2017 Trout Season Opening Day Weekend in "God's Country"

Normally opening day up on the "high lonesome" is cold and rainy.  This year provided a nice change.  Above seasonal temps had the trees in bloom a couple of weeks early, the peepers croaking for mates, and the streams full of trout.

Joining me this opening day was long time friend John Hupp.  John arrived Thursday evening in time for bourbon and cigars on the deck.  While a bit frosty, the patio heater provided exterior warmth to complement the Jefferson's warming the insides.

Since the stocked trout waters in the county were not open to fishing until Saturday, on Friday morning after breakfast we headed out to fish the delayed harvest section of the Allegheny River, just above Coudersport.  Air temps were in the 40s, but throughout the day warmed into the upper 60s.  The upper Allegheny looks like a normal small freestone PA stream.  We started the day fishing nymphs to no avail.  I then tied on a wooly bugger and fished a narrow section of the stream.  As the trees prevented casting, I instead let the current take the bugger downstream, then paused and twitch-stripped it back.  On nearly every cast a trout would take a swipe at the bugger, many times I could see the fish coming up for the take.  A very profitable 30-40 minutes brought 7 Rainbows to the hand, all in the 10-12 inch range.

By the early afternoon we noticed caddis and mayflies coming off the water, and it wasn't too long before trout started rising to the flies.  John had his dry fly game on, landing three on a 16 Parachute Adams, while I manged another Rainbow and a Brownie on the same.

Having had a solid day, we headed back to "the lodge" via Mosch's Tavern and enjoyed some wings and beer to celebrate our victory over the trout before dinner another round or two of JEffersons, and a great Penguins' victory over the Blue Jackets.

Saturday morning marked the trout opener for Potter County.  For most anglers the day is more like a social event.  And if you fish the bigger waters, you're going to enjoy the company of anglers standing elbow to elbow.  We decided instead to spend a couple of hours on the west branch of Fishing Creek, a section of which runs along the back of the property.  We started at a neighbor's house upstream a few hundred yards, and fished our way down to the property.  Air temps again reached into the upper 60s, yet the water remained cold, probably in the upper 40s.  That and the sunny skies probably kept the trout down, as we managed only a couple of fish.  On the up side, we only saw three other anglers on the stretch, and engaged in the normal fishing repartee with them.

John having departed late Saturday morning, I waited until the early evening to hit the stretch behind the house.  Fellow fly angler Bob Volkmar showed up with his Black Lab "Blue" and we fished a couple of holes before retiring to the deck for a couple of Rte 4 IPAs before dinner.

Mary had arrived Saturday morning, so the game plan on Sunday was to check out "Knaub Creek," or rather the Genessee Forks that runs through his property.  Unfortunately, chores and weather conspired to keep us off the water. No matter, the trout will still be there when we get back to the cabin next week.

We could have spent more time on the water, I guess, but then we caught a decent number of trout for the time we were on the water.  The season is young, though, with many miles of stream to explore, and many trout yet to bring to the net.

Tight Lines,
Mikey D Fishing

Ops Check Complete - Mikey D Fishing Ready for 2017!

Spring is here, temperatures rising, fish are moving and Mikey D Fishing is underway for 2017!



                                                 

Before Capt C.C. headed to PA for the opening day of trout season, we took advantage of warm, dry spring weather to launch Mikey D Fishing.   Time has taught us to go slow, be deliberate, and keep expectations in check on the first day to avoid disappointment and disaster. Prior to departure we inventoried all of our fishing and safety gear.   At the dock we took the time to check lighting, navigation, and propulsion.  Of course we had to make sure we left ample time to wet a couple of lines once we departed the ramp at Sandy Point State Park.  Though we are open to a variety of tactics and techniques, we have not invested any significant time trolling over the past three seasons.  Early season is often the time to troll, so we trailed a spreader with hookless metal spoons and two sassy shad jigs.  Water in the mid bay was clear (though perhaps not as clear as this time last year due to recent rains), air temps in the mid 70s with bay temperatures between 58 - 60 degrees.  There was a slight 5 kt breeze from the west on an incoming tide.  Seas were near calm.  A couple of hits was all the rig produced on this our first outing of the season, but it was by any reasonable measure a successful day of prepping, checking, launching, and landing.  Now it is on to April 15th and the official start of the trophy season!

