Potomac River Fishing Reports
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"FISHING REPORTWow! The response at the shows has been great! Thank you! The biggest question popping up at my seminars has been LINE! Mono or Flouro, or Braid! What when! Advantages, disadvantages. Without going into detail, there are plusses and minuses to each! IN other words, there are applications when used in conjunction with the right rod and presentations, to be advantageous! In the following weeks, this will be my appearance schedule:1/30 FOBA Bass University RESERVATIONS REQUIRED! fishonbassclub.comAn all day event with ELITE Angler & CLASSIC QUALIFIER JAMI FRALICK. The classroom style program is well worth the time! Bring a notebook!Bass Pro Shops 2/27 & 28, 11am both days! Hanover, MDBass Pro Shops 3/6, 3/7 2p & 5p and 3/13 noon & 3pm Richmond, VAFishing is getting awesome for the winter bite&finally! Its safe to get out, but now we have high winds to deal with. If you can get into protected cover, like the Spoils, National Harbor or Belle Haven, the winter patterns are on! Blue Plains and Four Mile Run are loaded. I do have DC licenses if you can hook up with me&$13. Keep in mind that the water is still cold&WEAR a PFD! Inflatables are good! Make a float plan&let someone know when you are leaving and when you are expected to return! Take a buddy with you and keep your throwable on deck! Dress for success! SealSkinz socks and gloves, Frogg Toggs Elite Series suits! Layer up!Blue Plains and Four Mile Run have warmer water allowing you to use a variety of tactics. Hard jerkbaits&suspending or not&depends on the clarity and the temperature. Warmer&about 55, try hard if the water is super clear&then suspending if the water is a bit cooler and not quite as crystal clear&both require clearer water! I like baby bass, clown and gold with a black back. Shaky head, drop shot, split shot and Carolina rigs work very well. Carolina rigs in and around National Harbor and the Spoils are great ways to slow down. Shorter leaders, about 18 inches are fine. I suggest using braid main line and fluorocarbon leader for maximum sensitivity. Also, the use of Tru-Tungsten weights will heighten sensitivity. Less is more. Leaving baits sit for a while is a great idea. I am finally giving up my secret bait that I have been hand pouring for 20 years! Its pretty simple, but I cant make them fast enough to give to my clients&so, Im turning over the recipe to R&R Custom baits. They are the hand pour experts! Theyll be making them available with a twist&they will be made with a better mix of plastic&and they will float! For areas like the Spoils, Fox Ferry, Oxen Cove, National Harbor, and Belle Haven Cove, Silver Buddys are the best all around lure to try first! A short burp is all you need! Do not overwork these baits! 12-pound test is fine&a medium action rod is good. Then use Manns Stingray Grubs, 3-inch avocado on a ¼ ounce jig head on 6-pound test Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon on spinning gear. Slow presentations&lift an inch or so and let glide. Make all presentations horizontal when possible! Next is the Punisher Hair Jig. This is one of my favorite jigs all year, but they are perfect for cold water. The craft hair has air in it and opens the hair, keeping it moving even at rest! I like to use a small MIzmo grub as a trailer with the tail up! A big time soaking in Jacks Juice for all plastics.Light line is key! Its the diameter that is important! Thinner diameter makes it easier to feel bites and to set the hook on the longer casts, with more line in the water. But even more so is that the fish are biting very light and a heavier line wont allow them to suck a bait deeply and it also offers resistance that winter fish avoid! I like Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon line for my spinning gear!Watch the tide! In these areas, an outgoing tide brings warmer water! Sun soaked banks warm first! Watch for bird activity! They find food&bait, grass and WARMER water!Lots of you are checking out the new boats and especially USED boats! Elite Series Triton/Mercury pro Brent Chapman turned me on to something new from the trailer winch and jack experts, Fulton! While most jacks and winches do their jobs, they are slow and sometimes hard to engage! Forget about moving your trailer after its off the hitch! Now, Fulton has introduced the F2 trailer jack with 1600 lb lift capacity and precision machining designed with the strongest mount and swivel on the market. Its fast and you dont get a winch workout! The release pull pin is easy to use! No more getting the release pin stuck in your fingers! The wider wheel base and the option to have two wheels makes this jack the one if you want to maneuver your trailer into a garage or parking space! And finally a winch thats strong enough and can be cranked on either side!!! ! The new F2 has a user-friendly pull and turn knob that engages the pawl easily. No more exposed springs to pop out or catch on your clothing! If you buy a used boat, replace the winch and jack! If you are ordering a new boat, youll be glad you upgraded to a jack that you wont have to worry about! Thanks Brent!Change hooks on your top waters, lipless cranks, and Baby 1-Minus! Change spinnerbaits skirts, shine up or replace blades and sharpen hooks!BTW, fishing with spinning reels requires a good drag system like the smooth drag on the Quantum reels! I like the Quantum Energy reels. The bail wire is titanium&wont bend. There is no bail spring either&they use magnets. But, the way the line fits under the bail arm is really key! Light line requires a great fishing reel! For the rod, I like a 66 rod or longer. I like a medium heavy with a softer tip. Hooksets are more of a reel and pull. You are using thinner wire hooks and in the case of the Stingray and the Mizmo tube there is an open hook! But, you must check the points and either sharpen or replace! For the drop shot, split shot, I like the thinner lighter Mustad Mega Lite hooks!Manns HardNose green pumpkin finesse worm with soft-bodied pencil point tail does a whole lot of shaking. These baits have a tough head to stay on the hook for shaky head applications. 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. For the split shot and drop shot, I use the Manns HardNose finesse worm. A slow drag, moving the bait about an inch at a time, then letting it sit will work with the split shot. For the drop shot, shorten the leader to about 10 inches and you can drag this like the split shot rig. OR you can just leave in one spot and hold still&barely shaking! 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.If you get cloud cover all day and some chop try slow rolling spinnerbaits, like a willow, Colorado gold bladed Manns Classic, 5/8 with a white skirt will work on hard cover. Keep the bait on the bottom and slowly crawl it over cover.Its also good time to get your gear in shape! Clean and lube reels&replace brakes on casting reels&they only cost about 2 dollars! Clean the brake races with 0000 steel wool wrapped around a pencil. This will improve the casting incredibly!!!! If you dont service your own reels or if youre looking for a great tech, an old friend of mine is ready to get your gear in ship shape! Cleaning and repair done locally and fast! He was trained by the best and I recommend him highly! Jim can be reached at http://www.DominionTackle.comServicing Shimano, ABU Garcia, Daiwa, Quantum, Penn and virtually all makes including Baitcasting, Spinning and Saltwater reels.The Silver Buddy lure is available again! Silverbuddy.com! I like the silver ½ ounce size on 12-14 pound test! Just burp the bait down drops or vertically!More important then where you fish, or what you are fishing with, is what you are doing to promote and grow our sport! If you havent taken the pledge, please do it now! anglerslegacy.orgAutographed copies of Bassmaster Senior Writer Robert Montgomerys new book, Better Bass Fishing --- Secrets from the Headwaters can be purchased on eBay at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250446715629 Montgomery has taken compiled decades of writing and fishing experience with the best in the fishing business.Theres a link to see me as The Sunday Fox News Power Player of the Week. http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=011008&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=5991907&referralPlaylistId=playlistThe proposed filling of over 200 acres from Belle Haven Marina to South Down in the area offshore of DYKE Marsh is still moving forward. In case you havent heard, recently there were some duck hunters in the Dyke Marsh that were cited for moving hunting buoys that were set by the VDGIF. Heres the problem&Virginia has negotiated a boundary, accepting the NPS boundary for Dyke Marsh&several hundred yards out into the Potomac River. In essence, if this boundary is also recognized as governed by the NPS, then fishing and boating will fall under the NPS jurisdiction&no internal combustion engines and their lead ban. The NPS is claiming to own the water above the bottom which they actually own. However, over the past 80 years, sinking and erosion has replaced their land with water. Typically this would result in a loss to, in this case, Virginia. But the NPS has been spending a lot of money on GPS marking of their underwater boundaries. The NPS has shown in the past that it really wants to close Belle Haven Marina&Will these actions restrict the use of Belle Haven Marina? Or even lead to closing? Ill keep you posted!Please support your local tackle stores! Shop at Warbird Outdoors! They carry most of the baits I use! They can get anything you want! Just call! 703-878-3111I found a GREAT NEW product! TRANSDUCERSHIELDANDSAVER.com! If you have a broken ear on your transducer or if you want to protect a good one&this is a great cost saver!Check out my latest article on tidal fishing! It is a two part series with FLW angler Dave Lefebre filling in the advanced info! Stay tuned for that! http://www.nationalbass.com/reports/feature.htmI 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 Im using. I answer fishing questions on Boatus.com 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/Article on some super winter clothing!...in this months Sportsmans Magazine (thesportsmansmag.com)! Look for my Tournament Talk column in Woods & Waters. Check www.woodsandwatersmagazine.com. A limited FREE supply at Belle Haven Marina and at Bowes and Arrows. Ive switched batteries to the DEKA AGM deep cycle&Ive already noticed they dont 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! My new 2010 Skeeter ZX 225 is being built&new for me this year&GPS Humminbird with Side Imaging!!!!Coool! Also a Minn Kota Fortrex 36 volt trolling motor&.the DEKA batteries will be even more important this year!Pros Soft Bait Glue is new and improved&how could they? They improved the bottle! No more clogs! Much easier to apply on the water! I am insured by the experts in boat insurance, BoatUS! BoatUS Anglers membership program is part of the nation's largest association of recreational boaters protecting interests of boat-owning freshwater anglers. BoatUS