July 9 Snakehead Hunt M&G

[kevinfry]

May be in Canada July 9 fishing walleye....but if here I'll be at M&G with bells on.

[tufnik]

I have a 5-foot safety flag. Maybe I can stick an el-cheapo on top. Thanks for ideas.

[jffoley]

1/2" PVC fits inside a Scotty mini rod holder extender ( http://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Mini-Ro...7931980&sr=1-5). Using silicon (so not to make the connection permanent), 1/2 to 3/4 PVC adapters and one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Signal-Po...7931595&sr=8-1

I cut down the suction cup (now it's an overgrown washer!), drilled a hole for the SS bolt the light comes with in a 3/4" PVC cap and... viola! A stern light set up under $40!

[Yakfisher]

July 9 Meet and Greet

Took a trip up to Mattawomen Creek earlier today to check things out and it seems like a great place for the next Meet and Greet.The rental shop is small and no longer sells bait since their freezer broke... Not sure if this will be fixed before the MnG. The boat launch is decent and the kayak launch is nice also but getting the cart under the yak was rough in such tight spot. Also noticed that the parking lot closes at night so we would have to park along the road if we go out at night. No big deal as long as you have a cart.

I also talked to a couple guys with bass boats and they had all caught snakeheads about a mile north of the launch. Most of them had rigged frogs or perch when they caught them, which ranged anywhere from 4 lbs to 12. A couple of them said they should have had a snakehead tournament instead of a bass tournament. lol. Unfortunately, I was only out for about 45 mins before the lightning started so I had to call it a day.

The launch is really easy to get to once you're on the 210 but there were TONS of police along the way so speeders beware. Last count was 3 cars pulled over, 2 cars patrolling, and one unmarked car waiting in the emergency lane with it's hazards on... Shady.

Jffoley, Let me know if you head out there this week. I might try to make it out there myself. As far as lunch goes, There is a park with grills right next to the launch if anybody is interested in grilling up some lunch or maybe your catch.


Josh

[Yakfisher]

Map

Here's a map of where I went...

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...02411&t=h&z=19

[frettr00]

So I've never caught one of these before and read up on them a little. Is it correct that we're supposed to kill and/or eat any that we catch? They're said to be destructive to whatever ecosystem they establish themselves in.

[ictalurus]

I'm really looking forward to this one. In addition to the lures the other guys mentioned, I talked to a guy on the Occoquan that was jigging bass assassins and slaying the snakeheads. The habitat there is a bit different, though, so I'm not sure how that will work on the Mattawoman. I was planning on using spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jitterbugs, and maybe frogs, which I haven't used before.

[eastonkayaker]

Poll

Guys,

June M&G poll seemed to help with planning and choosing time to meet, added one for July, you can pick multiple answers

[jffoley]

Possible night fish? Never did this. Ok, what do I need? 3-ft pole with beacon?

Not night fishing. Sunset. Late afternoon/early evening. But, it'll be dark on the return trip to the launch.

[jffoley]

So I've never caught one of these before and read up on them a little. Is it correct that we're supposed to kill and/or eat any that we catch? They're said to be destructive to whatever ecosystem they establish themselves in.

Yep, gotta kill 'em. But you could win some $$:

http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/dnrnews/...011/041511.asp

[ronaultmtd]

Took a trip up to Mattawomen Creek earlier today to check things out and it seems like a great place for the next Meet and Greet.The rental shop is small and no longer sells bait since their freezer broke... Not sure if this will be fixed before the MnG. The boat launch is decent and the kayak launch is nice also but getting the cart under the yak was rough in such tight spot. Also noticed that the parking lot closes at night so we would have to park along the road if we go out at night. No big deal as long as you have a cart.

I also talked to a couple guys with bass boats and they had all caught snakeheads about a mile north of the launch. Most of them had rigged frogs or perch when they caught them, which ranged anywhere from 4 lbs to 12. A couple of them said they should have had a snakehead tournament instead of a bass tournament. lol. Unfortunately, I was only out for about 45 mins before the lightning started so I had to call it a day.

The launch is really easy to get to once you're on the 210 but there were TONS of police along the way so speeders beware. Last count was 3 cars pulled over, 2 cars patrolling, and one unmarked car waiting in the emergency lane with it's hazards on... Shady.

Jffoley, Let me know if you head out there this week. I might try to make it out there myself. As far as lunch goes, There is a park with grills right next to the launch if anybody is interested in grilling up some lunch or maybe your catch.


Josh

Ditto- I might tag along for some intel, as well

[jffoley]

I'm really looking forward to this one. In addition to the lures the other guys mentioned, I talked to a guy on the Occoquan that was jigging bass assassins and slaying the snakeheads. The habitat there is a bit different, though, so I'm not sure how that will work on the Mattawoman. I was planning on using spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jitterbugs, and maybe frogs, which I haven't used before.

I caught a snakehead on a Rapala crankbait in this creek. For big LM bass frogs are very effective. Pop, let it lay there. Pop, let it be, repeat... Big ones in that creek. All the way to the headwaters. That's a long ways, though. Not sure we'll make it that far.

[Redfish12]

I'm supposed to be at a BBQ that day but I am going to sneak away and try to get there for the last of the incoming and start of the outgoing. I probably need to be off the water by two, so I think you guys will have much better fishing than me. What's the license req?

[jffoley]

Took a trip up to Mattawomen Creek earlier today to check things out and it seems like a great place for the next Meet and Greet.The rental shop is small and no longer sells bait since their freezer broke... Not sure if this will be fixed before the MnG. The boat launch is decent and the kayak launch is nice also but getting the cart under the yak was rough in such tight spot. Also noticed that the parking lot closes at night so we would have to park along the road if we go out at night. No big deal as long as you have a cart.

I also talked to a couple guys with bass boats and they had all caught snakeheads about a mile north of the launch. Most of them had rigged frogs or perch when they caught them, which ranged anywhere from 4 lbs to 12. A couple of them said they should have had a snakehead tournament instead of a bass tournament. lol. Unfortunately, I was only out for about 45 mins before the lightning started so I had to call it a day.

The launch is really easy to get to once you're on the 210 but there were TONS of police along the way so speeders beware. Last count was 3 cars pulled over, 2 cars patrolling, and one unmarked car waiting in the emergency lane with it's hazards on... Shady.

Jffoley, Let me know if you head out there this week. I might try to make it out there myself. As far as lunch goes, There is a park with grills right next to the launch if anybody is interested in grilling up some lunch or maybe your catch.


Josh

Good intel, Josh! That's the place. Tide is incoming this week. I prefer outgoing so the end of next week looks better. That's not to say you won't catch but with a falling tide there's less water to cover. On a high tide a lot of fish seem to be way back in cover. And there's lots of that!

We can also try our side of the river. Areas around Dyke Marsh, Belle Haven, the creek near Mount Vernon and Pohick Bay all probably hold snakehead.

[jffoley]

I'm supposed to be at a BBQ that day but I am going to sneak away and try to get there for the last of the incoming and start of the outgoing. I probably need to be off the water by two, so I think you guys will have much better fishing than me. What's the license req?

It's tidal so a VA saltwater license is valid. BUT, in reading about it this year VA residents with a VA saltwater license must register with MD!

http://dnr.maryland.gov/swregistry.asp

You're gonna miss the "golden hour" of sunset.