Bassun

Meh good stories take a few lines!

I think that "white" seems to be the universal color following a rain. I don't know why, but white always seems to be the right color following a summer rain.

Being serious, does the the leverage net really make it "that" easy? I can see how it could, but then again, I'm expecting it to vs experiencing how it does.

Ah, well heck. i thought we were gonna see some inventiveness, lol.

I was just thinking of a couple cheap ways to gain the benefits of the leverage net myself. I see two super easy ways to modify my net. A: Add a "pistol" grip on top and an arm guide on the back using the same net. It wouldn't be as fancy, nor have the exact same torque, but would make one handed operation much easier. B: Get a "forearm crutch" and affix the net to the end of that // affix the grip and forearm guide to the existing net. Either way could be an interesting mod. I'm interested to see what you fob up in the shop.

This really is a great site. I tend to come and go in terms of activity, but even if you are a lurker - there's sooooo much great info here.

So - first off, Absolutely -- Go when you can! Can't catch a fish if your aren't fishing... Secondly, sure if you look at the full span you are seeing a bigger chunk of time. But even then, think about what you just said. 14 of the 28 state records come from those 14 days in May. Two weeks in May holds as many records as the remaining 351 days of the year. So yeah, May is the time for lunkers in VA The bigger point wasnt the span of time, rather the number of records set on a new moon specifically. 5 records of 28 on one particular day. Even if we do the math based on a 28 day lunar cycle, we should see roughly 1 fish per day of the cycle. 2 or 3 make sense as they are with in a couple standard deviations but to have 500% the number of records set on one partuclar day of the lunar cycle seems statistically important. BUT --- again having said all that. If someone can go fish, go fish! But, I will continue take a day off to fish the new moon of May, just in case...

I have to agree that I pretty much always have a net available even when bank fishing now (full size). Landing big fish on light line at a bank is asking for trouble elsewise. Same thing with wading, I keep one on my back but it's just a shorty.

Interesting fact on Ole' Bill that I didn't realize until just a few days ago. His PB is "only" a 13 pounder!

HA! That's why I don't have a state record! lol

I acutally just posted this in a different thread, then saw this one. While I agree with going when you can, I absolutely plan a May trip on the new moon(s). Does it work? Well over a 32 day span (April 30-June 1) 5 state records were set on new moons and one on a full moon. so 6 of 28 records set over 2 days. Statistically I think that would indicate the lunar phase does have an impact. Now do I pay attention to the "peak times"...nope. Not at all. Peak days, and most specifically New and Full moons, yup! ** Info on moon phase fishing in VA (circa 2011) Some reseach I did a few years ago found that of the 28 state records, 14 were caught within 3 days of a new of full moon in May (or April 30th, and June 1st for two records so technically 12). Note half of the records set in Va come within a 32 day span from (April 30-June1) Specifically in May (including April 30 and June 1): New Moon Record Fish: 5 Full Moon Record Fish: 1 Fish caught within the +/- 3 days of full / new moon: 14 Days (1,2,3,-1,-2,-3) of new moon: 4 Days (1,2,3,-1,-2,-3) of full moon: 4

Just for fun, if you could give a new angler just ONE SINGLE unsolicited piece of advice, what would you share? (Assume they want advice to become a better angler.) Me, I think I would advise them to pay close attention to what worked and didn't work and begin logging it. I think that would help a new angler to develop patterns quickly and having a log to go back and look at what worked when is a huge advantage. I think it would also help a new angler to pay more attention to details which will pay dividends alone later on.

I hardly use strait shanks at all anymore. The only time I do is if I've rigged a two hook worm like the old Red Cremes - then I will use a strait shank for the hooks. And honestly, I cannot remember the last time I rigged one up (maybe I should try that with a senko...) I prefer offset hooks for worms and EWG for anything chunky, including flukes. If I'm fishing a live bait etc, then I shift to a circle hook exclusively now. Once you stop setting the hook, its amazing how well they work. I should probably try using a 1/0 or 2/0 for nosehooking on a dropshot and see how that works.

I usually have good luck on rainy days. But, I absolutely love a summer afternoon when a pop up shower comes through for a few minutes then passes. I want to throw top water, but I aways do best throwing a white twin tail grub in more open water, and if I'm in good cover a white fluke skipped to the dirt and worked fast all the way back to the boat. I love those showers!

Good luck bro!

Thanks! I wasn't sure what it was she did that to but remembered her telling me many, many years ago.

I generally try to fish the moon in May looking for a big hawg...but inevitably come up short each year. My PB's always seem to come in the heat of the day, mid summer. So definately unplanned. I would have bested myself a few years ago with the biggest bass I've ever seen in the water. I was playing around with a tiny grub catching some gills off this tree when this behemoth just appears from nowhere and opens up to inhale the little grub. I experienced a case of premature hookset. I don't think she had even closed her mouth before I tried to set the hook... I guess its better sometimes NOT to see whats going on, lol. ** Info on moon phase fishing in VA Some reseach I did a few years ago found that of the 28 state records, 14 were caught within 3 days of a new of full moon in May (or April 30th, and June 1st for two records so technically 12). Specifically in May (including April 30 and June 1): New Moon Record Fish: 5 Full Moon Record Fish: 1 Fish caught within the +/- 3 days of full / new moon: 14 Days (1,2,3,-1,-2,-3) of new moon: 4 Days (1,2,3,-1,-2,-3) of full moon: 4 So I always try for a long day on the water during that new moon of May

Now that is a technique I've never even heard of, lol.

My aunt used to fish a lot in Florida. I remember her telling me when a fish "holed up" she would pluck the line like a banjo and they would often come back out. Now I don't know what type of fish she was talking about, or even if it was fresh or saltwater fish she was referring to. All I know is that it doesn't work if a fish gets you wrapped in deep brush, lol.