Angler offers insurance policies specifically designed to meet the needs of today's anglers with fishing boats, including coverage for accidents with non-insured boaters, medical coverage for injuries, as well as salvage costs related to the recovery of a sunk or totaled boat. BoatUS offers GUIDE programs!!!! Click on my site link, nationalbass.com, for a free quote. For a special deal, use this code: FH200SCWant to learn how to teach someone to fish? Or looking for a few tips&? Check out my free videos (http://www.monkeysee.com/channel/show/89) Its no secret Maui Jims are the best polarized sunglasses&now improved for anglers over 40&Maui Readers are equipped with a small magnifier on the bottom of the lens so you can see to tie knots!!! The added magnifier doesnt interfere with regular vision! I love them! See what youve been missing! Mauijims.com. I suggest Maui Jim HCL (high contrast lens) polarized sunglasses for picking up cover in the water and seeing fish. Check around, most serious anglers are wearing them. Eye protection is important!!! Get a quality pair of polarized sunglasses. Sunglass Huts carry these. If you see me on the water, Ill let you check mine out. Polycarbonate Maui Sports are light as a feather and the optics are great. Confused over license 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!I keep Frogg Toggs on board for sudden showers and COLD weather! 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) Pour your own swimbaits? Senkos? Lure Craft has a DVD that explains and demonstrates the entire process! Durable and exact aluminum molds enable you to make round baits! Customize swimbaits for a huge savings. Pour finesse worms for shaky head fishing, drop shots, and split shots and other soft plastics with easy-to-use molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the supplies and plastic mixes for floating and for softness. Go online to find out more! (www.lurecraft.com 1-800-925-9088 for a free catalog). 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! 1-800-925-9088Its Teva Time!!!!..Check out this video. Let's put the controversy to rest!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9V_nFWSQUE - Theres a new style TEVA I just LOVE! OMNIUM, http://www.teva.com/ProductDetails.aspx?g=play&categoryID=436,440,447&productID=6148&model=Omnium Perfect for water sports&they are great for standing all day! New TEVA sandals are sport shoes&especially water sports like bass fishing! If you do not wear sport sandals from TEVA, you should! I have tried other footwear, including expensive basketball shoes. Matched with SealSkinz socks and you are winterized! TEVA's are very comfortable and have boat safe surfaces along with anti-microbial protection. TEVAs 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! Contact Jann's Netcraft for your free catalog! They have a great assortment of do-it-yourself supplies, and 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. The guides take a constant beating too! Toss out the rod that is really still in great shape? No way! Ive learned how to replace guides on my favorite rods and theyre 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 tools and parts! They also 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 lure making, fly-tying, 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 finally replaced my good old 1995 Nissan 4WD truck. The new Nissan Frontier really tows my Skeeter with ease! I bought this truck from PASSPORT Nissan and Ive been buying my vehicles from the owner since 1978! If you have any questions about NISSAN trucks, please forward to me! 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! Let me know if youd like to set up a test drive! CONTACT ME; ILL GET YOU A BELOW INVOICE NO HASTLE PRICE! Hawg Pockets fishing lure guard won the ICAST new product showcase award. They really work! They don't tangle when I move them I can see my bait thru them! I now use them on my boat! Check them out! http://www.hawgpockets.comMIZMO tubes, Punisher Jigs, and most of the Lucky Craft and Mann's baits are now in Bass Pro Shops latest catalog&look for them!2010 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. 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!" .·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸> >"
Water Temperature: 39 degrees; Water clarity: 2 feet plus
"FISHING REPORTTHE ICE IS GONE! Get out if you can! The river hasnt been pressured for a while! But, keep in mind that the water is still cold&WEAR a PFD! Inflatables are good! Make a float plan&let someone know when you are leaving and when you are expected to return! Take a buddy with you and keep your throwable on deck! Dress for success! SealSkinz socks and gloves, Frogg Toggs Elite Series suits! Layer up!BTW, the Richmond show was awesome. Thanks to all who came out to see my seminars! This weekend Ill be at the Nations Outdoor Show at the Dulles Expo Center. Check out the site for details: nationsoutdoorshow.com. My seminar topics will include:Spinnerbaits, Jigs and Topwaters, Springtime Fishing on the PotomacSpinner Baits, Jigs and Topwaters, Summer July - Sept. Grass mats, Frogging and Punching, Cold Hard Lures!...Silver Buddy, jerk baits and jigs, Let's Get Finnessy With It...year-round light line techniques. Ill also reveal a NEW technique that you have never heard about! It worked for me last season and the bass in the bass tub in Richmond ate it up! Ill show it in every seminar! Ill also have some DC fishing licenses for sale. $13.If you want to fish warm water, try Blue Plains and Four Mile Run! Warmer water allows you