Everything Fishing Video's

Smallmouth Video's

Huge Searchable video collection for us all
Thanks to..Lare, For Linking us up with this site

Welcome to LandBigFish

Welcome to LandBigFish

Huge informational site and online store
Outdoor travel section, fishing reports
(None for the Rappahannock)

OutdoorLife - Ultimate Woodsmanship Guide

OutdoorLife - Ultimate Woodsmanship Guide:

We want your ideas!
Jan 25, 2008
As outdoorsmen we have gotten away from the basics of woodsmanship. Many people of today's generation barely know how to properly sharpen a knife, let alone start a good campfire. We're putting together the Ultimate Woodsmanship Guide for our May issue, and we want your input."


If you are reading this blog you are an Outdoorsman/Woodsman So this is relevant to our lifestyle. I couldn't let this one go. So, I posted here too, Hopefully someone will contribute their knowledge to the cause.

Nature · Disappearing Texas Bass | Emerging Hybrids

Image from the article

Nature · Disappearing Texas Bass | Emerging Hybrids:

"More not-so-great news on nature front, courtesy of the man. The state fish of Texas, the Guadalupe bass, is on its way to extinction if it’s not already there. Why? Because of human meddling with the ecosystem that once supported the bass – in the name of creating greater sport."

Here’s what happened. In the late ‘60s-early ‘70s, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department started restocking the Guadalupe and other rivers of west-central Texas with Guadalupe bass — a popular target for fly fishers and known as “Texas trout” for its fighting abilities.

Unfortunately for the Guadalupe, small-mouth bass is equally popular, so Texas PWD added the small-mouth at the same time. A poor understanding of mating abilities led PWD to believe that if the two fish species mated, their offspring would be sterile.

Going to research more on this article. With inquiries aimed at Texas PWD, I wonder about it's authors information source, Since the accompanying image sure looks like a 'Largemouth' (Black) to me. Was the Smallmouth introduced or already a native species?



Click to enlage
Image from..Fly Fish the Hill Country

2008 Smallmouth Bass River Forecast

2008 Smallmouth Bass River Forecast:

"Rappahannock River:

Recent studies conducted by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries suggest a bright future for smallmouth bass angling on the Rappahannock River. The population continues to grow and experience improved size structure due to two excellent year classes (2004 and 2005) followed by an average spawn in 2006 and an apparently average spawn in 2007. Fisheries Biologist John Odenkirk stated that this four-year string links together the strongest consecutive year class grouping documented to-date in this river system. Fish should be getting more abundant and larger. Near perfect environmental conditions (primarily rainfall during the month of June) occurred in 2004 which resulted in record production (numbers of juvenile bass) providing sample young-of-year electrofishing catch rates of 43 per hour (the previous record was in 1997 when 28 per hour were sampled, and that year class persisted for years providing excellent angling)."

Sorry Honey But...

Tube Bait Basics for Smallies

Tube Bait Basics for Smallies

Bass pro shop article

I just like this

Mary Giacomini

In Pursuit of Trophy Smallmouth Bass

BlueRidge Kayak Fishing

In Pursuit of Trophy Smallmouth Bass
My life in a Kayak
By Jeff Little

I just received my copy of this outstanding guide to fishing the Mid Atlantic Regions Rivers. I met Jeff at the Fredericksburg Outdoors Show and was impressed with his knowledge and personality. I'm looking forward to putting to use his handbook of lessons and technique's for a more productive day on the river.
He also told me that much of his experience came from fishing on the Rappahannock.

NOAA, River Forecasts, Current Stages, Precipitation Departure Maps, Weather, Radar, F.A.Q.

Current stages in the Rappahannock and Shenandoah Basins

NOAA, River Forecasts, Current Stages, Precipitation Departure Maps, Weather, Radar, F.A.Q.

Great guide to check before for planning your trip. The levels change quickly and this will let you know if it is feasible to venture or not.

Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap still producing big results decades down the road

Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap still producing big results decades down the road: "Another trait that makes the 'Trap so effective is its user-friendly nature. Just about anyone, regardless of their fishing skill, can tie on a Rat-L-Trap and catch fish. That is why it is sometimes referred to as an 'idiot bait' among the pro ranks.

'A lot of pros wish the Rat-L-Trap had never been invented for that very reason,' said Tommy Martin, a veteran pro from Hemphill, Tx. 'When the conditions are right, just about anyone is apt to catch a big sack on it.'

The Rat-L-Trap will work during any season. It can be very effective during late winter and early spring, when bass are patrolling shallow and midrange depths ahead of the spawn."

A very productive lure, in (gold). Carefully avoiding snags. But, getting deep into the holes.