Adjusting to the Conditions - Upper Chesapeake Stripers - July 28 2018

This entry was intended to be a prelude to Cobia fishing in the lower Chesapeake Bay.  However, when the Captain of your charter tells you that the fishing is not likely to be productive and the forecast includes severe thunderstorms, the wise angler heeds the advice.  The same approach of gathering all of the information at hand enabled Capt. Felker and Capt. DiPaola to limit out on stripers in less than 2 hours the day before.

The weekend fishing trip started as most do with a visit to Anglers to stock up on fresh alewife, soft crabs, and incidentals.  As locals, friends, and frequent customers we usually chat with the staff to see where the bite is and how that compares to other reports to formulate the best fishing plan.  Word was that stripers had been holding in large numbers in an area defined by Rock Hall north to Pooles island in the Upper Chesapeake.   Charlie and Mike Ebersberger of Anglers added that they had seen success near the bay bridge rock piles live lining with spot and chunking with soft crabs.  A plan to try some live lining on our way north to Rock Hall naturally came together.

On the western rock pile we were encouraged to see three charter boats tossing norfolk spot.  A swift current and only a few hits without takes on the chunking rods indicated it was time to head north.  The course to Swan Pt was punctuated by the heartbreaking sight of huge debris flows coming from the Susquehanna river and the Conowingo dam.  Mixed in with the flotsam were logs, barrels, tires, and other assorted trash.  It was a sad and hazardous spectacle.  The crew wondered aloud whether all of the good work to improve the health of the Bay would be for naught unless efforts are made to address the runoff from the Chesapeake's tributaries, particularly from our neighbors to the north.

After playing dodge ball with logs and trash we eventually spotted the charter fleet.  Dozens of boats were anchored in 12 - 15' of turbid 79 degree water.  With the anchor set, the two Captains wet four lines baited with soft crab and alewife.  Within minutes rod tips began to twitch.  Multiple fish to the boat followed.  At one point  two fish were hooked with a third rod getting hit.  A lot of action always equates to a lot of fun.  The bite remained consistently good until we had our limit of 4 keeper stripers in the 20" - 22" range.  While not record setting in size, they make for excellent table fare.  While the grilled cobia will have to wait, the plated stripers make an excellent substitute.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Kettle Creek Brookies - 06 July 2018 - Late Entry

A day prior to the famed Potter County Independence Day Extravaganza, hosted by the Felkers' and West Branch Tavern (see video tease below), Captain Felker arranged a day of native brook trout fishing for me.  Even better, I had the opportunity to fish under the tutelage of Potter County local and Trout Unlimited Chapter Secretary, Bob Volkmar.

Bob was accompanied as usual by his faithful fishing companion "Blue", a beautiful black lab.  The drive from West Branch Tavern to Kettle Creek took about an hour.  Several turns and switchbacks on dirt roads eventually ended at a small steam with crystal clear water.  Kettle Creek is rarely more than 10 feet across and often not more than ankle deep.  Covered with old growth spruce and hemlock, it is a perfect native brook trout hatchery.

It had been a couple of years since I worked water as skinny.  The last time I chased hungry brook trout in water like this was a day spent climbing boulders and rocks searching for 6" feeders in the upper Rappahannock.  Back on Kettle Creek, the temps were warm enough to wet wade.   Bob gently reminded me that stealth, precision, patience and recognition are critical in water like this.  I am more comfortable working across a stream or even down stream.  Bob is an expert at casting upstream, gently presenting the fly, with a knack of knowing where the trout are positioned.  The clip below shows Bob in action.  Note the need to remain offset to avoid spooking the fish.

Not long after setting out, we quickly found our rhythm with each of us taking turns at pockets, overhangs, holes, and drop-offs likely to hold fish.  In no time, we were both adding to the tally.  At 4" - 8", these brook trout won't make it as a trophy on the wall, but they do leave a lasting impression. 

Catching one requires the ability to identify a probable lair, softly landing a dry fly (we were using caddis, hoppers, and stimulators), and a light touch when setting the hook.  You usually only get one chance at each piece of water before the fish are wise to your presence. The fish are small, but they don't know it.  They engulf the fly when all of the elements come together.

A short break for lunch back at the vehicle and another hour of fishing rounded out the day.  Blue even managed to flush several grouse!   I am not sure what kind of hunting dog Blue is, but as a fishing dog he is top shelf.  He knew to remain behind us as we approached each casting spot.  It was a great day on the water, and the perfect initiation as a newly minted member of the Potter County "God's Country" TU Chapter.  Thanks Bob!


West Branch Tavern Independence Day Extravaganza!

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Independence Day in the Land of Pleasant Living

I can think of few better ways to celebrate Independence Day than time on the Chesapeake honoring Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Crabs.  Accompanied by 1Lt Salt Life (son Joe) and his girlfriend Anna Windle, Captain DiPaola departed the dock with the sun already above the horizon at 0630.  Morning temperatures were breaking 80 as we turned the corner and entered Whitehall Bay.  Despite a light variable breeze, Captain DiPaola decided to set a course for more protected waters in the Severn River to avoid the slightest of chop in the water.

Captain DiPaola prepped the trot line the evening prior with a slight twist.  With the consensus that razor clams attract more crabs than chicken necks, half the line was baited with razor clams (2 - 4 to a bag) and half the line with chicken necks.

Back on the water, the crew worked together to carefully deploy the trot line in 10' of water just north of the Naval Academy bridge.  One of the keys to success when trot lining is to position the line with enough tension to ensure the line rolls across the "J" hook straight and true, with just enough slack that the crabs remain intent on their free meal hanging from snoods spaced 8' apart across 600' of line anchored on both ends.

Everyone took turns at the net.  Captain DiPaola demonstrated the scooping technique to avoid entangling net and line by keeping the wire net in the water column below the bait.  A smooth sweep of the net below the crab will incarcerate the crustacean as it releases the bait and dives away from Mikey D Fishing.  Though it has been a year since 1Lt Salt Life worked a trot line, he handled the task with ease.  Anna was a relative novice, but proved adept at scooping crabs in succession.  As the morning eased into midday, Mikey D Fishing was averaging 3 - 5 crabs per run.  A respectable rate of return that yielded 1/2 bushel of crabs.  The action was interrupted early in the morning when keeper sized stripers appeared at the surface like a marine version of the Rapture, ravenously attacking bay anchovies and small alewife.  It was one of the few times that I didn't have a rod in the boat.  Captain Felker would have seen to that.... Lesson Learned.

Ironically, the chicken necks proved 30 - 40% more productive than bags of razor clams.  Admittedly, the result was anecdotal so I intend to continue to soak both razor clams and chicken necks before coming to a definitive conclusion.

An Independence Day crab feast satisfied all in the late afternoon with fireworks by the Bay at dusk.  Family, friends, in the land of the free is not a bad way to celebrate our most important national holiday.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing