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We have certainly had rotten weather recently.
Snaggedline fishing reports always slow down at this time of year but typically we'd have some postings from those venturing south or tales from pickerel chasers in local waters.
I'm sometimes a member of the former group but more often a member of the latter. I haven't traveled out-of-state to fish since September and our rainy days and high winds this past week have kept me off local Esox trail. The forecast suggests our rain is ending soon but we're going to have some very cold nights in the days to come. I've already seen skim ice at Beachwood Park on the Magothy. More is sure to be on the way. And of course, we have Christmas coming in 8 days and 2020 in 15. I'm wondering now, if I'll get out at all again in 2019. I hope I can.
One accomplishment this year is that I managed to catch fish locally in my kayak every month of 2019. I think that was a first for me. As you might expect, pickerel bookended my catches beginning last January and ending on 6 December of this year, my last outing. That's about the only positive in what has been an otherwise unremarkable kayak fishing year for me caused by the general dearth of legal stripers and personal obligations which kept me off the water more than usual.
So what to do for the remainder of 2019.
Like many I have my share of Holiday chores but I did find time to tie a few articulated pickerel flies last week:
Pick Flies.jpg
They have no formal name. They look like nothing that swims and match no hatch. But I know from experience that they work. Pickerel are not discriminating which is why I like fishing for them so much. They're active when other fish we pursue are dormant and they respond well to flies.
I service my gear during the year. No maintenance is needed now. My rods and reels are stored in my garage at the ready along with my kayaks. I simply grab and go when weather and time allow.
So I wait for an opportunity to paddle and cast again which may not happen until 2020.
How about you? If you're not able to fish, what fishing related activities do you pursue?
Finally, I hope everyone on this forum has a festive end to their year celebrating the season with family, friends, good cheer and tight lines in the weeks and months to come.
Snaggedline fishing reports always slow down at this time of year but typically we'd have some postings from those venturing south or tales from pickerel chasers in local waters.
I'm sometimes a member of the former group but more often a member of the latter. I haven't traveled out-of-state to fish since September and our rainy days and high winds this past week have kept me off local Esox trail. The forecast suggests our rain is ending soon but we're going to have some very cold nights in the days to come. I've already seen skim ice at Beachwood Park on the Magothy. More is sure to be on the way. And of course, we have Christmas coming in 8 days and 2020 in 15. I'm wondering now, if I'll get out at all again in 2019. I hope I can.
One accomplishment this year is that I managed to catch fish locally in my kayak every month of 2019. I think that was a first for me. As you might expect, pickerel bookended my catches beginning last January and ending on 6 December of this year, my last outing. That's about the only positive in what has been an otherwise unremarkable kayak fishing year for me caused by the general dearth of legal stripers and personal obligations which kept me off the water more than usual.
So what to do for the remainder of 2019.
Like many I have my share of Holiday chores but I did find time to tie a few articulated pickerel flies last week:
Pick Flies.jpg
They have no formal name. They look like nothing that swims and match no hatch. But I know from experience that they work. Pickerel are not discriminating which is why I like fishing for them so much. They're active when other fish we pursue are dormant and they respond well to flies.
I service my gear during the year. No maintenance is needed now. My rods and reels are stored in my garage at the ready along with my kayaks. I simply grab and go when weather and time allow.
So I wait for an opportunity to paddle and cast again which may not happen until 2020.
How about you? If you're not able to fish, what fishing related activities do you pursue?
Finally, I hope everyone on this forum has a festive end to their year celebrating the season with family, friends, good cheer and tight lines in the weeks and months to come.
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