I'm constantly "modifying" my technique and lures to try to establish a pattern. Each fish caught should put you closer to finding the pattern at that moment. If we get locked into just one technique, chances are we're giving up fish. I think the harderst part for me is to leave an area that just feels right, but your not getting hit. I know early on, I used to stay waaaaay to long in an area. Think back of a cove, or big flat, etc. not a single doc or point etc. During my first few years on the lakes, I though we were fishing pretty efficiently, and did a good job catching what we could out of a given area. Then one day our club was holding an open tournament, and I did some fun fishing with an old vet. He was fishing water faster with a shakey head then I did with a crank. I honestly thought he was trying to back seat fish me at first he was going so fast, then we started getting a few bites, then midway down that same bank - he pulled up the trolling motor and we took off. He had picked up a pattern, and his experience told him where the fish were. I was still trying to figure out how he was fishing the worm so fast lol. [and he was right, we got into better numbers at the next spot and he did slow down a bit there] The point being, if you are on familiar waters you can get by with fishing an area much more quickly than you can on new waters because you have years (in his case about 30 some on that lake) of experiences to draw from. I've also found that unless you are a pure powerfisherman, most of us spend too long in an area if we are looking for the best 5 fish. Now, if you are fishing just to catch fish - slow down and pick apart an area, nothing wrong with it if you are getting bit. But if there's money on the line, wasting time in unproductive waters is just wasting time. I didn't really answer your question so I guess for me if I'm getting no hits with search baits, I leave an area quickly (now). If I do get a few hits, then we will slow down and start working an area and building out a pattern and changing baits quite often to try to dial in the bite. Each move from then on is an attempt to improve on that pattern. If we're catching them from under docs, then I will buzz right by a big weed bed and just cast a spinner a few times as we pass it just in case, then at the next dock we will slow down and fish it hard. Unless of course we pick up bites in the grass... The biggest mistake I caught myself donig early on when trying to find fish was that I would go from one great looking place, maybe a cove with a defined channel and lots of lay downs and not catch anything, to another great looking place...with the same set up. If they are not holding in a cove with "X" structure and cover, then why go to another cove with the same thing?

I love to fish from sunup till early afternoon. There's something almost mystical about fishing early and having that fog whisking around, the lake being calm and quiet, and not having the sun beat down on you. But, most often I end up going from around 9am to early afternoon. I seldom fish through dusk, unless I'm staying at the lake. If I'm fishing solo, I do not like being out in the dark.

My wife will fish on occasion, but usually shes on the boat more to get a tan and relax. Of course, everything must be aligned correctly, late starting time, good weather, hot but not too hot, no plans of staying too long etc. That said, she impressed the heck out of me this year. I didn't get the boat on the water much and she only went once over the summer. But, she decided she was going to fish. And she fished hard. I caught a nice 3 or 4 pounder off a dock early, then dialed it back thinking she would get some fish on quick and have a good day. Well, I guess my early fish was a fluke (on a fluke ironically) as the rest of the day was more like musky fishing. She was determined and we fished for hours before she got a bite. Unfortunately by then we had downsized to bluegills, lol. It was one of those days where you just coudn't seem to buy a bite. But she fished hard all day, and was finally rewarded with a last cast fish. She was resolved to catch something before we left...gotta love that! Oh, and is it bad that I read the title and thought you were asking what your significant other fish was, lol. As in a second most favorite...

Right now there is someone somewhere reading this thinking.... hmmm... that's not a bad idea. I might just try that...

I never silence my phone on the boat. I used to, cause it just annoyed the devil out of me since it seemed like everyone seemed to decide to text or call when I was on the water. Then, the summer of 2012 I was on Claytor with my nephew. We were fishing late evening, and going to fish into night. I always tell my wife roughly where I plan on being just in case something happens, and she knows that generally I don't come off the water for storms. I knew there were going to be some storms hit and miss throughout the evening so I had reminded her that we were going to just hole up at a dock or something if a bad storm came, then fish right behind it. So, as afternoon progressed, I got a text saying that there was a bad storm coming. No biggie. Then a few minutes later, me and my nephew both were getting calls and they were emphatic "Get off the water now" calls. My wife said, "The trees are sideways - it's bad." Well, fighting a storm is one thing, but fighting something that scaring people in the house is a whole nother ballgame. Before I even got the boat packed to run, my nephews girlfriend who lives about half way between my house and the lake was calling. We fired up and ran back to the dock, and I could see some dark clouds racing up. We had less than two miles to run and the storm caught us just as we hit the dock. Any by storm, I mean derecho! I was heading to the truck and my nephew was on the boat, holding on at the dock. Things went form blustery to EF1 level strait line winds, and was spinning up small tornadoes in the valleys as the wind crossed. In a matter of just a few minutes, the whole area was disheveled. Trees down everywhere, trash and junk blown all over, it was a mess. I limb blew completely across the cove and hit my nephew, but didn't do any real damage. One of my friends was fishing below the lake when it hit and saw a small twister crossing the river. They were in an aluminum boat and just beached it and held on hoping for the best. All in all, we were all fine and things worked out good -- but things could have been really bad if we had been caught mid-lake when that hit. Since then, the phone stays loud, just in case. An ounce of prevention as they say...

I couldn't agree with you more. But, we also have to remember the Jobs, Gates and Zuckerburg are the exception not the norm. I don't agree with the actual need for a degree, but if you are going to work for someone you "need" one... Having said that, there is absolutely merit in education. Formal or real world. I absolutely do not want to dismiss anyone's effort to expand their knowledge.