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I have been wanting to hit the sod banks around the Eastern Shore for the last week after Kimbro kept posting 30" fish from the "Shore Bite". I wasn't sure I wanted to be there for as short a window as getting out of work at 4pm would allow, but based on recent reports, I couldn't not go.
I have been anxious for a real top-water session for a long time. I have, in fact, had virtually no success in my prior attempts. I was hoping the conditions would prove to be as perfect as I anticipated. The water was 64 degree, the winds dead calm and the tide flooding
I went towards the mouth and started throwing a bone colored spook. I pick up a feisty 16"er from the first point, but was blanked for the next 20 minutes. I kept working the various points with no luck. I decided to head towards the shoreline that was shaded. Before I got there, I tossed the lure into the open water in the shadow created buy the low light and trees and grabbed a strong 19". I kept casting and got a couple of blow ups, without hookups.
As I was looking around on where to throw next, I saw fish of decent size working bait. I thought it was an isolated incident, but I kept watching. The kept rising. Then the birds moved in. By that time, I was paddling flat out to cover the 1/4 mile between them and me.
Upon arrival, the birds had disappeared and so had the surface activity. I cast out anyway and immediately hooked into another 19" and then a 21" and on and on it went. I was connecting on almost every cast. Those that didn't produce a fish, had blow ups or the lure getting slapped into the air. It was just like all those topwater bites I had read about and watch videos of. It was classic, and I was ecstatic with the action!
At the end of the day, I boated almost 25 fish in about 2 hours fishing, with the vast majority happening the first hour. There were only only a couple smaller than 19" and many 20" - 22". It was an epic night. The only thing that could have made it better was if a 30" had joined the fun, but I ain't complaining!!
I can't wait to do it again!!
I have been anxious for a real top-water session for a long time. I have, in fact, had virtually no success in my prior attempts. I was hoping the conditions would prove to be as perfect as I anticipated. The water was 64 degree, the winds dead calm and the tide flooding
I went towards the mouth and started throwing a bone colored spook. I pick up a feisty 16"er from the first point, but was blanked for the next 20 minutes. I kept working the various points with no luck. I decided to head towards the shoreline that was shaded. Before I got there, I tossed the lure into the open water in the shadow created buy the low light and trees and grabbed a strong 19". I kept casting and got a couple of blow ups, without hookups.
As I was looking around on where to throw next, I saw fish of decent size working bait. I thought it was an isolated incident, but I kept watching. The kept rising. Then the birds moved in. By that time, I was paddling flat out to cover the 1/4 mile between them and me.
Upon arrival, the birds had disappeared and so had the surface activity. I cast out anyway and immediately hooked into another 19" and then a 21" and on and on it went. I was connecting on almost every cast. Those that didn't produce a fish, had blow ups or the lure getting slapped into the air. It was just like all those topwater bites I had read about and watch videos of. It was classic, and I was ecstatic with the action!
At the end of the day, I boated almost 25 fish in about 2 hours fishing, with the vast majority happening the first hour. There were only only a couple smaller than 19" and many 20" - 22". It was an epic night. The only thing that could have made it better was if a 30" had joined the fun, but I ain't complaining!!
I can't wait to do it again!!
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