Cape Charles, VA Fishing Report, July 26: One Fish, Two Fish ... REDFISH

Winds blowing in at at 20-25 knots put yesterday's fishing on hold.  I went out, but you couldn't get a cast to go very far.

This morning conditions had improved greatly.  Partly cloudy skies, temps in the upper 80s, but with a 10 knot breeze; quite comfortable.  Water visability was also significantly improved.  Nice to be able to see what's around you, especially this morning.

Got out about 0930, on the outgoing tide, and about a half hour before the bite was supposed to be on.  Again, the solunar calendar was right.  Started with a purple/chartreuse Paul Brown's Dyne XL.   It's characterized as a "suspending" twitch bait.  But if left sitting, it sinks.  Not a biggie.  You just have to put on a few cranks of the reel, which brings the lure wobbling up.  Then you pause, and the lure wobbles back down.  Rinse, repeat.

  According to the guys at Ocean's East Tackle Shop, just down the road, it's a Red killer.  They are correct.

A few casts into the grassy water and the first Red slammed the bait.  A great fight ensued, and I managed to bring the 26-28 inch "Puppy Drum" to the boca grip.

(Yeah, a lousy picture.  Kind of tough manhandling a big fish with a rod under your arm and a crummy camera in the hand.  Gotta work on this...)  We need GoPro to sponsor this blog.

The problem with the Dyne XL is that it's a soft plastic, with a wire through the center to give it rigidity.  A Red doesn't eat the bait, it crushes it.  And if/when you get the lure out, it doesn't look the same when you take it out of the package.  Gets kind of bent here and there. (maybe that's the point ... at $11/lure).  The other problem is the two treble hooks.  Hellacious to get out of a fish's mouth.

I was able to bend the lure back into a reasonable shape to keep fishing.  A few moments later and a Red crushed it again.  Another 26-28 inch fish.  Unfortunately, it ate the lure, and instead of just going back to the house with dinner, I kept fumbling around trying to get the lure out, not noticing the tension I was putting on my rod.  The snapping sound I heard, followed by seeing my rod tip sliding toward the fish, told the story.  Still tried to get the lure out, but eventually the leader broke, and off it swam.

Note: this was when the camera decided to stop working.

Fortunately, I'd brought along another rod, not on the possibility of breaking the first, but rigged with a popping cork and paddle tail.  So I high-tailed it to dry land, picked up the working rod, and got back in the fight.

It quickly went from catching to fishing.  Which was fine; I could have left and it would have been a great day.  But I stuck around, casting, popping, retrieving, rinse, repeat.  It's a technique that can get mundane.  And then something happens which almost makes you crap your pants.

On one of those mundane retrieves, the cork was about 5 feet in front of me.  I was beginning to reel in the paddletails, when  I saw a large brownish object come out of the grass and swim towards me.  Now, it's the salt water.  We're not the apex predators.  So seeing something that looks really big swimming at me was kind of disturbing.  Then I realized it was a big Red.  It was all I could do to wait until the fish ate the lure.  Another great fight and I landed my third slot Red.

After calling in a brief report to Capt. DiPaola, I returned to the mundane for the next 45 minute, with one exception.  As I was wading down the beach I spooked Reds EVERYWHERE.  Singles, doubles, multi-fish schools.  Many in knee-deep water.  I managed a few follows, but for the most part they were scooting back to the grass.  It was a pretty cool sight.  Almost as much fun as catching.  Almost.

The solunar calendar shows conditions tomorrow are ripe for another great hour or two of fishing on the outgoing tide.  I'm already rigged, and will be taking the 8 wt as well.

And, thanks to Oceans East, a new Toadfish spinning rod ... and another Dyne XL.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Cape Charles, VA Fishing Report, 23-24 July: Back to the Salt (and Fresh)

 With Cape Escape open for a few days, I decided to head south and see how the Redfish bite was.  Got into town in the late am Saturday, with plenty of time to catch the outgoing tide that evening.

Wade fished the usual spot, the bottom of the development's beach area near Plantation Creek.  Conditions were perfect when I hit the water around 6:00 PM.  Temps in the high 80s, calm winds, and water in the upper 70s (at least), and the water starting to move out.  Only issue was the low sun, which took away visability a good bit.  Not really an issue.  But when I'm wading in thigh-deep water, I like to see if anything is swimming near me.

Things were kind of slow.  The solunar calendar had Saturday as a one-fish day.  In that respect, it was right.  I decided to throw a Electric Chicken-colored paddletail under a popping cork.  For awhile it looked like skunk city.  As I got tired of casting, I went into lazy mode, cast the cork out, and popped as I waded down towards Plantation Creek.  Every once in awhile I'd look back to make sure the cork was still there and still out in the channel.  After a few yards of wading I looked back and the cork was nowhere to be seen.  A couple of turns resulted in a great fight.  From the fish taking drag, I knew it was a good Red, and was not disappointed.  A 28 inch fish, all coppered up, came to the hand.  Figuring I'd hook a few more, I revived the fish and sent him on his way.  Of course, the fish gods laughed at me, and for the next hour I went without a bite.

(regrettably, a camera malfunction prevented photographic proof....)

Went back out this morning, with the tide moving out around 8:30 AM.  This time the wind was up, and visability was even worse, so I ditched the paddletail for a Dyne XL swim bait.  Nuthin.

Temps hovered in the mid to upper 90s for the rest of the day, giving me time to troubleshoot the camera.  Still itching to feel a tug, I decided to head to the bass ponds in the late afternoon.  Temps had cooled off considerably, down into the mid-80s, with the sun obscured by scattered thunderstorms popping up in the bay.  Took both spin and fly rods, hoping to score on something.  

Started with the spinning rod and a crank bait.  After about 20 minutes I had my first hookup, which I lost.  But not long after I hooked and landed a nice bass that easily went 4lbs.

Mission complete.  So I switched to the flyrod, and tied on a big chartreuse popper, figuring the overcast would make the bass less spooky.  And after a few casts a fish hit the popper, which I immediately missed, being too excited and pulling the trigger too soon.  But I let the popper sit, and after one more pop the fish came back and slammed it.  A nice 3 lber.

The bass saved the day.  But the calendar shows bay conditions improving for the next few days.  Hopefully Redfish will be on the menu at some point.  Tonight, "unfortunately," it's crab cakes.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Indian River on the G3 and Assateague with Salt Life, July 16 2022

 

Day 1 Indian River Inlet

Capt DiPaola the younger, aka Salt Life is on a 2 week hiatus from USMC duties while waiting to begin Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico.  There's no better way to decompress than to drive east and join CAPT DiPaola the elder on each of our vessels.  

We waited for sunset and the tide change to put his G3 into the Indian River inlet to see what species we could bring over the gunnel.  Conditions were a little sketchy, winds were light and variable, but as dark settled in, the rain increased in intensity.  Luckily it didn't slow the bite with blues and stripers mauling clouds of baitfish caught in the incoming tide.  Joe "Salt Life" landed nice 18" blue that slammed his bucktail tipped with a 4" bass assassin.  I got similar results on a BKD and Joe followed up with a nice little 17" striper.  While the fish were abundant, there was so much bait in the water that our offers were lost in the mix.  Nevertheless, there were no complaints when you get some time on the water together and you land a couple species.

Postscript:  Mikey D Fishing approves of the well-appointed G3.  Joe has fitted the boat well with electronics, a solid 50HP mounted on a jack plate, and several other customized features to turn this 18' boat into a fishing machine.

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Day 2 Assateague Island Flounder Fishing

With nothing but clear skies and light winds forecasted, Capt DiPaola and CAPT DiPaola were joined by Audrey and Connor Weglein on the Mikey D Fishing to find some flounder.  Transiting Assawoman Bay and Isle of Wight Bay on a summer weekend requires focus but the reward is the calm water behind Assateague Island.  

We were rigged with bucktails and a combination of squid strips, white gulps, or pink gulps.  After a few minutes drifting it became apparent from the missing tails and consistent strikes that the pink gulps were the preferred bait.  

Connor was the first to get on the board with a nice 12" flounder.  I followed with my first ever cutlassfish.  A cutlassfish is an eel like creature with a toothy mouth and a blue silvery body.  It is a delicacy in some countries, but those are probably the same countries where they eat crustaceans while still in the shell.  

I caught another undersized flounder that hit hard but proved too small for the plate.  Not to be outdone, Connor caught his own cutlassfish.  Audrey proudly led the way with the most hits and half eaten gulps.  Can't wait to take this party out again to land the keepers!

