St. Mary’s Lake 4/12

[Big Mike]

Been a long winter so decided on a shakedown cruise at SML. Already knew my fish finder was toast and hoped I wouldn’t find any other surprises. Launched at 9:30 and winds were kicking up, kept me from Fishing my preferred bank. Threw a big paddletail over the side as I headed up to the shallow upper lake. Picked up this pickerel along the way.


Switched to several different baits, small crank, tube bait, but the only thing they were hitting was my curly tail grub. Caught two more pickerel and one lonely bass in 2 1/2 hours of fishing. Wind made it really hard to present a bait unless you were tight to the bank. Fish came from 4-5’ of water with nothing from the shoreline. Did miss at least a half dozen short bites. Got home and heard a new squeak in my trailer. Dropping it off for a bearing check and grease job. Did that job once, I’ll pay the man for his time.



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[Mark]

Nice catches.

A DNR rep told me last fall that their survey indicated a very healthy population of pickerel in St. Mary's Lake.

I had questioned the prevailing scarcity of pickerel in tidal water. He said head to St. Mary's if you want to catch them.

[mchottie]

You picked a good day, Air Temp here near BWI are about 75*

[Big Mike]

Nice catches.

A DNR rep told me last fall that their survey indicated a very healthy population of pickerel in St. Mary's Lake.

I had questioned the prevailing scarcity of pickerel in tidal water. He said head to St. Mary's if you want to catch them.

You have to try real hard not to catch pickerel these days. I think they might be the most prevalent predator species in the lake.

[Mark]

I got a couple yesterday on the fly in Smithville Lake.

Here's one:

P1030486.jpg

But the bite was off. They were not aggressive.

I sure hope they return to their former tidal locations.

[bunnielab]

Nice catches.

A DNR rep told me last fall that their survey indicated a very healthy population of pickerel in St. Mary's Lake.

I had questioned the prevailing scarcity of pickerel in tidal water. He said head to St. Mary's if you want to catch them.

I noticed that this winter as well. I got a bunch one day when I was hiking down there, including this big boy;

[Mark]

Nice fish!

[mike o]

I noticed that this winter as well. I got a bunch one day when I was hiking down there, including this big boy;

Nice, how big was it?

[bunnielab]

Somewhere between 12" and "oh man he might break my rod" is about all the measurement I managed to get. I caught him on a little 5'4" mag-light rod and it was bent further then I thought possible without it snapping. I am long-arming him a bit, that is a 6" pair of fishgrips I am holding him with.