Cape Charles, VA Fishing Report, 16-18 November: More Please!

Conditions remained perfect for  wade-fishing.  Sunny to partly cloudy skies, air temps in the mid to upper 60s, calm winds, and clear water.

I headed back out Thursday about the same time as the day before to catch the outgoing tide.  Began casting out into the deeper water beyond the breaker, figuring the bite wouldn't turn on for an hour or so.  But after a few casts I heard noise back toward the beach.  I turned and noticed some commotion in the shallow water, like fish chasing bait.  Tossed my gold spoon into the area and BAM!  Hooked a solid Redfish.  But what happened after was truly impressive.  As I was reeling the fish in, I noticed the entire school was following along.  With the clear water I could see dozens of Reds, and as I worked the fish to me they just kept hanging around.  An angler in a small skiff nearby estimated the school at a hundred fish.  I released my fish, and proceeded to hook up on the next cast, another slot Red.  The guy in the skiff hooked up as well. Unfortunately, the treble on my spoon was all bent up, and by the time I managed to tie on a new spoon, the school had skee-daddled.

And so did the catching ... for awhile.  I had brought the 8 wt with me, and since things had quieted down I figured a few casts couldn't hurt, especially with no wind.  Started off just blind casting a white/chartreuse Enrico Puglisi baitfish pattern, and within a few casts found my self fighting and landing a decent 15 inch Red, first on the flyrod.

Was ready to call it, but kept casting for a bit more.  Then I saw disturbed water about 30 feet in front of me.  Put the fly in front of the boil and had a big Red eat and take me back and forth for about 5 minutes before he broke me off.  

Capt. DiPaola had cleared his Friday work calendar and rolled in to take advantage of the action.  For awhile it wasn't looking good.  Still sunny and warm, but the winds had picked up to about 10-15 kts.  For a couple of hours we just flailed away.  But checking Nautide, the forecast was for the winds to die down around 2:30 in the afernoon.  They did, and the bite turned on.  Fishing a gold spoon, and a popping cork with Berkley Gulps (nuclear chicken), we managed 14 Reds (3 at the upper end of the slot), and a small Flounder in about an hour and a half.  

Stringing together three great days on the water was a first.  So when we headed out Saturday morning, the pressure was off.  Which was a good thing.  Winds had shifted to the NW, and were still blowing a bit.  Still, we'd brought both fly and spin gear, and decided to give the long poles a try.  Low tide had been around 6:30 AM, so when we got out there about 8:45 the water was coming in fairly fast.  A lot of area to cover with a fly rod.  But like I said, the pressure was off.  And with the winds from the north, we looked like pros sending long casts down wind.

(Following two photos courtesy of Marina Pierce, a local photographer who was out taking pics of an eagle, and spotted us on the water)

                

And for the 4th day in a row the fish gods smiled on us.  Three Reds that went 15-18 inches, and surprisingly two Speckled Trout that went 20 and 24 inches.  All hooked in knee-deep water.

A phenomenal four days in an amazing fishery.  And some great video to boot!

Happy Thanksgiving, and Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Cape Charles, VA Fishing Report, November 15: Epic!

 You don't get many days like today.

It's been on the cool side since we got down to CC last week.  Temps in the mid to high 50s.  Water temps hovering around 60 degrees.  By this time the only fish that should be hanging around are the Speckled Trout.  Managed a few fish over the last few days, and a couple of keepers.  But overall kind of slow.

Today we enjoyed temps in the 60s with calm winds.  Went out to our usual spot near the mouth of Plantation Creek.  On the water around 1200.  Conditions were great.  Water was cool but the sun was out, and the water calm and aquarium clear.  Tide was heading out.

I've been fishing a Dyne XL in purple with a chartreuse belly, and have had reasonable success with the trout.  But for the first couple of hours all I was doing was casting.  A few baitfish popped the surface, but no bite.

About 2:00 I was ready to call it a day, but figured I'd toss the lure a couple more times.  That's when the magic began.  A fish slammed the lure; I knew it wasn't a trout.  Turned out to be a Red that easily went 26+ inches.  I looked out and saw Reds slashing the surface chasing bait.  A school that extended a couple of hundred feet.

A pleasant surprise, and for the next hour it was absolutely stupid.  The fish kept slamming the Dyne, eventually bending the trebles and finally bending the lure, rendering it unfishable.  I must have hooked and lost another 6 fish before the lure gave out.  Tied on a gold Clark's Spoon and kept hooking fish, until one broke me off at the leader-line connection.

I quickly tied on new leader, and decided to try a topwater.  It's really cool watching a trout hit a dry fly.  Even cooler is when a big Redfish hits a topwater.  It was my first action on top, and I managed to land three fish; an 18-incher and two that went 26+ inches.  I was actually tired fighting the last fish. A good problem to have.

Apologies, no photos, as I was alone and it's tough trying to get a shot while you're working to get a fish loose.  

Weather is forecase to continue to warm for the next few days.  Hoping today was not a one-off.  But if it was, I'll take it.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

West Branch Tavern Casting and Blasting Report, 23-29 October

 It was a busy week at the WBT last week.  On Monday, Bob Volkmar (AKA "The Trout Whisperer"), on an extended trip to PA, visited for a couple of days of WBT hospitality.  The weather was absolutely perfect; sunny skies and temps in the mid-60s to low 70s all week.  Very uncharacertistic for late October.  But then, given it could've been in the 30s with snow, I'll take it.

Along with fellow angler and neighbor Frank Weeks, we tried the Upper Allegheny delayed harvest section Monday afternoon.  Water was extremely skinny, and few fish moved.  While Frank and I got skunked, Bob picked up a couple of small wild Browns at the "Beaver Complex."

Since we had a full day of fishing available the next day, we decided to head to Kettle Creek, about an hour south of the WBT, in the hopes of finding some decent holding water.  Kettle is one of Pennsylvania's iconic freestone streams.  Known for its Green Drake hatches in the spring, the stream boasts an extensive catch-and-release fly-fishing only section.  More improtantly, it holds trout ... a lot of trout.

We parked at the bridge near the lower section of the C&R section around 11:00.  Water was low, but fish were rising under and upstream of the bridge parking lot.  While Bob and Frank moved upstream, I stuck to the adage that you don't leave fish to find fish.  Over the course of the day we all caught fish on a variety of flies; "Feggs," foam beetles, Stimulators, and Griffith's Gnats.  

Bob departed on Wednesday, and that afternoon Capt. DiPaola rolled in, the first of 5 former HSL-42 "Proud Warrior"" squadron mates arriving for our annual Man's Weekend.  The weather held firm over the next few days, allowing us to take advantage of the best of God's Country...

Fishing at the Pavilion Hole and the Kiddie Pool, which is still holding a lot of trout, including some of the Tiger Trout (now nicely colored up) that I stocked this summer:

Followed up by another great day on Kettle.  Gnats, beetles, and ants did the trick.  And we didn't move more than 50 feet from where we entered the stream:

The rest of the crew arrived Thursday and Friday, with outdoor activies set for Saturday.  Joe, Steve Malloy, and Jamie Pierce headed to God's Country Upland Preserve (https://www.gcupreserve.com/) for an upland Pheasant shoot.  Once again, owner Loren ("Fitz") Fitzgerald took great care of our crew.  Under the supervision of guides Eric Potter and Taylor Hand, and thanks to the superstars of the group, Colt and Ripper, the gents had a phenomenal day busting through the sorghum fields, going 10 for 10 on the birds.  Not bad for two first-time shooters!

While the hunt was on, I took Tom Cosgrove and Bill Flannigan to Rainbow Paradise (https://rainbowparadisetroutfarm.com/) for a Fly Fishing 101 course.  For newbies, it was a pretty decent outing.  By the time we left their casting was solid, and we enjoyed several hookups and a few fish brought to the net.

And plenty of comraderie, sea stories (helped by copious Old Fashions ... thanks Joe!!!), great meals, and shuffleboard:

Of course, none of this would have been possible without WBT President and CINCHOUSE Mary Felker, who's flies were not only very successful on the waters, but put together superb meals for the crew.  Thanks Babe!

A great weekend, and an important weekend.  Somehow we slipped from our devil-may-care days as 30-40 something year old lieutenants and lieutenant commanders, to retired senior-officer duffers heading to Medicare territory.  I'm not sure how it happened so quickly.  Doesn't really matter.  Because for a brief period we found ourselves "back in the day."  I don't thing we're ready to hit the senior citizens blue plate special just yet (although the 0030 and 0130 last calls this weekend put a bit of a hurt on me).  So we keep these going, enjoying bonds of friendship and comradeship that go back three decades.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Cape Charles Fishing Report: September Review

Fall is supposed to be the time to be fishing the lower Chesapeake.  All of the target species are feeding in anticipation of the departure south.

After a brief sojourn back to Potter County for jury selection (my first of 2 trials), I got back down to CC to see if the fall fishing is for real.

In sum, hard to tell.  Arrived a couple of days before Ophelia.  So only got a day and a half of good fishing weather.  

