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Potomac River
April 25th, 2009
Potomac
River FISHING REPORT
Water temp 68, clarity 2 feet.
And the moment we've all been waiting for…SPAWN! Here we are…big fish are
moving up on beds…best tactics….Mizmo tubes, shaky head, drop shot and split
shot rigs! There are other fish still being caught on Mann's Baby 1-Minus,
Lucky Craft LVR D-7 and Classic spinnerbaits.
Texas rigged Mizmo tubes cast or pitched to holes in the grass and on the
inside grass edges arethe best bet. You can also toss stickworms like the
Mann's HardNose Freefall worm. I like to use 3/16-ounce weights for the
Mizmo in green pumpkin with copper flake on a 3/0 Mustad Ultra Point tube
hook. For line, I like the lightest I can get away with…now it is 12-14
pound test…Berkley Trilene Maxx. I like casting gear, so I am using a 6'8"
Quantum rod with a Tour Edition reel. This is a 7:1 fast reel to take up the
slack!
For the drop shot, I like a 3-foot leader and a Mann's 5-inch HardNose Super
Finesse worm. Again I will cast this on casting gear!!!!! I like the heavier
equipment fishing around grass and during the spawn. The same goes for the
shaky head…a _ ounce head and the same finesse worm. I also use this
HardNose Super Finesse worm for the split shot rig…again with a 3-foot
leader. For the weight on the split shot rig, go to a 3/16 Water Gremlin
Bullshot or you can make this a light Carolina rig…swivel, bead, etc. I like
using Tru Tungsten 1/4-ounce bullet weights with an 18-inch fluorocarbon
leader. The tungsten gives me a better “feel” of what's on the bottom and
the fluorocarbon leader not only sinks, but also doesn't absorb water like
mono…retaining strength and sensitivity. For main line, I have been going
to braid! 65 pound test Spiderwire stealth.
If I have clients who prefer a spinning reel, I am using Berkley Fireline in
14-pound test with a leader of Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon. For the drop shot,
split shot, the shaky head and the Mizmo.
For Lucky Craft LVR D-7 and for deeper applications due to higher tides…the
LV 500, a bit heavier and gets to the grass easier, I use 14-pound test and
I go to my faster reels…at least 6:1! I am also going to a stiffer medium
action rod! This is due to the warmer water and increased metabolism of the
fish! I need to catch up to them. The 14-pound test makes it easier to pull
fish out of grass…but if you can get away with 12…it's easier to keep the
baits down! Also, a note here. I like to use mono but that said, I use
20-pound test Fireline on my client spinning rods! This makes it easier to
snap baits out of grass and to set the hook, especially on long casts! It's
also thinner making it easier to keep the baits down! One of my clients,
Dan Lewis uses braid on his casting gear…Spiderwire here, 50-pound test. He
didn't' miss or lose any fish on our last outing…an adjustment in my reels
and rods will allow me to stay with mono. I just like it better! Dan has
been on me for years to make the change…stay tuned!
I am also relying on the Mann's Baby 1-Minus! When the tide is lower I can
keep this bait over the grass and it is really whacking them! I like the
Splatterback Sunfish and firetiger! The Lemon Shad is good too! A sleeper
color is the Elite RED! As for hooks on all of these baits, I like a Mustad
Ultra Point RED hook on the belly…and I replace factory hooks with Mustad
Triple grips on the lipless baits and a standard short shank Ultra Point on
my Baby 1-Minus lures! Mustad has these new short shank trebles that are
the exact same size as the #6 and #4 hooks form the factory!
Swimming the Mann's Stone jig with a HardNose Craw over the grass, just like
the lipless cranks! You can also use a Rock N Runner…a chatterbait of
sorts…Road Runner style! I am also swimming 5.5 inch Mizmo tubes with the
R&R (Gerkin) insert tube heads. Here I like white and some craw patterns!
For the jig, I like the Black/Blue and some craw patterns…be patient with
these! They will produce bigger fish!
Bottom line, any lure you want to use now will work! There are fish in the
grass and on riprap and docks!! I have seen boaters moving in to a spot with
their big motor, making it difficult for others to fish…trolling motor into
and out of spots will keep these fish biting.
In areas without grass, Punisher hair jigs are putting fish in the boat! I
like the 1/4 or heavier…the Punisher Chunks with Punisher rattles create the
bulky little fish bait package. This bait will get some big ones to bite!
It also will soak up a lot of Jack's Juice into the hand tied craft hair!
For the spinnerbait, I like the Mann's Classic, white/chart skirt with gold
blades...Indiana/Colorado. Slow roll this offering when the water has some
chop or when the cloud cover comes in.
Confused over lcense requirements to guide on the Tidal Potomac River? I
worked closely with the PRFC to come up with a grid of requirements to
comply with DC, MD, VA and the PRFC on the Tidal Potomac. For a copy,
http://nationalbass.com/reports/prfclicense.htm.
And ALL guides will have to carry a TWIC card too! I support efforts to see
to it these rules are enforced!
2009 Potomac Tides under “REPORTS AND TIDES”. Print a copy.
New to the river? Get a pro-quality map for fishing the Potomac and for
other Virginia waters map from GMCO: www.gmcomaps.com. They list popular
locations and hidden dangers of navigating the Potomac.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
"Take me fishing!" .·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸> >
March 20, 2009
Water is
clear adn 53 degrees! What a great week of fishing. Water temps are
getting into and staying in the mid 50's! If you only use one bait, make it
your lipless crankbait!
Fish are moving to any living grass located near deeper water. The buck
males are moving up a bit shallower, so stay deeper on the grass. Also, sea
walls, rip rap and docks in deeper 4-8 feet are good high water targets.
For the lipless cranks, I like the Lucky Craft LVR D-7 in Mad Craw. This
bait is so well balanced. It drops without tipping over after snatching from
grass. It drops slightly nose down too! I like it on 12-pound test on a
good crankbait rod now! I also use a slower reel…preferably one without
infinite anti reverse. Without infinite anti reverse, I can feel the subtle
bites in my reel handle sooner! It does make a huge difference this time of
the year, but most of the year too! A lighter action medium graphite rod
allows the fish to pull the bait into their mouth without pulling back as
hard. Once loaded, set the hook. In about three weeks, the grass will be
taller and harder to snap free from, so I will go to a stiffer medium action
graphite rod. And a few weeks after that, I have to go to a faster reel…6:1
or so because the fish are more aggressive and it is harder to catch up to
them to set the hook.
After that, I really love tossing suspending jerkbaits. 12-pound test line
is good or even 10 if you can. I like the smaller Pointer 78 in clown or the
gold/black and orange combos. The key is to let the bait sit for a looooong
time! 5 to 15 seconds if you can! Light taps then let it sit! Tough to
do, but after getting a bunch of fish on the LVR D-7, I'll follow up with
the Pointer! Usually this produce bigger fish. Fish are really grouped up
more now than they will be for a while. As the grass spreads out, so will
the fish!
So get out there now!
Other baits, well why would you bother…OK…if you really have to, you can use
soft plastics….Mann's Stingray grub…3 inch avocado on a _ ounce round jig
head. Mizmo tubes with the R&R (Gerkin) insert tube heads. But, one more
tactic that produces big fish now is the Carolina rig. I like using Tru
Tungsten 1 ounce weights with an 18-inch fluorocarbon leader. The tungsten
gives me a better “feel” of what's on the bottom and the fluorocarbon leader
not only sinks, but also doesn't absorb water like mono…retaining strength
and sensitivity. For main line, I have been going to braid! 65 pound test
Spiderwire stealth.
For the spinnerbait, I like the Mann's Classic, white/chart skirt with gold
blades...Indiana/Colorado. Slow roll this offering when the water has some
chop or when the cloud cover comes in.
My 2008 Skeeter ZX225 is FOR SALE! Call for details! 703-380-7119.
The Punisher hair jig is in its glory now too! I like the 1/4 or
heavier…the Punisher Chunks with Punisher rattles create the bulky little
fish bait package. This bait will get some big ones to bite! It
IF you aren't sure about why you need to go slow…next fish you catch, check
the belly…see any silt just below their gills? They didn't get that
swimming around!
I
detail features and benefits of specific produts in my reports I have used
extensively and have confidence. Mentioning product names is easier for you
to match up with what I'm using.
MIZMO tubes, Punisher Jigs, and most of the Lucky Craft and Mann's baits are
now in Bass Pro Shops latest catalog…look for them!
New to the river? Get a pro-quality map for fishing the Potomac and for
other Virginia waters map from GMCO: www.gmcomaps.com. They list popular
locations and hidden dangers of navigating the Potomac.
Have fun! Questions, comments or booking a trip: info@nationalbass.com. I
have a lot of articles on various strategies and techniques on my site. If
you have a suggestion for an article, let me know. Check out my website:
www.nationalbass.com. I can't fish the entire river all the time; so if you
have some information to share, let me know.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service
Oct 1, 2008
74 degree water, 2-4 feet clarity and lots of grass on the Potomac River!
The topwater bite is great during low light conditions and with low water
regardless of sunlight. A mix of poppers and Mann's Super Frogs…and the
HardNose frogs. Braid is the only way to go! I like Spiderwire 65 pound
Stealth Ultra cast. Also a good stiff rod with a slightly softer tip for
better casting and a solid reel and hold on!!!!! I'm adding rabbit fur to
all of my Mann's Super Frogs! It's easy…a drop of Pro's Soft Bait Glue…JannsNetcraft.com
has rabbit fur strips in many colors! Mann's has a new Weasel!!! This is a
hollow frog with a lip to allow the bait to dive about a foot in between the
weeds! Really COOL! Also, try walking topwaters like Lucky Craft Gunfish
in shad patterns.
All other conditions require a mix of spinnerbaits. I am using _ ounce baits
with a _ ounce water Gremlin rubber core weight to the hook shank to add
weight and give more depth with speed for Willow/Colorado Mann's Classic
spinnerbaits! Open the weight, put it on the hook shaft and replace the
rubber. Close with pliers. It won't slide and allows you to use a smaller
profile bait. White skirts are working, but I have also gone to a red/craw
and firetiger pattern. Get a great selection of skirts at Jannsnetcraft.com!!!!
Try to fish near and not in clear water, unless you have cloud cover or a
lot of wind chop!
Contact grass with Mann's Baby 1-Minus and rip free. Also, “waking” baits
like the Mann's Waker or even the Mann's Mid-Minus in citrus colors or shad
patterns are working over grass and around docks and wood! Vary speeds...in
clearest water, burn baits! In stained water, slow down. Fish stained water,
near clear water, unless there is a chop on the surface or low light
conditions, fish clearer water.
I still like punching small mats. Best on flat calm, hot sunny days. Tru-Tungsten
weights with Tru-Tungsten Smart Pegs are the best way to go! Article coming
soon to Sportsman's Magazine (thesportsmansmag.com)! Interviews with Kelly
Jordon, Greg Hackney, and Pete Gluszek!!!!!
Just about all of us use ETHANOL!!!! I added a YAMAHA 10 micron fuel water
separator in my boat to filter gas before it gets to the filter in my Yamaha
HPDI! You should too, but also stop by my website to find out more about
the DANGERS of Ethanol on your outboard! Go to REPORTS then to BOAT US: The
Problem with Ethanol Fuel: Phase Separation.
I've switched batteries to the DEKA AGM deep cycle…I've already noticed they
don't take long to recharge! Full article on this new battery technology
under ARTICLES on my site! They show no signs of wearing down either and I
really use my trolling motor!
I prefer the new chatterbait style bait, the Rock N Runner…a Road Runner on
steroids complete with small silver willow blade on the underside giving a
unique action and more flash! This thumper combined with Mann's HardNose
Craw is killer! I'm using green pumpkin and watermelon skirts with
contrasting or matching craws! Various retrieves in the grass are working.
Look for clear water close to deeper water and stained water for the best
bites. I'm playing with a new one from KAOTIK Lures. Tank tossed me a few of
these…quality components and a “new” concept…holes in the blades…different
disturbance and allows baits to run deeper!
I'm also fishing a lot of Mizmo tubes now! Pitching to marsh clumps in
creeks to grass clumps and hard cover. Mann's HardNose 9-inch worms offer a
bigger target to fish with a huge food supply all around. The Spoils area is
also a good place for Mizmos! I'm pitching them Texas rigged and with the
Gerkin insert heads. I have been using the Gerkin head for 6 years! Made
with a Mustad Ultra Point hook...it has a wire weed guard and an elongated
lead head…this makes the bait glide. Also, hair jigs like the Punisher
work too. Jack's Juice really soaks into the plastics or into the hair on a
Punisher jig!
Pro's Soft Bait Glue is new and improved…how could they? They improved the
bottle! No more clogs! Much easier to apply on the water!
My 2008 Skeeter ZX225 is FOR SALE! Call me for details! 703-380-7119. You
can check out the new Skeeters, including the one I run, the Skeeter ZX225!
Stop by 1214 Portsmouth Blvd, Suffolk VA 23434 or call for details
757-923-0663, Frank, Jack and Steve will be there. Pick up some Yamalube and
Ring Free and also check out their other lines of boats. Under New
Management, www.SeaportMarineServices.com.
How many of you bought a baitcasting reel, tried it and gave up! Apparently
there are a lot of you out there! Don't give up, learn how to use them!
Start with a decent reel, $120-140 on up. Then practice…but what do you
practice? Check out my free videos
(http://www.monkeysee.com/channel/show/89) and you'll learn how to cast…if
you can cast, but with only one hand, you can learn how to use your other
hand too!
I'm the BASS FISHING EXPERT for the Boatus.com website. I answer fishing
questions based on my experience as a guide and with a little help from my
friends: other writers, manufacturers, guides and top pros will contribute
to my responses. Check it out at: http://my.boatus.com/askexperts/
I detail features and benefits of specific products in my reports I have
used extensively and have confidence. Mentioning product names is easier for
you to match up with what I'm using.
