Fishing the Mid Atlantic region and beyond for all manner of salt and fresh water species. We cover the lower Chesapeake Bay aboard the "Mikey D Fishing" in search of stripers, redfish, speckled trout, flounder, cobia and chase trout across the classic freestone and limestone streams of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia.
Spring is here and the fish are on the move. While waiting for upgrades and maintenance on the Mikey D Fishing to complete, time on the water is limited to time along the water. Not to worry, there is ample fishing along the inlets, back bays, and the surf. So yesterday, I stopped by Old Inlet Bait and Tackle just north of the Indian River Inlet to grab a bait buffet that included bunker, sand fleas, and shrimp.
The target was one that has eluded me for years -- Tautog. Tautog, a.k.a "Tog" or "Blackfish", is a sought after medium sized fish that is known for great table fare. They can be found around rocks and structure, so the jetties on either side of the Indian River Inlet make a great spot to target them. Minimum size is 16" in Delaware with a creel limit of 4. They prefer cooler water, so I pursued during the back end of the spring season.
I picked a spot on the north side of the inlet in the early evening. The incoming tide was ripping through the 300 yard gap that feeds Indian River Bay and Rehoboth Bay. I was equipped with my 12' surf rod with an up and down rig, 5 oz. of weight, with shrimp and sand flea. I figured the long stick would help me retrieve my rig and limit snags on the rip rap. I also had a lighter jigging rod tipped with a 1/2 oz. slip weight and a sand flea.
After the surf rig was doing its job, I grabbed the St. Croix jigging rod and cast straight out. The current quickly drew the rig in a wide arc. As it neared the rocks, the rod bent in half. The headshake that followed alleviated any concern that I might just be snagged. The Tog gives a fun fight for its size and keeping it out of the rocks can be a challenge. The key is to retrieve as quickly as possible once you have him near the rocks and keep his head up.
As you can see, they have human like teeth to crush crustaceans. They may not be the prettiest in the sea, but they sure eat good! And for me, it was the first tog I have landed and a keeper no less!
A year ago this past weekend Clare and Bery joined us for some spring fishing. Conditions were ideal, bugs were hatching, and the fishing was great.
A year later, we had to work for them. Go figure.
Over the previous weekend we had almost 3 inches of rain, along with cooler temps. For most of the week, the streams were unfishable. Fortunately, as the week wore on the water cleared enough, and came down to suitable levels.
But not a lot of bugs.
Given the bigger waters were still a tad high, I figured the mountain streams would provide a better opportunity. So Bery and I lit out for Upper Kettle Creek, which is a Brook Trout stream. I was surprised that even at the upper reaches the flows were high, and the normal fishy lies weren't conducive to a productive outing. We had to search for good water, and only found a couple of spots worth trying.
We found some fish, but not many. Tan Elk Hair Caddis did the trick on a couple of Brookies, but that was about it.
On Saturday we headed out to Sinnemahoning State Park to fish a section of the North Fork that we'd had good luck on the year before. Conditions continued to improve. Temps rose into the 70s, and although the water was a bit deeper than I would have liked, it was fishable.
Unlike last year, only some Caddis and a few March Browns were coming off. Trout were rising sporadically, but didn't seem as cooperative as you'd expect for this time of year. We did manage a couple of fish, one Rainbow and a Tiger Trout.
Most of the day was spent just sitting and watching....
Finished up the day at the Pavilion Hole, which almost never disappoints. Bery tagged a nice Rainbow on a "Fegg" (Felker-tied egg) before dinner.
We still needed to get Clare on the board. So Sunday morning before Clare and Bery departed for home, we ran up to Rainbow Paradise, a pay-to-fish locale. While the purists might wince at such a place, I like going there. It's a great place to learn the basics of fly fishing: casting, setting the hook, and fighting the fish. Clare took advantage of the opportunity, and in the ensuing two hours she got dialed in on hooking and landing fish. Didn't count, but at least 20 trout, including a few fish that went at least 18 inches, came to the net.
That's fishing for you. Sometimes the fish gods smile on you, and some times they make you work for them. But all in all a great weekend in God's Country, with haute cuisine (Bery makes a killer filet), good bourbon and cigars, and great friends.
Brother Kelly brought Dad out to God's Country to get in a little fishing and enjoy the Potter County spring, which has finally arrived. Sunday morning, after a great breakfast of scrapple and eggs (thanks Kelly!), we headed down to the Pavilion Hole. Temps were in the upper 50s, and a bit gusty. So we opted for the spinning rod and tossed minnow lures and Panther Martin spinners (single hook) for about an hour, to no avail.
Having worn out our welcome, we moved down to the lower hole. It was protected from the wind, so I moved to the bottom of the run with the fly rod and fished an undercut bank that had held a fish a few days earlier. So I wasn't paying attention until I heard commotion behind me, and saw Dad's spinning rod bent over.
I looked down into the water and saw a monster Brown. Biggest fish I've seen in this stream. He must have been hiding under a sunken log near the far bank, and decided the Panther Martin looked like a tasty meal.
We landed the trout, took a couple of quick hero pics, and back in the water it went. Easily 22 inches, maybe 23-24. A trophy Brown for sure!
Not bad for a 92-year old. If you can get to the water, you can wet a line.
It's the most anticipated day for the Mikey D team, and the unofficial start of our 2025 season.
The High Holy Day, Fishmas...
It's the Opening Day of trout season in Pennsylvania.
At 8:00 AM on the first Saturday in April, anglers grab their fishing gear and head to streams which have been closed since the end of February. Yes, there are many streams in Pa which can be fished year round. But the masses descend on Approved Trout Waters throughout the state to chuck bait, spinners, and flies at stocked fish.
It's magical, and consider us members of the cult.
Captain DiPaola rolled in Wednesday night to prep for the opening. On Thursday afternoon we headed to Pine Creek in Ansonia, about 45 miles to the east, to knock the rust off. A section of the stream is designated Keystone Select Delayed Harvest, which means the state stocks big fish, and you can fish the stretch year round.
Air temps were in the upper 60s to low 70s. Water temps, however, were pretty cold; I'd estmate in the 40s. Consequently, the fishing was slow. Although we got some hits, I only netted a 15 inch Fallfish on a black Wooly Bugger. Fortunately, Joe got the skunk off with a 12 inch Rainbow.
On Friday we walked the west and east branches of Fishing Creek near the WBT. Water was low and clear, and we spotted many trout in the normal holding spots.
Things were looking good as we strategized over bourbon and cigars Friday night.
Saturday's forecast was for rain, but we were hopeful. Buoyed by coffee and sticky buns, we got to the Pavilion Hole around 7:30 in the morning. Air temps were in the upper 40s, no wind, and light showers. The water level was up at bit from Friday, but had a nice green tint. Even if the rain picked up, we were confident the stream would at worst get a nce level bounce and the fishing would be great.
At the appointed times the lines went in. Sticking with the Wooly Buggers, we quickly picked up three Rainbows, one going over 15 inches. All in about a half an hour.
And then the deluge began.
Fortunately, the pavilion provided protection, and we stood around waiting for the heavy stuff to abate. After about an hour the rain diminished a bit. We tried the Lower Hole to no effect, and I managed to hook (and lose) a fish at the Beaver Pond. With the rain picking up again, we headed back to the WBT for breakfast and some liquid refreshment. (Thanks Mary!)
From the radar, it looked like the heavy stuff would push through around 11:00. So we headed back to the Pavilion Hole, only to find that the "nice level bounce" was more like a flood of chocolate milk, and at least another foot higher than in the morning.
It was not looking good. A trip to the east branch proved no more fruitful. So back to the Pavilion Hole for a few more shots before surrendering to the weather gods. It appeared that Fishmas would end earlier than we had hoped. It was then that Captain DiPaola, spotting a riser on the far bank, put on an angling demonstration that saved the day.
Positioned between a large overhanging tree and saplings, he deftly cross-casted a San Juan Worm/Green Weenie tandem above the rise. It was a tough casting, but after a few tries, and one miss, he stuck the trout, maneuvered the fish out of overhanging brush, and landed the final trout of the day.
And so ended Opening Day. Not what we were hoping for, but a great day nonetheless. It's really not about catching fish (which is what you say after a day like Saturday). But truthfully it was a fun day battling the elements, and putting some fish in the net.
Sometimes you just gotta put in the work, if you can call it that. When that fails, just light one and enjoy the day.
Tight Lines,
Mikey D Fishing
Post Script. You hear "you should've been here today" a lot. The next day was one of those days. Armed with a spinning rod, I headed out Sunday afternoon to check out the water and do some prospecting. Amazingly, the water level had dropped a good six inches, and the stream had regained its green color. Visability was good enough to see the trout slashing at my spinners and minnow imitations. I managed a few fish at the Pavilion, then picked up a nice 18 inch+ Rainbow down at the lower hole on a micro minnow lure. All in about an hour's worth of fishing.
Today we woke to snow and temps in the 30s. Cold, snow and rain in the forecast for the week. I'll leave the streams to the worm-dunkers. (Mary reported an angler armed with a stringer at the Pavilion Hole this afternoon. As she reminded me, they're stocked fish) But trout season is upon us, and hatch season is not far off!
It's still a few weeks until official Spring, but you know you're close when the PA Fish and Boat Commission stocking truck comes to visit.
We've had some mild weather, at least until Sunday. Sunday it never got above 15. The high today was forecast to be in the mid-20s. When we volunteers met up with the Wildlife Conservation Officer and the truck at 0930, we were sitting at a brisk 18 degrees. Fortunately, there was no wind, no precip, and the sun was peeking through the clouds.
We had 10 folks stocking. Often we'll see additional vehicles following, not to stock, but to spy out the spots. The cold temps must have kept them away, as everyone joined in today.
All in all a fun morning. After our safety brief, the conga line of volunteers followed the WCO and truck to hit spots on both branches of Fishing Creek, and some spots on the main branch. Approximately 1,000 trout (Browns and Rainbows) were stocked in a about 2 miles of stream. The local rod and gun club will stock another 1,000 or so (including some big fish held over from last year) in a few weeks. That's a lot of trout in a small stream.
It's a pretty uncomplicated process:
Follow the truck until it stops.
The driver fills 5-gallon buckets, each holding around 15 fish
You take your bucket down to the crick (yep, that's the WBT in the background)
Once you're at the bank, you take off the lid
And you heave the contents into the stream
Finish with a Friendly Burger and a couple of Labatts Lite Draughts, to round out a great morning.
Oh, and yes, the WBT received a healthy portion of trout!!! Probably around 75 fish. Hopefully the Mink and River Otters won't take too many over the next few weeks.
Mentored Youth Trout Day is March 26. Opening Day is April 5. It's been a long winter. But the High Holy Day is upon us.
For those who think that the short days and cold winds of winter evaporate any hope of wetting a line, there are places to go, and species to target, that can make fishing in February as good as any other month on the calendar. Of course, knowing where to go and how to fish those spots takes time and skill. Thankfully, Joe, a.k.a. "Maj. Salt Life", has put in time on the water and has it dialed in.
With only a couple hours to fish, I met Joe at the ramp near one of the many creeks that meander around and through Camp LeJeune, NC. Maj. Salt Life recently equipped his well-appointed G3 skiff with an electric trolling motor, a critical addition in shallow slow-moving creeks with easily spooked Reds about. We got underway around 1400 and headed to a spot just a few hundred yards away from the point of departure. Temps in the upper 40s, low 50s. Light breeze out of the northwest, on a falling tide.
Joe noted that the water was not as clear as it had been lately. Regardless, you could still see mullet and Reds darting in front of us. Joe engaged the spot lock on the trolling motor. Clearly, the word had spread since we were joined by a few kayak fishermen who were working holes 3' - 6' deep. Joe grabbed the fly rod, but I wanted to get the skunk off, so I reached for the spinning rod tipped with a trusty gold spoon. After a few casts and no takes, I decided that it was best to listen to my local guide and go with a electric chicken Z-Mann soft plastic. Soon after that, I was on with our first redfish. It was small, just 15 inches, but it was great to feel the tug after a long winter's respite.
Joe was quick to follow using his 8-wt. fly rod tipped with a self-tied, chartreuse clouser.
And it was a hog. A nice 27 incher that took 10 mins and several runs to get to the boat. With both of us on the fly rods, we landed one nice Red after another totaling 10 in a 2-hour period. Most were in the 18 - 24" class.
Nice fish on a beautiful February day. And despite the constant action, it gave me pause and not a small amount of gratification to feel a piece of life come full circle remembering the times fishing with my father, then fishing with my young children, and now fishing with my oldest son as he prepares to be a dad.
When the Chesapeake creeks are frozen and the fish are sedate, fowl offer a bridge on the Delmarva. The winter of 2025 has been a throwback with several days of single digit temperatures resulting in frozen ponds and tributaries. Polar winds also bring duck species that haven't frequented the eastern shore in numbers in some time. Pintails, Canvasbacks, and Bluebills were in the hunter's sights for the first time in years.
At Stirling Farms in Trappe, MD, the main target is the Canadian Goose. Phil Weglein, owner and proprietor has hosted a core group of us since we both became friends in high school over 40 years ago. Because of Phil's generosity, we have been able to enjoy the outdoors, lots of laughs, and knock down countless birds. This season was no exception, and it doesn't go without notice that with age, the priority shifts to laughs and comradery over taking the shot. Many thanks to Phil, Stirling Farms and all those who joined the hunting party during the 2025 season including Paul Carmen, Chris Morris, Jack Kamps, Audrey Weglein along with boyfriend Nick. Of course, we can't forget bird dog extraordinaire, "Scout"!
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