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Southern Appalachian Trout - Late Entry- June 3 2022

 While the rest of the trout world is in full bloom by the first week in June, the approaching summer solstice heralds the end of ethical trout fishing in Northern Georgia.  I was lucky enough to finally take Sam Harris (my fellow squadron mate, Redwolf, and good friend) up on his generous offer to chase southern trout at his cabin in Ellijay, GA.  The stories he has shared over the years of monster rainbows did not disappoint.  

Sam's cabin lies just outside of town in a community of log homes that lie on or near the Cartecay river.  The cabin has a commanding view of the water which from our perch on his deck and while wading looked and felt like a western river.  There were plenty of deep holes, strong flows, and slippery bottoms that required the angler to carefully plan each step to get into position.  

Joining the fishing party was Ralph Cacci, another fine Redwolf brother and a novice fly angler. Before we pursued fish, we took a leisurely tubing trip down the river.  The meandering river revealed several nice runs, riffles, and pockets for trout while giving us some time to enjoy a Perdomo floating downstream.

Once we returned to the cabin, it was time to find the fish.  Sam gave me some key tips, not the least of which was recommending a stone fly.  Like the good host and guide, he then spent the bulk of his time reviewing fly fishing basics with Ralph.  Ralph, always an overachiever, picked it up quickly and landed a nice rainbow in short order.  

I worked a seam on the far side of the river that looked promising with a stone fly tied to the tippet.  We knew there were countless fish within a stone's throw since trout in the dozens emerge twice daily to partake from a feeder mounted by the river's edge.  It didn't take long before the stone fly produced.  There are indeed large healthy rainbows in the Cartecay.  I landed my beauty after a good 10 minute fight and a couple of nice aerials.  A few others followed to round out the afternoon.

I can't thank Sam enough for the hospitality, the memories, and some incredible fishing.  I look forward to more big North Georgia trout fishing again next year.  

Mikey D Fishing highly recommends this fishery!  Be sure to take advantage of the 'bows before the water temps climb above 70 by mid-June each year! 

Tight Lines! 

Mikey D Fishing

Potter County Fishing Report, July 8: West Branch Tavern Fishing Academy Final Practicum

Graduated with honors.  Successful completion of all required elements without coaching or assistance: cast, hookup, net, and release.  

And a nice fish to boot....

Teach kids to fish, and they'll stay outside all day long....

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Potter County Fishing Report, 02 July: West Branch Tavern 4th of July Trout Tournament of Champions

 Exceptionally dry weather have left Fishing Creek low and warm.  So we called an audible and decided to hold a tournament of previous WBT 4th of July trout derby winners at Rainbow Paradise.

Our prior champions included Amy Coleman (2018.  Capt. DiPaola's protest over the results of the 2018 trout derby are still under review.), Lily Whitfield (co-winner in 2019 and 2020), and Elliot "Bearclaw" Felker (co-winner in 2019 and 2020, and winner of 2021 derby).  

The contest began at approximately 10:15 AM.  Weather was cool; upper 60s that warmed to the mid-70s when the tournament ended at 12:30.  Skies began cloudy from a front that moved through the night before and brough some much needed rain, but the sun began showing through around 11:00.  Water temp in the lake was in the upper 50s.

Rules for the tournament were fly fishing only, catch and release, and barbless hooks.  Things started out a bit slow, with the anglers slowly getting used to the conditions (of hundreds of trout meandering well within casting distance).  

Amy struck first with an 11-inch Rainbow, which for a while seemed like it might be the winner.

Things heated up quickly.  Amy brought a nice 15 inch Rainbow to the net.  Lily took the lead with a Rainbow of 17 inches, which Amy tied with her own 17-inch fish on an Orange Stimulator.

It looked like we would have co-winners, as Bearclaw was in danger of being shut out.  He was getting plenty of takes on his Hopper/Dropper rig, but just wasn't getting a decent hook set.  But, right as the tournament was coming to a close, the trout gods smiled, and Elliot landed what would be the tournament winner, a fat 20-inch Rainbow.

It was a spirited competition.  The anglers demonstrated proper fly-fishing etiquette, maintained a cordial spirit amongst themselves, cooperated at the net, attempted no acts of sabotage against their competitors, and released all fish unharmed back to the lake.  Hopefully we will see wetter conditions in 2023 and return to home waters for the next WBT trout derby.

But until then, congratulations to the 2022 West Branch Tavern Tournament of Champions winner.

Happy Independence Day!

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing