Fishing the DMV
Fishing the DMV Podcast is a leading bass fishing podcast delivering the most up-to-date fishing reports, bass fishing tips, bass fishing techniques, and tournament bass fishing strategies for anglers across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. Covering Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., and North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, this podcast is your go-to source for largemouth bass fishing, smallmouth bass fishing, tidal river fishing, lakes or the Chesapeake Bay we are the go to source for all things fishing in the area.
Hosted by Thomas Arens, Fishing the DMV features expert interviews with professional anglers, fishing guides, tournament anglers, fisheries biologists, and fishing industry experts, breaking down bass fishing patterns, seasonal fishing strategies, pre-spawn fishing, spawn fishing, post-spawn fishing, summer bass fishing, fall bass fishing, and winter bass fishing. Every episode is packed with actionable advice on best bass fishing lures, fishing tackle, rod and reel setups, bass fishing gear, sonar and fish finders, forward-facing sonar, electronics, kayak fishing, bank fishing, and offshore fishing techniques.
Get detailed fishing reports and bass fishing intel for top fisheries including the Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay, Lake Anna, Smith Mountain Lake, Chickahominy River, James River, Susquehanna River, Shenandoah River, Claytor Lake, Lake Gaston, Kerr Lake (Buggs Island), and more. Learn proven tournament fishing strategies, how to catch big bass, how to find bass, and how to catch more fish with real-world insights from anglers who fish these waters every day.
Whether you're searching for the best bass fishing podcast, daily fishing reports, bass fishing tips and tricks, or advanced bass fishing techniques, Fishing the DMV Podcast delivers everything you need to improve your fishing, stay on top of current conditions, and dominate on the water.
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Fishing the DMV
The BEST Smallmouth Tubes You’ve Never Heard Of ?! | River Rock Baits
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On this episode of Fishing the DMV, I sit down with Robert of River Rock Baits. We talk tubes and about natural forage, and what really gets pressured bass to bite. If you fish the Shenandoah River, Susquehanna River, Juniata River, Potomac River, James River, or other Mid-Atlantic rivers, this conversation is packed with information that can help you better understand smallmouth behavior and bait selection.
One of Robert’s most interesting theories is what he calls the “95/5” approach to smallmouth fishing. He believes that much of the time, especially on pressured water, anglers aren’t simply putting a bait in front of an actively feeding fish—they’re provoking or enticing the strike. That leads into a detailed discussion about why size, color, presentation, scent, and especially soft-plastic texture can matter when targeting river smallmouth that have already seen plenty of fishing pressure.
We also break down why tube fishing remains so effective for smallmouth bass decades after the technique became popular. Robert explains how River Rock Baits hand-dips its tubes, why he believes that process creates a different texture and action than many molded soft plastics, and how matching the hatch influences everything from bait size to color selection. We discuss common brown crayfish in the Shenandoah Valley, seasonal crawfish color changes, gobies, minnows, madtoms and stonecats, along with colors such as Amber Smash, Dark Erie Green, Goby and Red Swamp Craw.
The conversation also gets into seasonal smallmouth patterns. When cold water reduces the availability of crayfish, Robert explains why baitfish can become increasingly important around Susquehanna River wintering areas and why an extremely slow-moving minnow presentation can produce cold-water bites. We also compare Susquehanna and Shenandoah smallmouth, discuss the importance of local knowledge, and look at how experienced river anglers have helped Robert develop baits for specific fisheries from Pennsylvania and Virginia to larger northern smallmouth waters.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why Robert believes many smallmouth strikes are provoked rather than feeding bites
• Why tubes remain one of the best baits for river smallmouth bass
• Size, color, scent, presentation and texture for pressured smallmouth
• Matching crayfish and baitfish forage throughout the seasons
• Susquehanna River vs. Shenandoah River smallmouth fishing
• Hand-dipped tubes vs. molded soft plastics and why texture matters
• Stonecat/madtom, goby and crawfish imitations for river bass
• Winter smallmouth fishing and ultra-slow baitfish presentations
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Jake’s bait & Tackle Website: http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/
Fishing Pro Tech: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech
Phone Number: (757) 566-1278 Email: lin@fishingprotech.us
Fishing Pro Tech Address: 7812-A Richmond Road, Toano, VA, United States, 23168
Flint Financial Planning: https://www.flintfinancialplanning.com/
FITT Lures: https://bit.ly/4w5lgHt