willembop

You can launch for free at Aquia Landing, which is a Stafford County park, between 8 AM and 8 PM. You have to drag/lift your kayak over a small concrete step-over divider to get it on the swimming beach, then drag your boat a few yards to the water. You can usually catch some bass in the cove west of the landing. It's fairly open out there, so the wind can be a pain. I only go there on relatively calm days. The two free ramps at Quantico (Quantico Creek and Chopawamsic Creek) are a short drive and a good option. You may need a Quantico permit there, but it's only a few bucks. (I'm a senior citizen, exempt.)

I have paddled my D10T as much as 4 miles in a day of fishing. It is a slow boat and you need to be patient to get where you're going. Longer, narrower yaks will get there faster. BTW, I'm 66 years old, and exercise regularly, but I'm not a highly fit individual. But I am retired and not in a hurry.

I recommend you get a leash for your paddle. Also, make sure everything you carry on board is tied down or has a leash. Store your phone, car keys etc. in watertight compartment or bag. When the water is warm enough, practice falling off your kayak and getting back in (in deep water). Then you'll know how if you ever need to do it for real. (It's pretty easy to do on a sit-on-top kayak.)

I weight 185, and the D10T handles mild chop on the Potomac without any problem for me. Rides high enough in front to keep mostly dry.

I have a D10T, and it is overall a pretty good kayak, but the seat is terrible. It's difficult to get the bottom to stay in place, and doesn't give you much support. I adapted a camping chair to mine (a GCI Everywhere Chair, but it wasn't easy) and I'm very satisfied now. It is a slow kayak for paddling, which you would expect because it is short and wide. But it is very stable and tracks fairly well for its size. I added two side handles to mine, which makes handling easier, and I use the two-wheel cart that plugs in the scupper holes, which makes moving it easy (it's no lightweight). I carry it on top of my Equinox, strapped right-side-up to the factory roof rack, and that works well. BTW, adapting the chair involved cutting the front leg and fabricating one from PVC pipe. If anyone's interested I could provide photos.

I like spincast reels and have used most of the ones available. The Omegas are pretty good, but not very durable. Much better is the Garcia Abumatic 170i. More durable and generally works smoother. Only negative is it's a bit heavier, and the casting button is low-mounted and takes a little getting used to. Another good one is the Daiwa Gold Cast. I would recommend them both above the Omega. My personal favorites are the older Abumatics including the 375, 475, 875 and 1275, which I have purchased on Ebay (mostly used, but a couple new). These are the best working spincast reels ever, in my opinion. All the reels mentioned have oscillating spools that make sure the line winds on the spool evenly, and also increases the line capacity. Spincast reels without oscillating spools (which includes almost all of the cheaper ones) have a lot of problems with line jamming on the spool.

I've never painted a kayak, but have done some painting on other plastic things. Regular paint doesn't adhere well to the type of plastic used in kayaks. However, Krylon makes a paint called Fusion that sticks permanently to all kinds of plastics. That's what I would try on a kayak.

I got a nice, sturdy crate at Sears...and they have a larger size as well that fit perfectly on my Ascend D10T.

Stafford near Ferry Farm.

On the creeks, from a boat, a permit is not required -- just a Virginia fishing license. From the banks, or on Quantico lakes and ponds, a $10 yearly permit is also required (unless you're over 65). For Aquia and the Potomac, a Virginia fishing license okay.

I fished both Curtis and Abel a bit last year late summer and fall. Curtis has a pretty good crappie population. I've not been able to catch bass of any size there, only dinky ones. I have noticed a population of large carp, which I think prevents weed growth. I believe that limits the bass numbers. I have had a few good days at Abel, catching bass up to 4 pounds. But I have also been skunked quite often there. There are also crappie and channel cats at Abel, and they are pretty easy to catch. I think Abel has the potential to be pretty good for bass in the spring. I was there last week, mostly to test some new equipment on my kayak, and to get in some paddling. Could only go about a quarter mile past the bridge because the main lake was still iced over. Threw a senko here and there -- no bites -- 42 degree water. If you're 15 minutes from Curtis, you're not far from Quantico. I've caught bunches of bass there, at Chopawamsic creek and Quantico creek. There are free boat ramps at both those areas, and they are open to the public. You might also get into some snakeheads there. Aquia creek is also nearby.

I find an anchor pretty handy for fishing on windy days. I use the small one from Austin Kayak http://www.austinkayak.com/products/73/Folding-Anchor-15-lbs.html

I fish mostly with spincast reels. The Garcia Abumatic 170i has an oscillating spool and is probably the best one you can buy now (just over $50 on ebay). I have a couple of older models that are similar (Abumatic 475 and 1275), and they have worked great for a long time. I like fishing weightless Senkos in weed-choked parts of the Potomac, and pinpoint casts are easy with these reels. I have tried lots of other brands, but I think those without oscillating spools have all the problems you mentioned. I have had a couple of Zebco Omega Pros, and they work well, but don't seem to be as durable as the Abumatic 170i.

I retired last year and started up bass fishing after many years not. I kept hearing on this forum and others about senko or finesse worms. Last month I finally gave them a try, and boy do they work. I don't understand what the bass see in them. This morning on the Potomac I used 6" finesse worms from Gander Mountain, blue with silver flecks, weightless. Caught four nice 2-pound bass in a couple of hours. The same worms worked in Minnesota on a trip last month, and in a local northern Virginia lake. I'm convinced!

Here she is with her biggest bass ever...