to use a variety of tactics. Hard jerkbaits&suspending or not&depends on the clarity and the temperature. Warmer&about 55, try hard if the water is super clear&then suspending if the water is a bit cooler and not quite as crystal clear&both require clearer water! I like baby bass, clown and gold with a black back. Shaky head, drop shot, split shot and Carolina rigs work very well. Carolina rigs in and around National Harbor and the Spoils are great ways to slow down. Shorter leaders, about 18 inches are fine. I suggest using braid main line and fluorocarbon leader for maximum sensitivity. Also, the use of Tru-Tungsten weights will heighten sensitivity. Less is more. Leaving baits sit for a while is a great idea. I am finally giving up my secret bait that I have been hand pouring for 20 years! Its pretty simple, but I cant make them fast enough to give to my clients&so, Im turning over the recipe to R&R Custom baits. They are the hand pour experts! Theyll be making them available with a twist&they will be made with a better mix of plastic&and they will float! For areas like the Spoils, Fox Ferry, Oxen Cove, National Harbor, and Belle Haven Cove, Silver Buddys are the best all around lure to try first! A short burp is all you need! Do not overwork these baits! 12-pound test is fine&a medium action rod is good. Then use Manns Stingray Grubs, 3-inch avocado on a ¼ ounce jig head on 6-pound test Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon on spinning gear. Slow presentations&lift an inch or so and let glide. Make all presentations horizontal when possible! Next is the Punisher Hair Jig. This is one of my favorite jigs all year, but they are perfect for cold water. The craft hair has air in it and opens the hair, keeping it moving even at rest! I like to use a small MIzmo grub as a trailer with the tail up! A big time soaking in Jacks Juice for all plastics.Light line is key! Its the diameter that is important! Thinner diameter makes it easier to feel bites and to set the hook on the longer casts, with more line in the water. But even more so is that the fish are biting very light and a heavier line wont allow them to suck a bait deeply and it also offers resistance that winter fish avoid! I like Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon line for my spinning gear!Watch the tide! In these areas, an outgoing tide brings warmer water! Sun soaked banks warm first! Watch for bird activity! They find food&bait, grass and WARMER water!Its also good time to get your gear in shape! Clean and lube reels&replace brakes on casting reels&they only cost about 2 dollars! Clean the brake races with 0000 steel wool wrapped around a pencil. This will improve the casting incredibly!!!! If you dont service your own reels or if youre looking for a great tech, an old friend of mine is ready to get your gear in ship shape! Cleaning and repair done locally and fast! He was trained by the best and I recommend him highly! Jim can be reached at http://www.DominionTackle.comServicing Shimano, ABU Garcia, Daiwa, Quantum, Penn and virtually all makes including Baitcasting, Spinning and Saltwater reels.Change hooks on your top waters, lipless cranks, and Baby 1-Minus! Change spinnerbaits skirts, shine up or replace blades and sharpen hooks!In the following weeks, this will be my appearance schedule:1/30 FOBA Bass University RESERVATIONS REQUIRED! fishonbassclub.comBass Pro Shops 2/27 & 28, 11am both days! Hanover, MDBass Pro Shops 3/6, 3/7 2p & 5p and 3/13 noon & 3pm Richmond, VAFor the Chantilly show, Ill be in my booth when Im not in my seminars. Capt. Sisson will be at these shows as well! The FOBA seminars are awesome! Its an all day event with ELITE Angler & CLASSIC QUALIFIER JAMI FRALICK. The classroom style program is well worth the time! Bring a notebook!BTW, fishing with spinning reels requires a good drag system like the smooth drag on the Quantum reels! I like the Quantum Energy reels. The bail wire is titanium&wont bend. There is no bail spring either&they use magnets. But, the way the line fits under the bail arm is really key! Light line requires a great fishing reel! For the rod, I like a 66 rod or longer. I like a medium heavy with a softer tip. Hooksets are more of a reel and pull. You are using thinner wire hooks and in the case of the Stingray and the Mizmo tube there is an open hook! But, you must check the points and either sharpen or replace! For the drop shot, split shot, I like the thinner lighter Mustad Mega Lite hooks!Manns HardNose green pumpkin finesse worm with soft-bodied pencil point tail does a whole lot of shaking. These baits have a tough head to stay on the hook for shaky head applications. 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. For the split shot and drop shot, I use the Manns HardNose finesse worm. A slow drag, moving the bait about an inch at a time, then letting it sit will work with the split shot. For the drop shot, shorten the leader to about 10 inches and you can drag this like the split shot rig. OR you can just leave in one spot and hold still&barely shaking! 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.If you get cloud cover all day and some chop try slow rolling spinnerbaits, like a willow, Colorado gold bladed Manns Classic, 5/8 with a white skirt will work on hard cover. Keep the bait on the bottom and slowly crawl it over cover.The Silver Buddy lure is available again! Silverbuddy.com! I like the silver ½ ounce size on 12-14 pound test! Just burp the bait down drops or vertically!More important then where you fish, or what you are fishing with, is what you are doing to promote and grow our sport! If you havent taken the pledge, please do it now! anglerslegacy.orgAutographed copies of Bassmaster Senior Writer Robert Montgomerys new book, Better Bass Fishing --- Secrets from the Headwaters can be purchased on eBay at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250446715629 Montgomery has taken compiled decades of writing and fishing experience with the best in the fishing business.Theres a link to see me as The Sunday Fox News Power Player of the Week. http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=011008&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=5991907&referralPlaylistId=playlistThe proposed filling of over 200 acres from Belle Haven Marina to South Down in the area offshore of DYKE Marsh is still moving forward. In case you havent heard, recently there were some duck hunters in the Dyke Marsh that were cited for moving hunting buoys that were set by the VDGIF. Heres the problem&Virginia has negotiated a boundary, accepting the NPS boundary for Dyke Marsh&several hundred yards out into the Potomac River. In essence, if this boundary is also recognized as governed by the NPS, then fishing and boating will fall under the NPS jurisdiction&no internal combustion engines and their lead ban. The NPS is claiming to own the water above the bottom which they actually own. However, over the past 80 years, sinking and erosion has replaced their land with water. Typically this would result in a loss to, in this case, Virginia. But the NPS has been spending a lot of money on GPS marking of their underwater boundaries. The NPS has shown in the past that it really wants to close Belle Haven Marina&Will these actions restrict the use of Belle Haven Marina? Or even lead to closing? Ill keep you posted!Please support your local tackle stores! Shop at Warbird Outdoors! They carry most of the baits I use! They can get anything you want! Just call! 703-878-3111I found a GREAT NEW product! TRANSDUCERSHIELDANDSAVER.com! If you have a broken ear on your transducer or if you want to protect a good one&this is a great cost saver!Check out my latest article on tidal fishing! It is a two part series with FLW angler Dave Lefebre filling in the advanced info! Stay tuned for that! http://www.nationalbass.com/reports/feature.htmI 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 Im using. I answer fishing questions on Boatus.com 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/Article on some super winter clothing!...in this months Sportsmans Magazine (thesportsmansmag.com)! Look for my Tournament Talk column in Woods & Waters. Check www.woodsandwatersmagazine.com. A limited FREE supply at Belle Haven Marina and at Bowes and Arrows. Ive switched batteries to the DEKA AGM deep cycle&Ive already noticed they dont 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! My new 2010 Skeeter ZX 225 is being built&new for me this year&GPS Humminbird with Side Imaging!!!!Coool! Also a Minn Kota Fortrex 36 volt trolling motor&.the DEKA batteries will be even more important this year!Pros Soft Bait Glue is new and improved&how could they? They improved the bottle! No more clogs! Much easier to apply on the water! I am insured by the experts in boat insurance, BoatUS! BoatUS Anglers membership program is part of the nation's largest association of recreational boaters protecting interests of boat-owning freshwater anglers. BoatUS Angler offers insurance policies specifically designed to meet the needs of today's anglers with fishing boats, including coverage for accidents with non-insured boaters, medical coverage for injuries, as well as salvage costs related to the recovery of a sunk or totaled boat. BoatUS offers GUIDE programs!!!! Click on my site link, nationalbass.com, for a free quote. For a special deal, use this code: FH200SCWant to learn how to teach someone to fish? Or looking for a few tips&? Check out my free videos (http://www.monkeysee.com/channel/show/89) Its no secret Maui Jims are the best polarized sunglasses&now improved for anglers over 40&Maui Readers are equipped with a small magnifier on the bottom of the lens so you can see to tie knots!!! The added magnifier doesnt interfere with regular vision! I love them! See what youve been missing! Mauijims.com. I suggest Maui Jim HCL (high contrast lens) polarized sunglasses for picking up cover in the water and seeing fish. Check around, most serious anglers are wearing them. Eye protection is important!!! Get a quality pair of polarized sunglasses. Sunglass Huts carry these. If you see me on the water, Ill let you check mine out. Polycarbonate Maui Sports are light as a feather and the optics are great. Confused over license 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!I keep Frogg Toggs on board for sudden showers and COLD weather! 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) Pour your own swimbaits? Senkos? Lure Craft has a DVD that explains and demonstrates the entire process! Durable and exact aluminum molds enable you to make round baits! Customize swimbaits for a huge savings. Pour finesse worms for shaky head fishing, drop shots, and split shots and other soft plastics with easy-to-use molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the supplies and plastic mixes for floating and for softness. Go online to find out more! (www.lurecraft.com 1-800-925-9088 for a free catalog). 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! 1-800-925-9088Its Teva Time!!!!..Check out this video. Let's put the controversy to rest!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9V_nFWSQUE - Theres a new style TEVA I just LOVE! OMNIUM, http://www.teva.com/ProductDetails.aspx?g=play&categoryID=436,440,447&productID=6148&model=Omnium Perfect for water sports&they are great for standing all day! New TEVA sandals are sport shoes&especially water sports like bass fishing! If you do not wear sport sandals from TEVA, you should! I have tried other footwear, including expensive basketball shoes. Matched with SealSkinz socks and you are winterized! TEVA's are very comfortable and have boat safe surfaces along with anti-microbial protection. TEVAs 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! Contact Jann's Netcraft for your free catalog! They have a great assortment of do-it-yourself supplies, and 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. The guides take a constant beating too! Toss out the rod that is really still in great shape? No way! Ive learned how to replace guides on my favorite rods and theyre 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 tools and parts! They also 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 lure making, fly-tying, 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 finally replaced my good old 1995 Nissan 4WD truck. The new Nissan Frontier really tows my Skeeter with ease! I bought this truck from PASSPORT Nissan and Ive been buying my vehicles from the owner since 1978! If you have any questions about NISSAN trucks, please forward to me! 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! Let me know if youd like to set up a test drive! CONTACT ME; ILL GET YOU A BELOW INVOICE NO HASTLE PRICE! Hawg Pockets fishing lure guard won the ICAST new product showcase award. They really work! They don't tangle when I move them I can see my bait thru them! I now use them on my boat! Check them out! http://www.hawgpockets.comMIZMO tubes, Punisher Jigs, and most of the Lucky Craft and Mann's baits are now in Bass Pro Shops latest catalog&look for them!2010 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. 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!" .·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸> >"
Water Temperature: 38 degrees; Water clarity: 2 feet plus
"FISHING REPORTIts cold and ICY on the Potomac River! Difficult to launch! This is an awesome time for hardcore anglers to get out on the river. Either launch at Gravely Point, Marshall Hall, Fort Washington or Belle Haven for nearby fishing! Dress for success! SealSkinz socks and gloves Frogg Toggs Elite Series suits! Layer up!Warm water spots are Blue Plains and Four Mile Run! The spots change the tactics&as temps are in the 50s! Jerkbaits that suspend in the clear water work very well! Small plastics and finesse techniques, like split host and drop shot. Shaky head is great too! Less is more. Leaving baits sit for a while is a great idea.For the rest of the river, like the Spoils, Fox Ferry, Oxen Cove, National Harbor, and Belle Haven Cove, Silver Buddys are the best all around lure to try first! A short burp is all you need! Do not overwork these baits! 12-pound test is fine&a medium action rod is good. Then use Manns Stingray Grubs, 3 inch avocado on a ¼ ounce jig head on 6 pound test Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon on spinning gear. Slow presentations&lift an inch or so and let glide. Make all presentations horizontal when possible! Next is the Punisher Hair Jig. This is one of my favorite jigs all year, but they are perfect for cold water. The craft hair has air in it and opens the hair, keeping it moving even at rest! I like to use a small MIzmo grub as a trailer with the tail up! A big time soaking in Jacks Juice for all plastics.Light line is key! Its the diameter that is important! Thinner diameter makes it easier to feel bites and to set the hook on the longer casts, with more line in the water. But even more so is that the fish are biting very light and a heavier line wont allow them to suck a bait deeply and it also offers resistance that winter fish avoid! I like Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon line for my spinning gear!Watch the tide! In these areas, an outgoing tide brings warmer water! Sun soaked banks warm first! Watch for bird activity! They find food&bait, grass and WARMER water!Its also good time to get your gear in shape! Clean and lube reels&replace the brakes on your casting reels&they only cost about 2 dollars! Clean the brake races with 0000 steel wool wrapped around a pencil. This will improve the casting incredibly!!!!Change hooks on your top waters, lipless cranks, and Baby 1-Minus! Change spinerbaits skirts, shine up or replace blades and sharpens hooks!Make a list of stuff you need, baits, hooks, line, etc and hit the shows! This weekend, I will be at the Richmond Fishing Expo at the Richmond Raceway Complex! If you missed the last two years, or if you havent been to a great fishing show before&this is it! Under new management for the past two years, now the Richmond Raceway Complex returns bass shows to their glory! Tons of tackle, great seminars and lots of boats! Elite Series Pros, Gerald Swindle and John Crews will be there! Lake Anna Guide Chris McCotter will be giving up Anna secrets and how to fish from and rig a fishing kayak! The bass tub will be the stage for wall-to-wall seminars. Theres even salt-water info, tackle and seminars! THREE big days&.1/15, 16, and 17! I am scheduled to conduct seminars on the Potomac River on Saturday and Sunday at NOON! And a classroom class at 6pm on Saturday. Ill cover everything I can&Silver Buddy, drop shot, mat fishing, top waters, tubes&.and MUCH MUCH MORE! For a complete schedule:http://ncboatshows.com/schedule.php/eventId/3Ill also be hanging out at various booths to answer questions and to help you select the right tackle for your fishing! Look for great products from these exhibitors, GMCO Maps, Hydro Glow, Daves Terminal Tackle, R & R Custom Baits, Fishing Pro-Tech. Guides for local fisheries will be there along with boat dealers showing off the new models! Lots of gear to get you going!In the following weeks, this will be my appearance schedule:Nation's Outdoor Sportman's Show, Chantilly 1/22-24, nationsoutdoorshow.comFOBA Bass University...RESERVATIONS REQUIRED! fishonbassclub.comBass Pro Shops 2/27 & 28, 11am both days! Hanover, MDBass Pro Shops 3/6, 3/7 2p & 5p and 3/13 noon & 3pmFor the Chantilly show, Ill be in my booth when Im not in my seminars. Capt. Sisson will be at these shows as well! The FOBA seminars are awesome! Its an all day event with ELITE Angler & CLASSIC QUALIFIER JAMI FRALICK. The classroom style program is well worth the time! Bring a notebook!BTW, fishing with spinning reels requires a good drag system like the smooth drag on the Quantum reels! I like the Quantum Energy reels. The bail wire is titanium&wont bend. There is no bail spring either&they use magnets. But, the way the line fits under the bail arm is really key! Light line requires a great fishing reel! For the rod, I like a 66 rod or longer. I like a medium heavy with a softer tip. Hooksets are more of a reel and pull. You are using thinner wire hooks and in the case of the Stingray and the Mizmo tube there is an open hook! But, you must check the points and either sharpen or replace! For the drop shot, split shot, I like the thinner lighter Mustad Mega Lite hooks!Manns HardNose green pumpkin finesse worm with soft-bodied pencil point tail does a whole lot of shaking. These baits have a tough head to stay on the hook for shaky head applications. 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. For the split shot and drop shot, I use the Manns HardNose finesse worm. A slow drag, moving the bait about an inch at a time, then letting it sit will work with the split shot. For the drop shot, shorten the leader to about 10 inches and you can drag this like the split shot rig. OR you can just leave in one spot and hold still&barely shaking! 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.Carolina rigs in and around National Harbor and the Spoils are great ways to slow down. Shorter leaders, about 18 inches are find. I suggest using braid main line and fluorocarbon leader for maximum sensitivity. Also, the use of Tru-Tungsten weights will heighten sensitivity. If you get cloud cover all day and some chop try slow rolling spinnerbaits, like a willow, Colorado gold bladed Manns Classic, 5/8 with a white skirt will work on hard cover. Keep the bait on the bottom and slowly crawl it over cover.The Silver Buddy lure is available again! Silverbuddy.com! I like the silver ½ ounce size on 12-14 pound test! Just burp the bait down drops or vertically!More important then where you fish, or what you are fishing with, is what you are doing to promote and grow our sport! If you havent taken the pledge, please do it now! anglerslegacy.orgAutographed copies of Bassmaster Senior Writer Robert Montgomerys new book, Better Bass Fishing --- Secrets from the Headwaters can be purchased on eBay at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250446715629 Montgomery has taken compiled decades of writing and fishing experience with the best in the fishing business.Theres a link to see me as The Sunday Fox News Power Player of the Week. http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=011008&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=5991907&referralPlaylistId=playlistThe proposed filling of over 200 acres from Belle Haven Marina to South Down in the area offshore of DYKE Marsh is still moving forward. In case you havent heard, last week there were some duck hunters in the Dyke Marsh that were cited for moving hunting buoys that were set by the VDGIF. Heres the problem&Virginia has negotiated a boundary, accepting the NPS boundary for Dyke Marsh&several hundred yards out into the Potomac River. In essence, if this boundary is also recognized as governed by the NPS, then fishing and boating will fall under the NPS jurisdiction&no operation of internal combustion engines and their lead ban&.You will have to use a trolling motor to get to the fishable shoreline and when you get there, you cannot use lead. The NPS is claiming to own the water above the land which they actually own. However, over the past 80 years, sinking and erosion has replaced their land with water. Typically this would result in a loss to, in this case, Virginia. But the NPS has been spending a lot of money on GPS marking of their underwater boundaries. The NPS has shown in the past that it really wants to close Belle Haven Marina&Will these actions restrict the use of Belle Haven Marina? Or even lead to closing? Ill keep you posted!Please support your local tackle stores! Shop at Warbird Outdoors! They carry most of the baits I use! They can get anything you want! Just call! 703-878-3111I found a GREAT NEW product! TRANSDUCERSHIELDANDSAVER.com! If you have a broken ear on your transducer or if you want to protect a good one&this is a great cost saver!My 2008 Skeeter ZX225 is FOR SALE! Call for details! 