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Some of you may know or have heard of Jay Fleming, a young local man who is a highly talented photographer. For the past few years, Jay has amazed many Tidalfish readers with his remarkable nature photography. Yesterday Jay put up a few photos he took of yellow perch spawn in the Magothy. You can see them at http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...pawn-pictures/ [those are the spectacular photos mentioned in the post title]
I was inspired by those photos and decided to head over to the headwaters of the South River, not far from my home. There is not a convenient public access point to this area. I typically park on the shoulder of Rt 450, lift my kayak over the guard rail, and launch my kayak into a drainage channel that leads out to the bridge. This area is really pretty and is situated at the transition point from several free-flowing freshwater streams to a broad tidal marsh with very shallow water depth, but deep sucking sediment (you do not want to get caught in the middle of the flats when the wind or tide draws down the water level).
I launched my kayak about 10:30 this morning. The water level was low, making navigation tough. I was able to paddle up two of the main freshwater tributaries that feed the broad flats. I saw lots of yellow perch egg masses hanging on submerged branches and debris. I attached a few photos of what I saw. [these are the ordinary photos] For those not familiar with yellow perch egg clusters, they are somewhat gauzy semi-transparent masses from a foot to several feet long. They get attached to submerged branches or debris. When water levels are very low, like today, parts of the masses can be exposed to the air.
I saw no evidence of active fish. Even though the water was quite shallow in the two streams and the flats area (< 1ft to 2 ft), I did not see a single pressure wake or splash of a fish moving away. I cast a tube jig and a live minnow for a few minutes with no takers.
After about an hour, the wind picked up blowing water out of the flats. I hurried back to the launch site to avoid getting stranded.
In early May, this area becomes the scene of massive carp orgy. I have timed my visits there several times to see thousands of fish writhing in shallow water as they do their mating. It is awe inspiring to see fish the size of my thigh splashing a paddle's length from my kayak as they scoot away after sensing my approach. I will report back in May when this is starting to happen. Anyone who can find the time to witness it will be impressed (note: I never caught a carp during these spawns -- I just enjoy seeing so many large fish in shallow water.).
I was inspired by those photos and decided to head over to the headwaters of the South River, not far from my home. There is not a convenient public access point to this area. I typically park on the shoulder of Rt 450, lift my kayak over the guard rail, and launch my kayak into a drainage channel that leads out to the bridge. This area is really pretty and is situated at the transition point from several free-flowing freshwater streams to a broad tidal marsh with very shallow water depth, but deep sucking sediment (you do not want to get caught in the middle of the flats when the wind or tide draws down the water level).
I launched my kayak about 10:30 this morning. The water level was low, making navigation tough. I was able to paddle up two of the main freshwater tributaries that feed the broad flats. I saw lots of yellow perch egg masses hanging on submerged branches and debris. I attached a few photos of what I saw. [these are the ordinary photos] For those not familiar with yellow perch egg clusters, they are somewhat gauzy semi-transparent masses from a foot to several feet long. They get attached to submerged branches or debris. When water levels are very low, like today, parts of the masses can be exposed to the air.
I saw no evidence of active fish. Even though the water was quite shallow in the two streams and the flats area (< 1ft to 2 ft), I did not see a single pressure wake or splash of a fish moving away. I cast a tube jig and a live minnow for a few minutes with no takers.
After about an hour, the wind picked up blowing water out of the flats. I hurried back to the launch site to avoid getting stranded.
In early May, this area becomes the scene of massive carp orgy. I have timed my visits there several times to see thousands of fish writhing in shallow water as they do their mating. It is awe inspiring to see fish the size of my thigh splashing a paddle's length from my kayak as they scoot away after sensing my approach. I will report back in May when this is starting to happen. Anyone who can find the time to witness it will be impressed (note: I never caught a carp during these spawns -- I just enjoy seeing so many large fish in shallow water.).
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