Wade

In response to #26 Hi Brian, We were bait-fishing shallow water - no more than 10 feet deep - so we had to make accurate casts and try not to spook them. I went out three times with him and finally got a 100-pound tarpon on the last day - they are a blast to hook up with - great jumps, long fight. We lost plenty, too. I went in April but I think it's better in May and June when they come into the Keys to spawn. It was definitely worth the money- he really works to get you on fish. Here's his website http://yourfloridakeysfishingguide.com/

I was tarpon fishing with a guide in Florida 10 years ago and he told me to close the bail manually otherwise the sharp click when it closed automatically would transmit down the line and spook fish. Been doing it ever since.

I've been using Xplornet for the last 8 months in E. Ont and it's been fine.

It's not Spring till the first blackfly bite.

I used Larry Sydnor several years ago. I was after tarpon in late April - not ideal time - but he really worked to get me on fish. On the third and last trip, I finally hooked up with a 100-pound tarpon - that was a blast! We caught lots of other fish - sea trout, redfish, snapper, shark. His prices are still the same as back then.

I have a Minn Kota MK-1-DC Onboard DC Alternator Battery Charger. It has a purple ignition wire that has to be connected to the ignition circuit - for a Johnson 40 HP VJ40ELET. I don't run anything from the ignition switch other than the starter so there are no accessories I could connect the purple wire to. I checked the motor control but have no idea where to connect - lots of wires and connections - not sure what to try. Any ideas? Thanks

Thanks Art, I'll be leaving in a few days to do a road trip down to Virginia Beach area for a couple of days then Williamsburg & Charlottesville. I'd like to drive back up on Skyline Drive so I can basically go anywhere in the state. I have a week and a half so definitely think I should try the bass fishing! - checked a few web sites and have some ideas - Chickahominy River, Briery Creek Lake, Claytor Lake - but I don't see any recent reports for any of them. I was wondering if the water levels are really high in some places. Thanks for the links, Dave - I was thinking DIY but a guide might be good, too.

Does anyone know about fishing in Virginia? Thinking of heading down soon for a week & thought I would try for some bass - read about Smith Mountain Lake & Buggs Island but would appreciate any first-hand accounts. Thanks.

Been there, done that - but I didn't worry about transporting him anywhere! I got a blue tarpaulin and walked slowly towards the cage, as I got closer he would turn around and lift his butt towards me then I'd back off - did this a couple of times. Then ran in fast, throwing the tarp at him and covered the cage completely - he let off a couple of blasts into the tarp. I left him alone for a minute then slowly lifted the cage door - not so easy - and out he ran - whew! I think because the spray was so confined to the tarp that the smell wasn't as bad as it could've been - I had a dog that got sprayed once - bad! - & yeah tomato juice works!