Then Ophelia moved in.  Lost three days on the water.  And while the storm left, remnants remained, so we've had overcast skies, breezy conditions, cooler than normal air temps, and higher than normal tides.  On the up side, the storm did not cloud up the water, and water temps were still comfortable enough for wet-wading.  (mid-to upper 60s.  I suspect waders are in the future).

Highlights of the last 10 days:

Wade fishing off Bay Creek is still producing.  Maybe not numbers, but decent-size fish, mixed in with a few "shorts."  Picked up several slot Reds, one 20-inch Flounder, and a 20+ inch Trout. (Flounder and Trout got away before I could get a shot)

Mary's first "Puppy Drum" (18-26 inches).  Unfortunately, it got off the Boga before I could get a shot,  But a solid 24-26 inch fish.

Put the Mikey D in the water for a few hours the day before Ophelia rolled in.  Fished around Plantation Creek.  One Flounder and a couple of Lizard Fish.

Brother Kelly rolled in for a couple of days, and picked up his first slot Red.

The normal set ups were working: soft plastics under popping corks (Z-Man Slam Shady jerk baits worked well, and last longer from the assaults of toothy critters), Berkley Gulps (in Nuclear Chicken, but get chewed up pretty quickly).  Recently added gold spoons to the mix, and they've proven extremely productive for Reds, Flounder, and Trout. (and don't get chewed up).

And while most of the fish were returned, we did keep a couple for a victory dinner....

Back to Potter County for another round of jury duty, but returning to CC in the middle of the week.  October and November are supposed to be great for Trout.  Hopefully the weather cooperates.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

West Branch Fishing Report: Fall is in the Air in God's Country

Highs in the upper 60s, lows in the high 30s to low 40s.

No need for a narrative.  Pics tell the story....

             

And a cooperative Rainbow

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Potter County Fishing Report, 10 September: When the Steelers stink up the room...

 Grab a fly rod, go outside ...

And maybe the fish gods will be kinder...

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Cape Charles Fishing Report, 26-30 August: Trust the Science

The last couple of reports focused on conditions that can make the difference between fishing and catching.  What's also important is a source that takes all that info into account and provides a reasonable forecast for fishing.

We normally refer to Tides4Fishing (https://tides4fishing.com/us/virginia/old-plantation-light) and Nautide (the T4F app).  It's almost information overload, but provides enough gouge to decide whether to hit the water (and when), or hang out at the bar.

Are the sites accurate?  Experience this weekend kind of points to it.  This past weekend Clare and Bery Edmonston hopped down from Annapolis to do a little wade fishing.  I checked the T4F site to get a sense of overall conditions.  The solunar activity indicated slow or poor fishing.  Weather conditions, though, were plenty good enough to wade around.

So we hit the water on Saturday and Sunday mornings to take advantage of the outgoing tide.  Saturday was a bit windy when we arrived, but the winds and waters calmed as the morning went on.  Water clarity was okay on Saturday, but excellent on Sunday.  A lot of baitfush in the water on both days.  We fished a variety of soft plastics under popping corks.  Total for both days was some undersized Reds and a couple of small trout.  Bery was the only angler to put a keeper in the bag with a 21.5" Red, which filetted up nicely.

And, when the saltwater fish aren't cooperating, there's always golf course pond bass to get some more action....

On Wednesday, Capt. DiPaola stopped by for an overnight while enroute from NC to Bethany Beach.  He finished his last meeting around 5:00 PM.  Too late to put the Mikey D in the water, but a short golf cart ride to get a couple of hours of wade-fishing in before dinner.  

The solunar calendar indicated better conditions.  Skies were overcast, but the water was completely flat.  Air temps in the low-80s.  We fished the incoming tide.  Not my preferred, but you get what you get.  We fished popping corks with Berkley Gulps (in Nuclear Chicken color) and Z-Man sented Shad (Slam Shady ... kind of an off white) baits.  Joe got us off the schneid.  On his third cast the cork disappeared, the rod bent, and the drag sang.  After a great fight he landed a nice 24-inch Red, then followed up a few cast later with a 14 inch Flounder.

While there was a lot of bait in the water over the weekend, it was nothing compared to yesterday.  Every time you popped the cork, a dozen baitfish would jump out of the water.  I put my Slam Shady in the right place and time, popped the cork, the baitfish jumped, and the cork went down.  Another great fight and another 24-inch Red to the bag.

High winds and rain today foiled our plan to put the boat in and explore some spots.  But, once the water calms down in a couple of days, the fishing should pick up.

Wading around is fun.  You see all the critters that inhabit the inshore waters. (Which is why wading boots are a must.  Some of those critters can put a hurt on you).  But the idea is to catch fish while enjoying nature.  So check the solunar calendar.  Worse comes to worse, a cigar and an adult beverage is not such a bad Plan B.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing