Bass – Occoquan (VA – Lake Ridge Downstream)
Last year’s low water reveals the structure for future reference
Navigation
Bass – Lake Pelham (VA)
This lake is a keeper – plenty of action!
Bass – Buffalo Pond (VA – Quantico MCB)
Buffalo Pond is managed for trophy bass.
Bass – Smith Mountain Lake (VA – State Park launch)
Smith Mountain Lake is far too big for the Basscanoe at the state park launch ramp. I ducked into the side channels.
Bass – Mountain Run Lake (VA)
Mountain Run is rated as the number 3 lake in Northern Virginia in the VDGIF 2008 rankings
Bass – Occoquan River (VA – Below Dam)
I have conflicting emotions regarding this section. A part of me says to stick to the river above the dam, another says give this area a second chance
Bass – Sandy River Reservoir (VA)
The TOPO map did not show the lake at all! Great for seeing the underlying structure.
Bass – Lake Orange (VA)
It’s worth the small cost of the permit to fish Lake Orange – sweet lake!
Bass – Beaverdam Creek Reservoir (VA – lower half)
This is a nice looking lake – I understand why it is one of the top rated lakes in Northern VA
Bass – Range 6 Pond (VA – Quantico MCB)
The Range 6 Pond is a small jewel tucked into the southern part of the Quantico Marine Corps Base
Bass – Ni Reservoir (VA)
This lake is huge! Thankfully, it is also narrow – making it perfect for the BassCanoe
Random Rocks = Trout? The Fly Advantage over Spin
In the last post on Owens Creek, I posed the question of overlooked fishing spots. While I did not see the potential of Owens when I fished it last April, as I wrote the post, I came to realize I was looking at Owens with my 48 years of spin fishing affecting my perspective. Maybe all …
Random Rocks = Trout? The Fly Advantage over Spin Read More »
Redfish!
I had to go to Orlando for a business trip during the week after Thanksgiving. Every time I go on a trip that extends to Thursday or Friday, I immediately evaluate the opportunity to extend that trip into a local fishing expedition. In this case, I decided to take vacation and go down a few …
4×4 and Fishing
The lure of open spaces, the challenge of getting there, a good set of bumps and the excitment of going off road; what could be better? The challenge is that you don’t know where you can legally take that 4×4 you invested in fixing up, so you content yourself with just driving to the standard parking areas …
Surf Fishing – Outer Banks, NC
It’s winter. I’m cold. I want sun. This summer, my son’s wedding was a destination wedding. The bride’s family normally does a reunion on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, so they decide to wrap the wedding into that annual event. The basswife, who is a beach lover from way, way back, instantly ratified that …
Lake Erie – Annual Walleye Expedition; Fall 2007
Walleye fishing has always been off and on for me. My buddy, Jeff, started taking me out once a year in what has become an annual event with his Dad. Known as the Hawg Hunter by the fishing crowd that claims the Cranberry Cove Marina on Lake Erie as their turf, he is the consummate fishing guide and fish …
Lake Erie – Annual Walleye Expedition; Fall 2007 Read More »
New Fly Guy – Bluegills – gotta love ’em!
Where do people learn to fly fish? In a class? On the lawn practicing? Or through the school of hard knocks? I’m sure most folks would agree that it ain’t book learning that moves you up the competence curve – it’s applied experience. But, fly fishing is much harder to learn and master than spin …
Catch and Don’t Release
For trout, I’m a catch and release kind of guy. I’ll eat any walleye that’s legal and keep a bass or two if they are larger than 15 inches, but trout have generally been off limits. For one, they are a hassle to cook – have plenty of bones – and the ones I catch …
Heat Packs
Against my better judgment, I saw a quick opportunity to go fishing in late December. The weather had warmed up and was pushing 50 degrees, so I figured it would not be tooooo miserable out there. Besides, even if I could just do a recon in anticipation of fairer weather, I would be a winner …
Idea? Crappie Crossover?
I was wandering around, totally unsupervised by the Basswife, in Gander Mountain the other day and saw the Crappie section. I was struck by the fact that there were a wide variety of plastics specifically targeted for this species. They are small, interesting and, most of all, fishable on a fly rig. In the picture …
Smallmouth Bass / Trout – Jackson River (Hidden Valley – South)
A real treasure, a pleasure to visit… this place is sweet!
Other – Guidance on Guides
I’m not much of a fisherman today, but I shudder to think about how bad I would really be without the timely advice and mentoring I have had from a few guides. My inventory of guides is not really long – maybe 6 or 7 different individuals. All provided me great advice and instruction while …
Trout Tip – Garden Shears
Well, I think I’ve gone through a second pair of waders in as many years. It’s my own fault as I did not follow the tip I am about to share. But… I’ve learned my lesson and will heed this advice next spring. When I was fishing on Dog Creek, the guide (Steve Bertrand) and I …
Other – The Kitchen Pass Dilemma
When I joined the Army, it only took an hour or so before I truly appreciated the value of a three day pass. When hunting season rolled around, I heard the First Sergeant comment that he could go if he could get a “kitchen pass”. The need for and the value of this type of …
Bass – Lake Anna
I thought Smith Lake and Pohick Bay were big until I rolled the Basscanoe into Lake Anna
New Fly Guy – The TFO Guarantee
Who is more likely to trash a fly rod? An expert or a new fly guy? I recently fell and squished one of the stripping guides on my rod. I pulled it back out and reshaped it, but it eventually broke. I remembered that the guy at Bass Pro Shops where I bought the rod (this …
Bass – Hunting Run
Hunting Run just opened… and has been overwhelmed…
New Fly Guy – Tips on Tippet
I never knew that tippet had to be matched to the hook size until I happened to read the stuff on the back of a packet of leader. I had always assumed that you just used the smallest tippet you possibly could given the size of fish you anticipated catching. Note the comment on the …
Bass – Smith Mountain Lake (Hardy)
Smith Mountain Lake is big water, but the Hardy launch was a good place for the BassCanoe
Equipment – Safety – Personal Locator
After watching Survivorman the other night and listening to the news about that Fossett guy who is currently missing, I came to the startling realization that I engage in high risk outdoors behavior. No, not that… nothing to do with meth or moonshine… fishing. At 55, I am still addicted and, thankfully, still in shape …
Bass – Germantown Lake
Germantown Lake was a disappointment that cost 6 bucks to discover
Other – Up or Downstream?
With high anticipation, you make the final turn to bounce along the rough road leading to the parking area at the stream. As you wheel around the last curve and enter the lot, you realize you have one of two problems: There are one or two cars already there The parking lot is jammed In …
Bass – Pohick Bay Regional Park
In June, the Basswife and I did not have much time, so I elected to try a more local spot. Pohick Bay Regional Park is a very nice local park that is just south of Fort Belvoir. I was excited to give it a try as I had had a conversation in the local WaWa …
Other – Flyfisher’s Guide to Virginia (Book Review)
I’m not sure how I found this book. I was browsing on some website and probably saw an obscure reference to it. Anyway, I popped over the Amazon and browsed the table of contents. As soon as I realized that this was a treasure trove of locations on the level of Harry Stone’s book ( Virginia …
Other – Flyfisher’s Guide to Virginia (Book Review) Read More »
New Fly Guy- Quick Tandem Nymphs
To be successful, the first thing a new fly guy needs to understand is that patience is everything. There are so many ways your gear can get totally screwed up with tangles, it’s just not funny. But, patience does have its limits. When my line gets all tangled, up, I make an instant judgment call …
Equipment – FRS Radios
When I go fishing with other folks, I like to share the experience and swap tips on what to use, the fish being caught, when to eat lunch and when to link up at the car. In many places, the rush of running water drowns out conversation even when you are standing only 20 yards …
Other – Whitewater Sites
Even with all the public information on places to go, there is sometimes doubt and confusion about exactly where to go, how to get access and where to park. The various State DNR sites are great sources of information – I know I rarely go back to the same place for trout twice in a …
Equipment – Wading Staff
If you are even just thinking about going to the North Branch or the Yawk or even the Potomac up by Harper’s Ferry… or even Big Hunting Creek or the Pedlar, or Owens… or … well… I could just go on. I am amazed by those people whose sense of balance matches their leg strength …
Equipment – Gravel Guards
Wear your gravel guards. I never really appreciated this item of equipment before I ran into trouble in the gravel strewn and soft sand riverbed of the Pataspco up off Marriottsville road. It was a hot summer day when I drove up there to check it out (I’ll post the trip report later), and I …
Other – Buzz Off Clothing
I hate bugs. The worst thing about being on the stream is having to deal with them. I also hate insect repellant. Mostly because once I put on the sunscreen and the poison ivy block, I am reluctant to add another toxic chemical to the mix. Two years ago, I was browsing around and ran …
New Fly Guy – Zinger and Fly Boxes
After losing two boxes of flies, I had to come up with a solution. The problem is me. When changing flies, I’ll take out the box and put it on the bank; forgetting to return it to my pocket when ready to move. Alternatively, I’ll just leave the vest pocket open and the dang thing …
Ultimate Bass Canoe – Canoe Middle Seat
It’s been awhile since I was able to get any more toys for the basscanoe. I recently found a removable, adjustable middle seat that works just fine! This thing drops in the rails pull out, and you are in business. You can attach one of the firm backed seats to it for additional comfort. So, load up …
Other – Dogs vs Bears
Sorry for the inflammatory title, but I always worry about bears. I’ve had a few encounters with them, so I am very “bear aware”. As a result of that, I always carry a cannister of bear spray when I am in a bear prone location – like the SNP. I was fishing on Seneca Creek in Gaithersburg …
New Fly Guy – Things You Don’t Need
As a new guy, you get excited and assume you need everything that is sold. Here are two items that you can live without. The first one is a tool to stretch your leader to heat it up just a bit and take the curls out. According to the LL Bean book, it is easy …
New Fly Guy – Basic Strategy
It’s been three months since I started fly fishing, what have I learned about strategies, flies, and the proper fish attack weapons? Here’s where I am (and welcome advice): Rods: On small water that is covered with trees (Big Hunting Creek, Accotink, Morgan Run), use a 7 foot, 4 wt rod. On the bigger water …
New Fly Guy – Fly Boxes
When you are a new fly guy, the tendency is to overspend, and get one of everything. Since that included a whole bunch of flies, I immediately assumed a large box was better. There are a thousand fly choices that cry out to be matched to a hatch… somewhere… and all need a home. So, …
New Fly Guy – Fishing Vest
Now that I have all this fly stuff, what’s the best way to haul it around? In a previous post, I commented on the type of bag I used for spin gear. I’ve been using the pouch system shown at the bottom of that posting for the last 6 months with great results. It’s perfect to …
Equipment – Hybrid Rod
Those of you who have been following this blog know that the trigger that moved me to learn to fly fish was the terrible time I had on Town Creek last fall. Every leaf in Maryland was floating in the water and every cast with my spin gear snagged one or more leaves. My brother, on the …
New Fly Guy – Strike Indicator
I’ve been out in California for the last two weeks on a long business trip and had the opportunity to get an applied lesson in fly fishing from a guide with 18 years experience. We hit the Pit River (more on that in a different posting) and spent the day learning how to nymph for …
Bass – Occoquan River (VA)
The Occoquan is at the outer limits for the Bass Canoe, but it’s a nice body of water anyway
Equipment – Red Hooks
At the Bass Pro Spring Classic, one of the things that Steve Chaconas discussed was using a red treble hook on the middle of your plugs – particularily a top water plug. This mimics a bit of bleeding and makes the plug appear more wounded and distressed. This last weekend, I took some time to …
Equipment – How to Repair your Waders
In my discussion of the Patuxent River, I mentioned that there were pricker bushes all along the river. I likened the thorns to “shark’s teeth” and I must confess that I was being kind. Those prickers are like the nastiest barbed wire I ever ran into in 20 years in the Army. They are sharp, hardened …
Equipment – The Net on Nets
I started fishing for trout when I was 7 years old and lived in Norway. So, that’s 48 years of trout fishing experience and I just learned a new fact. All nets are not created equal. The type of net I have used for years – an inexpensive nylon knotted net – is harmful to …
Other – You Ticked Off by Ticks?
I hate ticks. I really hate ’em Is there a more disgusting creature than this? Please, no mother-in-law feedback. Hopefully, it will warm up here and I’ll be back on the water writing more interesting trip reports shortly. In the meantime, I decided I needed to review the immediate action drill and other tick related …
New Fly Guy – Line Dressing
I was going nuts. My floating fly line was not. I cleaned it with the Glide line cleaner. I cleaned it with the Orvis Zip Line stuff. No joy. The last 5 feet or so would still sink and hover about a foot below the surface. I was concerned that the line was defective and …
Equipment – Standardize!
I’ll have to update this once I settle on a standard for fly fishing – but I’ve got to get smart there first…. Anyway, over the years I’ve bought a huge amount of gear. Reels would break, rods would break and I would get frustrated. My initial mistake was sucumbing to the hard-eyed stare of …
New Fly Guy – Self Casting Clinic
Nothing like a little visual reality to bring you back to earth… After getting my fly starter kit for Christmas, I’ve been able to get out and practice a bit on the few warm days. After the last practice, I was feeling pretty good about getting a handle on casting. The fly was not snagging …
Switchfisher Rating System
Now that I have been writing about the various places to fish in the area, I realize that I need some kind of a quick view that summarizes my assessment of the water. The table to the right has the rating categories I am going to start with. I may add or delete from this …
New Fly Guy – The Cast
After watching the Lessons tape twice, I worked on putting the pointers into practice. With the great weather we have been having this January, it’s a no brainer to do something that will get you outside. As I mentioned before, I did buy two books: Getting Started in Fly Fishing LL Bean Ultimate Book of Fly Fishing …
Bass – Quantico – Breckinridge Reservior
With the warm weather this weekend, you just had to FISH! With the project list growing, I had to pacify the Basswife by doing some stuff in the morning but my son came down and rescued me. We left the house at around 1 PM and headed south for Quantico for a quick couple of …
New Fly Guy – Lessons with Lefty
I’ve been doing some reading in a few books and will do a book review on them later. You can only get so much from the text and static pictures, so I was thrilled when my friend, Dick, offered to loan me his videotape of “Lessons with Lefty”. Even I have heard of Lefty – …
New Fly Guy – Starter Kit – Bass Pro vs Wal-Mart
I have officially launched down the path to learn how to fly fish. Fellow spin fishermen – pay attention – I may learn a thing or two that will cause you to either stay where you are with bits of bright metal or come join the ranks of the fly addicted. Recall that it was …
New Fly Guy – Starter Kit – Bass Pro vs Wal-Mart Read More »
Bass- Breckinridge (VA – Quantico MCB)
Breckinridge is the hidden jewel of the Quantico Marine Corps Base
Bass- Smith Lake (VA – Quantico MCB)
Coverage of various trips to Smith Lake on the edge of Quantico
Equipment – Spinner Math
Over the years, my spinner formula has boiled down to a success pattern that relied on using either a gold or silver Panther-Martin lure. Usually, I would fish the gold and my son would fish the silver. The first of us to start getting results would determine what both of us would use for the …
Ultimate Bass Canoe – Damage!
On a trip late in the season, I slipped and jarred the Bass Canoe loose from the hitch mount. Bang! Slam! I watched in horror as it richocheted off the truck and slammed into the pavement. A quick survey of the damage revealed a huge and nasty looking dent in the front. My fear is …
Ultimate Bass Canoe – A need for SPEED!
The good thing about having a trolling motor on the Bass Canoe is that it it provides an inexpensive way to move “quickly” on the small bass lakes I enjoy. The bad thing is that if the lake is anything bigger than small, it takes forever to get from point to point. When I was …
Sign on the Road
Every time I go through Burlington, West Virginia, I get a kick out of this sign. While all will appreciate the humor associated with combining two operations that do not normally go together, it’s really a classic example of thinking out of the box. The very nature of fire and rescue involves plenty of water …
Poison Ivy – A Hard Lesson Learned
In an earlier post, I discussed the new technology out there that will help you defeat poison ivy and oak. This last summer, I used the block and cleanse elements pretty well. I guess it worked because the only time I did not use it, I got nailed. I was fishing on the Gunpowder and did not …
Trout Tip – Dress for Success
This is the time of year when thousands of college kids start their job hunt. Many of them will heed their mother’s advice – wear clean underwear and dress nice. For guidance to define “nice”, they will turn to books like Dress for Success or Dress Smart. Those who take the right advice may find their ability to …
Rant – Pick up the Trash!
I’ve got to vent about trash. I expect to see some on the major streams as they flow down from built-up areas. This would typically consist of plastic bottles and some paper stuff. But when you go to a nice place like Laurel Run on the North Branch and see the garbage shown in these …
Trout Tip – You Stink!
You have probably seen plenty of ads for stuff on the web that, when you click thru, you end up on a pretty cheesy site. For some reason, I clicked on a link to a site that promised to tell me everything I needed to know about trout fishing. Being bored, I started to read …
Camping – Potomac State Forest (MD)
One of the things I noticed when I fished the North Branch from Laurel Run up to Wallman was the camping available in the Potomac State Forest. The Park has many clean, well maintained sites. In Fact, there are 16 sites split between the Wallman and Laurel Run roads and 6 over by the Lostland Run. …
Equipment – Ultimate Trout Bag?
How much stuff do you haul with you when you fish? Most trout folks wear a fishing vest that has a number of different pockets. I found that the vest approach does work for me as it does not provide the room I need to carry all the stuff required when you hike in. In …
Ultimate Bass Canoe – Umbrella
The Basswife likes to fish for bass, but does not want to be uncomfortable. This means no bugs and some shade when it is hot. I got her a “buzzoff” hat to deal with the bugs (works great), the shade eluded me;after all, this was the basscanoe; a floating bass fishing machine that is about …
Bass – Burke Lake
Pretty lake, heavy pressure, probably bass in there someplace. If they are, they are wary.
Equipment – Trail Ready Camera Tripod
People want to see pictures. In particular, when I go trout fishing, the Basswife wants to see where I have been and what I have caught. And, quite frankly, if I amaze the world and catch anything really good, I want to be able to brag a bit. With digital cameras being so small, it’s …
Lousy Fishing – Turville Inlet
While visiting my fishing buddy Jeff and his wife in Ocean Pines, we had a few hours to fill before we could head to the beach. So, we decided to go kayaking/canoeing. I hauled the basscanoe down with me and it does not go anywhere without the fishing rod. We dropped into the water on …
Surf Fishing
If there is one thing that the Basswife likes better than bass fishing, it’s baking on a beach. Well… there are actually a bunch of things she likes better, but beaching is way up there. So, when my friend Jeff and his wife Maria invited us to stay at their home in Ocean Pines for the weekend, …
Equipment – Bite Lite Lure
I’m probably not alone – I actually read some of the outrageous ads for new lures that you see in the back of magazines. For some reason, I was compelled to bite on the “bite lite”. All the gory detail was on their website. Here’s the hook – the bite lite lure contains a red LED …
Bass- Smith East Fork (VA – Quantico MCB)
The Basswife and I took a quick trip down to Smith again. This time, we worked the West Side of the lake. This sucker is deep! It topped 85′ on the PiranhaMAX 30 as we worked up from the lower right to the top of the lake. Sadly, not much action. We were there in late afternoon …
Bass – Abel Lake
Abel Lake looks good – big, long and narrow
Bass – South Mill Creek Lake
This appears to be a hidden treasure
Ultimate Bass Canoe – Rod Holders
Ordered one of these downeast rod holder from Amazon to use to hold my rod or even to use to drag a worm or drop shot rig while fishing with the other rod. These things worked out pretty good. They were easy to clamp and have plenty of adjustments. You can pivot them by using the wingnut …
Bass – Lunga Reservoir (VA – Quantico MCB)
Lunga is a large lake – takes a while to get to know
Bass- Breckinridge
As a warm up to the 4th of July weekend, I grabbed the basswife and we headed out to Breckinridge at Quantico for a morning of bass fishing. Breckinridge is one of our favorite local lakes – it’s electric motor only and and an exceptionally shallow boat launch – so it’s only suitable for canoes …
Walleyes! – Lake Erie
It’s June… must be time for the annual pilgrimage to Lake Erie in pursuit of the elusive Walleye. My history with the Walleye go back to 1975 when a gang of us decided to hit the Boundary Waters Canoe Area up in Minnisota based on the advertised lure of great fishing. Once there, we discovered …
Bass – Motts Run Reservoir
PAY for a day pass to fish!!!! Ok… but was it worth
Bass- Lake Curtis
Curtis – a nice lake with low pressure and plenty of structure
Trout Flickin’
I have not seen much published on casting techniques for trout. Plenty of stuff out there on bass – you can read about flipping, drop shotting, tube zipping and any number of other techniques. Working trout is inherently different given the tight holes you find yourself in – especially on the narrow streams here in …
Bass – Lake Brittle
Don’t bother to go….
The Magazines – Color Secrets
Great issue of BassMaster this month. It had a super article on the hot colors to use. It basically matched the optimum color choice with the clarity of the water. Here’s the bottom line: Clear water – use lures in the range of green to brown (Pumpkin) Stained water – use lures that vary from …
Equipment – Day Pack
What’s in the pack I haul around when I go trout-hiking? Most guys just put on their fly fishing jacket, pop a water in some pocket in the back, and head out. I’m not like that – I worry about stuff and want to be prepared. So, I took a tip from a hunting article …
Poison Ivy – New Technology
I am really sensitive to poison ivy. When I was in the Army, I caught a bad case of it that took me out of the game for almost 4 days and 2 visits to the hospital for creams and other drugs. Yuk. Thankfully, the science has evolved over the last 30 years and now …
Bass- Smith Lake Early June (VA – Quantico MCB)
Quick update – no trout fishing this weekend – took the basscanoe out to Smith Lake again. I could not justify another run back to the Shenandoah, no available fishing buddies, and my wife was starting to get cranky that all the fishing action was on streams – she enjoys fishing from the canoe (wow – how many …
Bass- Dalton Pond (VA – Quantico MCB)
Not worth the trip – shallow (2 – 3 feet) in most of the lake
Ultimate Bass Canoe – Sea Anchor
Tired of drifting around? A sea anchor (drift sock) is probably exactly what you need. Over the years, I spent plenty of hours trying to get the canoe into position only to have the wind push it out of the way before I could finish working the spot for that big bass you know has …
Bass- Smith Lake, West Fork (VA – Quantico MCB)
Great day on the West Fork of Smith Lake near Aquia. Absolutely pleasant Saturday in May – air temp around 73 degrees and bright sun. We hit the lake at around noon, launching from the Aquia side of the lake as shown on the map. Crisis! I forgot to bring the paddles for the canoe. …