Spring is springing

[ronaultmtd]

MD DNR is stocking the "put and take" Rainbow Trout...I always tuneup by a couple of ultra light c&r trips to these stockings..getting prepped for 2021, the COVID deaths of a half million Americans really is depression on a unimaginable scale on the national psyche, but hope springs eternal...Seeing the huge fish kills on the Gulf Coasts is depressing all by itself, but our region seems to have had minor fish kills due to the more gradual water cooling allowing the fish time to migrate to deeper warmer waters. So against that backdrop of all that "gloom and doom"...the bright side is warmer, dry weather on the horizon prompting a rise in our spirits...Water temperatures take longer to warm than the air, so caution must be exercised in dressing for kayaking cold waters. Drysuits are incredibly uncomfortable, expensive and restrictive to movements for us older less fit individuals. I will wait out the weather until the water temps are in the upper 40's before donning my waders and dry top...Water temperatures in the fifties are still life threatening, but with my dry top and waders, gives me enough confidence to fish protected waters for blue catfish.

In preparation for this season, I have been keeping an eye out for fishing accessories on EBay and the Internet...picked up a new Kokatat PFD, Bulk purchase of Deathgrip jigheads, a pair of Aqua Lung 5mm Dive boots, and Columbia fishing clothes on clearance prices...still waiting on notification that my choice of a deck cooler bag from Academy Sports will be back in stock, but otherwise nothing left on my list...kayak and its electronics are in tiptop shape, don't need anything- (that I know of)

[thedutchtouch]

I'm hoping to take my kids to a local lake in a little bit to see if we can catch a few of those put and take trout, we shall see, but agreed, the warming weather will hopefully being good things and more outdoor time with it soon.

[thedutchtouch]

my 5 yo caught her first trout today. no other fish came by to play in the ~45 min we were there but it was a good time and she's looking forward to having it for dinner tomorrow.

[Nicole]

I’m excited for this season! I will be moving to the Eastern shore and there is a pond near my home that I am looking forward to fishing to start with. There are so many options to explore. I’m considering purchasing a new set up for trout fishing specifically but haven’t made that decision yet. Otherwise I am stocked!


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[Mark]

The saying, "hope springs eternal" actually has nothing to do with spring. But it's certainly appropriate for anglers at this time of year. We're all encouraged by the changing season and the good times on the water that lie ahead. Add my name to the list with Ron, Justin, Justin's daughter, and Nicole. Good luck to all.

[ronaultmtd]

Old dogs...turn 75 in a week...but I am not set in my fishing ways...You can learn something new to you...or remember an old tactic that worked but long gone un-used...this year I plan on using several different tactics for blue catfish...back in my younger days we used to drift baits for flounder using light sinker weights just touching the bottom to avoid hangups...a takeoff of this is the long plastic covered drag weights and the Santee-Cooper float rigs...Works pretty well in light current of under one mph, but not in fast currents...suspended baits on Carolina rigs works well so long as the depth stays fairly uniform so you don't have constant changing the rigs depth...anchoring works...but limits you to one area...some combination of these techniques enhances your opportunities to put a bait in front of a willing fish...

[Mark]

Ron,

I thought you were going to mention the Pennzoil catfish method.

Years ago, I fished in Strom Thurmond/Clarks Hill Reservoir on the border of GA and SC. We turned into a cove and there were a dozen or so yellow Pennzoil containers floating around us. I thought someone had turned the cove into a dump after a massive oil change. The guide informed me that those oil containers were catfish rigs each with a baited hook underneath.

Also, I recall seeing lines tied to tree branches that overhung the water. Catfishing is a 24/7 endeavor down south.

Anyway, this year I am going to do more dropper fishing on the fly for white perch. I met a gentleman on the Severn last year using this method. He was catching one after another on a very small fly under a bobber. He allowed me to cast jig spinners nearby which the fish ignored while they gorged themselves on his tiny fly. We're never too old to learn new fishing methods. It's having the willpower to actually try them, to deviate from we're used to doing, that's the difficult part.

[ronaultmtd]

That is Jug fishing...Back home we use plastic milk jugs instead of Pennzoil jugs...Trot lines, limb lines, yo-you spring lines...on the jugs we use reflective tape to shine a light on them at night to see if they are moving...many states have restrictive DNR rules on unattended trout lines, jug fishing...Some have outlawed Yo-yos entirely...check the regs before you fish!