"From the Bay to the Blue Ridge"
By Steve Chaconas Getting Ready to Guide Potomac River guides are busy. For me, it means ordering my 2019 Skeeter FX20 and 10 foot Power Poles. For long stays on the water with reliable cranking power, DEKA Batteries energize my rig. Capt. John Sisson’s new Ranger is being rigged with HUMMINBIRD electronics, Power Poles and a […]
By Steve Chaconas Fishing for Holiday Gifts? Shopping for anglers is frustrating; but for the person on the receiving end, there’s a guaranteed stint in the return line! Choose gifts for on and off the water! Football players wear gloves for better grip. Fishing gloves must enable finger use for knot tying and sensitivity. Fish […]
By Steve Chaconas Lunker Learning To become a better bass fisherman there’s no substitute for time on the water, except for Robert Montgomery’s new book Kickin’ Bass. Writing for Bassmasters Magazine, Montgomery has covered bass fishing for several decades. He’s written many books offering tips for catching bass. His recent offering boasts to make the […]
By Steve Chaconas Snakeheads, a Protected Species? More divisive than politics, debates over whether Potomac River Northern Snakeheads should be a protected sport fish lit up social media pages after being ignited by a Washington Post Op Ed by John Mathwin. In 2004, Frankenfish frenzy covered pages and TV screens across the country. Even the […]
By Steve Chaconas Stockpiling Bass When tournament anglers bring fish to the scales two things happen. Some fishing areas are heavily fished, resulting in depletion and fish are stockpiled at launch areas. While many anglers believe an area might be over-fished, data for the Potomac River has not been conclusive as the bottom line is […]
By Steve Chaconas Fill the Swamp The Virginia Marine Resources Commission said no to the National Park Service plan to fill Dyke Marsh along the Potomac near Belle Haven Marina. NPS boundary buoys have raised questions by many anglers. Excavation in the 1940s, used to create the Pentagon and Reagan National Airport, left Dyke Marsh […]
By Steve Chaconas Oh no, not another tie! Dude, don’t get Dad another tie! He might wear it…only when you are in town or when you mention it. He really dreads having to tie one on for you! It’s Father’s Day, put a bit of thought into the gift for the guy who was always […]
By Steve Chaconas Culling Regulations On the Potomac To pierce or not to pierce is confusing for Potomac River tournament anglers. Tournament fishermen can legally catch a limit, 5 fish over the minimum size, and then begin to cull out their smallest fish when replacing it with another larger fish. Possession of the 6th […]
By Steve Chaconas Snakeheads, the other white meat. If thoughts of eating fish from the Potomac River don’t turn your stomach, then concentrations of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), should. PCBs are linked to cancer, skin irritations and lesions, developmental fetal impacts, and disruption in hormonal functions. Eating fish is the major PCB exposure source. […]
By Steve Chaconas The minnow would not be lost In the 1930s 3M Scotch Tape was invented, Birdseye prepared frozen dinners, and a Finnish man with a plan (and appetite) carved a legendary fishing lure. Lauri Rapala deciphered the food chain…big eats small, wounded become dinner. With a shoemaker’s knife, sandpaper, and an eye for […]
