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Post by awg2080 on Feb 22, 2013 19:14:18 GMT -5
Hey there everyone. Been reading posts on here for a while now and finally decided to join. I'm Anthony....26 year old Army Vet. Finally got back home here to Staunton, VA. Getting settled in and bought my first boat!!! Got a 93 Astro for $1500. It is in excellent condition and runs wonderful...couldn't ask for a better deal i think. Anyways took it up there to SML two weekends ago to give it a shot. And wouldn't ya know on my first adventure i get a ticket lol...out of date fire extinguisher...but still had a blast even though not a single fish has been in the boat yet. Put in at Indian Point (last time putting in that steep ramp)..water was super muddy until we got on down towards the bridge. Anyways not too familiar with the lake and wanting to try my luck at some stripers. Always been pretty much just bass and catfishing. Any tips on places to try for bass or stripers? Thanks and look forward to some great advice.
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Post by Shadslinger on Feb 22, 2013 20:31:30 GMT -5
Welcome to the site man, Im a Army Vet myself and I believe there are a few other on here also. Im not real familiar with that side of the lake but I'm sure some of the other members of our site will be more than willing to help you out and get you in the area of some fish. I generally fish the blackwater side unless fishing with buddies on the roanoke side.
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Post by awg2080 on Feb 22, 2013 20:51:42 GMT -5
Im pretty new to the lake all together so any tips at all lol...fished mostly rivers and lake anna growing up...i know ill never put in at indian point again...way too steep of a drop off and no lighting out there at all
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Post by mytoyzfishing on Feb 22, 2013 20:57:53 GMT -5
Welcome to the site and thanks for your service, what was your MOS. Staunton is a great area. My wife was born and raised in Draft. As for ramps, check out the state ramp at the bridge. Its free and not too steep. Heard they were even opening up some bathrooms there.
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Post by awg2080 on Feb 22, 2013 21:00:06 GMT -5
Alright thanks for the tip there....I was a 19D..Cav Scout
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Post by mwardncsu on Feb 22, 2013 21:02:05 GMT -5
Welcome to the site - watch the reports section close - are you setup for live bait or artificial? Casting flukes to points mid-lake has even producing some recently (and a few nice ones). Fish will be moving up on the banks soon (if not already) - I'd be looking from Becky/Betty's up towards at least Indian or maybe even as far as Jumping Run before too many more weeks.
Great thing is the tactics and pattern is always changing throughout the year, but is fairly consistent - just have to get your arms around it which takes some time - all part of the fun. Post up your results and don't hesitate to ask questions in the various sections - lots to learn from all - and even those that have been doing it a long time learn from those that are just starting out!
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Post by awg2080 on Feb 22, 2013 21:07:12 GMT -5
setup for using artificial...new to striper fishing and ready to land my first one...got a few redfins and flukes and topwater stuff for them....was hoping to come up this weekend but weather isnt looking the greatest...is the water still pretty muddy up there?
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Post by mytoyzfishing on Feb 22, 2013 21:54:49 GMT -5
From what I could tell when I drove over the bridge today looks like things have settled down some in regards to the muddy water.
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Post by 2 oars & a trash can on Feb 22, 2013 23:44:11 GMT -5
I've been working on a house near R-27 and looking out from the deck, the water looks all green, not brown.
Now if I could only work less and fish more...
Welcome to the site
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Post by hillbilly on Feb 24, 2013 9:29:54 GMT -5
Welcome to the site. Is that boat of yours rigged for night fishing? If you like throwing those redfins and top water, get yourself rigged and comfortable (and legal  ) to throw them against the bank after dark by April.....Soon as water temps drive the bait to spawn |
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Post by awg2080 on Feb 24, 2013 16:49:41 GMT -5
yeah its rigged for night fishing....still need to get that fire extingusher though lol...i thought i would have got a break..had everything else including that new boater saftey course and all that...o well. but thanks for all the advice guys...me and my girlfriend thinking of getting a guide up there to teach us a little more...ive heard alot of good things about theshadtaxi...any advice on them or anyone other guide?
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Post by wishforfish on Feb 24, 2013 17:04:46 GMT -5
Getting a guide is a great move and in my opinion the best way to learn. Some guides are full of it and try to put on a "show" and others will teach you, answer questions and offer information. The Shad Taxi is the latter of those styles and money well spent. Nothing is a sure thing but no one will work harder than Todd to put you on fish. Travis (CatsnStripers) also guides, is one of the best fisherman on the lake and can teach you tons. He has already forgot more about SML than I will ever know. Good luck and let me warn you that the trip won't really cost that much, it is the aftermath of a good trip that will put you in the poor house.
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Post by awg2080 on Feb 24, 2013 17:58:16 GMT -5
alright thanks...i went with a guide last year on the james to search for those big blues...had a blast...only caught one but the one i caught was well worth it...62lbs!!! after you split the money with a couple people to go it really isnt too bad...spend about that much filling the boat up with gas and what not. but i emailed the shad taxi and asked him when would be a good time to learn some of the artificals...he said the next few weeks would be a good time to get the most out of it.
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Post by wishforfish on Feb 25, 2013 9:22:31 GMT -5
That's an awesome fish! Who did you go out with on the James? A fraternity brother of mine (Chris Harris) is a guide there, OL did a write up on him a few years back.
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Post by awg2080 on Feb 25, 2013 17:48:19 GMT -5
Went out with Captain John on Screaming Reel Charters....if i can ever understand how to put pictures on here i would do it...but the link to his site is screamingreelcharters.com/testimonials.htmlmine is the second from the bottom...me and Captain John....awesome guy and tought us alot from catching bait to everything else afterwards |
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) to throw them against the bank after dark by April.....Soon as water temps drive the bait to spawn