October Meeting — Leon Kates

PRSC member Leon Kates will talk about his trips to Lake Beauchene, Quebec Province, Canada. He will discuss logistics, fishing techniques, lures, and display numerous pictures of the 50,000 acre private reserve that contains 40 lakes and 7 fish species.

Please join us and learn a little bit more about fishing in the Great White North.

Where: Vienna Fire Station, 400 Center St South, Vienna, VA 22180
When: Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00 for socializing)

Leon Kates

About Leon

Leon began fishing as a teenager with his father on the beaches of Southern New Jersey on the Delaware Bay. The primary target was speckled trout (known as weakfish locally) using bloodworms or strips of squid. The fish were regularly featured on the family dinner table. The pair also caught small sharks, sea robins, puffer fish, and occasionally large rays. The family didn’t really fish for freshwater fish.

Leon began fishing freshwater when he moved to the Northern Virginia area. Initially, fishing out of a 14 foot sit-in sea kayak, he fished local reservoirs and lakes for largemouth bass and crappie.

Upon joining the Potomac River Smallmouth Club he learned the techniques to catch our favorite species. On a club trip to the James River Leon learned first-hand that a sea kayak isn’t the best platform to use on our rivers. Capsizing at the base of a rapid our club members helped him bail out the kayak, gave great advice on how to navigate rapids, and provided suggestions on kayaks that were more suited to river fishing. On that advice he bought a Wilderness System Ride 115 sit-on-top kayak which he fishes out of today.

September Meeting — Captain Steve Chaconas

Long-time PRSC friend, Captain Steve Choconas will talk about the different characteristics of fishing line. He will define applications of mono, fluorocarbon, and braid with various lures under varying conditions.

Where: Vienna Fire Station, 400 Center St South, Vienna, VA 22180
When: Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00 for socializing)

Captain Steve Chaconas

About Captain Chaconas

Captain Steve Choconas provides clients with guided fishing trips for largemouth bass and northern snakeheads on the historic and scenic Potomac River. He is a former radio and TV talk show host, who has been fishing on the Potomac since the mid 1960s. He writes for several publications covering pro bass tournament trails for radio and newspapers.

Captain Steve Chaconas brings 25 years of bass fishing experience on the Potomac River to columns featured in: Sportsman’s Magazine, Woods & Waters, and The Old Town Crier. He has also written for the BoatUS Angler Tacklebox, BoatUS Trailering Magazine, Free Lance Star newspaper, The Mount Vernon Gazette, The Mount Vernon Voice, The American Sportfishing Association and many others. Steve also hosted the National Bass Fishing Radio Show. In addition, “Capt. Steve” is featured as the BoatUS.com and monkeysee.com fishing experts. His reports and commentaries appear online: bassfan.com, wfls.com, potomacbass.com, bassnedge.com, ultimatebassin.com and others.

A U.S. Coast Guard Captain, licensed by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Steve has the opportunity to fish with anglers of all skill levels, including some of the biggest names in pro bass fishing.

Steve’s been featured in local and national newspapers, magazines and on TV and radio: BASSMASTERS, BASS TIMES, BASSIN’ Magazine, Field & Stream, BoatUS Magazine, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, The Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, ESPN and others. He’s been: emcee of the St. Jude Children’s Hospital Tournament the past 25 years, a member of BoatUS Speakers Bureau, the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and a member of the American Sportfishing Association.

Check out his Website for more information on fishing with Capt Chaconas.

August Meeting — John Hayes

John Hayes, a guide with Mark Kovach Fishing Services, will speak to us about Knots and Fishing Decision Making. He will discuss how to maximize your catch rate through the right knots, rigging, and tackle, as well as sharing fishing stories about the Upper Potomac River.

Where: Vienna Fire Station, 400 Center St South, Vienna, VA 22180
When: Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00 for socializing)

John Hayes

About John Haynes

John has been guiding on the Potomac since 1993 and enjoys teaching clients the finer points of finding and catching fish. John is equipped to guide and talk about both spin and fly fishing — he is a certified fly casting instructor.

John’s endless pursuit of the smallmouth bass and a love of flowing water fuels his desire to share experiences with other anglers. Fly or spin fishing combined with instructional gab, good food, and a fine cigar make for a special day on the river. Join us for what promises to be a very informative evening.