Wayne P.

s13john, I found the active fish at the upper end of the lake near the creek channel edges on stumps and also along a couple of contour dropoffs. I launched at the 701 ramp and passed under the power line and keep on going to the end of the lake. I'll send you a PM with some more details.

I went there again today to take advantage of the 70 degree weather. The water was 5 degrees warmer. I caught them on a Chatterbait and Trap again. 26 more bass than yesterday with the largest being 7 pounds, 12 ounces and 7 others over 4 pounds. My thumb and palm are torn up so I'll give them a few days rest. Its a tough job, but someone has to do it.

I did throw the wacky rig some, but the horizonal presentation to cover a lot of water was the pattern. A couple of kids and I caught some on the wacky rig Sunday at Lake Anna on the hot side though.

I fished there today, only two other boats out. The warm weekend got the water temp up to 43-44 degrees from mid lake to the upper end. All I caught were slot fish on a Chatterbait and Trap--2 were just over 5#.

I agree with roadwarrior, a 5/0 Gammy offset round bend is plenty big for a little 10"-12" worm. The diameter of those worms doesn't warrant anything bigger.

I've done quite well with the floating Traps on the Potomac River.

jax, there are only two things you need for it to work. The transducer has to be wet and the bottom of it has to be parallel with the bottom of the lake/river. If you choose that model, it has to reach from the clamping area of your boat to just below the water's surface. If none of those are long enough, you can just extend the reach with a piece of metal or wood. Some guys I know have that setup on the bow of their v-hull aluminum multi-species boats using the Power Drive motors. They had to make an extension for them.

Kurlee, PM sent

Kurlee, for my fishing needs, yes. When I don't need the extra strength of a braid and want a fast fall rate, I will use just fluorocarbon (fishing Super Flukes deep is one). For spinning gear, no other line type beats braid for trouble free fishing. I fish weightless finesse presentations in heavy cover a lot and braid fits that application, but the braid's floatation limits the proper depth control by itself. A leader of about 4' of 20# is my weight to get that depth control. Water color has no affect on my choice of lines. The presentaton along with the amount of cover and potential catch size determines the line I use. ww2farmer, I've never experienced any fluorocarbon line that I would classify as manageable, tolerable would be a more appropriate description.

There are federal laws governing lights on boats. http://www.nyss.com/federal.html#3G

Its either this one or a version of it with a T handle---- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_97116____SearchResults

Good job with the fiberglass, BUT you will find the loop carpet to be a nightmare with hooks.

The best producing smallmouth spinnerbait for me is a 3/16 or 3/8 oz. with chartreuse skirt and tandem chartreuse willow blades. I use a treble hook as a trailer because they smack it so hard that they will miss getting hooked with the single hook or a single trailer hook.

SkeeterZX225, unfortunately the Power Drive motors are not very transducer mounting friendly due to management of the wire. The universal sonar motors in that line are the most practical for front sonar use. jax, I have seen boats with your motor type rigged with this or a version of it ---http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_387_250003004_250000000_250003000_250-3-4

Another with a metal blade-

I use a custom jointed buzzbait that is difficult for the bass to throw. I have the most success with the 3/8 oz.

I haven't noticed a decrease in strikes when using just braid as opposed to just fluorocarbon. Adding a leader of fluorocarbon on braid has no affect on the number of strike either other than getting the lure deeper faster since the braid floats and I use a fluorocarbon leader with some presentations to make the braid sink .

I sent an e-mail to the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce letting them know of the concern of many on the internet on several web sites. The majority of opinions state it is a bad idea and it may restult in BASS not wanting to return. That would greatly affect the efforts of the Chamber to get similar national events there to help their small economy. The answer I got back was "Thanks"

reo, PM sent

The best presentation for a Zoom Trick worm.

It is just a renamed Maxxum with some changes like a different tilt mechanism and a longer handle.

Yes, you can use two head units with one transducer but not at the same time. You can also have two transducers with just one head unit, but can only use one transducer at any time. Lowrance/Eagle, and Humminbird have transfer switches and/or networking for that purpose. Most boating fishermen use two sonar units and two transducers with one unit up front with the transducer on the trolling motor and the other unit on the boat console with the transducer on the transom or in-hull for shoot thru. The bassboat I just sold had two sonar units up front with two transducers on the trolling motor and two sonar units on the console with two transducers in-hull with one on a transfer switch and one transom mounted.

On a jointed Shad Rap:

I'm not familiar with his seat mount, but this is one of the models that tilts--- http://www.cabelas.com/spodw-1/0030641.shtml

How far is "that far" to you? I fish them weightless a lot and can throw them easily 40'-50' with either spinning gear or baitcasting gear. I also use a weightless finesse worm and throw them on spinning gear at least 40'. What kind of line are you using? edited: I just made a test cast with a finishing nail weighted finesse worm (just happen to have 4 rods rigged that way) and with just an effortless side arm wrist cast, it went 57 feet. I was using 30# braid.