**Call For An Appointment**  540-947-4007

Class Fee – $275 for 1 per person private lesson     Three (3) Hours

Your Guest(s) Fee – $50 (Lower Rate!) – Per each of your guests up to 3 guests max

Your lesson is private to you or your group.  It is a three (3) hour Striped Bass trolling lesson.  It is not a fishing trip.  It is as an in-depth learning session designed to teach you how to troll fish for Striped Bass using no live bait.

At the conclusion of the Captain’s Safety Orientation, your Captain will cast off and go to a relatively calm location to begin the class.  The classroom vessel will be anchored or adrift for the majority of the lesson time.  After completing this class, you should be armed with enough knowledge to acquire the appropriate fishing equipment and begin Striped Bass trolling on your own boat.  If you have never troll fished before, or you have and would like to learn Capt. Ellis’ trolling methods, this class is for you.

And yes!  As seen above, you do catch other species of fish while trolling!

See the below, “Class Topics.”

 

Date:                  **Call For An Appointment**  540-947-4007

Summer Hours:     9:00 AM – 12 Noon   Daily   Three (3) Hours

Spring, Fall and Winter Hours:  Available anytime during normal business hours

Instructor:             Capt. Johnny Ellis

Pick Up Point:       Anna Point Marina (at the Fish Tales Bait & Tackle Shop)

 13721 Anna Point Ln, Mineral, VA 23117

*Please park your vehicle in the “car only” parking area by the large pavilion.

Boat:                   Orange Troller Bravo

Available to:       *Adults and Kids ages 14 and up* (Kids must me accompanied by parent or legal guardian)

Requirements:   Must hold and present a valid VA State Fresh Water Fishing License.  You can purchase a license online by clicking here.  Kids under the age of 16 are not required to get a fishing license.

Class Topics:

• Captain’s Introduction and Safety Orientation
• Discuss the importance of preparation to greatly increase your odds for success and fun
• General Information about Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass
• Lake Anna’s legal keep size and bag limit (Striped Bass and Hybrids)
• Mycobacteria (Marine) – Disease affecting some Striped Bass
• Catch & Release, handling fish, and ways to minimize injury to your catch
• How to prepare hooks for Catch & Release
• How to remove a hook from your catch
• How to revive exhausted fish
• Rod holder gear
• Rods and reels used for trolling
• Fishing line and leader line used for trolling
• The Palomar knot.  Learn how to tie this very strong fishing knot
• How to make your own trolling lure using soft artificial baits and jig heads that stripers love
• How to troll artificial hard bait lures known as “crankbaits” that stripers love
• How to “Tune” your crankbait
• How to use “divers” to get your lures deeper
• How to deploy your line for trolling and use wind as an aid
• How to land your catch
• How to use your sense of smell, sight, and hearing to locate fish
• Brief overview on the use of a lake chart (map) as a tool to find potential fishing grounds
• Brief overview on the use of a GPS chart-plotter as a tool for trolling
• Brief overview on the use of conventional 2D SONAR (fish-finder) as a tool to locate fish
• Brief overview on SONAR Down and Side Scan imagery as a tool to locate fish and structure
• Various trolling techniques and when to use them
• How to approach a feeding frenzy
• How to go after the bigger fish at a feeding frenzy
• Technique on how to find a school of fish using your senses once you’ve lost them
• Technique on how to find a school of fish using your GPS chart-plotter once you’ve lost them
• Discuss being a good steward to help protect our natural resources
• Boating safety tips (time permitting)

The Things We Provide:

• Our boats
• Striper Trolling Lesson informational packet
• Fuel
• Rods and reels, fishing tackle, and electronics
• USCG approved PFDs (life jackets)
• Fun

Your Responsibility:

• We recommend you frequently check and follow the National Weather Service (NWS – NOAA) Lake Anna area weather forecasts at least 3 days before your scheduled class or service
• Classes and services may be cancelled at any time due to weather and/or forecast of severe weather, or other unforeseen circumstances.  Please call us when in doubt
• Bring identification
• Bring your VA State Fresh Water Fishing License.  You can purchase license online by clicking here.
• Wear appropriate clothing for the prevailing weather.  It can be surprisingly chilly on the water relative to land
• Wear comfortable boating shoes/sneakers/boots having good traction soles.
• Wear comfortable clothing and bring a cap
• For safety reasons, please wear hair up and secured for those with long hair
• Bring your necessary medications.  Be aware that certain medications will preclude you from participating in some hands-on portions of our classes.  These medications would be of the type which would make you fatigued, sleepy, impair judgment, etc…  Please check your medication(s) and plan accordingly
• Apply sun block.  Yes, even in winter
• Bring pen, paper, tablet, or smart phone for taking notes
• Bring your own PFD (life jacket) if you prefer not using ours
• Bring sunglasses (with straps)
• Bring waterproof or water resistant gloves for fish handling
• Bring a windbreaker for your outermost layer of clothing
• Bring foul weather gear.  Classes are held rain or shine
• Bring something to drink
• You may bring something to eat
• We highly recommend you NOT wear jewelry (Medical alert exempted – Advise Captain).  This includes rings, watches, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc…  This will greatly reduce the potential of you snagging upon fishing line, hooks, equipment, etc…
• Cold weather – LAYER UP!  Wind and cold are surprisingly highly magnified on the water
• Cold weather – (A suggestion) Hand warmers/toe warmers (“Hot Hands,” Zippo hand warmers, etc…)
• Cold weather – (A suggestion) Nitrile (or similar) disposable rubber gloves provides a water barrier reducing wind-chill to hands

IMPORTANT:

• Although this Class is not a fishing trip, clients will be practicing the deployment of hook and line into the water.  Legally speaking, this is fishing.  Therefore, you are required by law to be licensed.  However, kids under the age of 16 are not required to get a fishing license.

• Please obtain your VA fishing license well in advance of your scheduled class.  Waiting until the last minute might involve missing your class if the computers are down.

• Out of State residents:  Virginia allows everyone to select the start date for their fishing license.  Please purchase your fishing license well in advance.

• Please arrive on time for your class.  The Captain’s Introduction and Safety Orientation are very important.  They begin promptly at your scheduled class time.  The Captain will cast off shortly thereafter.

• Classes will be held rain or shine.  However, the Captain may cancel classes before or during, for any reason he may deem contrary to the safety and well-being of the clients, others, the Captain, or the boat. Some reasons for cancellation might include, but are not limited to: Hazardous weather, such as; lightning, high winds, high waves, excessive boat traffic, excessive cold or hot temperatures, illness, injury, or what the Captain deems necessary.  The Captain will cancel all services when NOAA’s, National Weather Service (NWS) predictions reach or exceed 50% chance of thunderstorms occurring during our class time.  Please see our Cancellations & Refund Policy for details.

• For the safety of all clients, others, the Captain, or the boat, the Captain may for any reason, at any time, not allow or terminate any client’s participation in the hands-on portion of any class, or participation in any class or service.  The Captain’s decision to do so may be based upon the following:  Client is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, client fails or refuses to follow instructions, client has any impairment, physical or otherwise, which may preclude him/her from safely operating the boat and/or participate in any class or service.

• Please, no alcohol, no smoking, no vaping, no illegal drugs and no pets.

• Feel free to bring a camera, cell phone, or other device to take pictures or videos of you, your catch, scenic views, etc…  Please, no recordings of the actual class instructions.

*NOTICE* – Boating and fishing may require modest to strenuous physical exertion, dexterity, and endurance. Maintaining one’s balance, hanging onto railings during moderate to heavy seas, or just hauling in large fish can be tiring.  It is your responsibility to ensure you possess suitable physical fitness to comfortably manage the aforementioned.  If in doubt, please seek the appropriate medical advice of a qualified physician before purchasing our services or boarding our boats.

We have aboard our vessels (boats) a large variety of fishing gear and tackle, such as, hooks, rod holders, rod racks, sharp implements, sharp knives, braided fishing line, and the like.  Some of our fishing tackle, such as jig heads, sinkers, divers, and the like may contain lead.  When employing common sense and sound safety habits, these items are very safe.  However, when improperly handled or used, these items may cause serious bodily injury and/or death.  Following your Captain’s instructions will greatly minimize risks and allow for a fun filled experience.

Persons failing to wear a US Coast Guard (USCG) approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD aka “life jacket”), while aboard any boat, have a greater risk of drowning than those who wear PFD’s, especially persons with little or no swimming abilities.  Although the US Coast Guard only requires approved PFD’s be worn aboard boats by persons under the age of 13, we highly encourage all of our clients wear a PFD while aboard any vessel.  We will provide our clients with USCG approved PFD’s to wear on our boats if they desire.  If preferred, clients may bring their own USCG approved PFD.  It will be the client’s responsibility to inspect their own PFD to ensure it is USCG approved and is safe to wear.  The Captain however, will inspect ALL PFD’s to be worn by persons under the age of 18 to ensure they are safe and USCG compliant.  If they are deemed unsafe or not compliant by the Captain, the child will be required to use our PFDs.  Adult clients electing not to wear a PFD will do so at their own risk.  A situation may arise where the Captain may require everyone aboard to wear a PFD.

Please read our DISCLAIMER.

Thank you,

Capt. Johnny Ellis, Orange Troller LLC