February was a washout. Heavy ice and rain made any kind of slow pick challenging. I focused on getting rigs, buying baseball cards, and starting yoga to loosen my back and shoulders up.
But, by god it is March. And March means we should be seeing hickory shad and white perch in the tidal rivers in the next couple of weeks.
Post your reports, ask questions here.
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Snagged my biggest speckled trout over the weekend. 19.25" and sadly I had to snag it as it looked like it had been caught by a eagle or big bird of prey and then dropped as it had bad claw marks in the back. Now I just need to find this guys bigger brother still swimming where he will actually eat my bait.
easy to see why 3rdGen swears by those mirrodines for winter trout.
btw, that's a good NEFL color pattern; but stock hooks...really, stock hooks? : )
Mirrodines anytime! Work 'em fast in the summer and slow in the winter.
Wouldn't hurt to change 'em out to some wide gap black nickel treble hooks. FYI, CA Richardson is doing an instagram live on inline hooks tonight.
enjoy! our band is in the practice shed tonite trying to add to our inventory...typically night one of working thru new material is pretty hard on the ears, lol!
Haha that's good. Always good to add some new songs. He does record them and puts them up on instagram so you can watch them at any time.
I don't know that I'm a huge fan of CA but I watched last nights video this eve and his tips on leader, knot, and hook bend w/ in-lines were very informative...I almost posted yesterday that I never learn anything from him...but I sure did tonite. Thanks for the heads up!
Haha yeah those were pretty good tips. I feel like after I've listened to so much stuff it's harder to pick up on something new as the same with you for fishing so long and hearing so much stuff
Yeah, the reason I'm not really an advocate for CA, and he doesn't hide from it, is that he's there to sell products. As a result, you can watch a lot of his videos and learn pretty much nothing. I mean, he knows A LOT; but he doesn't always share a lot.
That said, last night was cool because he covered my primary beef with in-lines, i.e., the front hook catching on the front loop. HIs recommendations re: retrieve technique and leader material to mitigate the lack of the loop, were solid. And the slight bend reduces the gap, so that probably covers it.
But the money tip for the night...maybe for the year...was to create a slight offset. That was the best tip I've ever heard for replacement in-lines and he said he'd been doing it for YEARS! That alone should address any remote concern about hookup rate with in-lines. And frankly, VMC should be making that in their basic in-line replacement hook...along with an ever-so-slightly shorter shank.
Hard to afford hooks when you spend it all on the baits. All joking aside that color is a good one typically though I still prefer the marti gras one over it it's a good one. I have no idea what hooks to replace them with and I don't want to mess the sink rate/action up so I leave the stock hooks on usually.
Mardi Gras rules in VA. Works good in many different situations. I use Mustad KVD Triple grip wide gaps. Others used are Owner ST-36 and Daiichi round bend.
I have been snowboarding twice and miss it so incredibly badly. Fishing has taken a back seat to it in my head lately and I'm trying to figure out a way to spend a lot of next winter back out west.
I've done a little bit of fly tying, but mostly tying earrings for my new female customer base. So far for 2021 I'm over $3000 in earring sales. My next goal is to get them in wineries. Never thought I would be a fashion icon, but here we go....
Congrats on the success of the earrings. Definitely seems like an untapped market that you could kill it at.
Thanks man. All of the women in the U.S. is definitely a bigger market than the fly fishing industry. I'm no longer marketing them to fly fishing people, just women interested in fashion. In fact, I'm avoiding the fly fishing world, that's where I'd be creating my own competition.
I dont really fish much but i saw your earrings last fall and thought they were awesome, and then I went and forgot all about them for xmas for my wife and daughter. I apologize, and i will surely make a purchase for their birthdays (both also December) this year.
Thanks for the compliments and no need to apologize! You waiting another year is even better, I continue to evolve them and they just get better and better. Let me know when you want some and I'll kick you a deal!
This rainy weather is killing me waiting for the rivers to go down and normalize. Dying for the april new trip this year to test out what we learned last year. Got so bored I'm restoring an old 1974 case 224 garden tractor just to keep me occupied while waiting on the warmer weather.
Need a sales rep?
I might. Are your ears pierced??