Have fun! Questions, comments or booking a trip: info@nationalbass.com. I
have a lot of articles on various strategies and techniques on my site. If
you have a suggestion for an article, let me know. Check out my website:
www.nationalbass.com. I can't fish the entire river all the time; so if you
have some information to share, let me know.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
"Take me fishing!"
.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸> >
REPORT
FOR 8/7/08
The early bite on top is pretty good, but you need to keep one tied on all
day. Poppers and walkers work best at higher tides, while hollow frogs and
toads work at lower tides. For walkers I like Lucky Craft Gunfish in shad
patterns. Mann's HardNose Frogs with a 5/0 Mustad Ultra Point tube hook in
white, when the sun is out, black on very cloudy days or in off color water.
In between, green pumpkin! The hollow frog bite continues and it doesn't
matter what time of day as long as you have LOW water! If there is sun and a
low tide, they work all day! Braid is the only way to go! I like the
Spiderwire 65 pound Stealth Ultra cast. Also a good stiff rod with a
slightly softer tip for better casting like the 2iG Ultra Strike 7'2” frog
rod and a solid reel and hold on!!!!! I am adding rabbit fur to all of my
Mann's Super Frogs! It's easy…a drop of Pro's Soft Bait Glue…JannsNetcraft.com
has rabbit fur strips in many colors! I am also using a Furbit popper found
at Warbirds in Woodbridge and sfttackle.com. Call store for details
703-878-3111
Topwaters are also a good way to expose mat fish for punching! Best on flat
calm, hot sunny days. Tru-Tungsten weights with Tru-Tungsten Smart Pegs are
the best way to go! Find high water mats on incoming tides…these have more
space underneath! Article coming soon to Sportsman's Magazine! Interviews
with Kelly Jordon, Greg Hackney, and Pete Gluszek!!!!!
For the rest of the day, I am using a mix of Lucky Craft BDS 4, a big-bodied
shallow crank with a wide bobbling action. White is a good color here.
Mann's Baby 1-minus in Splatterback Holographic is my favorite. In
spinnerbaits, the _ ounce Mann's Classic…gold blades, white skirt over
shallow grass and wood when the skies are cloudy or the water is a bit
stained. Vary the speed of the retrieve and rip from grass. Also, “waking”
baits like the Mann's Waker or even the Mann's Mid-Minus in citrus colors or
shad patterns are working over grass and around docks and wood!
Vary your speed...in the clearest water, burn baits! In stained water, slow
down. I try to fish stained water, near clear water, unless there is a chop
on the surface or low light conditions, then I fish the clearer water.
The 13th annual St Jude Potomac Teams Tournament was a huge success! Lots
of prizes…BoatUS, Abu reels, Berkley line, SealSkinz socks and gloves,
Mann's Baits, and Frogg Toggs! If you want to be on the email list, forward
yours to me. You will be contacted for next year! Thanks to all who
participated and Regions 1 and 9 for their help! Russ Shetley does a great
job running this event! For standings: nationalbass.com
My follow-up bait is the new chatterbait style bait, the Rock N Runner…a
Road Runner on steroids complete with small silver willow blade on the
underside which gives it a unique action and more flash! This thumper
combined with the Mann's HardNose Craw is killer! I am using green pumpkin
and watermelon skirts with contrasting or matching craws! Various retrieves
in the grass are working. I look for clear water close to deeper water and
to stained water for the best bites.
After that…Stick worms and weightless plastics…split shot, drop shot, and
slow down! Incoming tides produce cooler water. This activates the fish a
bit. Otherwise it's a slow patient presentation.
I'm also fishing a lot of Mizmo tubes now! Pitching to marsh clumps in
creeks to grass clumps and to hard cover. Mann's HardNose 9 inch worms offer
a bigger target to fish with a huge food supply all around. The Spoils area
is also a good place for Mizmos! I'm pitching them Texas rigged and with
the Gerkin insert heads. I have been using the Gerkin head for 6 years!
Made with a Mustad Ultra Point hook...it has a wire weed guard and an
elongated lead head…this makes the bait glide. The Gerkin tube head, now
owned by R&R Custom Baits can be found at Dance's Sporting Goods in Colonial
Heights, VA or by calling…804-541-4162. Also, hair jigs like the Punisher
work too. Jack's Juice really soaks into the plastics or into the hair on a
Punisher jig!
Pro's Soft Bait Glue is new and improved…how could they? They improved the
bottle! No more clogs! Much easier to apply on the water!
Hooray! The Clean Water Act exemption was passed! This means there will be
NO fine or fee for "normal operational" discharges from recreational boats,
such as deck run-off from rain or engine cooling water. The proposed Clean
Boating Act of 2008 does not weaken any existing environmental laws that
restrict the overboard discharge of oil, fuel, garbage, or sewage.
On all moving baits, I recommend replacing hooks with Mustad Ultra Point
trebles. BTW! The BEST split ring pliers ever, from Texas Tackle!
http://texastackle.com/pliers.htm none like it anywhere! For cranks, I like
the 7” medium action rod like the 2iG Ultra Strike, perfect to feel cover
and hookset! It's not too limber or too stiff to keep you from landing
fish.
Have fun! Questions, comments or booking a trip: info@nationalbass.com. I
have a lot of articles on various strategies and techniques on my site. If
you have a suggestion for an article, let me know. Check out my website:
www.nationalbass.com. I can't fish the entire river all the time; so if you
have some information to share, let me know.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
"Take me fishing!"
April 10th, 2008
I have been
on the river a lot in the past few days. Water temps have been yo-yoing
between the low 50's into the low 60's. This is really changing the mood of
the fish. The most stable pattern has been to fish ditches and hard cover.
The grass is coming in nicely, but has not developed a definitive edge. When
the fish retreat, they move to deeper scattered grass and other cover,
making them a bit more difficult to track down on the colder water temps.
Potomac River guide Capt. John Sisson reports the old bridge pilings above
the Wilson Bridge still present a potential hazard! BE CAREFUL!
Warmer water temps have allowed the fish to move up to the drop edges and
stay on the flats. Fish are moving up to last year's grass on main river
flats and creek mouth points. This is an excellent time to get away from
the crowds and find new fish. These fish will stage in these areas for a
few weeks, then move toward spawning flats as nighttime lows are not as low
and the days are getting longer, keeping us warmer later.
For the cold snap, I have relied on several soft plastics presentations. I
either cast to ditches, pitch to wood and skip under docks!! Mann's Stingray
3” avocado grub is my favorite, then Mizmo tubes, then drop shots. The best
way to fish a Mizmo tube with an insert tube head. I have been using the
Gerkin head for 6 years! Made with a Mustad Ultra Point hook...it has a
wire weed guard and an elongated lead head…this makes the bait glide. The
Gerkin tube head, now owned by R&R Custom Baits can be found at Dance's
Sporting Goods in Colonial Heights, VA or by calling…804-541-4162. Also,
hair jigs like the Punisher work too. The key this time of the year with all
baits is to slow down. Stop when you can. For extended periods! This is
where fish attractants come in handy. I like Jack's Juice because it really
soaks into the plastics or into the hair on a Punisher jig!
The two best hard baits are the suspending jerkbait and the lipless crank. I
prefer the Lucky Craft here! The Pointer 78 and the 100 are fantastic. I
use 10-12 pound test…MONO!!! I don't like fluorocarbon. The line
sinks…that's OK, but it sinks the entire length of the line. This makes it
harder to set the hook, and to keep the fish from feeling all of the line in
the water…. just my preference. Note that outgoing tides generally bring
warmer water, especially as you get closer to DC. When that happens, you can
be a bit more aggressive. Also take note of water clarity to determine speed
and colors. Around Blue Plains and other warmer (55+) shallow…up to 6
feet…areas with clear water, I use suspending jerkbaits. The Lucky Craft
Pointer is the best around! I like the 78, but will use the 100 in water
that isn't as clear or a bit deeper. Keeping the bait in one spot for a long
time is best! 10-pound test!!!! This allows the bait to run deeper and to
stay in one spot for a while. When I get low water near drops and clear
water after the water arms a few degrees in the mid day, I like to toss the
Lucky Craft Pointer and let it sit as long as 20 seconds! Tough to do, but
worth the wait. If it's windy, use the spinning rod!!!!
The Lucky Craft LVR D-7 is a heavier lipless bait with a thinner profile. It
puts out a lot of vibration at a very slow speed. I drag it on the bottom.
If there is grass, I rip it free with a short snap and the bait is balanced
to fall straight down without flipping over. REDS!!!! And craw patterns are
best!
Also try cranking, or spinnerbaits. You need to keep your bait in close
contact with the bottom. Slow is the key! I do better with cranks on clear
water sunny days and the spinnerbait when the water is stained and skies are
gray and chop on the water. Try slow rolling a Mann's 3/8 Classic
Spinnerbait, Colorado/Willow blades along the bottom. This bait has gold
blades, white skirt. I cast it, let it fall to the bottom, then reel as
slowly as possible to just keep the bait moving as slowly as possible, in
constant contact with the bottom. Still using 17-pound test. All of the
bites, including the cranks have been light. The fish really aren't even
jumping when hooked. Been catching light colored bass with a bit of silt on
their bellies. For my rods, the Ultra Strike, 2iG rods are perfect. The med/hvy
6'6” rod is my spinnerbait rod.
Slowly crank tighter wiggle cranks: reds, craws, and chartreuse with a
brown back. After getting snagged and penetrating many fish, all hooks get
dull! I recommend replacing with Mustad Ultra Point trebles. BTW! The BEST
split ring pliers ever, from Texas Tackle!http://texastackle.com/pliers.htm
none like it anywhere! For cranks, I like the 7” medium action rod like the
2iG Ultra Strike, perfect to feel cover and hookset! It's not too limber or
too stiff to keep you from landing fish.
How many of you bought a baitcasting reel, tried it and gave up! Apparently
there are a lot of you out there! Don't give up, learn how to use them!
Start with a decent reel, $120-140 on up. Then practice…but what do you
practice? Check out my free videos (http://www.monkeysee.com/channel/show/89)
and you'll learn how to cast…if you can cast, but with only one hand, you
can learn how to use your other hand too!
Email me for REGISTRATION forms for the 12th annual St Jude Potomac Teams
Tournament…JULY 11th…Friday…Leesylvania!
Fish are moving shallow. I like the Mann's Baby 1-Minus! This bait works
year round and can be slowly cranked in shallow water.
For drop shots, Mann's Hardnose green pumpkin finesse worm is the best. The
bait's tough head stays on the hook and the soft-bodied pencil point tail
does a whole lot of shaking! I also like this worm for the shakey head
application. I use the plain lead Gerkin jig heads for shaky head
fishing…heat the head and coat with BROWN vinyl powdered coat available from
lurecraft.com. It's also a good choice for the split shot rig. For the drop
shot and the split shot rigs, I am using a 2/0 Mustad Ultra Lite Mega Bite
hook. I like to use an 8-inch leader on my drop shot. The Carolina rig is
pretty good now too! In Spoils and Smoots and in areas close to deep water!
BTW I have found the PERFECT drop shot tool! The FISHING Butler (Fishingbutler.com)
secures drop shot weights to your rod when putting away! No VELCRO or
rubber bands! This device is adjustable and can also be used to secure rods
to each other.
A “casting call” will take place at The Boathouse at Fletcher's Cove…www.fletcherscove.com,
Sunday, April 27, 11:00am - 3:00p.
www.nationalcastingcall.com.
Industry experts will instruct parents and children alike, and give everyone
a chance to fish and learn more about fishing and the environment.
Highlights include sturgeon petting, a Junior Ranger Badge program, fly
tying instruction and hands-on exhibits from participating partners: The
American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA), in conjunction with The
National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP) and Guest Services, Inc. present
an engaging all ages event sponsored by The National Park Service, The
American Sportfishing Association, Discovery Creek, Discover Fly Fishing,
The Future Fisherman Foundation, Family Tyes, The Interstate Commission on
the Potomac River Basin, Living Classrooms Foundation, L.L. Bean, Orvis,
Patagonia, Trout Unlimited, and The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation
Partnership.
There's confusion over what licenses are required to guide on the Tidal
Potomac River. I worked very closely with the PRFC this summer to come up
with a grid of requirements to comply with DC, MD, VA and the PRFC on the
Tidal Potomac. If you would like a copy, let me know! I support Capt. Ken
Penrod's efforts to see to it that these rules are enforced!
It's a good time to pour some great finesse worms and other soft plastics
with precise and easy to use molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the
supplies and plastic mixes for floating and for softness. Go on-line to find
out more! (www.lurecraft.com 1-800-925-9088 for a free catalog). Make
straight tail finesse worms for shakey head fishing, drop shots, and split
shots! They can even make a mold for your design! Take a look at some of
the baits I have made on: www.nationalbass.com (articles/lure-craft.htm)…call
now to put your orders in! 1-800-925-9088
I'm the BASS FISHING EXPERT for the Boatus.com website. I answer fishing
questions based on my experience as a guide and with a little help from my
friends: other writers, manufacturers, guides and top pros will contribute
to my responses. Check it out at:
http://my.boatus.com/askexperts/
I keep a few Frogg Toggs on board for sudden showers…whenever they come. The
new Elite Series has become my year-round windbreaker and rain suit. These
new Toggs are amazing and they are loaded with pockets and features…and come
with a very reasonable price tag! Stop me and check it out! Frogg Toggs (www.froggtoggs.com)
are always on board. They block the wind and are breathable! I carry
extras for my passengers!
My Sportsman's Magazine article will focus on bouncing back after injuries!
Three big name pros underwent off-season surgeries to make comebacks this
season. Brauer, Hibdon and Wilks tell their stories. Look for my Tournament
Talk column in Woods & Waters. This month I look at pros and seminars! It's
not just or extra income either! Check www.woodsandwatersmagazine.com. A
limited FREE supply at Belle Haven Marina and at Bowes and Arrows.
Senior BASSMASTER writer, Robert Montgomery has taken decades of writing and
fishing experience with the best in the fishing business and compiled it
into one huge E-Book. Ratio's KILLER BASS FISHING SECRETS contains nearly
300 VERY specific tips from pros to help you catch more fish! I found a TON
of great tips to help me. Get RONTICO's KILLER BASS FISHING SECRETS here:
www.killer-bass-fishing-secrets.com. It's only $19.95…about a nickel a tip!
Well worth it! The site has some FREE tips!
I have also found a new product that is awesome! I interviewed the makers of
Hawg Pockets after they won the ICAST new product showcase award. I had the
gadgets in my basement for a while. I took a fishing trip to West Virginia.
My wife started to freak out when I started to load my rods with crankbaits
into her new Passport Nissan Murano. She didn't want me to hook her leather
interior. I remembered the Hawg Pockets, read the instructions and snapped
them into place. They did their job. I also found out they didn't tangle
when I moved them and I could see my bait thru them! Check out the
website. They keep my rods from tangling and I can see the baits on the
rods. This is the best fishing lure guard I have ever seen! Check them out!
http://www.hawgpockets.com
MIZMO tubes, Punisher Jigs, and most of the Lucky Craft and Mann's baits are
now in Bass Pro Shops latest catalog…look for them!
2008 Potomac Tides under “REPORTS AND TIDES”. Print a copy.
New to the river? Get a pro-quality map for fishing the Potomac and for
other Virginia waters map from GMCO: www.gmcomaps.com. They list popular
locations and hidden dangers of navigating the Potomac.
Are your boat batteries sluggish? If you have questions about battery care,
check out www.nationalbass.com, go to ARTICLES and then Boat Batteries.
Have fun! Questions, comments or booking a trip: info@nationalbass.com. I
have a lot of articles on various strategies and techniques on my site. If
you have a suggestion for an article, let me know. Check out my website:
www.nationalbass.com. I can't fish the entire river all the time; so if you
have some information to share, let me know.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
"Take me fishing!"
.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸> >
March 18th, 2008
As more
boaters get out on the Potomac and head to the Spoils, I am still warning
about the area north of the Wilson Bridge on the Maryland side!!!! Danger!
The old Woodrow Wilson Bridge pilings, just north of the new bridge are no
longer visible, but are a gnarled mess of rebar and irregular concrete
chunks, just below the surface in many spots! These are NOT marked in any
way…except by the lower units recently lost in this area! They should be
marking this area soon! And they will be removing the hazards as well!
Warmer water temps have allowed the fish to move up to the drop edges and
stay on the flats. Fish are moving up to last year's grass on main river
flats and creek mouth points. This is an excellent time to get away from
the crowds and find new fish. These fish will stage in these areas for a
few weeks, then move toward spawning flats as nighttime lows are not as low
and the days are getting longer, keeping us warmer later.
The two best baits are the suspending jerkbait and the lipless crank. I
prefer the Lucky Craft here! The Pointer 78 and the 100 are fantastic. I
use 10-12 pound test…MONO!!! I don't like floury. The line sinks…that's OK,
but it sinks the entire length of the line. This makes it harder to set the
hook, and to keep the fish from feeling all of the line in the water…. just
my preference. Note that outgoing tides generally bring warmer water,
especially as you get closer to DC. When that happens, you can be a bit more
aggressive. Also take note of water clarity to determine speed and colors.
Around Blue Plains and other warmer (55+) shallow…up to 6 feet…areas with
clear water, I use suspending jerkbaits. The Lucky Craft Pointer is the best
around! I like the 78, but will use the 100 in water that isn't as clear or
a bit deeper. Keeping the bait in one spot for a long time is best!
10-pound test!!!! This allows the bait to run deeper and to stay in one spot
for a while. When I get low water near drops and clear water after the water
arms a few degrees in the mid day, I like to toss the Lucky Craft Pointer
and let it sit as long as 20 seconds! Tough to do, but worth the wait. If
it's windy, use the spinning rod!!!!
The Lucky Craft LVR D-7 is a heavier bait with a thinner profile. It puts
out a lot of vibration at a very slow speed. I drag it on the bottom. If
there is grass, I rip it free with a short snap and the bait is balanced to
fall straight down without flipping over. REDS!!!! And craw patterns are
best!
My 2007 Pro Staff Skeeter ZX225 with 225 hp HPDI Yamaha is for sale! This is
the best deal on a used Skeeter anywhere. Factory warranties transfer! It
is in great shape. ONLY 16 HOURS 1000-5000 RPM…ZERO over 5000!!!!. I am
asking only $30,999! This is a great boat at a great price. SERIOUS CALLS
only…. 703-360-3472.
Also try cranking, or spinnerbaits. You need to keep your bait in close
contact with the bottom. Slow is the key! I do better with cranks on clear
water sunny days and the spinnerbait when the water is stained and skies are
gray and chop on the water. Try slow rolling a Mann's 3/8 Classic
Spinnerbait, Colorado/Willow blades along the bottom. This bait has gold
blades, white skirt. I cast it, let it fall to the bottom, then reel as
slowly as possible to just keep the bait moving as slowly as possible, in
constant contact with the bottom. Still using 17-pound test. All of the
bites, including the cranks have been light. The fish really aren't even
jumping when hooked. Been catching light colored bass with a bit of silt on
their bellies. For my rods, the Ultra Strike, 2iG rods are perfect. The med/hvy
6'6” rod is my spinnerbait rod.
Slowly crank tighter wiggle cranks: reds, craws, and chartreuse with a
brown back. After getting snagged and penetrating many fish, all hooks get
dull! I recommend replacing with Mustad Ultra Point trebles. BTW! The BEST
split ring pliers ever, from Texas Tackle!http://texastackle.com/pliers.htm
none like it anywhere! For cranks, I like the 7” medium action rod like the
2iG Ultra Strike, perfect to feel cover and hookset! It's not too limber or
too stiff to keep you from landing fish.
I like several soft plastics presentations. I either cast to flats, pitch to
grass or wood and skip under docks!! Mann's Stingray 3” avocado grub is my
favorite, then Mizmo tubes, then and drop shots. The best way to fish a
Mizmo tube with an insert tube head. I have been using the Gerkin head for 6
years! Made with a Mustad Ultra Point hook...it has a wire weed guard and
an elongated lead head…this makes the bait glide. The Gerkin tube head, now
owned by R&R Custom Baits can be found at Dance's Sporting Goods in Colonial
Heights, VA or by calling…804-541-4162.
How many of you bought a baitcasting reel, tried it and gave up! Apparently
there are a lot of you out there! Don't give up, learn how to use them!
Start with a decent reel, $120-140 on up. Then practice…but what do you
practice? Check out my free videos (http://www.monkeysee.com/channel/show/89)
and you'll learn how to cast…if you can cast, but with only one hand, you
can learn how to use your other hand too!
Email me for REGISTRATION forms for the 12th annual St Jude Potomac Teams
Tournament…JULY 11th…Friday…Leesylvania!
Spinning reels are good for all techniques and actually keep your hands
warmer than palming a bait caster all day! I really like Quantum Energy
reels! Great drags, magnetic bail “spring”, titanium bail wire and a unique
system for the line to be trapped” in place to avoid tangling around the
bail arm. I've been demonstrating these at shows and everyone has been
impressed! For line, I downsize to 8-pound test! Try new Berkley
Trilene100% Fluorocarbon line. You're fishing further away from the boat,
the lower stretch better sensitivity and thinner diameter will help you feel
bites, set the hook and keep the fish from feeling you!
Fish are moving shallow. I like the Mann's Baby 1-Minus! This bait works
year round and can be slowly cranked in shallow water. Also, hair jigs like
the Punisher work in the shallows too. The key this time of the year with
all baits is to slow down. Stop when you can. For extended periods! This is
where fish attractants come in handy. I like Jack's Juice because it really
soaks into the plastics or into the hair on a Punisher jig!
For drop shots, Mann's Hardnose green pumpkin finesse worm is the best. The
bait's tough head stays on the hook and the soft-bodied pencil point tail
does a whole lot of shaking! I also like this worm for the shakey head
application. I use the plain lead Gerkin jig heads for shaky head
fishing…heat the head and coat with BROWN vinyl powdered coat available from
lurecraft.com. It's also a good choice for the split shot rig. For the drop
shot and the split shot rigs, I am using a 2/0 Mustad Ultra Lite Mega Bite
hook. I like to use an 8-inch leader on my drop shot. The Carolina rig is
pretty good now too! In Spoils and Smoots and in areas close to deep water!
BTW I have found the PERFECT drop shot tool! The FISHING Butler (Fishingbutler.com)
secures drop shot weights to your rod when putting away! No VELCRO or
rubber bands! This device is adjustable and can also be used to secure rods
to each other.
I detail features and benefits of specific products in my reports I have
used extensively and have confidence. Mentioning product names is easier for
you to match up with what I'm using.
Have fun! Questions, comments or booking a trip: info@nationalbass.com. I
have a lot of articles on various strategies and techniques on my site. If
you have a suggestion for an article, let me know. Check out my website:
www.nationalbass.com. I can't fish the entire river all the time; so if you
have some information to share, let me know.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
"Take me fishing!"
.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸> >
January 2nd, 2008
What a great
time to get out and fish! Not many people on the water…except us
fishermen! Cold water fishing is a great way to learn how to slow down!
Really slow down! Once you learn slow, truly learn slow, then every other
speed is easy! If you can catch fish now, you will never have any trouble
getting fish in other seasons! This time of the year will give you a great
understanding of bass fishing. Water temps have fallen into the upper 40's.
That said, you can really get some big fish this time of the year as well!
Your spinning reel is your friend. I like the Quantum Energy reels! Great
drags, magnetic bail “spring”, titanium bail wire and a unique system for
the line to be trapped” in place to avoid tangling around the bail arm.
For line, I downsize to 6-pound test! Try the new Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon
line. You are fishing deeper and further away from the boat, the lower
stretch better sensitivity and thinner diameter will help you feel the bite,
set the hook and keep the fish from feeling you!
There are many techniques I like this time of the year. I will be detailing
all of them at the
Nation's Outdoor Sportsman's Show
at the Dulles Expo Center this weekend…January 4-6! I will be conducting
seminars every day and just hanging out with everyone! In addition, two
men I really respect, Ken Penrod and C. Boyd Pfieffer will be giving
seminars as well! Both of these guys were instrumental in me becoming a
guide and outdoor writer. Ken has been a mentor to me for decades and Boyd
kindled my interest in fishing when I was a kid in the early 60's! Both
have appeared on my radio shows. In fact, in the early 90's, Ken appeared on
my TV show! I learned a lot from these guys. YOU WILL TOO! I will also have
a lot of product samples to give away at each seminar. Jack's Juice, Seal
Skinz socks and gloves, Mann's Hardnose soft plastics, Water Gremlin
BULLSHOT weights, BoatUS hats lanyards and no-stink towels, Fishing
Butler's, Hawg Pockets, Grabber McCoal handwarmers. New Jann's Netcraft
catalogs, and REGISTRATION forms for the 12th annual St Jude Potomac Teams
Tournament! The schedule for me is: Friday 4pm. SAT 10am, 2:30 PM and
6:45PM. Sunday noon, 3:30PM. Each of my seminars is open for questions.
Topics include Seasonal Patterns: Springtime, Post spawn, Summer Fall,
winter and rods, reel, line forum.
Back to fishing now! Where to go? Deep water out of the current is the
best place to start. Next, look for the steepest drop you can find. These
are areas where the fish don't have to travel very far to get to shallow
water when they want. Fish are always shallow. Look there first, but you
have to have some deep water nearby! For the shallow fish, I like the
Mann's Baby 1-Minus! This bait works year round and can be slowly cranked I
shallow water. Also, hair jigs like the Punisher work in the shallows too.
The key this time of the year with all baits is to slow down. Stop when you
can. For extended periods! This is where fish attractants come in handy. I
like jack's Juice because it really soaks into the plastics or into the hair
on a Punisher jig! Line diameter is also key! It allows baits to get to
the bottom fast and stay there in wind and current. It also allows easier
hook sets when far from the boat. Thinner line offers less resistance! The
reduced resistance also comes in handy when fish pick up a bait. They won't
feel the line either!
Note that outgoing tides generally bring warmer water, especially as you get
closer to DC. When that happens, you can be a bit more aggressive. Also take
note of water clarity to determine speed and colors.
Another shallow technique is the suspending jerkbait. The Lucky Craft
Pointer is the best around! I like the 78, but will use the 100 in water
that isn't as clear or a bit deeper. Keeping the bait in one spot for a long
time is best! 10-pound test!!!! This allows the bait to run deeper and to
stay in one spot for a while. When I get low water near drops and clear
water after the water arms a few degrees in the mid day, I like to toss the
Lucky Craft Pointer and let it sit as long as 20 seconds! Tough to do, but
worth the wait.
My 2007 Pro Staff Skeeter ZX225 with 225 hp HPDI Yamaha is for sale! If you
want a great deal on a slightly used, well-maintained boat, this is the best
deal on a used Skeeter anywhere. Factory warranties transfer! It is in
great shape. About 50 hours. I am asking only $33,000! This is a great boat
at a great price. SERIOUS CALLS only…. 703-360-3472.
For hard cover areas, you need to keep your bait in close contact with the
bottom. Cranking, or spinnerbaits. Slow is the key! I do better with
cranks on clear water sunny days and the spinnerbait when the water is
stained and skies are gray and chop on the water. Try slow rolling a Mann's
3/8 Classic Spinnerbait, Colorado/Willow blades along the bottom. This bait
has gold blades, white skirt. I cast it, let it fall to the bottom, then
reel as slowly as possible to just keep the bait moving as slowly as
possible, in constant contact with the bottom. Still using 17-pound test.
All of the bites, including the cranks have been light. The fish really
aren't even jumping when hooked. Starting to find light colored bass with a
bit of silt on their bellies. For my rods, the Ultra Strike, 2iG rods are
perfect. The med/hvy 6'6” rod is my spinnerbait rod. I have been trying the
new “made in the USA” ARDENT casting reel….so far…AWESOME! Picked one up on
one of my trips! Spooled with 17 and casting spinnerbaits…putting a lot of
miles on it. Stop me to check this machine out! Light and tough! Casts
spinnerbaits well even into the wind.
For the cranks, look for tighter wiggle cranks: reds, craws, and chartreuse
with a brown back. Check your hooks on all cranks now! After getting
snagged and penetrating many fish, all hooks get dull…especially around hard
cover! I recommend replacing with Mustad Ultra Point trebles. BTW!!!! The
BEST split ring pliers ever!!!!!from Texas Tackle!!! http://texastackle.com/pliers.htm….none
like it anywhere! For cranks, I like the 7” medium action rod like the 2iG
Ultra Strike, perfect to feel the cover and to set the hook! It is not too
limber or too stiff to keep you from landing fish.
For soft plastics, I like several presentations. The Mann's Stingray grub 3
inch in avocado is my favorite, followed by the Mizmo tube and then the drop
shot. For the drop shot, the Mann's Hardnose green pumpkin finesse worm is
the best. The head on this bait is very tough, while the body is very soft!
The bait stays on the hook and the pencil point tail does a whole lot of
shaking! I also like this worm for the shakey head application. I use the
plain lead Gerkin jig heads for shaky head fishing…I heat the head and coat
with BROWN vinyl powdered coat available through lurecraft.com. It is also a
good choice for the split shot rig. For the drop shot and the split shot
rigs, I am using a 2/0 Mustad Ultra Lite Mega Bite hook. I like to use an
8inch leader on my drop shot. In either case, I have found the PERFECT drop
shot tool! The FISHING Butler will secure your drop shot weight to your rod
when you want to put it away! No VELCRO or rubber bands! This device is
adjustable and can also be used to secure rods to each other.
Fishingbutler.com Smoots and Spoils are great for this. The Carolina rig is
pretty good now too! In Spoils and Smoots and in areas close to deep water!
It's also time to get the blade baits out…no more Silver Buddys to be
found! Too BAD! But, I have found one that works very well! It is made by
Poor Boys Baits...www.poorboysbaits.com. Check them out!
My new FREE instructional videos are out! If you are learning to cast, or
trying to teach a friend to cast, check them out! Most of us learn how to
cast through a method of “trial and error…and error, and error, etc!” I
have been able to break casting down into small digestible steps! If you
can only cast a bait caster with your dominant hand, then you need to check
out these FREE videos too! http://www.monkeysee.com/channel/show/89
By the way, there seems to be a lot of confusion over what licenses are
required to guide on the Tidal Potomac River. I worked very closely with the
PRFC this summer to come up with a grid of requirements to comply with DC,
MD, VA and the PRFC on the Tidal Potomac. If you would like a copy, let me
know!
I am now the BASS FISHING EXPERT for the Boatus.com website. I will be
answering fishing questions based on my experience as a guide and with a
little help from my friends: other writers, manufacturers, guides and top
pros will contribute to my responses. Check it out at:
http://my.boatus.com/askexperts/
If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I get it answered with
a little help from my friends.
I use specific products and mention them in my reports. These are products
I have used extensively and have confidence in. By mentioning product
names, it is easier for you to match up with what I am using. I also detail
the features of many of the products I use to demonstrate their benefits.
For 2008 Tides information for the Potomac look under “REPORTS AND TIDES”.
Print a copy for your use.
New to the river? Get a pro-quality map for fishing the Potomac and for
other Virginia waters map from GMCO: www.gmcomaps.com. They list popular
locations and hidden dangers of navigating the Potomac.
Check out the biggest bass ever caught on the Potomac.
(www.nationalbass.com, then REPORTS, then BIG FISH) Gary Kincheloe's record
is likely to stand longer that the previous record of nearly 30 years.
Have fun, and I would enjoy hearing from you. If you have questions,
comments or would like to book a trip, e-mail: info@nationalbass.com. I
have a lot of articles on various strategies and techniques on my site. If
you have a suggestion for an article, let me know. Check out my website:
www.nationalbass.com. I can't fish the entire river all of the time, so if
you have some information to share, let me know.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
"Take me fishing!"
Dec 6th, 2007
This is an
awesome time to get out and fish! Big bass are being caught just about
anywhere that is close to deep water. Deeper water might be a creek channel,
ditch drop off, and channel bend or deeper grass edge. Hard cover or
grass, take your pick. Also note that outgoing tides generally bring warmer
water, especially as you get closer to DC. When that happens, you can be a
bit more aggressive. Also take note of water clarity to determine speed and
colors.
My 2007 Pro Staff Skeeter ZX225 with 225 hp HPDI Yamaha is for sale! If you
want a great deal on a slightly used, well-maintained boat, this is the best
deal on a used Skeeter anywhere. Factory warranties transfer! It will be
less than a year old and in great shape. About 50 hours. I am asking only
$33,000! This is a great boat at a great price. SERIOUS CALLS only….
703-360-3472.
Starting with grass. Over the top, I am using a Lucky Craft LVR D-7 on
17-pound test and a 2iG Ultra Strike medium action rod…crawling the bait
over the tops of the grass…as slowly as possible! I am casting parallel to
the grass too, looking for isolated clumps. You can do the same thing with
a Mann's Baby 4-Minus when the water is a bit more stained…and for the least
visibility, overcast or choppy water, try slow rolling a Mann's 3/8 Classic
Spinnerbait, Colorado/Indiana blades over the tops of the remaining grass.
This bait has gold blades, white skirt. For the hard cover, try the
willow/Colorado blades. I cast it, let it fall to the bottom, then reel as
slowly as possible to just keep the bait moving as slowly as possible, in
constant contact with the bottom. Still using 17-pound test. All of the
bites, including the cranks have been light. The fish really aren't even
jumping much when hooked. Starting to find light colored bass with a bit of
silt on their bellies. For my rods, the Ultra Strike, 2iG rods are perfect.
The med/hvy 6'6” rod is my spinnerbait rod. I have been trying the new
“made in the USA” ARDENT casting reel….so far…AWESOME! Picked one up on one
of my trips! Spooled with 17 and casting spinnerbaits…putting a lot of
miles on it. Stop me to check this machine out! Light and tough! Casts
spinnerbaits well even into the wind.
For the hard cover areas, you need to keep your bait in close contact with
the bottom. Cranking, or spinnerbaits. Slow is the key! I do better with
cranks on clear water sunny days and the spinnerbait when the water is
stained and the skies are gray and chop on the water. For the spinnerbait, I
cast and let it fall to the bottom. Look for the tighter wiggle cranks.
Crankbait colors: reds, craws, chartreuse with a brown back are the only
ones I have used…they work…but try your favorite colors first. Check your
hooks on all cranks now! After getting snagged and penetrating many fish,
all hooks get dull…especially around hard cover! I recommend replacing with
Mustad Ultra Point trebles. BTW!!!! The BEST split ring pliers ever!!!!!from
Texas Tackle!!! http://texastackle.com/pliers.htm….none like it anywhere!
For cranks, I like the 7” medium action rod like the 2iG Ultra Strike,
perfect to snap from grass and to set the hook! It is not too limber or too
stiff to keep you from landing fish.
For soft plastics, I like several presentations. The Mann's Stingray grub 3
inch in avocado is my favorite, followed by the Mizmo tube and then the drop
shot. For the drop shot, the Mann's Hardnose green pumpkin finesse worm is
the best. The head on this bait is very tough, while the body is very soft!
The bait stays on the hook and the pencil point tail does a whole lot of
shaking! I also like this worm for the shakey head application. I use the
plain lead Gerkin jig heads for shaky head fishing…I heat the head and coat
with BROWN vinyl powdered coat available through lurecraft.com. It is also a
good choice for the split shot rig. For the drop shot and the split shot
rigs, I am using a 2/0 Mustad Ultra Lite Mega Bite hook. I am downsizing my
line as the water temps fall to about 6 pound test very soon! I like to use
an 8inch leader on my drop shot. In either case, I have found the PERFECT
drop shot tool! The FISHING Butler will secure your drop shot weight to
your rod when you want to put it away! No VELCRO or rubber bands! This
device is adjustable and can also be used to secure rods to each other.
Fishingbutler.com Smoots and Spoils are great for this. The Carolina rig is
pretty good now too! In Spoils and Smoots and in areas close to deep grass!
When I get low water near drops and clear water after the water arms a few
degrees in the mid day, I like to toss the Lucky Craft Pointer 78 or 100. I
let it sit as long as 20 seconds! Tough to do, but worth the wait.
In January, I will be giving seminars throughout the month the first one is
Jan 4,5 and 6 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. I'll be handing out
all day…but giving scheduled seminars. For times, check
www.nationsoutdoorshow.com…also look for two of my favorite speakers!
Legendary Guide Ken Penrod and C. Boyd Pfieffer.
Friday 3:00PM - 8:00PM, Saturday 9:00AM - 8:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM - 5:00PM
It's also time to get the blade baits out…no more Silver Buddys to be
found! Too BAD! But, I have found one that works very well! It is made by
Poor boys baits...www.poorboysbaits.com. Check them out!
My new FREE instructional videos are out! If you are learning to cast, or
trying to teach a friend to cast, check them out! Most of us learn how to
cast through a method of “trial and error…and error, and error, etc!” I
have been able to break casting down into small digestible steps! If you
can only cast a bait caster with your dominant hand, then you need to check
out these FREE videos too! http://www.monkeysee.com/channel/show/89
Ths is a good time to pour some great finesse worms and other soft plastics.
I like the molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the supplies you would
ever need. They even have various plastic mixes for floating and for
softness. Go on -line to find out more! Lure Craft molds are precise and
easy to use. (www.lurecraft.com 1-800-925-9088 for a free catalog). Make
straight tail finesse worms for shakey head fishing, drop shots, and split
shots! They have a mold for anything and all of the supplies to pour your
own custom poured baits…they can even make a mold for your design! Ask me
to take a look at some of the baits I have made or check them out on:
www.nationalbass.com (articles/lure-craft.htm) check out the NEW Lure Craft
website…call now to put your orders in! 1-800-925-9088
I am now the BASS FISHING EXPERT for the Boatus.com website. I will be
answering fishing questions based on my experience as a guide and with a
little help from my friends: other writers, manufacturers, guides and top
pros will contribute to my responses. Check it out at:
http://my.boatus.com/askexperts/
If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I get it answered with
a little help from my friends.
I kep a few Frogg Toggs on board for sudden showers…whenever they come. The
new Elite Series has become my year-round windbreaker and rain suit. These
new Toggs are amazing and they are loaded with pockets and features…and come
with a very reasonable price tag! Stop me and check it out! Frogg Toggs
(www.froggtoggs.com) are always on board. They block the wind and are
breathable! I carry extras for my passengers!
I use specific products and mention them in my reports. These are products
I have used extensively and have confidence in. By mentioning product
names, it is easier for you to match up with what I am using. I also detail
the features of many of the products I use to demonstrate their benefits.
There is a new style TEVA I just LOVE! Karnali Wraptor
(http://teva.com/ProductDetails.aspx?g=m&productID=6960&model=Karnali+Wraptor)
have a toe guard! They are perfect for water sports…. they have drains and
are great for standing all day! Check out the new TEVA sandals. They are
sport shoes…especially water sports like bass fishing! If you do not wear
the sport sandals from TEVA, you should! Just cover your feet with
sunscreen and you'll feel better! I have tried other footwear, including
expensive basketball shoes. TEVA's are very comfortable and have boat safe
surfaces along with anti-microbial protection. These sandals are comfortable
and keep me on my feet...no butt seat either! Check out www.teva.com.
There are some great tackle specials this month at Jann's Netcraft! If you
want to be on the email list for these specials, contact me and I'll take
care of it for you! Contact Jann's Netcraft for your free catalog! They
have a great assortment of do-it-yourself supplies, and they have a great
line of soft plastics too! By this time of the year, my rod tips are just
about worn out on my cranking rods. Sometimes the guides take a constant
beating too! What do you do? Toss out the rod that is really still in great
shape? No way! I have learned how to replace guides on some of my favorite
rods and they are ready to go! Check out their rod building and repair
supplies. Get a tip kit, with many sizes for a variety of rods. If you
want to learn how to make repairs or even build your own custom rods, they
have a great rod-building instructional book and all of the tools and parts!
I also noticed they have everything you need to make crankbaits,
spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits. You can start from scratch or assemble the
parts to build the baits you like to your exact specs…and save money too!
Jann's Netcraft luremaking, flytying, rod building, and soft baits! They've
been around for a long time and have a great selection of lure making
materials too! Check them out at www.jannsnetcraft.com or call
1-800-NETCRAFT!
I have also found a new product that is awesome! Actually, I interviewed
the makers of Hawg Pockets after they won the ICAST award for the new
product showcase. I had the gadgets in my basement for a while. I took a
fishing trip to West Virginia. My wife started to freak out when I started
to load my rods with crankbaits into her new Passport Nissan Murano. She
didn't want me to hook her leather interior. I remembered the Hawg Pockets
and read the instructions and snapped them into place. They did their job.
I also found out they didn't tangle when I moved them and I could see my
bait thru them! Check out the website. I am using them on my boat now and
it keeps my rods from tangling and I can see the baits on the rods. This is
the best fishing lure guard I have ever seen! Check them out!
www.hawgpockets.com
MIZMO tubes, Punisher Jigs, and most of the Lucky Craft and Mann's baits are
now in Bass Pro Shops latest catalog….look for them!
If you want the best polarized sunglasses for fishing, I suggest Maui Jim
HCL (high contrast lens) polarized sunglasses. These are the best for
picking up cover in the water and seeing the fish. Check around, most of
the serious anglers on the Potomac are wearing them. Eye protection is
important!!! Get a quality pair of polarized sunglasses. I recommend the
Maui Jims (www.mauijim.com). Sunglass Huts carry these. If you see me on
the water, I will let you check mine out. I am also trying the
polycarbonate lens Maui Sports…. they are light as a feather and the optics
are great. Now for the over 50 crowd….Maui READERS!
For 2007 Tides information for the Potomac look under “REPORTS AND TIDES”.
Print a copy for your use.
If you are new to the river, get a map from GMCO. It is a pro-quality map
for fishing the Potomac and for other Virginia waters. Check out their site:
www.gmcomaps.com. They list some of the popular locations and some of the
hidden dangers of navigating the Potomac.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
"Take me fishing!"
Steve Chaconas guides on the Potomac River with experience on the river
dating back over 40 years, and has been professionally guiding over 15
years. Contact him for a rewarding trip on the Potomac River. Catch huge
largemouth bass in sight of the splendor of the nation's capital.
November 9th, 2007
What a
difference a few days make! Wonderful fishing this time of the year…nice to
wear some of the great cool weather clothes! Still in the TEVA's! The Seal
Skinz Chillblockers make that possible! Fishing has been great, as water
temps have fallen into the low to mid 50's.
The water has cleared up again, making the jerkbait and crankbait bites
awesome! Some very nice fish as well! When the water gets a bit stained,
slow rolling the spinnerbait is great. You can use plastics, jigs, etc….but
why? Too much fun to get them on moving baits.
All new instructional videos are out! If you are learning to cast, or
trying to teach a friend to cast, check them out! Most of us learn how to
cast through a method of “trial and error…and error, and error, etc!” I
have been able to break casting down into small digestible steps! If you
can only cast a bait caster with your dominant hand, then you need to check
out these FREE videos too!
How to Fish
VIDEO
In the lowest tide, close to cover, the Mann's Baby 1-Minus, and Mann's
Elite C-4 are great. I still like to toss in the Lucky Craft LVR D-7 once in
a while to really cover water over grass. A slow crank is fine. I am still
finding that the wide wobble cranks are working better. Colors…reds, craws,
chartreuse with a brown back are the only ones I have used…they work…but try
your favorite colors first. Check your hooks on all cranks now! After
getting snagged and penetrating many fish, all hooks get dull…especially
around hard cover! I recommend replacing with Mustad Ultra Point trebles.
Try adding a feather Mustad treble to the tail of a Baby 1-Minus. BTW!!!!
The BEST split ring pliers ever!!!!!from Texas Tackle!!! http://texastackle.com/pliers.htm….none
like it anywhere! For cranks, I like the 7” medium action rod like the 2iG
Ultra Strike, perfect to snap from grass and to set the hook! It is not too
limber or too stiff to keep you from landing fish.
By the way, there seems to be a lot of confusion over what licenses are
required to guide on the Tidal Potomac River. I worked very closely with the
PRFC this summer to come up with a grid of requirements to comply with DC,
MD, VA and the PRFC on the Tidal Potomac. If you would like a copy, let me
know!
For the spinnerbait, there is only one…Mann's 3/8-ounce Classic. This bait
has gold blades, white skirt, and willow/Colorado blades. I cast it, let it
fall to the bottom, then reel as slowly as possible to just keep the bait
moving as slowly as possible, in constant contact with the bottom. Still
using 17-pound test. All of the bites, including the cranks have been light.
The fish really aren't even jumping much when hooked. Starting to find light
colored bass with a bit of silt on their bellies. For grass the _ ounce
spinnerbait with Colorado Indiana gold blades and a white skirt at low tides
and a 3/8-ounce double when the tide is higher. Try a firetiger skirt in
clear water with the willow blades. This doesn't work as well at high tide
when the water is stained. You need to switch to the Classic
Indiana/Colorado with a white skirt. For my rods, the Ultra Strike, 2iG rods
are perfect. The med/hvy 6'6” rod is my spinnerbait rod. I have been trying
the new “made in the USA” ARDENT casting reel….so far…AWESOME! Picked one
up on one of my trips! Spooled with 17 and casting spinnerbaits…putting a
lot of miles on it. Stop me to check this machine out! Light and tough!
Casts spinnerbaits well even into the wind.
By the way, my 2007 Pro Staff Skeeter ZX225 with 225 hp HPDI Yamaha is for
sale! If you want a great deal on a slightly used, well-maintained boat,
this is the best deal on a used Skeeter anywhere. Factory warranties
transfer! It will be less than a year old and in great shape. About 50
hours. I am asking only $33,000! This is a great boat at a great price.
SERIOUS CALLS only…. 703-360-3472.
If you really want to toss bottom baits, try Texas rig big plastics and big
Stone jigs with Hardnose craw trailers …pitch to hard cover! If very sunny
and you can find isolated clumps of grass…go for it! Play with any plastic
rig…drop shot, shakey head or split shot….just keep it slow! Find cuts in
pads or drains when the tide is falling. Tubes are great ways to fish docks
where there is no grass around and bridge pilings. For drop shotting and
shaky head fishing I like the green pumpkin Mann's HardNose Finesse worm.
The head on this bait is very tough, while the body is very soft! The bait
stays on the hook and the pencil point tail does a whole lot of shaking! I
use the plain lead Gerkin jig heads for shaky head fishing…I heat the head
and coat with BROWN vinyl powdered coat available through lurecraft.com.
Smoots and Spoils are great for this. For grassy areas, I like to use an
18inch leader on my drop shot. For wood I keep it around 8 inches. In either
case, I have found the PERFECT drop shot tool! The FISHING Butler will
secure your drop shot weight to your rod when you want to put it away! No
VELCRO or rubber bands! This device is adjustable and can also be used to
secure rods to each other. Fishingbutler.com The Carolina rig is pretty
good now too! In Spoils and Smoots and in areas close to deep grass!
This is a good time to pour some great finesse worms and other soft
plastics. I like the molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the supplies
you would ever need. They even have various plastic mixes for floating and
for softness. Go on -line to find out more! Lure Craft molds are precise
and easy to use. (www.lurecraft.com 1-800-925-9088 for a free catalog). Make
straight tail finesse worms for shakey head fishing, drop shots, and split
shots! They have a mold for anything and all of the supplies to pour your
own custom poured baits…they can even make a mold for your design! Ask me
to take a look at some of the baits I have made or check them out on:
www.nationalbass.com (articles/lure-craft.htm) check out the NEW Lure Craft
website…call now to put your orders in! 1-800-925-9088
I am now the BASS FISHING EXPERT for the Boatus.com website. I will be
answering fishing questions based on my experience as a guide and with a
little help from my friends: other writers, manufacturers, guides and top
pros will contribute to my responses. Check it out at:
http://my.boatus.com/askexperts/
If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I get it answered with
a little help from my friends.
I use specific products nd mention them in my reports. These are products I
have used extensively and have confidence in. By mentioning product names,
it is easier for you to match up with what I am using. I also detail the
features of many of the products I use to demonstrate their benefits.
Have fun, and I would enjoy hearing from you. If you have questions,
comments or would like to book a trip, e-mail: info@nationalbass.com. I
have a lot of articles on various strategies and techniques on my site. If
you have a suggestion for an article, let me know. Check out my website:
www.nationalbass.com. I can't fish the entire river all of the time, so if
you have some information to share, let me know.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
"Take me fishing!"
.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸> >
Captain Steve Chaconas/SEOPA
National
Bass Guide Service
Boat U.S. On-line Expert
How to Fish
VIDEO
8619 Camden
St.
Alexandria, VA 22308
www.nationalbass.com
Home Office: 703-360-3472
Cell: 703-380-7119
Sept11th, 2007
Still hearing a
lot of tough stories on current fishing conditions. It is tough! But, you
can still catch them. One of my most reliable techniques for numbers of fish
is to lighten up! I use the same tactics I use during the coldest winter
months! Finesse fishing is custom made for this time of the year. I will be
giving a detailed seminar ONE DAY ONLY September 22, 2007 - for the Bass Pro
Shops Outdoor World-Baltimore Fall Fishing Weekend. In addition, there will
be Casting Kids Qualifier and State Championships. And that's not all! Join
both freshwater and saltwater experts at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor
World-Baltimore for Fall Fishing Days, Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and
23. Also, Lake Anna guide Glenn Briggs, Bass Pro Shops and Nitro Field
Staff Pro will demonstrate how to catch more and bigger bass using Bass Pro
Shops tackle and XPS lures.
So, that brings us back to how and where to fish. Fishing the finesse light
line techniques can be done anywhere, but your chances of landing a decent
bass in the thick grass is tough! But, still doable! Stick with the deeper
outside edges and you'll be fine. Or you can go to hard cover without any
grass nearby.
Play with any plastic rig…drop shot, shakey head or split shot….just keep it
slow! Find cuts in pads or drains when the tide is falling. Tubes are great
ways to fish docks where there is no grass underneath and bridge pilings.
For drop shotting and shaky head fishing I like the green pumpkin Mann's
HardNose finesse worm. The head on this bait is very tough, while the body
is very soft! The bait stays on the hook and the pencil point tail does a
whole lot of shaking! I use the plain lead Gerkin jig heads for shaky head
fishing…I heat the head and coat with BROWN vinyl powdered coat available
through lurecraft.com. Smoots and Spoils are great for this. For grassy
areas, I like to use an 18inch leader on my drop shot. For wood I keep it
around 8 inches. In either case, I have found the PERFECT drop shot tool!
The FISHING Butler will secure your drop shot weight to your rod when you
want to put it away! No VELCRO or rubber bands! This device is adjustable
and can also be used to secure rods to each other. Fishingbutler.com
This is a good time to pour some great finesse worms and other soft
plastics. I like the molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the supplies
you would ever need. They even have various plastic mixes for floating and
for softness. Go on -line to find out more! Lure Craft molds are precise
and easy to use. (www.lurecraft.com 1-800-925-9088 for a free catalog). Make
straight tail finesse worms for shakey head fishing, drop shots, and split
shots! They have a mold for anything and all of the supplies to pour your
own custom poured baits…they can even make a mold for your design! Ask me
to take a look at some of the baits I have made or check them out on:
www.nationalbass.com (articles/lure-craft.htm) check out the NEW Lure Craft
website…call now to put your orders in! 1-800-925-9088
Before I give up on other techniques, I try spinnerbaits and Baby 1-Minus
baits. Especially when there is cloud cover or chop on the water.
Go with the NEW C-4 Elite Series wide body bait. This bigger bait can be
crawled through the pads. Pitch in as far as you can….at the highest tides.
In the creeks, I like Mann's NEW C-4 ELITE SERIES crankbait in chartreuse
shad on 20-pound test. Crank through the pads when pitching about 15
feet….walk through and hold on! This is a great higher tide strategy for
pads in creeks! I use 20-pound test and a 6'6” medium heavy 2iG Ultra Strike
rod. I pitch most of the time to be a bit more accurate. At higher tides in
grass, I have been having a lot of success with the Mann's Baby 1-Minus and
the new Elite C-4. My 'new' Baby 1-Minus favorite is the new Elite Series. I
like the baby bass color now. Old standbys, fire tiger, splatterback and
desert sunset are also working. Vary your retrieves. I have caught some
burning the bait, crawling it and long pauses. Check your hooks on all
cranks now! I recommend replacing with Mustad Ultra Point trebles. Try
adding a feather Mustad treble to the tail of a Baby 1-Minus. For my line, I
am using 20-pound test Berkley XT. For cranks, I like the 7” medium action
rod. A medium heavy 7-foot graphite rod like the 2iG Ultra Strike is perfect
to snap from grass and to set the hook! It is not too limber or too stiff
to keep you from landing fish.
For spinnerbaits, I like the _ ounce spinnerbait with Colorado Indiana gold
blades and a white skirt at low tides and a 3/8-ounce double when the tide
is higher. Try a firetiger skirt in clear water with the willow blades.
This doesn't work as well at high tide when the water is stained. You need
to switch to the Classic Indiana/Colorado with a white skirt. For my rods,
the Ultra Strike, 2iG rods are perfect. The med/hvy 6'6” rod is my
spinnerbait rod.
Topwater hasn't been that good for me! I still try it if I like the
conditions! Lower water and low light! I like slowing down with a slow
buzzbait with a clacker or a walking bait like the GUNFISH from Lucky
Craft! This bait disturbs the water and has a loud rattle!! I can walk
this bait very slowly, and the rattles call them up! The key has been to
keep it moving once you get a strike! If you stop it, they don't seem to
come back! Add a tail feather like the Mustad hand tied Ultra Point trebles
in RED! Sometimes a twitch will get the feathers moving and the fish to
return after a hit and miss! Small 1/8-ounce BLACK buzzbaits have also been
working at lower tides over grass around docks and over wood! When the tide
is low, try frogs like the Mann's Super Frog!
If the fish are a bit more active, go to a buzzfrog! If you've never seen
the Mann's HARDNOSE Swim Toad, GET SOME! These are perfect over grass! The
hard nose keeps the hook in place better than ANY OTHER on the market! I
like white and green pumpkin! If you see me on the water, ask me for a free
sample! Rig this on a 5/0 Mustad Ultra Point Tube hook with BRAID! I am
trying a bunch of braids…so far; STREN Super Braid and Spiderwire are the
best. On casting gear, I like to spool 65 on spinning gear, I like 25. The
no stretch is great for getting the fish out of grass and for setting the
hook. I like the heavier line on casting gear…easier to cast! TOPWATER
KEYS: Use poppers at lower tides…ANYTIME OF THE DAY!
By the way, my 2007 Pro Staff Skeeter ZX225 with 225 hp HPDI Yamaha is for
sale! I pre-sell these boats for December 1 delivery, 2007! If you want a
great deal on a slightly used, well-maintained boat, this is the best deal
on a used Skeeter anywhere. Factory warranty transfers! It will be less
than a year old and in great shape. About 50 hours. This is the time to
reserve this boat. I am asking only $33,000! This is a great boat at a
great price. SERIOUS CALLS only…. 703-360-3472.
For mat fishing, the bright sun and hot hazy days, give you a good shot!
Punch through and you'll have a great time! Look for the nastiest mats you
can find. Casting GEAR!!!! The ONE-PIECE 2iG Ultra Strike Flippin' Stick is
perfect! Spool with 65 pound braid, a 1-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight with a
Mann's HardNose Flippin' Craw…black blue, green pumpkin on a 5/0 Mustad
Ultra Point Tube hook! Pitch to a mat, shake until it drops through and
wait until the fish swims off with it. Shake a bit, pull up to the underside
of the mat…shake, and then drop again before removing to make another cast.
REMEMBER; allow the fish to PULL before you set the hook! A spray of Jack's
Juice Garlic adds flavor and allows the bait to slide through the grass
better. Also, I peg my weight or use Pro's Soft Bait Glue to glue to the
head of the bait.
I am now the BASS FISHING EXPERT for the Boatus.com website. I will be
answering fishing questions based on my experience as a guide and with a
little help from my friends: other writers, manufacturers, guides and top
pros will contribute to my responses. Check it out at:
http://my.boatus.com/askexperts/
If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I get it answered with
a little help from my friends.
I use specific products and mention them in my reports. These are products
I have used extensively and have confidence in. By mentioning product
names, it is easier for you to match up with what I am using. I also detail
the features of many of the products I use to demonstrate their benefits.
Have fun, and I would enjoy hearing from you. If you have questions,
comments or would like to book a trip, e-mail: info@nationalbass.com. I
have a lot of articles on various strategies and techniques on my site. If
you have a suggestion for an article, let me know. Check out my website:
www.nationalbass.com. I can't fish the entire river all of the time, so if
you have some information to share, let me know.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
"Take me fishing!"
.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸> >
**************************************
See what's new at http://www.aol.com
August 28tth, 2007
FISHING
REPORT
I am hearing complaints from guys having trouble catching bass this time of
the year. They ask, “Where are the bass?' “In the grass” my response. And
there is so much of it! The bass are very comfy under the maze of mats
stretching from DC to Nanjemoy! How do you get them…first of all a
reminder. The PROS were here recently and a lot of them had trouble getting
five fish a day! It was a very tedious methodical punching of mats that did
the trick for most of them. Skeet was fishing hard cover. So there. You
have two choices…mats or hard cover. Sounds simple! NOT!
By the way, my 2007 Pro Staff Skeeter ZX225 with 225 hp HPDI Yamaha is for
sale! I pre-sell these boats for December 1 delivery, 2007! If you want a
great deal on a slightly used, well-maintained boat, this is the best deal
on a used Skeeter anywhere. Factory warranty transfers! It will be less
than a year old and in great shape. About 50 hours. This is the time to
reserve this boat. I am asking only $32,000! This is a great boat at a
great price. SERIOUS CALLS only…. 703-360-3472.
Last week I had a day where we did well with spinnerbaits…the tide slowed
and DONE! Next day not a bite on a spinnerbait! The fish were still there,
in the grass, but didn't want to come out to play. Punching mats was the
only option….not for everyone!
If you don't want to mess with the grass, you can do a few things. Go to
the edges of mats where there is deeper water! Play with any plastic
rig…drop shot, jig or whatever….just keep it slow! You can also try rats
over the grass….again, slow…I like the Furbit popper….pop and let the rabbit
fur tail do the rest. After that, go where there is NO grass or just pads
and wood. Here, I like big stuff! Jig and Hardnose 6” worm and Mann's NEW
Hardnose 9-inch worm! Rig this on a 3/0 Mustad Ultra Point Hook with a 3/16
ounce Water Gremlin BULLSHOT! Work it slow! Find cuts in pads or drains
when the tide is falling. On rising tides, I still like the crankbait in the
pads. Drop shot, shaky head, and tubes are great ways to fish docks where
there is no grass underneath and bridge pilings. For drop shotting and shaky
head fishing I like the green pumpkin Mann's HardNose finesse worm. The head
on this bait is very tough, while the body is very soft! The bait stays on
the hook and the pencil point tail does a whole lot of shaking! I use the
plain lead Gerkin jig heads for shaky head fishing…I heat the head and coat
with BROWN vinyl powdered coat available through lurecraft.com. Smoots and
Spoils are great for this. The C-Rig in there areas is also producing. You
can even try deeper diving cranks like the Mann's 15+!
Go with the Mann's Baby 1-Minus or the NEW C-4 Elite Series wide body bait.
This bigger bait can be crawled through the pads. Pitch in as far as you
can….at the highest tides. In the creeks, I like Mann's NEW C-4 ELITE SERIES
crankbait in chartreuse shad on 20-pound test. Crank through the pads when
pitching about 15 feet….walk through and hold on! This is a great higher
tide strategy for pads in creeks! I use 20-pound test and a 6'6” medium
heavy 2iG Ultra Strike rod. I pitch most of the time to be a bit more
accurate. At higher tides in grass, I have been having a lot of success with
the Mann's Baby 1-Minus and the new Elite C-4. My 'new' Baby 1-Minus
favorite is the new Elite Series. I like the baby bass color now. Old
standbys, fire tiger, splatterback and desert sunset are also working. Vary
your retrieves. I have caught some burning the bait, crawling it and long
pauses. Check your hooks on all cranks now! I recommend replacing with
Mustad Ultra Point trebles. Try adding a feather Mustad treble to the tail
of a Baby 1-Minus. For my line, I am using 20-pound test Berkley XT. For
cranks, I like the 7” medium action rod. A medium heavy 7-foot graphite rod
like the 2iG Ultra Strike is perfect to snap from grass and to set the
hook! It is not too limber or too stiff to keep you from landing fish.
If you get low light conditions, try your moving baits. I like the _ ounce
spinnerbait with Colorado Indiana gold blades and a white skirt at low tides
and a 3/8-ounce double willow with firetiger skirt when the tide is higher.
If I have a high tide under cloudy skies in the grass, I have been tossing
the 3/8-willow tandem with a firetiger skirt. Chop on the water is better.
This doesn't work as well at high tide when the water is stained. You need
to switch to the Classic Indian/Colorado with a white skirt. For my rods,
the Ultra Strike, 2iG rods are perfect. The med/hvy 6'6” rod is my
spinnerbait rod.
For topwater, I like slowing down with a slow buzzbait with a clacker or a
walking bait like the GUNFISH from Lucky Craft! This bait disturbs the
water and has a loud rattle!! I can walk this bait very slowly, and the
rattles call them up! The key has been to keep it moving once you get a
strike! If you stop it, they don't seem to come back! Add a tail feather
like the Mustad hand tied Ultra Point trebles in RED! Sometimes a twitch
will get the feathers moving and the fish to return after a hit and miss!
Small 1/8-ounce BLACK buzzbaits have also been working at lower tides over
grass around docks and over wood! When the tide is low, try frogs like the
Mann's Super Frog!
If the fish are a bit more active, go to a buzzfrog! If you've never seen
the Mann's HARDNOSE Swim Toad, GET SOME! These are perfect over grass! The
hard nose keeps the hook in place better than ANY OTHER on the market! I
like white and green pumpkin! If you see me on the water, ask me for a free
sample! Rig this on a 5/0 Mustad Ultra Point Tube hook with BRAID! I am
trying a bunch of braids…so far; STREN Super Braid and Spiderwire are the
best. On casting gear, I like to spool 65 on spinning gear, I like 25. The
no stretch is great for getting the fish out of grass and for setting the
hook. I like the heavier line on casting gear…easier to cast! TOPWATER
KEYS: Use poppers at lower tides…ANYTIME OF THE DAY! Use SLOW buzzbaits
and walkers in clear calm water…. higher tides under cloudy skies. Buzzbaits
with clackers at higher tides and choppy water.
For mat fishing, the bright sun and hot hazy days, give you a good shot!
Punch through and you'll have a great time! Look for the nastiest mats you
can find. Casting GEAR!!!! The ONE-PIECE 2iG Ultra Strike Flippin' Stick is
perfect! Spool with 65 pound braid, a 1-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight with a
Mann's HardNose Flippin' Craw…black blue, green pumpkin on a 5/0 Mustad
Ultra Point Tube hook! Pitch to a mat, shake until it drops through and
wait until the fish swims off with it. Shake a bit, pull up to the underside
of the mat…shake, and then drop again before removing to make another cast.
REMEMBER; allow the fish to PULL before you set the hook! A spray of Jack's
Juice Garlic adds flavor and allows the bait to slide through the grass
better. Also, I peg my weight or use Pro's Soft Bait Glue to glue to the
head of the bait.
I am now the BASS FISHING EXPERT for the Boatus.com website. I will be
answering fishing questions based on my experience as a guide and with a
little help from my friends: other writers, manufacturers, guides and top
pros will contribute to my responses. Check it out at:
http://my.boatus.com/askexperts/
If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I get it answered with
a little help from my friends.
This is a good time to pour some great finesse worms and other soft
plastics. I like the molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the supplies
you would ever need. They even have various plastic mixes for floating and
for softness. Go on -line to find out more! Lure Craft molds are precise
and easy to use. (www.lurecraft.com 1-800-925-9088 for a free catalog). Make
straight tail finesse worms for shakey head fishing, drop shots, and split
shots! They have a mold for anything and all of the supplies to pour your
own custom poured baits…they can even make a mold for your design! Ask me
to take a look at some of the baits I have made or check them out on:
www.nationalbass.com (articles/lure-craft.htm) check out the NEW Lure Craft
website…call now to put your orders in! 1-800-925-9088
I keep a few Frogg Toggs on board for sudden showers…whenever they come. The
new Elite Series has become my year-round windbreaker and rain suit. These
new Toggs are amazing and they are loaded with pockets and features…and come
with a very reasonable price tag! Stop me and check it out! Frogg Toggs
(www.froggtoggs.com) are always on board. They block the wind and are
breathable! I carry extras for my passengers!
Each time you search the internet, you can support FishAmerica's efforts to
keep our fish and waters healthy. Just visit www.goodsearch.com, enter
FishAmerica as your charity of choice, and start searching! Just 500
searches, four times a day will raise about $7,300 in a year without anyone
spending a dime! Download the GoodSearch toolbar to your web browser such
as Internet Explorer. Just visit http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/ and
click Download Now!
My Sportsman's Magazine article will focus on PROP BAITS! Hear what pros
Joe Thomas and Frank Scalish say about how to fish these noisy baits.
I use specific products and mention them in my reports. These are products
I have used extensively and have confidence in. By mentioning product
names, it is easier for you to match up with what I am using. I also detail
the features of many of the products I use to demonstrate their benefits.
There is a new style TEVA I just LOVE! Karnali Wraptor
(http://teva.com/ProductDetails.aspx?g=m&productID=6960&model=Karnali+Wraptor)
have a toe guard! They are perfect for water sports…. they have drains and
are great for standing all day! Check out the new TEVA sandals. They are
sport shoes…especially water sports like bass fishing! If you do not wear
the sport sandals from TEVA, you should! Just cover your feet with
sunscreen and you'll feel better! I have tried other footwear, including
expensive basketball shoes. TEVA's are very comfortable and have boat safe
surfaces along with anti-microbial protection. These sandals are comfortable
and keep me on my feet...no butt seat either! Check out www.teva.com.
Senior BASSMASTER writer, Robert Montgomery has taken his decades of writing
and fishing experience with the best in the fishing business and compiled it
into one huge E-Book. Ratio's KILLER BASS FISHING SECRETS contains nearly
300 VERY specific tips from pros to help you catch more fish! I found a TON
of great tips to help me. You can get your copy of RONTICO's KILLER BASS
FISHING SECRETS here: www.killer-bass-fishing-secrets.com. It's only
$19.95…that's about a nickel a tip! Well worth it! The site has some FREE
tips!
FYI!!! I receive press releases from many companies. Here's one I found
interesting. I have friends who have damaged their skegs and either leave
them damaged, affecting performance, or have an expensive lower unit
replaced. The Blackfin™ Skeg is new product made of high impact composite
and is easy-to-install, with no drilling or changes to your original boat or
motor. In the event of an impact; the force is equally distributed in all
directions and absorbed by the flexible nature of the Blackfin™ Skeg. In the
event of damage to your original stock skeg the Blackfin™ Skeg can be used
to easily and inexpensively repair the damage as long as one third or more
of the original skeg is still intact. The added protection and enhanced
performance of the Blackfin™Skeg make this new product a must have for any
boating enthusiast. They are available at Cabela's, and larger marine
stores or conveniently online at www.blackfinskeg.com. The suggested retail
price is $69.95. For additional information on Blackfin™ Skeg contact Re:
The Outdoors at 334-612-0859.
There are some great tackle specials this month at Jann's Netcraft! If you
want to be on the email list for these specials, contact me and I'll take
care of it for you! Contact Jann's Netcraft for your free catalog! They
have a great assortment of do-it-yourself supplies, and they have a great
line of soft plastics too! By this time of the year, my rod tips are just
about worn out on my cranking rods. Sometimes the guides take a constant
beating too! What do you do? Toss out the rod that is really still in great
shape? No way! I have learned how to replace guides on some of my favorite
rods and they are ready to go! Check out their rod building and repair
supplies. Get a tip kit, with many sizes for a variety of rods. If you
want to learn how to make repairs or even build your own custom rods, they
have a great rod-building instructional book and all of the tools and parts!
I also noticed they have everything you need to make crankbaits,
spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits. You can start from scratch or assemble the
parts to build the baits you like to your exact specs…and save money too!
Jann's Netcraft luremaking, flytying, rod building, and soft baits! They've
been around for a long time and have a great selection of lure making
materials too! Check them out at www.jannsnetcraft.com or call
1-800-NETCRAFT!
A note on one of my tools. I like to use PRO's Soft Bait Glue. While a lot
of anglers are really impressed by how much money they save gluing Senkos
back together, I really like the time I save! When I skip stickworms under
docks, eventually, baits tear. Rather than stopping and retying and
re-rigging, I just put a drop of glue on the tear and away I go. One bait
will stay rigged nearly all day! I also have started using with my shakey
heads. While the Mann's Hardnose bait is the only bait on the market with a
super hard nose to stay on the hook better, I still put a drop to keep it
from going anywhere on the head!
As most who see me at the ramp know, I drive a 1995 Nissan 4WD truck. This
old truck really tows my Skeeter with ease! I bought this truck from
PASSPORT Nissan and I have been buying my vehicles from the owner since
1978! If you have any questions about the NISSAN trucks, please forward to
me! Right now is a great time to consider one, as Nissan is running low
interest rates or cash back on Titan, Frontier and Xterra. Bob Gasbarri
knows NISSANS and he knows trucks! Give him a call at 703-461-5279 with any
towing questions! I will demo many of their trucks throughout the year.
Let me know if you would like to set up a test drive! IF YOU CONTACT ME, I
WILL GET YOU A BELOW INVOICE NO HASTLE PRICE!
I have also found a new product that is awesome! Actually, I interviewed
the makers of Hawg Pockets after they won the ICAST award for the new
product showcase. I had the gadgets in my basement for a while. I took a
fishing trip to West Virginia. My wife started to freak out when I started
to load my rods with crankbaits into her new Passport Nissan Murano. She
didn't want me to hook her leather interior. I remembered the Hawg Pockets
and read the instructions and snapped them into place. They did their job.
I also found out they didn't tangle when I moved them and I could see my
bait thru them! Check out the website. I am using them on my boat now and
it keeps my rods from tangling and I can see the baits on the rods. This is
the best fishing lure guard I have ever seen! Check them out!
www.hawgpockets.com
Also look for my Tournament Talk column in Woods & Waters. This month the
pros talk about attention to execution! I cover B.A.S.S. and FLW tournament
winners! Also check out www.woodsandwatersmagazine.com. There is a limited
supply of these FREE publications at Belle Haven Marina and at Bowes and
Arrows.
MIZMO tubes, Punisher Jigs, and most of the Lucky Craft and Mann's baits are
now in Bass Pro Shops latest catalog….look for them!
If you want the best polarized sunglasses for fishing, I suggest Maui Jim
HCL (high contrast lens) polarized sunglasses. These are the best for
picking up cover in the water and seeing the fish. Check around, most of
the serious anglers on the Potomac are wearing them. Eye protection is
important!!! Get a quality pair of polarized sunglasses. I recommend the
Maui Jims (www.mauijim.com). Sunglass Huts carry these. If you see me on
the water, I will let you check mine out. I am also trying the
polycarbonate lens Maui Sports…. they are light as a feather and the optics
are great.
For 2007 Tides information for the Potomac look under “REPORTS AND TIDES”.
Print a copy for your use.
If you are new to the river, get a map from GMCO. It is a pro-quality map
for fishing the Potomac and for other Virginia waters. Check out their site:
www.gmcomaps.com. They list some of the popular locations and some of the
hidden dangers of navigating the Potomac.
Check out the biggest bass ever caught on the Potomac.
(www.nationalbass.com, then REPORTS, then BIG FISH) Gary Kincheloe's record
is likely to stand longer that the previous record of nearly 30 years.
Are your boat batteries sluggish? If you have questions about battery care,
check out www.nationalbass.com, go to ARTICLES and then Boat Batteries.
There is also a discount offer on INTERSTATE Marine batteries.
Have fun, and I would enjoy hearing from you. If you have questions,
comments or would like to book a trip, e-mail: info@nationalbass.com. I
have a lot of articles on various strategies and techniques on my site. If
you have a suggestion for an article, let me know. Check out my website:
www.nationalbass.com. I can't fish the entire river all of the time, so if
you have some information to share, let me know.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
"Take me fishing!"
.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸> >
Captain
Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
Boat U.S.
On-line Expert
"Take me fishing!"
.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸> >
National Bass Fishing Show
8619 Camden St.
Alexandria, VA 22308
home office: 703-360-3472
cell: 703-380-7119
info@nationalbass.com
Visit for updated reports
www.nationalbass.com
August 13th, 2007
FISHING
REPORT
Thanks to all of those who fished the 11th Annual Mid-Atlantic BASS
Tournament to Benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital! You raised nearly
$5,000 for the KIDS!!!!! Go to my site for FINAL STANDINGS!
I just returned from the 50th Anniversary of ICAST in Vegas. What a show!
If you ever get the opportunity….go! This year, lots of new lines from
Berkley, including a new Stren braid. Quantum released a lot of new and
lighter high-end rods. They also introduced a very affordable line of
catfish rigs. I saw a lot of hollowed body frogs at the show. This was a
huge trend, along with big-bodied wake crankbaits, like Mann's new Waker
Elite Series. Mann's has a lot of new baits in the HardNose line, including
a 10” Snake! This bait creates a wake and brings in the big ones….perfect
for Potomac bass over grass!!!
The Optimum Furbit frogs were still setting the pace along with several
other offerings from Japan! River2Sea has a soft body jitterbug….in fact
the lip is also soft. The company claims this will not interfere with
hooksets like the old metal lip AND, this bait is totally weedless! The
Step Wa also has rubber skirt legs. Their frog, the Bully Wa has
a keel and center ballast to allow it to walk! A new air escape system
minimizes the amount of water taken in while allowing the bait to compress
to give a large hook exposure. I hope to try these soon!
Another Japanese company, JackAll, had all of their hardbaits on display!
What an interesting line of products. They put a lot of thought and
technology into their baits. With CAD, their baits are tournament ready! A
wide array of jointed baits, crankbaits, lipless, minnow, props, and Hard
SWIMBAITS.
If you like Chatterbaits, you'll love the new Rock”N Runner, an original
Road Runner with the hard rocking action of a Chatterbait! The willow
beneath the bait is sure to be a hit with bass!
In addition to a new and improved Rejuvenade, the company has found a simple
product to insure your fish make it to the weigh-in! A vent for your
livewell releases all of the trapped HEATED air! So simple! This product
is very durable as well. I tried to break one!
Want some technology with your jigs? Try the new “E-Chip Flipping Jig that
generates a small electric charge, claimed to be similar to that of an
actual nervous system of live bait! The company, Persuader, says its E-Chip
will attach to any hook!
My friends at Mizmo have a huge new product line! Many of their new baits
feature a pocket to insert their THUNDER rattles! OR scent! The Swamp
Monster creature bait has claws that flip and arms that thump! MIZMO also
has a new swimbait! Check them out!
Even Tru-Tungsten is getting into the swimbait business! A jointed hard
swimbait looks REAL!!!
More coming in future articles….
I had a truly unique fishing experience last week. Two ladies from the WBT
joined me on the Potomac! We fished from 6am to 9pm! We had a blast! They
made me remember how much fun fishing really can be! They have only been
fishing for 2 years, but they were really on top of their game. Thanks
ladies!
The bite has been slow some days and awesome others….water temp around 80
and you are golden. Cloud cover and some ripple and you have a good chance
to get them on moving baits…but when the dog days hit…85+ degree water,
bright sun and hot hazy days, go to the mats! Punch through and you'll have
a great time!
For topwaters Lucky Craft Gunfish! I can walk this bait very slowly, and
the rattles call them up! The key has been to keep it moving once you get a
strike! If you stop it, they don't seem to come back! Add a tail feather
like the Mustad hand tied Ultra Point trebles in RED! Sometimes a twitch
will get the feathers moving and the fish to return after a hit and miss!
Small 1/8-ounce BLACK buzzbaits have also been working at lower tides over
grass around docks and over wood! When the tide is low, try frogs like the
Mann's Super Frog!
The best all around topwater now is the buzzfrog! If you have never seen
the Mann's HARDNOSE Swim Toad, GET SOME! These are perfect over grass! The
hard nose keeps the hook in place better than ANY OTHER on the market! I
like white and green pumpkin! If you see me on the water, ask me for a free
sample! Rig this on a 5/0 Mustad Ultra Point Tube hook with BRAID! I am
trying a bunch of braids…so far; STREN Super Braid and Spiderwire are the
best. On casting gear, I like to spool 50 on spinning gear, I like 25. The
no stretch is great for getting the fish out of grass and for setting the
hook. I like the heavier line on casting gear…easier to cast! TOPWATER
KEYS: Use poppers at lower tides…ANYTIME OF THE DAY! Use SLOW buzzbaits
and walkers in clear calm water…. higher tides under cloudy skies. Buzzbaits
with clackers at higher tides and choppy water.
Here are your fishing choices…..creeks and main river grass. In the creeks,
fish pad edges. At low tide, the edge of the pads are good…at higher tides,
you need to pitch back into the pads. Jigs, craws and the new Mann's 9-INCH
HardNose worm in black with red flake have been my best choices.
In the grass, you need to punch through. Look for the nastiest mats you can
find on a hot calm very sunny day and you will be able to mat fish. Casting
GEAR!!!! The ONE-PIECE 2iG Ultra Strike Flippin' Stick is perfect! Spool
with 65 pound braid, a 1-ounce Tru-Tungsten brown weight with a Mann's
HardNose Flippin' Craw…black blue, green pumpkin on a 5/0 Mustad Ultra Point
Tube hook! Pitch to a mat, shake until it drops though and wait until the
fish swims off with it. Shake a bit, pull up to the underside of the
mat…shake, and then drop again before removing to make another cast.
REMEMBER; allow the fish to PULL before you set the hook! A spray of Jack's
Juice Garlic adds flavor and allows the bait to slide through the grass
better. Also, I peg my weight or use Pro's Soft Bait Glue to glue to the
head of the bait.
If I have a high tide under cloudy skies in the grass, I have been tossing
the 3/8-willow tandem with a firetiger skirt. Chop on the water is better.
This doesn't work as well at high tide when the water is stained. You need
to switch to the Classic Indian/Colorado with a white skirt. In the creeks,
I like a white Mann's crankbait, THE NEW C-4 ELEITE SERIES in chartreuse
shad on 20-pound test. Crank through the pads when pitching about 15
feet….walk through the pads and hold on! This is a great higher tide
strategy for the pads in creeks! This bait is also good on cloudy days in
the grass at higher tides.
At higher tides, I have been having a lot of success with the Mann's Baby
1-Minus. My 'new' favorite is the new Elite Series. I like the baby bass
color now. Old standbys, fire tiger, splatterback and desert sunset are
also working. Vary your retrieves. I have caught some burning the bait,
crawling it and long pauses. Check your hooks on all cranks now! I
recommend replacing with Mustad Ultra Point trebles. Try adding a feather
Mustad treble to the tail of a Baby 1-Minus. For my line, I am using
17-pound test Berkley XT. For my rods, the Ultra Strike, 2iG rods are
perfect. The med/hvy 6'6” rod is my spinnerbait rod. For cranks, I like the
7” medium action rod. A medium heavy 7-foot graphite rod like the 2iG Ultra
Strike is perfect to snap from grass and to set the hook! It is not too
limber or too stiff to keep you from landing fish.
Drop shot, shaky head, and tubes are great ways to fish docks where there is
no grass underneath and bridge pilings. For drop shotting and shaky head
fishing I like the green pumpkin Mann's HardNose finesse worm. The head on
this bait is very tough, while the body is very soft! The bait stays on the
hook and the pencil point tail does a whole lot of shaking! I use the plain
lead Gerkin jig heads for shaky head fishing…I heat the head and coat with
BROWN vinyl powdered coat available through lurecraft.com. The area in
Smoots and Spoils are great for this. The C-Rig in there areas is also
producing. You can even try deeper diving cranks like the Mann's 15+!
My new 2007 Pro Staff Skeeter ZX225 with 225 hp HPDI Yamaha is for sale! I
pre-sell these boats for December 1 delivery, 2007! If you want a great
deal on a slightly used, well-maintained boat, this is the best deal on a
used Skeeter anywhere. Factory warranty transfers! It will be less than a
year old and in great shape. About 50 hours. This is the time to reserve
this boat. I am asking only $32,000! This is a great boat at a great price.
SERIOUS CALLS only…. 703-360-3472.
I am now the BASS FISHING EXPERT for the Boatus.com website. I will be
answering fishing questions based on my experience as a guide and with a
little help from my friends: other writers, manufacturers, guides and top
pros will contribute to my responses. Check it out at:
http://my.boatus.com/askexperts/
If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I get it answered with
a little help from my friends.
This is a good time to pour some great finesse worms and other soft
plastics. I like the molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the supplies
you would ever need. They even have various plastic mixes for floating and
for softness. Go on -line to find out more! Lure Craft molds are precise
and easy to use. (www.lurecraft.com 1-800-925-9088 for a free catalog). Make
straight tail finesse worms for shakey head fishing, drop shots, and split
shots! They have a mold for anything and all of the supplies to pour your
own custom poured baits…they can even make a mold for your design! Ask me
to take a look at some of the baits I have made or check them out on:
www.nationalbass.com (articles/lure-craft.htm) check out the NEW Lure Craft
website…call now to put your orders in! 1-800-925-9088
I keep a few Frogg Toggs on board for sudden showers…whenever they come. The
new Elite Series has become my year-round windbreaker and rain suit. These
new Toggs are amazing and they are loaded with pockets and features…and come
with a very reasonable price tag! Stop me and check it out! Frogg Toggs (www.froggtoggs.com)
are always on board. They block the wind and are breathable! I carry
extras for my passengers!
Each time you search the internet, you can support FishAmerica's efforts to
keep our fish and waters healthy. Just visit www.goodsearch.com, enter
FishAmerica as your charity of choice, and start searching! Just 500
searches, four times a day will raise about $7,300 in a year without anyone
spending a dime! Download the GoodSearch toolbar to your web browser such
as Internet Explorer. Just visit http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/ and
click Download Now!
My Sportsman's Magazine article will focus on PROP BAITS! Hear what pros
Joe Thomas and Frank Scalish say about how to fish these noisy baits.
I use specific products and mention them in my reports. These are products
I have used extensively and have confidence in. By mentioning product
names, it is easier for you to match up with what I am using. I also detail
the features of many of the products I use to demonstrate their benefits.
There is a new style TEVA I just LOVE! Karnali Wraptor (http://teva.com/ProductDetails.aspx?g=m&productID=6960&model=Karnali+Wraptor)
have a toe guard! They are perfect for water sports…. they have drains and
are great for standing all day! Check out the new TEVA sandals are actually
sport shoes…especially water sports like bass fishing! If you do not wear
the sport sandals from TEVA, you should! Just cover your feet with
sunscreen and you'll feel better! I have tried other footwear, including
expensive basketball shoes. TEVA's are very comfortable and have boat safe
surfaces along with anti-microbial protection. These sandals are comfortable
and keep me on my feet...no butt seat either! Check out www.teva.com.
Senior BASSMASTER writer, Robert Montgomery has taken his decades of writing
and fishing experience with the best in the fishing business and compiled it
into one huge E-Book. Ratio's KILLER BASS FISHING SECRETS contains nearly
300 VERY specific tips from pros to help you catch more fish! I found a TON
of great tips to help me. You can get your copy of RONTICO's KILLER BASS
FISHING SECRETS here: www.killer-bass-fishing-secrets.com. It's only
$19.95…that's about a nickel a tip! Well worth it! The site has some FREE
tips!
FYI!!! I receive press releases from many companies. Here's one I found
interesting. I have friends who have damaged their skegs and either leave
them damaged, affecting performance, or have an expensive lower unit
replaced. The Blackfin™ Skeg is new product made of high impact composite
and is easy-to-install, with no drilling or changes to your original boat or
motor. In the event of an impact; the force is equally distributed in all
directions and absorbed by the flexible nature of the Blackfin™ Skeg. In the
event of damage to your original stock skeg the Blackfin™ Skeg can be used
to easily and inexpensively repair the damage as long as one third or more
of the original skeg is still intact. The added protection and enhanced
performance of the Blackfin™Skeg make this new product a must have for any
boating enthusiast. They are available at Cabela's, and larger marine
stores or conveniently online at www.blackfinskeg.com. The suggested retail
price is $69.95. For additional information on Blackfin™ Skeg contact Re:
The Outdoors at 334-612-0859.
There are some great tackle specials this month at Jann's Netcraft! If you
want to be on the email list for these specials, contact me and I'll take
care of it for you! Contact Jann's Netcraft for your free catalog! They
have a great assortment of do-it-yourself supplies, and they have a great
line of soft plastics too! By this time of the year, my rod tips are just
about worn out on my cranking rods. Sometimes the guides take a constant
beating too! What do you do? Toss out the rod that is really still in great
shape? No way! I have learned how to replace guides on some of my favorite
rods and they are ready to go! Check out their rod building and repair
supplies. Get a tip kit, with many sizes for a variety of rods. If you
want to learn how to make repairs or even build your own custom rods, they
have a great rod-building instructional book and all of the tools and parts!
I also noticed they have everything you need to make crankbaits,
spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits. You can start from scratch or assemble the
parts to build the baits you like to your exact specs…and save money too!
Jann's Netcraft luremaking, flytying, rod building, and soft baits! They've
been around for a long time and have a great selection of lure making
materials too! Check them out at www.jannsnetcraft.com or call
1-800-NETCRAFT!
A note on one of my tools. I like to use PRO's Soft Bait Glue. While a lot
of anglers are really impressed by how much money they save gluing Senkos
back together, I really like the time I save! When I skip stickworms under
docks, eventually, baits tear. Rather than stopping and retying and
re-rigging, I just put a drop of glue on the tear and away I go. One bait
will stay rigged nearly all day! I also have started using with my shakey
heads. While the Mann's Hardnose bait is the only bait on the market with a
super hard nose to stay on the hook better, I still put a drop to keep it
from going anywhere on the head!
As most who see me at the ramp know, I drive a 1995 Nissan 4WD truck. This
old truck really tows my Skeeter with ease! I bought this truck from
PASSPORT Nissan and I have been buying my vehicles from the owner since
1978! If you have any questions about the NISSAN trucks, please forward to
me! Right now is a great time to consider one, as Nissan is running low
interest rates or cash back on Titan, Frontier and Xterra. Bob Gasbarri
knows NISSANS and he knows trucks! Give him a call at 703-461-5279 with any
towing questions! I will demo many of their trucks throughout the year.
Let me know if you would like to set up a test drive! IF YOU CONTACT ME, I
WILL GET YOU A BELOW INVOICE NO HASTLE PRICE!
I have also found a new product that is awesome! Actually, I interviewed
the makers of Hawg Pockets after they won the ICAST award for the new
product showcase. I had the gadgets in my basement for a while. I took a
fishing trip to West Virginia. My wife started to freak out when I started
to load my rods with crankbaits into her new Passport Nissan Murano. She
didn't want me to hook her leather interior. I remembered the Hawg Pockets
and read the instructions and snapped them into place. They did their job.
I also found out they didn't tangle when I moved them and I could see my
bait thru them! Check out the website. I am using them on my boat now and
it keeps my rods from tangling and I can see the baits on the rods. This is
the best fishing lure guard I have ever seen! Check them out!
www.hawgpockets.com
Also look for my Tournament Talk column in Woods & Waters. This month the
pros talk about attention to execution! I cover B.A.S.S. and FLW tournament
winners! Also check out www.woodsandwatersmagazine.com. There is a limited
supply of these FREE publications at Belle Haven Marina and at Bowes and
Arrows.
MIZMO tubes, Punisher Jigs, and most of the Lucky Craft and Mann's baits are
now in Bass Pro Shops latest catalog….look for them!
If you want the best polarized sunglasses for fishing, I suggest Maui Jim
HCL (high contrast lens) polarized sunglasses. These are the best for
picking up cover in the water and seeing the fish. Check around, most of
the serious anglers on the Potomac are wearing them. Eye protection is
important!!! Get a quality pair of polarized sunglasses. I recommend the
Maui Jims (www.mauijim.com). Sunglass Huts carry these. If you see me on
the water, I will let you check mine out. I am also trying the
polycarbonate lens Maui Sports…. they are light as a feather and the optics
are great.
For 2007 Tides information for the Potomac look under “REPORTS AND TIDES”.
Print a copy for your use.
If you like to weigh your fish or if you are a tournament angler, you NEED
the XTOOLS Digital fish scale and gripper. It is waterproof, floats, and it
grips the fish so I can weigh all of my clients' fish without having to
punch a hole in their mouth. They are a sponsor of the FLW trail and just
about all of the pros are using them. I love mine. I recently met the
great people associated with the company and they demonstrated some of
XTOOLS other products. Get one of the scales…they also have one for
tournament anglers with a culling system that can't be beat! www.xtools.us
If you are new to the river, get a map from GMCO. It is a pro-quality map
for fishing the Potomac and for other Virginia waters. Check out their site:
www.gmcomaps.com. They list some of the popular locations and some of the
hidden dangers of navigating the Potomac.
Check out the biggest bass ever caught on the Potomac. (www.nationalbass.com,
then REPORTS, then BIG FISH) Gary Kincheloe's record is likely to stand
longer that the previous record of nearly 30 years.
Are your boat batteries sluggish? If you have questions about battery care,
check out www.nationalbass.com, go to ARTICLES and then Boat Batteries.
There is also a discount offer on INTERSTATE Marine batteries.
Have fun, and I would enjoy hearing from you. If you have questions,
comments or would like to book a trip, e-mail: info@nationalbass.com. I
have a lot of articles on various strategies and techniques on my site. If
you have a suggestion for an article, let me know. Check out my website:
www.nationalbass.com. I can't fish the entire river all of the time, so if
you have some information to share, let me know.
Captain Steve Chaconas/National Bass Guide Service/SEOPA
"Take me fishing!"
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2/13/07
ICE. No
fishing…so what do you do?
Well, that depends on your willingness to get your gear back in shape.
Take all of your topwater and crankbaits out of the boat and check the
hooks. Replace with Mustad Ultra Point trebles. I even get some
fingernail polish and touch up some of my baits. (I generally add a streak
of orange to the bellies of my crankbaits!) For topwaters, a new
feathered treble from Mustad gets it back in top shape.
Take your spinnerbaits and replace the skirts. I take some nylon sewing
thread and wrap and tie just above the rubber band on the skirt to keep it
from slipping or falling off. I use white. If I am doing this for
different colors, then I take a marker and mark the thread before I tie.
I do the same for jigs. Make sure the hooks are sharp! I also head the
head and tough up with powdered coat too! This is also a good time to
pour some of your own jigs for shakey head and grub fishing too! The vinyl
powder coat is available through lurecraft.com
After that, I clean all of my rods and the cork with 409 cleaner. I check
all of the guides. I do not use a Q-Tip! I use a magnifying glass and
check the guides from the tip down. If the tip needs to be replaced, do
it! Jann's Netcraft has everything you need! Get a few extra.
Now the reels. If you do only one thing, clean the exterior and strip the
line. Don't put fresh line on until you are ready for fishing again! After
that, take the spool bearings off. A soaking in lighter fluid will clean
them out. Spin them a few times and re-soak. Let the air dry for 15
minutes then add a high-grade oil…just a tiny drop and spin into the
bearing and you are ready to go. If you want to get even more into it,
tear your reel down and clean and re-lube. I use a bit of grease on my
worm gears and a drop of oil. Clean the handle and oil it too.
This is a good time to pour some great finesse worms and other soft
plastics. I like the molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the
supplies you would ever need. They even have various plastic mixes for
floating and for softness. Go on -line to find out more!
Mark your calendars for BASS PRO SHOPS March 2,3 and 4! The March Madness
event, Spring Classic at the Hanover, MD BASS PRO SHOPS will not only have
great gear on sale, but will feature the best in bass fishing! Jimmy
Houston and Woo Daves will be there signing autographs and giving
pointers. I will be giving cold-water seminars to get you ready for the
first signs of a thaw! I will be speaking at 2pm on 3/3 and at 1pm on
3/4. I hope to see you there!
Until then, get your gear ready. I think this spring will be one of the
best ever on the Potomac.
Captain Steve Chaconas
11/19/06
A client of mine was fishing in the Spoils on OCT 14,
caught an 8-pounder fishing on his own! Now, here's his problem..another
boater came by and took the photo with his camera. My client hasn't
heard from him. It you were the one who took the pic, please email to me
and I will forward to him.
This week was a very good week! Fish are moving to docks and can be
caught on jigs, plastics, and crankbaits.
Also the spinnerbait bite has been awesome! This works well in certain
areas (near deep water on hard cover flats), at certain tides (outgoing
is best, must have moving water!) with certain weather conditions (clouds
or chop) and water clarity (a bit stained)!
Let's start with the spinnerbait. It is my favorite cool water technique.
In fact, I rely on spinnerbaits when the water is 45-55 more than any
other time of the year! My tackle is important. I like a 6'6" 2iG Ultra
Strike med/hvy casting rod with a slower reel. If you don't have a slower
(5:1) reel, just slightly under-spool your reel. Speed is the key. You
must slow down. I use 14-pound test Berkley XT with a Hank Parker
3/8-ounce willow/Colorado combo. GOLD BLADES! I can fish up to 6 feet
deep. I look for areas with drops near flats with cover - rock, wood and
grass. Cast and let the bait drop to the bottom. Then, barely move the
bait keeping it in touch with the bottom at all times. If you don't feel
the bottom, then stop. Use your rod to drag the bait to slow it down
further. The bite is a tap then pull. The hookset is critical! You must
set the hook right after the tap or they will spit it out! They don't
generally slam this presentation, but will fight hard! This is producing
my better fish!
Next, the Mann's Stingray grub on a ¼ ounce round Gerkin jig head made
with a MUSTAD Ultra Point hook and a Mizmo tube on a ¼ ounce Gerkin
weedless insert tube head. For the 4" Mizmo tubes, I like the green
pumpkin colors and the blue/craw. The Stingray is a 3" avocado! This is
the only size and color I use. If I am going to get bites on the bigger
bait, I like to go back to the tubes. I also soak all of my soft plastics
in Jack's Juice garlic - lots of it! All of these are cast on
8-pound test Berkley Sensation line. Spinning tackle with a 6'6" 2iG Ultra
Strike rod. Cast and DRAG! Fish very slowly! The area around the Wilson
Bridge, Spoils and Smoots are hot spots right now!
Of course, Blue Plains is heating up too! Here you can use split shot
rigs, drop shot and Carolina Rigs. Also a shakey head presentation works!
For soft plastics, I like the Mann's Hardnose Finesse Worm in green
pumpkin. Dip the tail in chartreuse dye. I also like to use the
Punisher hair jigs with the Punisher chunk and Punisher rattle! I also use
the C-Rig in the Spoils and Smoots. It is best to use a Tru-Tungsten 1
ounce weight. This weight is smaller and has the sensitivity to offer more
bottom feedback. You can find subtle bottom changes and other cover.
Tubes, drop shot and split shot also are working in other areas along
drops.
For crankbaits, I am fishing shallow around warmed surfaces! Rocks, wood,
etc. On a med action graphite 2iG-casting rod, spooled with 12-pound test
Berkley XT, I like the Mann's Baby 4 and 8-Minus baits. Craw patterns are
best. You need to keep this bait on the bottom, pausing when you touch the
bottom. Again, control the speed by dragging the bait with the rod.
The water on the main river was too muddy for jerkbaits. But at Blue
Plains it is working. Keep this tied on as the river clears again as temps
stay around 50. For jerkbaits, there is one. The Lucky Craft Pointer is
the best. I use the 78 and the 100 sizes, depending on water clarity. If
it is very clear I will go to the smaller 78. For colors, I like baby bass
and aurora gold. These baits work best on 10-12 pound test! I like a
medium action graphite rod.6' or 6'6". Twitch, twitch, twitch, then pause.
Vary the length of the pause until you get the right rhythm. You might
have to pause a while. I use this in water that is no more that 5 feet
deep!
I have talked to a bunch of guys who are looking for Silver Buddy lures. I
have a few for sale, but you can only get them now through the
silverbuddy.com website! I would get there early. There are limited
supplies in stock!
Captain Steve Chaconas
Water Temp: 55 degrees
Water Clarity: 1-2 feet
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