat and keep fishing. I've done this trick many times and it's been 100% successful.

Where is this posted? I'd love to read it

Check out the Pond Boss, Google it, it'll answer every question you have about ponds/fish

I have 2 here just waiting to get out and try them. This weekend they should get their chance

So glad this thread was revived, it's probally my single favorite thread.

No reason to pay $12 at BPS when Walmart has them for 1/2 that. Besides BPS will price match if you show them. I do it all the time

I use a texas rigged worm for numbers of fish (quantity) and a jig for bigger fish (quality)

I have some beautifully painted custom painted cranks, and I have some blah looking cranks. Both catch fish equally for me. The collector in me loves the custom stuff, so I keep buying it, more to admire then to fish with.

The New Rage Nugget coming this fall

I do well on the old Lucky Craft Rick Clunn Square Bills. I know the shallower Rapala DT series work well as well. Now that Summer is setting in, you should try out Deep Cranking Strike King 5XD's and 6XD's

Abu Garcia for me, as I love the Revo

If all else fails, figure out your average skipping distance you need to go, we'll say 40 feet. Strip off the 40 feet of line then put a piece of tape over the line on the spool, and reel in the 40 feet of line and tie on your bait as normal. Now you can skip as normal but if you should backlast you only will backlast that 40 feet, it'll be quick and easy to pick out, and your while spool isn't ruined

There are plenty of confirmed sightings of Cottonmouths in Virginia, just a FYI

I'd guess somewhere between 9 - 10 lbs. I caught a 9 lber there and it was 26 and a quarter inches a few years ago and this fish was bigger

No weigh as I caught her at 630 am and wasn't heading in till around 2, so I just got pictures and a length (27 inches). She was released

I braved the lake today and got rewarded

I just catch more on braid tied skirts vs wire tied, apparently I'm the only one. In the end, a tied skirt in any fashion is better then any band in my book

Being from Suffolk, I can tell you the weather has been terrible the last week. Everyday is a thunderstorm. Fishing has been awful. I've been catching them on a spinnerbait near bluegill beds or spawning shad.

River2Sea Now that I've taken a 2nd look I don't think it is

I solely use skirt that are hand tied, but won't use wire tied. I feel like when the wire is cut it leaves a small sharp, pointy area, that could cause the fish to reject the bait after sucking it in.