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I launched my kayak in Weems Creek (ramp shown below in the first photo) about noon and paddled out to the main river. I can't recall seeing the water this low before. I saw quite a few sailboats leaning over on the keels.
As I returned into Weems from the upriver side, the bar coming off the northern creek point extended out almost half way across the creek mouth -- it was less than 1 ft depth that far out, and I could not cut the corner even in my kayak. (see 3rd photo).
The 2-3 ft water level drop moved all the pickerel off of their normal hangouts. I ended up catching one gullible pickerel in Winchester Pond, where I have not fished before. I recall that aesiegel and ictalurus both struggled in that cove too. I cannot tell if my single fish there was a result of a lack of fish or the otherwise unfriendly fishing conditions today.
I then tried fishing in two other creeks where I have caught fish recently. I fished in many of the shoreline stretches that normally hold pickerel (these are also good perch spots in the warmer weather). In two hours of trying, I had two nibbles but no fish caught. I did take away an educational opportunity. Many of the pickerel I have caught this winter are hanging out on shallow shelves or flats between the shore and a drop off. The most productive of these have submerged branches and other wood. I was able to snap some photos showing the way the habitat looks (normally these shelves and flats are covered by 2-3 feet of water.
Photos 4 and 5 show a very small spot that predictably holds 1 or 2 pickerel.
As I returned into Weems from the upriver side, the bar coming off the northern creek point extended out almost half way across the creek mouth -- it was less than 1 ft depth that far out, and I could not cut the corner even in my kayak. (see 3rd photo).
The 2-3 ft water level drop moved all the pickerel off of their normal hangouts. I ended up catching one gullible pickerel in Winchester Pond, where I have not fished before. I recall that aesiegel and ictalurus both struggled in that cove too. I cannot tell if my single fish there was a result of a lack of fish or the otherwise unfriendly fishing conditions today.
I then tried fishing in two other creeks where I have caught fish recently. I fished in many of the shoreline stretches that normally hold pickerel (these are also good perch spots in the warmer weather). In two hours of trying, I had two nibbles but no fish caught. I did take away an educational opportunity. Many of the pickerel I have caught this winter are hanging out on shallow shelves or flats between the shore and a drop off. The most productive of these have submerged branches and other wood. I was able to snap some photos showing the way the habitat looks (normally these shelves and flats are covered by 2-3 feet of water.
Photos 4 and 5 show a very small spot that predictably holds 1 or 2 pickerel.
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