Delayed Report: NE Florida Fishing Report, 09-11 April 2017

It's been a pretty quiet 2017 for the Mikey D Fishing team.  Fortunately, the fishing drought was broken last week.  Perhaps fortuitous that the 2017 Society for Military History's annual symposium was in Jacksonville, providing the opportunity to take advantage of the unseasonable warm spring to spend a few days on the water with "budding" guide, former squadron mate and long time friend Curt Toomer.

First, a note of caution ... Sunday afternoons are not the ideal time to put a boat in the water.  The limited number of ramps, made more difficult by weekend boating "gentry," makes parking a rarity.  Fortunately, we were able to get on the water around 2:00 in the afternoon.  Fished some creeks north of Mayport.  Temps were in the upper 70s, low 80s, water temps in the upper 60s.  Fishing with live shrimp, mud minnows, and soft plastics, we only brought one redfish (a three-spotter, though) and two bluefish to the boat.  An inauspicious beginning, but chalked up by a mid afternoon start.

Monday turned out to be a much better day.  Joining us was Curt's friend and inshore expert Kenny Richards.  We headed out from the dock in Curt's 15 foot Maverick skiff around 0900 or so and proceeded south to fish San Pablo Creek.  The morning was partly cloudy with temps again in the upper 70s, and water temps starting around 68 degrees, rising into the low 70s by the time we headed back.   San Pablo creek was your typical tidal creek branching out from the intracoastal.  No more than 100 feet at its widest, surrounded by tall grasses, and the home to at least one 8 foot gator, which slid into the water as we rounded a bend in the creek.

Today was about catching.  Almost immediately the snapper bite was on.  We boated 21, with two keepers, and probably twice that many having chewed off our shrimp and mud minnow baits before a hook could be set.  Included in the day's catch were two amberjacks, three redfish (Kenny boating the only keeper), and Curt's keeper flounder.  Unfortunately, a nasty front was forecast to roll in late in the afternoon before we could complete the North Florida Slam with a seatrout.  So, discretion being the better part of valor, we headed back up the creek, fished the grasses around a local marina (Curt nailing a red on his first cast) for a bit, then got off the water just as the rain was starting to fall.  The rest of the day was spent cleaning our catch for a splendid fish taco meal, courtesy of Curt's lovely bride Michele, who has graciously put up with our fishing and late night bourbon swilling for quite some time.

One of my rules of fishing is that you need to schedule three days of fishing to get one good day in. Tuesday bore out that maxim, as the front moved in overnight, with thunderstorms, wind, and heavy rains that didn't clear out until the late afternoon.  So instead we headed out to Black Fly fly shop, which has a restaurant, The Taproom," attached.  Enjoying a fried cobia sandwich and an IPA while watching episodes of "Silver Kings" on the bar TV was a pretty decent audible.

In all another great trip to the Bold New City of the South, and a nice way to kick off the 2017 fishing season.  With opening day of trout and trophy striper seasons just around the corner, time to dust off the fly rods, make sure the waders don't leak, and get out on the water!

Tight Lines,
Mike D Fishing

A Little Brownie Love on Valentine's Day

It's been somewhat of a strange winter up here in Potter County.  The weather has bounced from snow and sub-freezing temps to warms ups with rain and melt off, followed by more snow and cold temps, then repeat.  Today marked the latest warm up in the cycle.  On the good side, the west branch of fishing creek is up and moving a lot of water.  The current has pushed most of the debris (including most of the beaver condo on the lower section of our stream) out.  The locals tell me they haven't seen the creek in this good a shape in awhile, hopefully a harbinger for the upcoming trout season.

I've tossed a spinner a couple of times earlier this year, with no luck.  Today temps were again in the 40s, with sunny skies.  So it seemed a good opportunity to get out, get a little vitamin D in my system, and try once again for my first fish of 2017.  Walked down to the "honey hole" to try my luck.  Water was moving, but the far side of the hole was fairly calm.  Tossed a spinner fly (looks like a golden stone fly with a gold spinner in front) into the calm water, and slowly retrieved the spinner.  Within a couple of cranks a dark figure emerged from the green water and chomped down on the spinner.  A couple of turns later and a nice 15 inch Brown came to the bank!

After releasing the fish I went downstream to the other open stretch.  Got one to chase the spinner, but the trout must have seen me as it neared the bank and took off.  Hit a few other spots on the property with no luck.  But a good number of fishy spots that should be productive when we get more consistent conditions.

Unfortunately, no photos, as I was a bit skeptical of my chances.  But it was great seeing fish in the stream, feeling the first tug for the year, and finally getting the blog going again.

Spring is around the corner!  Time to replace line, reload the fly box and get ready.

Tight lines.  Mikey D Fishing

08 November Fishing Report - Quick Solo Shot on the Bay

Just a quick report from this morning.

Time: 0700-1000

Weather - Around 38 degrees at 0700, clear skies, slight breeze, seas calm, water temp 57 degrees.  Incoming tide.  Air temps warmed into the hight 50s by mid-morning. 

Location - Whitehall Bay

Tackle - Silver Castmaster and Blue/silver Gotcha jigs.

Report - With Captain DiPaola otherwise occupied, I decided it was too nice of a day to not be on the water, if only for a couple of hours.  Cleared the last marker into Whitehall Bay at 0715 ... no bird activity ... drove around until I marked fish.  Picked up a 19 1/2 incher right away.  Within the next 20 minutes picked up a 20 inch keeper.  Fish were holding in about 13-16 feet of water.

No more action until around 0830 when the terns and gulls started to work the surface.  Chased birds for the next hour.  Boated a 22 inch keeper and later a 16 incher that literally hit my "Gotcha" jig at the boat.  A little surface activity, but could only get one fish to chase my surface plug.

Bit of a challenge landing a 20-plus inch Striper by yourself.  Then again, not a bad problem to have....

Tight lines,
Mikey D Fishing

Northeast Florida Fishing Report, 03-05 November: Connective Tissue

Last Thursday morning, as we were hanging out in gate area awaiting our flight to Jacksonville, I came across an acquaintance that I happened to know through another friend.  I reintro'd myself and mentioned our common friend, to which the USNA Class of 79er replied, "oh yeah, there's the connective tissue."

The conversation didn't last long, which was okay by me.  And I didn't think much of his comment at the time, because we had a plane to board and fish to catch.  So on the plane we went with other USNA glitterati and fans heading to Jacksonville for the Navy-Notre Dame game.  A couple of hours later we were on our way to Palm Harbor Marina to meet Curt Toomer, former squadron mate, long time friend and fishing companion, and our captain for three days on the Intracoastal Waterway in search of Redfish and Sea Trout.

We arrived at the marina around 1130, and soon after that we were underway in his 18 foot Maverick skiff, a perfect boat for the intra coastal.  The strategy for the trip was basically running to spots Curt had already scouted days before which were holding Reds and Trout.  Tactics were equally simple.  Tackle was for the most part spinning gear, tossing live shrimp, mud minnows, or soft plastics off grass points or up against the grass banks.

The weather on Thursday was as good as it gets.  Temps in the upper 70s, an occasional overcast, light breeze, and water temps in the 70s.  The only thing interrupting the solitude was the "sounds of freedom" from the Blue Angels, who were flying around practicing for air shows on Saturday and Sunday.

But it was easy to ignore the pilots in blue spandex, especially when you're tying into fish.  Thursday afternoon turned out to be the best day of the trip, numbers-wise.  We brought at least 20-24 fish to the boat; Reds, Trout, Mangrove Snapper, and a nice Bluefish that spit the jig head right at the boat.

Included in the catch was one keeper Red of about 20 inches, and 5 Trout, enough fillets to feed the clan, with a little to spare for a hanger on at the cleaning table.

The plan for Friday morning was the same as Thursday.  Only problem was the frontal system that moved through about noon.  While we kept fishing throughout the afternoon, the 20-25 knot winds kept us limited to protected parts of the intra coastal.  Despite the conditions, we continued to catch fish, including a nice 23 inch Red and 16 inch Trout.



With the winds forecast to continue through Saturday, our game plan for the last day of the outing was to head south and fish around the docks down in Ponte Vedra.  We hit a creek bend on the way down, and managed to catch a few trout and snapper, and one keeper Black Drum.  With the wind blowing a good 20 knots,m though, we motored south to calmer waters.  On the way down Captain DiPaola managed to tie into a big Red moving along a grass bank.  But his shouts of "I got this" went sour when the fish broke him off, disappointing, but also a rush watching him fight the fish.  We moved down further south.  But, while the trees and houses did block the wind, there wasn't much in the way of catching.  So we ziggied back up to the spot where we had started fishing, and battled the 20-25 knot winds to catch Snapper after another.  This last stop, though, also tuned out to sweet revenge for Captain DiPaola, who managed to catch his Redfish for the trip with a Berkley Gulp shrimp pattern off a grass bank, a feat given the conditions.

As we offloaded Curt's boat Saturday afternoon, one of the employees at the marina, who is a big time fisherman, described us as "animals" for being out in these conditions.  He was right that the conditions for the most part weren't ideal.  But you can't plan the weather.  And while we didn't put as many fish in the cooler as we'd liked, we still boated some nice Reds and Trout.  Most of all, we enjoyed the time spent together.  We've known each other, and fished together, for over twenty years.  Our Navy careers brought us together, but spending time on the water has provided that "connective tissue" that has nurtured a friendship going back over two decades.

Many thanks to Captain Curt Toomer for his guiding prowess.  And a special shout out to his lovely wife Michele, who was the most gracious of hosts.

Tight lines,
Mikey D Fishing

October 27-30 Fishing Report: "Inches Matter!"

     The solar-lunar calendar for the end of October pointed to several days of excellent fishing.   What the calendar could not predict was the weather.  Having three trips scheduled for the last weekend of the month, Captains DiPaola and Felker headed out on Thursday to check out the conditions and perhaps bring home a fish or two.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get too far into Whitehall Bay before it became obvious that this outing was going to be a bust.  An approaching front kicked up the winds from the east at 20 kts or better.  Seas were around 2-3 feet when we set out, worsening over the next couple of hours to 3-4 feet.  While the rain held off, temps were in the high 40s, maybe low 50s, which made for lousy boating.  So after a brief run up to the Severn River, with conditions no better there, we made a laborious run back to the dock.

     The weather for Friday looked more promising.  The front had passed through over the night, leaving clear skies when we left the dock around 0800.  Winds were still up, around 15 kts or better, but now coming from the west, putting the swells in Whitehall Bay at no more than 2 feet or so.  Water temps were in the high 50s; eminently fishable.  Joining us on the first of the three day blitz was Vice Admiral (retired) Paul Bushong, Captain Felker’s company mate and roommate while at USNA.  To say the least the pressure was on a bit, not just because of our guest, but also because it had been a few weeks since we’d last hit the bay. 

     Despite conditions being on the edge of ideal, the Mikey D Fishing team held its own.  As Whitehall Bay was quiet, we decided to head up to the Severn.  While we marked a lot of fish, the bite was not on.  So around 0930 we decided to head back to Whitehall Bay.  Turned out to be a fortuitous decision.   It seems that the key to success at this time of year is a combination of technology and nature; keeping an eye on the Lowrance to mark fish, while keeping the other eye peeled for terns and gulls working the surface.  As we exited the mouth of the Severn, nature took the lead.  The sky was filled with birds.  And while the winds and waves made top-water action impossible, it did provide enough drift to bounce metal stick jigs off the bottom without having to constantly retrieve.  We also picked up an interesting double, with Paul hooking up while trolling, and me following up casting a jig to the same area.

 

 

 

 

 

 





     Saturday brought improving weather and fishing.  This morning long time friend John Hupp joined us.  As we entered Whitehall Bay around 0830 it was obvious that the fishing was going to improve, as we immediately spotted birds working the surface as we exited the channel.  Within a few minutes we were set up on the school, and with the first cast a 20 inch keeper came to the boat.  What’s amazing about fishing conditions during this time of year is how fast the fish school up, only to spread out within minutes.  Key to this is seeing the birds stop working.  Doesn’t mean the fish aren’t there; they’ve just gone to the bottom or spread out until it’s time to hit the bait balls again.  So we’d dashed about after birds working the surface.  And when the birds stopped, we’d put the boat in the shallows and let the wind push us into the channel, bouncing jigs as we drifted along.  Again, we only brought one fish home.  But the action was fairly consistent throughout the day catching 16-19 inch fish …. Including a 12 inch Flounder!

                                            

     It seems a reasonable fishing rule of thumb to plan a three day trip to get at least one day of fishing.   The forecast for Saturday showed continued improving conditions; clear skies, highs in the 70s, and 5-10 knot winds.  Having sensed that we missed most of the morning bite on Saturday, the Mikey D team planned on leaving the dock well before the sun came up.  With us for the final trip of the month were friends and fellow Navy tailgaters Mike Shina and Bery Edmonston.  We loaded the boat and got underway around 0630 or so, the sun not coming up for another 30-45 minutes.  We slowly moved through Burley Creek and into the channel that empties into Whitehall Bay.  For the next couple of hours we trolled or stopped to jig on marked fish.  Conditions were pretty calm, very comfortable temps.  Birds were starting to wake up, but had yet to begin their scouting for us. 

     By around a quarter to nine, however, the birds got frisky and the game was on.  For the next two hours it was lights out action.  And with the seas at less than a foot or so, the Mikey D team used all of its arsenal to bring fish to the boat.  Stick jigs were the most reliable.  But a close second were top water plugs, with fish chasing and hitting them right at the boat.  We even got to break out the fly rods (challenging when you have four anglers on a 21 foot boat) and took fish on chartreuse Clouser Minnows (Joe’s first keeper Rock on a fly) and poppers.   I candidly don’t know how many fish we caught, as double and triple hook ups were persistent throughout the blitz,  but we put our limit in the cooler, a first for Mikey D Fishing.               

     Perhaps the highlight of the day was a bit of inter-boat cooperation.  Showing up during the blitz in his new Sea Hunt was Mark Ponicsan, long time friend, former White House colleague, and fellow Navy football tailgater.  Seeing that he arrived without fishing gear during a major bite seemed a sin, so we waved Mark over, handed him a rigged rod, gave him a some jigging tips, and pointed him to the fish. (Which wasn’t hard, since we were surrounded by them).  Within a few minutes we heard the yell and looked over to see his rod bent over.  Unfortunately, we did not give him our net or some pliers, complicating things a bit.  But he pull the fish onboard (without breaking the rod … whew!), and boated a nice 20 inch fish.

          Even though it’s fall, the Striper action should continue well into  November and even December, if the weather cooperates. (Just remember to keep some Devil’s Backbone Striped Bass Pale Ale in the cooler and country music on the stereo.  Sorry Mike, but Rockfish don’t seem to care for 80s rock!)  That’ll have to wait for a week or so, as the Mikey D team heads for warmer climes.  While Navy battles Notre Dame in Jacksonville Florida this weekend, we’ll be a few miles away, battling  Redfish and Sea Trout on the Intercoastal Waterway, courtesy of Captain Curt Toomer.  Stay tuned.

Mikey D Fishing