Nose and nipples.
Feathered tassels would be interesting to say the least
It has been suggested!
I've already gotten a date out of this whole earring thing, you might be picking up folks you don't have an interest in though lol
FWIW- the peepers (frogs) were out hot and heavy tonight as I drove through the swamps of the Chickahominy basin tonight. Soon.
Soon!
I was out Saturday for a few hours. Trolling motor is whining like a pair of fighting cats. No idea what's wrong, so will spend the weekend taking it apart (thought I had it fixed, but I was wrong...). Anyways, paddled against the wind for an hour to go 2 miles. Saw a bunch of tailing reds, a handful of 20ish inch snook and some juvie tarpon, but could not get any of them to bite a single f-ing fly. Absolutely maddening...
And then the wind switched on me and started rolling whitecaps in the bay, so I decided to head home, against the wind again... and drink beer... frustrated the hell out of me bc it was my first chance to be out since the new year and prob my only chance over the next 6 weeks or so. Keep the reports coming guys, you're keeping me sane!
Just reminded me of my issues. Got a faulty trolling motor plug, that was real fun last weekend when the boat went from 10 power to 100 power intermittently. My talon wiring is also shot somewhere, can't get any power to it.
Of course all of these issues and I herniated a disc for the 2nd time in 2 months. So I'll be spending my fishing time in PT until I can get back on a boat.
I herniated a disc
that is true misery...you have my deepest sympathies
First time was at 24, I'm 28 now. I see a long life of back issues in my future. Trying to get out in front of it as much as I can now. I know I won't be able to recover as quick as I can now in a few years.
Building up the right muscle groups works wonders; something I lack the discipline to do. So, you know, do as I say...
Jesus, I'm sorry to hear about your back. I've only heard stories about the pain and discomfort, never experienced it thankfully.
It's funny how I'm having this issue, yet I'm trying to talk my wife into buying a skiff (she's starting to bite!). Like wtf am I thinking? That potentially comes with more expensive and more problems, yet I'm trying to talk her into this???
just keep the horsepower down, stay on top of the maintenance, and keep the hull simple and light.
and wait 'til the pandemic has run its course and the boat market becomes sane again.
wait 'til the pandemic has run its course and the boat market becomes sane again.
I lost out on some serious $$$ not being a boat broker the past year. Added years to my life though not dealing with boat buyers.
I would hate to be the person who sold the boat to the guy four houses down...it is difficult enough living four houses down.
I've pretty much settled on a salt marsh skiff. Either 14 or 16 ft is TBD, but they dont call for a lot of hp (20 and 60 max, respectively). Leaning towards the side console setup 16 footer but wont be upset if that's not the winner.
If we end up pulling the trigger, it probably wont be until july/August anyways
I gave them a really close look...contacted the sales reps; got the price lists...before I went for the used Scout. I decided I needed something a little more versatile for here. If I lived where you are, I'd likely have made a different decision.
For my style of fishing, it looks like a perfect fit. My buddy at the fly shop just bought a barely used one off the rep for this area and told me he'd take me out before I pulled the trigger. Just gotta find time for that trip
Great boats. Ankona is another great manufacturer that sticks to that simple no frills design and keeps prices realistic.
I accidentally almost bought a high tide with a 40 tiller the other day. Still might accidentally buy it. I'm on this small boat kick and I don't know why I can fix it.
that would be a rocket...
Yeah see I don't know anything about those boats except they were/are made in Georgetown SC. But a 14' boat with a 40 2 stroke seems so appealingly dangerous, thinking about building out the deck and transom throw a grab bar and tiller extension on it and run it through creeks. Guy only wants $700 for it motor isn't working but that's right up my alley.
From what I can tell, they're sister companies. I'd love an Ankona, but our budget is saying SM haha.
I wanted a gheenoe for a LONG time, but with 2 boys getting bigger and my wife all of a sudden saying she would want to go sometimes, the gheenoe is out.
Then get the 1656 ( I'd get the side console) w/a 40 or 50HP. with the right prop it should do 30+ and handle 3 people easy; you should be able to handle 4 people for short range cruising if you pick your spots
Glad to see you are finding fish. I'm hoping to make a trip to the Keys in April. Will let you know if I can get over your way.
Yeah man. I wont be able to take a day to fish at that point (so much going on at work it's ridiculous) but would love to at least get a bite/beer
Welp, suit yourself. Let the guilt tripping begin. When you're on your deathbed, you probably won't remember that day of work, but I bet you'll think back on that fishing trip with this well-decorated sea captain...
Haha, believe me, if we weren't in the middle of multiple lawsuits, it would likely be a different story.
Fishing with me will likely add another lawsuit.
Youll learn alot about trailer and boat repairs fishing with flyguy to help prepare you for the joys of boat ownership though which would be very valuable!
I should probably add this as some marketing for my trips on my website.
A red green of the boating world would be a solid youtube channel, or you could become a boat repairman, on second thoughts that would be brutal unless it was high paying. I had to rerun a transducer cable for a friend in an older boat and that was a week ago and I still have fiberglass shards in my arm.
before you heal up completely, I have a transducer cable that needs to be re-run
Contemplating ordering the gloves you get to work up a cows ass for birthing calves for the next time I have to do that to avoid the fiberglass all in my arms and clothes. Theyre heavy duty and go all the way to the arm pit.
Obstetrical gloves...
With everyone's favorite brand the "breeder sleeve".
Not sure if it is a every year thing but in 2016 when my daughter graduated VT, all the VET school grads had those gloves blown up like balloons. Pretty funny.
How big is the can of lube they come with?
"Learn how to fix/maintain a boat and trailer in a hands-on environment"
Got ya covered!
Gonna get out again this weekend. Been struggling some in Folly River, the creeks just don't have the depth for me to get back into in my bay boat and the oyster rakes are much thicker and less forgiving here.
Gonna mix it up some and throw some mud minnows on a cork as well as some of the new am fishing lures I picked up. Can't be a bad lure its a curly tail with a swimbait body.
https://www.amfishingtx.com/
Had a case of the weatherman being way off Saturday. Got out early it was calm for like 5 minutes the forecasted 10mph winds were a sustained 25+ the 10% chance of rain was quickly 100% 54 degrees maxed out at 45 and the rain was nice and frozen which made for some painful runs.
My transducer is shot. My Trolling motor wiring is all the way shot. My Talon connection over heated (fixed this already) it was a great day.
I really wish I could be wrong half as often as most of the weather folks are and still get paid....
When you need to run new wire through the boat, use the old wire to help guide it. Connect the two wires loop to loop and then cover it in electrical or duct tape. Spray with silicone lubricrant and it should be much easier to slide through the hull of the boat and past any hang ups. This has worked pretty well for everything I've done, including running new trolling motor wiring to the batteries.
This trick works 99% of the time and I know its contradictory but less tape is more you want to keep the loop as tight and twisted as you can. Get some good 33+(best first aid bandage material as well) and two or three wraps is all you need. If you can have someone to help feed on end while you pull itll go smooth like buttah
Hehe I pulled every single wire on my action craft and re wired it. Its a real PITA. Thankfully for this I think my plug is just bad so I'm gonna throw a new battery tender plug on it.
And for fun since I don't have enough going on I just bought plans to build a 12ft flats boat from scratch from Salt Boatworks
I have never heard of salt boatworks before and gotta say im intrigued. Did you get the full kitor just the plans?
So the 12 and the 14 only come with the plans since its cheaper for you to just get the wood and cut it than them to ship.
I've been looking for a project for a few months now and even project boats have outrageous prices right now so I figured this will cost me ~$800 to build, it'll be fun and how I want it and I can put a new motor on the back - probably a 4hp 1cyl and then run a 6hp carb on it so I don't have to pay stupid SC property taxes on it.
Are lumber prices as wacked out in SC as they are in VA? I'm holding off one one big wood project till wood prices come back to earth due to how much a sheet of plywood is now a days.
I'm interested to see how it turns out and what the lifespan for it is like keep us updated as you go.
Honestly I haven't looked at sourcing the wood yet. I just got the plans yesterday. It's not that much lumber though so I'm not all that concerned about the cost.
4 sheets – 4′ x 8′ x 3/16″ Okume or Meranti marine grade plywood
50 linear feet – 1/2″ x 1″ stock Cypress or Juniper
60 linear feet – 1″ x 1″ stock Cypress or Juniper
LOL drastically underestimated how much this was going to cost. 4 sheets of 4'x8' 6mm Okume ran $107....PER SHEET historically I've seen prices from $65-75 a sheet
Yup the pine pulpwood market is still wacked and no sign of going back down so far with demand through the roof for now. Typical OSB sheets in VA have tripled in price in the last year here. Hardwood plywoods and other types not pine pulpwood have only doubled or seen a 50% rise in cost but now regular osb is the same as most hardwood sheets here which is mind blowing really.
I wonder if you had picked up the kit with the wood from the company you got the plans from if theyve had to hike up the wood cost too?
I looked at the smallest size they have with cnc ply and plans (15') I don't think that price has moved still at $2k and those plans use double the amount of 6mm and 2 sheets of 8mm so I imagine about $1000 worth of ply from the store.
The Concession golf tournament had some good video of a large gator (10-12 ft) eating a fish. I gotta a screen capture. Enjoy!
Tilapia
yup. and fun on a popping bug
Bout to say if thats a sunfish thats a flat out hawg.
Anyone ever had any luck for some late winter stripers in the York River and surrounding areas (Goodwin Island, Poquoson Flats, etc)? Looking to take advantage of the warm next few days.
Unfortunately no. The only report of anything I have heard is a slow bite for big white perch and a few Shad at the fall line in the Rappahanock.
I'd go to ER, Lynnhaven or Rudee for best chance at getting on some fish.
Have been watching the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando. This video I took with my phone from my TV is pretty cool. Osprey doing work!
File is to large to embed so here is a link:
https://i.imgur.com/27YKxc6.mp4
Headed back to the Outer Banks the second week of June. I've got a pile of notes from you guys on surf fishing and pier fishing (we'll be staying within walking distance of Avon pier) from the last few years that I'm going to put to good use. While it's a little late in the game, I'd also like to book an offshore fishing charter out of Oregon Inlet if there's any availability. I know at one time French posted a list of boats he had some experience and knowledge of, however I can't seem to find that post or my notes from it. Do any of you have any recommendations or, perhaps just as importantly, any boats that we should stay away from? I'd like to get on some mahi and anything else that may be biting, and while bigger would be better I'd like to at least get some action and some fish for the grill. Any info is appreciated.
Edited to correct we'll be staying near Avon pier, not Avalon.
The Pelican is always the top choice. The Rigged Up was responsible for my best overall poundage day, but the captain and mate were not the most friendly pair. I am friends with the new mate of the Seaducer and nobody will work harder to find fish. The Fintastic put us on a good tuna day.
First week of June is a transition period. Expect a slower bite for big mahi, and maybe yellowfins and the occasional blue marlin
(I have heard good things about AFishianado, Tuna Fever, Point Runner, Skiligal, and Fishing Frenzy, but I have never fished on those boats or with a member of their team.)
You're the man. Thanks!
The Fintastic was one of the few boats that had dates available that worked with our stay. I booked a full day with them. The reviews look pretty good so I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks for the help.
French knows the lay of the land. I've never been out of OI but from my other experiences the offshore guys always know how to adapt and keep you entertained catching fish. Communicate with the captain and see what's the best option for your day. From my understanding you can get on the mahi easily during that time but you need to think about if you want to spend the rest of the day trolling for one bite with the blue marlin or a few bites with yellowfin tuna or go bottom fishing for grouper, triggers and snappers.
I'm hoping FlyGuy tells us a story about a particularly nice walleye I saw on another social media platform. Looked like a great fish caught on a fly.
Thank you. Ask and you shall receive!
FW fishing in CVA has been dead. Had a spike 3 weeks ago now nada🤔
I tried Shad fishing at Aylett today for about an hour. It was pretty crowded, and I saw around a half dozen Shad caught. I will try again around lunch tomorrow.
Pink jighead / chartreuse grub.
Friday morning I got into Brandy, the new Silverado, and headed south to Bassett to fish the Smith, my first time ever. Waded around behind the mirror factory with Mike Smith, who I used to guide for on the New. Gorgeous river. We saw one other angler. Water was super low, in the 150-170 range. Plenty of wade opportunities. I swung wet flies most of the day. Landed five or six 7-8" brownies. Did have an eat on a dry fly but missed him. I'm too used to strip setting reds. We did not have much of a hatch, but there were some caddis here and there. Most of the fish in that river aren't huge but they are wild VA browns and they are pretty. I'll take it for my trout fix every now and then. I'd be willing to bet most beginner fly anglers could swing a little black woolly bugger around down there and whack em. I'm sure there are big fish in there. Will definitely try it again at some point.
Brown trout
Saturday I floated Foster Falls to 100 with Mike and his friend. We got on the water early but there were already several other boats floating / running ahead of us. Mike wasn't happy with that, it didn't concern me too much as none of them had my flies. My goal was a musky on fly, Mike really wanted us to get a walleye. We got to one particularly good stretch and I had switched back to the musky rod. I was throwing a 9 inch long tan streamer I call the Millie Fly. Millie is my friend Danielle's Chow mutt mix of a dog with an awful underbite. Her tail hair is amazing though, and I've been able to steal a few clumps over the years. Anyways, the fly looks fucking epic in the water with that hair. Translucent but glows. We were about to drift out of this good walleye section and I make a long cast to the bank and feel the phone buzz in my pocket. I set the rod down and check my phone, something I try not to do on the river but this was important and I needed to stay in touch. My response took maybe 45 seconds. I put the phone away and pick up the rod. The line was downstream directly of me at this point. Two strips and thump! Strip set hard as hell and lifted the rod. Up to the surface swims this giant fucking walleye. Short fight later on 80 pound musky leader and she was in the net. We measured it at 29" on my hand and estimated 10 pounds. It reminded me of a huge speckled trout. 2nd largest Walleye ever landed in Mike's raft, biggest was two or three inches longer caught on gear years ago. He had gotten one on fly at 27" awhile back too.
The rest of the day was uneventful from a fishing standpoint, nothing to show for it. I spent the night with Hokie friends in Galax and fished Cascades on Sunday. No bugs and no fish to show for it. Spent the late afternoon driving around Blacksburg reliving love and memories from the college days. The frat house is gone, but Harding Ave house still stands and the bourbon chugging ghost of me in college still haunts that stretch.
The Walleye:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMatk8LhBEV/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMYETNhhlgG/
Always appreciate your story telling. I definitely agree with you that it looks like a speckled trout body shape for sure. Congrats on a trophy fish!
Thank you, I really appreciate that. I regret not writing more the past decade and the stuff I throw up on here is not very well written in my opinion. I could do much better. It was shaped like a trout but felt hard like a snook does. Super sharp gill plates.
You're welcome. Obviously this doesn't require as much effort as if you were doing a book but I can tell your gift of gab and story telling. I like that I can look back of this and have some good memories of my post as I put more detailed post than on social media. After second look the gill plate does look like a snook
beauty!
Thank you!
Looking good Fly, never landed a walleye, hear they are good eating.
Thank you, apparently, they are. This one was way over the slot limit.
There was a fisherman that drowned in the Smith on Friday further downstream near Fieldale. Gotta be safe out there as that water is still very cold. My brother fishes that Mirror Plant section all the time.
Wow. That's wild. That water remains the same temp year round being a tailwater. Crazy he drowned on Friday though because the water levels were the lowest they had been in quite some time.
Beautiful fish and cool story. I didn't realize we had a lot of walleye around here.
Foster Falls has a bunch of them in the deeper holes. Six boats out there fishing specifically for them. Feb and March is the time to catch them
Nice chunky eye!
Thank you!
Morning team, thought I would share a recent photo or two. Down here in Texas, the fishing has been on fire. My absolute favorite time of the year to get a hook wet. The large mouth are moving into the shallows as they make their beds, the white bass are running upriver for the spring spawn, and just to the north, in SE Oklahoma, anglers can take their craft to the river systems in hopes of catching trout.
I fortunately have been able to do all the above.
My oldest son, catching our first white bass on the season. We have been using an 1/8oz jighead with a white swimming grub. The fish are holding in approx. 3' of water. So far, we have only caught males, also known as "scouts". The females will soon follow, eggs in tow.
I have taken my oldest kiddos, one at a time, over the past few days at sunrise. The river has consistently produced.
My oldest, catching a large male.
My family and I ventured north to Broken Bow, OK. Absolutely beautiful. McCurtain County boasts the lowest geographical spot in the US in which rainbow trout can survive year-round and produce naturally. The state of OK will stock these fish routinely in the lower mountain fork river (Beaver's Bend), however from time to time you may find success in landing a fish of larger proportions that has been in the river for a few seasons. I was grateful to hook this beauty on my first cast, using a pink colored rooster tail (size 1). The water is crystal blue, as both the lake and its tributaries have rocky bottoms. I would highly recommend a road trip for you and yours if you can reach this amazing destination.
Cheers
When I was real little, white bass used to run up into the Holston River out of South Holston Lake, but I was too little to join in. By the time I was old enough to fish in that setting, the white bass run had basically disappeared, replaced by walleye and crappie. I don't know what happened to them, but every now and then I would catch one while fishing for suspended largemouths using a rattle trap. They are one of the most fun freshwater fish to catch and I wish I knew a place to find them here in Virginia.
Those are great photos. There is envy on this side of the screen. Well done.
Thx French, appreciate the kind words. It really has been fun, lb for lb these fish fight with the best in freshwater. I invested in a light action Daiwa 5' rod which really enhances the experience.
I hope you find the water soon, and all the best of luck in finding these guys in a system near you.
Had a lake I liked to fish in Nebraska and you'd occasionally run into a school of White Bass and Wiper boiling, some of the most fun fishing ever. Didn't matter what you threw into the school you'd hookup and there were some monster wiper in there too usually last about 30-45 minutes and catching them as fast as you could unhook them.
I went down to NC this weekend and fished a new creek Saturday with a big ole skunk. Got back out Sunday with calm winds and hit a flat and after two casts I had a chunky 25.5" red on topwater. It must have blown up on it 10 times in the first two casts. I thought I was gonna have a bunch more but only managed another rat red the rest of the day. Trying to rethink my strategy of where to target fish during this spring time bite.
Great fish bud
Nice one.
Seeing the forecast, Featherslinger and I took off work and headed to our favorite mountain stream on Thursday. He's in the process of moving and I'm studying for the PE so it was a much needed day off. The fish cooperated. He got a nice 12"+ brown on a nymph on the first cast. I heard him yelling as I was still rigging up back at the truck. We headed downstream until we saw other fishermen and then we unknowingly followed someone up the stream for a half hour or so. They must have jumped right in front of us. We decided to head way up stream and it paid off. We both got countless fish on dries (and my favorite red midge dropper). I got a nice brown on a streamer in a deep hole. I like to think I'm starting to get the hang of streamer fishing. All in all it was a stellar day and we couldn't have asked for better weather.
REPORT TIME. It wasn't the type of shad fishing I am accustomed to, but I am on the board, including one fat American shad, just after lunch today. All bites were on a silver Nungesser spoon trailer except for the American, which hit a 1/2 oz chartreuse and red dart on my last cast.
Tried out the warm days last week around the York. Hit AAMCO docks on Friday before the wind picked up and actually caught a few schoolie stripers slow-rolling some Zmans. Shocked me completely! They were all 15"-18" but nonetheless better than expected.
After I shared that info with an older gentleman at the ramp, he showed me photos of a couple 20"+ he caught the day before. Going to hit it again when the weather clears.
!!! Awesome.
Reports are that white bass are running in Douglas in NETN. With this weather the fishing should be good near White Pines where the French Broad and Nolichucky come together. From the reports I've seen it's mostly smaller males right now, but the big females should follow and there's a good chance some hybrid could be mixed in. Doll fly's under a bobber seem to be working well. I haven't been in a few years, but when they're there it is nonstop action. Truly remarkable fishing.
Have a buddy that's also been catching good crappie and walleye in the river above Cherokee. Haven't heard a report of white bass but they should be there as well.
I'm stuck with work and youth softball, so someone please go and have fun!
Managed five hickories on the Mattaponi yesterday. I saw a lot more caught, but I wasn't dialed in.
Rented a pontoon yesterday on the Matanzas River near Flagler Beach, FL. Caught more catfish than I can count, one weird fish I couldn't identify that looked like a redeye from back home, and the biggest whiting I've caught. More of a pleasure cruise than anything. Saw a pod of a dozen or so dolphins that swam around us about 20 yards away. Also saw a bald eagle and several osprey.
Hit the surf this morning for a few hours and caught nothing but 16-18" blues. Hoping to get into some whiting or pompano, but so far nothing going.
Got into some whiting, more blues, and a decent pompano today. Shrimp and sand fleas on a bottom rig.
Finally got out on a decent conditions day. Was taking a friend so he could avoid his FIL. Decided that mudminnows would be a ticket to figuring this new area out. ran to a spot I figured held fish cause it looks good despite the fact I've never caught fish there. Tossed one on a cork and one on a carolina rig right up against the bank. Watched a red swim right by them both. Tossed a z-man jerk shrimp in front of it and he took it as it hit the water. A very healthy 28" fish that put on quite a show and thought we'd be all over them after catching a good fish in the first 10 minutes but the rest of the day wasn't very note worthy.
nice fish!
where are the whitecaps? (lol)
hehe they're just out of frame. Actually probably 30 minutes after this picture was taken the entire background would look really rough. It all comes out of the water (yes even a parts that are inside that red can) at lowtide and many many boats fall for the illusion of safety when running there at a higher tide.
In the middle of a road trip to move my daughter from Nashville to Melbourne, FL. Move completed successfully. Had 1 hour to wet a line at the Airbnb house which is directly on the Indian River in Eau Gallie, FL. Well, theres a decent size snook in Eau Gallie FL under that dock with a Mirrodyne 27MR, color 808 in its mouth. DAMN IT! Gill plate cut after he bolted under the dock. I had control and was bringing him out. What a shame. Would have been a sweet score. The trials of snook fishing on full display. I worked that dock hard, had a couple strikes, then the above happened. Better luck next trip.
Next time get you a good quality 30 pound flouro leader on there and he will be yours. Their gill plates can be brutal but a good quality leader can give you a solid shot.
Had 40 pound flouro on 30 lb braid, went thru it still. Cut was literally 2 inches above loop knot that held the mirrodyne. Had excellent hook up. Fish was fast and strong, my starlite rod was at 90 degrees. Had rod up so braid was not on barnacles, that worked. Fish was pulling away so flouro leader was likely right next to gills. Snook gills r incredibly sharp, ive been cut be4.
Everyone whos fished for snook has been cut by the bastards gill plates. Sometimes its unavoidable though always sucks to loose a high dollar lure though as well it just makes the sting even tougher. Only thing you could maybe do is beef up the rod but that always wont work.
Medium heavy 7 ft star rods stellar lite. Great snook rod, nice mix of strength n flexibility. I had drag set so only a large fish could pull drag as i knew if i hooked up it was me vs dock+fish. Have had it a long time. Ive wrestled many reds n snook from docks and mangroves on it. I knew the odds were tough as i was land limited and couldnt get on dock. I was glad i got her to eat. It was close, no worries. I was prepared as u could be. It was a 50-50 proposition at best, the fish won.
My SIL rented a house on the North River (GreenMaison Cove across from Mobjack Marina) for this upcoming weekend. I hope some white perch will be around to keep us occupied.
Best of luck hope yall can find something to bite this little cold snap might slow it up but maybe the perch will be active.
I spent an hour on the Mattaponi this evening. The bite has picked up. Ten shad in an hour, but mostly smaller bucks. I only saw one American shad get caught.
Where on the Matta? Walkerton?
Aylett at the boat ramp
Saw picture this week from a fly fisherman that targets them from a boat in the James. He said many have showed up now.
I went the other day downtown Richmond and only saw one fish caught by everyone on the bank and in boats the hour I was there throwing a spoon. They are showing up for sure but not quite here really thick though.
It's also about to get blown out with the heavy rain forecast today and tomorrow
100% I was going to give it a go and maybe hit up a couple creeks in the city for fun today but the rain put a halt to that.
When I went out it was spotty too. We caught a few but two boats down they were hooked up every time I looked up
Just saw a report of his boat with 2 fly fisherman on the 30th and they caught them from early morning until tide change in the afternoon. It was pretty much non stop with a total over 100.
Yeah we were out a week before that so makes sense that is good now.
Anyone else besides me couldn't care less about shad? I think they are boring as hell. You guys can have them all. I'll stick my nose up in air like a UVA fan at them.
In boat repair news, I pulled the cover off of Pretty Fly today to find a big damn bird nest right on the console. It wasn't there two weeks ago. The Skiff Finch has been doing some serious work and there were two eggs inside. I put on gloves and gently placed it in a nearby tree.
Hoping to head to the Florida Keys next week to visit friends living on their sailboat and maybe throw a fly or two at some fish if I can find time around bar hopping on Duval.
Sounds like a relaxing weekend, boy what a charmed life. Living off a sailboat! Sounds like a Jimmy Buffet song.
Cheers—
Thank you, I can assure you my life isn't all peaches and cream, despite what most may think. I'm super jealous of my friends doing this around the world trip. They've invited me to join and help sail around, I'm hoping to be able to do a few bits and pieces. I'll definitely be playing lots of Jimmy Buffett on the boat!
Thanks now I need to go listen to some jimmy buffet as a pirate looks at forty just popped into my head reading that.
That's one of my favorites!
All jimmy buffet is good stuff, nothing beats jamming to some buffet while driving to florida to get the mood right. Only a little over a month and I'm headed to captiva for a week to chase snook and jacks again.
Are you going to that same island again?
Unfortunately no not Keewaydin this time, going to North Captiva Island this go around so a bit north of there but should be similar fishing. Keewaydin was nice as its very remote and not alot of people there so you have miles of beach to yourself. Captiva was the second place on our list so its where we are going to try this go around, hopefully the red tide hasnt wreaked havoc on the fishery again.
Just realized I need to start gathering my gear for the trip and start prepping leaders and such.
First guide trip of the season for me. Not to go without a boat issue, hit a log running about 30. Doesn't appear to have caused damage. Think I hit it with the skeg. Whew.
Clients caught around 30 shad, mostly on spin. One was a 3-4 pound hickory. Pearl flash was the hot color. Nearly all of the fish were caught within a mile of Aylett, so that should give French some good info...
Just got home from a little mini vacation. We stayed at the Carriage House on the Green Mansion property in Green Mansion cove of the North River in Mathews County. I fished a bunch off the dock, first with gulp and then later with bloodworms. I managed one rat puppy drum from the middle of the cove on a bloodworm. I let my nephew reel it in.
With the fishing struggling, and a very enthusiastic nine year old waning fast, I made the call to drive him and my brother-in-law over to Aylett on Easter Sunday (about an hour west.) The water was high and heavily stained, but we managed a good number of shad, and he busted a big female hickory (in that 2.5-3lb range) all by himself. He got three. I got five. His dad got 2 before he lost interest and we headed back.
The fire built when he told his mom about his triumphs, so we went back early yesterday morning with her in tow. This time, I let them parent and keep an I eye him, and I trounced downstream a little bit where I had some room. I also ran out of spoons, so I just used one dart. Well, it paid off. I ended up with about a dozen in about an hour. They managed about eight between them.
In the evening, I dropped by to visit Fish and gave him some extra Gulp that I had purchased for the trip. It was good to catch up. I have my first COVID shot today in Ashland. I will report back on how that goes.
How is he?
He was friendly as always and in good spirits. I think he is ready to do some fishing this spring. He had some other stuff going on, but it was good to catch up with him briefly before we went to pick up dinner.
Good to hear, he is missed here.
Finally going to get out this year for once heading to the new later this week if the weather will actually cooperate, thunderstorms in the forecast need to play nice and go somewhere else. Finally picked up a Shimano Nasci 2500 for my tube and soft plastics finesse rig. Nobody local has any right now and luckily Dicks had one in stock.