703-380-7119. If you dont service your own reels or if youre looking for a great tech, an old friend of mine is ready to get your gear in ship shape! Cleaning and repair done locally and fast! He was trained by the best and I recommend him highly! Jim can be reached at http://www.DominionTackle.comServicing Shimano, ABU Garcia, Daiwa, Quantum, Penn and virtually all makes including Baitcasting, Spinning and Saltwater reels.Check out my latest article on tidal fishing! It is a two part series with FLW angler Dave Lefebre filling in the advanced info! Stay tuned for that! http://www.nationalbass.com/reports/feature.htmI 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 Im using. I answer fishing questions on Boatus.com 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/Article on some super winter clothing!...in this months Sportsmans Magazine (thesportsmansmag.com)! Look for my Tournament Talk column in Woods & Waters. Check www.woodsandwatersmagazine.com. A limited FREE supply at Belle Haven Marina and at Bowes and Arrows. Ive switched batteries to the DEKA AGM deep cycle&Ive already noticed they dont 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!Pros Soft Bait Glue is new and improved&how could they? They improved the bottle! No more clogs! Much easier to apply on the water! I am insured by the experts in boat insurance, BoatUS! BoatUS Anglers membership program is part of the nation's largest association of recreational boaters protecting interests of boat-owning freshwater anglers. BoatUS Angler offers insurance policies specifically designed to meet the needs of today's anglers with fishing boats, including coverage for accidents with non-insured boaters, medical coverage for injuries, as well as salvage costs related to the recovery of a sunk or totaled boat. BoatUS offers GUIDE programs!!!! Click on my site link, nationalbass.com, for a free quote. For a special deal, use this code: FH200SCWant to learn how to teach someone to fish? Or looking for a few tips&? Check out my free videos (http://www.monkeysee.com/channel/show/89) Its no secret Maui Jims are the best polarized sunglasses&now improved for anglers over 40&Maui Readers are equipped with a small magnifier on the bottom of the lens so you can see to tie knots!!! The added magnifier doesnt interfere with regular vision! I love them! See what youve been missing! Mauijims.com. I suggest Maui Jim HCL (high contrast lens) polarized sunglasses for picking up cover in the water and seeing fish. Check around, most serious anglers are wearing them. Eye protection is important!!! Get a quality pair of polarized sunglasses. Sunglass Huts carry these. If you see me on the water, Ill let you check mine out. Polycarbonate Maui Sports are light as a feather and the optics are great. Confused over license 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!I keep Frogg Toggs on board for sudden showers and COLD weather! 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) Pour your own swimbaits? Senkos? Lure Craft has a DVD that explains and demonstrates the entire process! Durable and exact aluminum molds enable you to make round baits! Customize swimbaits for a huge savings. Pour finesse worms for shaky head fishing, drop shots, and split shots and other soft plastics with easy-to-use molds from lurecraft.com. They have all of the supplies and plastic mixes for floating and for softness. Go online to find out more! (www.lurecraft.com 1-800-925-9088 for a free catalog). 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! 1-800-925-9088Its Teva Time!!!!..Check out this video. Let's put the controversy to rest!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9V_nFWSQUE - Theres a new style TEVA I just LOVE! OMNIUM, http://www.teva.com/ProductDetails.aspx?g=play&categoryID=436,440,447&productID=6148&model=Omnium Perfect for water sports&they are great for standing all day! New TEVA sandals are sport shoes&especially water sports like bass fishing! If you do not wear sport sandals from TEVA, you should! I have tried other footwear, including expensive basketball shoes. Matched with SealSkinz socks and you are winterized! TEVA's are very comfortable and have boat safe surfaces along with anti-microbial protection. TEVAs 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! Contact Jann's Netcraft for your free catalog! They have a great assortment of do-it-yourself supplies, and 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. The guides take a constant beating too! Toss out the rod that is really still in great shape? No way! Ive learned how to replace guides on my favorite rods and theyre 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 tools and parts! They also 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 lure making, fly-tying, 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 finally replaced my good old 1995 Nissan 4WD truck. The new Nissan Frontier really tows my Skeeter with ease! I bought this truck from PASSPORT Nissan and Ive been buying my vehicles from the owner since 1978! If you have any questions about NISSAN trucks, please forward to me! 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! Let me know if youd like to set up a test drive! CONTACT ME; ILL GET YOU A BELOW INVOICE NO HASTLE PRICE! Hawg Pockets fishing lure guard won the ICAST new product showcase award. They really work! They don't tangle when I move them I can see my bait thru them! I now use them on my boat! Check them out! http://www.hawgpockets.comMIZMO tubes, Punisher Jigs, and most of the Lucky Craft and Mann's baits are now in Bass Pro Shops latest catalog&look for them!2010 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. 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!" .·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸> >"