Pickerel eventually cooperated at meet & greet

[J.A. Veil]

I arrived at Jonas Green about 7:15 this morning. A bunch of guys had already launched and were out of sight. I did see Rockchaser in the parking lot. I waited a while to see if any other guys showed up who were not familiar with the Severn tributaries, but by 8:15 nobody else had come. I launched into a cold stiff breeze and headed upstream to Manresa Cove. I saw moc and another kayaker leaving, and found Yak Fish, Camelbird, and Rockchaser searching for pickerel. I spent 45 minutes working my usual spots there, but the fish were not cooperating. Eventually Yak Fish hooked a very nice 19" pickerel (shown below). I think this was his first ever pickerel.

Since the bite in that tributary was not good today, the four of us headed to a second spot. Once there, I gave the guys an orientation and we each headed to different spots. I drew first blood with a 15.5" pickerel. I continued working different spots and ended with 4 pickerel, including one 17" rascal that bit the minnow while the rod was laying across the kayak with only 4 ft of line out. I didn't realize the fish was there, and when I began paddling, the rod almost fell out of the boat. I quickly wound it in.

Rockchaser and Camelbird were able to catch their first ever pickerels in this tributary, and Yak Fish caught another one too. I needed to leave at 11:15. I hope the other guys will add their experiences.

We saw a fox on the shoreline, and I saw some type of mammal swimming in the water (see photo). I could not identify it, but suspect it was a muskrat or young beaver.

[CB kayak 02]

Nice John!! I've been waiting all day for these reports while I've been sitting here at Backyard Boats working!!

[J.A. Veil]

Nice John!! I've been waiting all day for these reports while I've been sitting here at Backyard Boats working!!

I'm surprised that there have not been other reports. I left early to go somewhere with my wife. I got home at 4:00 expecting to see multiple reports, but they were not there. The wind and weather grew better throughout the morning. I suspect that many of the guys decided to keep fishing later than 12:00.

[Southerly]

last pic looks like another legitimate Chessie sighting,..., hope the other guys are ok.

[Sun]

I'm surprised that there have not been other reports. I left early to go somewhere with my wife. I got home at 4:00 expecting to see multiple reports, but they were not there. The wind and weather grew better throughout the morning. I suspect that many of the guys decided to keep fishing later than 12:00.

LOL. Sorry I haven't posted. I'm just so exhausted...

I think everyone who was there caught fish ... except me! I'll let the others report their catches. For me, I started out jigging the downed bridge off the end of the pier. I didn't catch anything after about 10 minutes, so I went downstream a little to a spot that I wanted to check out. There is supposed to be an oyster bed here, so I tried jigging for a little bit before giving up.

Then I paddled for what felt like an hour into the wind and waves to a creek I had never been to before - Luce Creek. I explored about half of the creek, while casting my plastic minnow jig with no success. I did hear a fish jump behind me at one point...so I know there was something there - he just wasn't interested in my plastic minnow.

Then I went up to another new place, Martin's Pond. I again worked the shoreline with my plastic minnow with no success. At least it was a peaceful and serene location, in contrast to the windy mess that was waiting for me just outside the pond in the main Severn river.

After trying two new places with no fish, I decided to go to Manresa Cove. I had caught pickerel here before with JA Veil, so I was hoping to at least catch one fish before heading in. I thought I might see several other 'yakers there, but I guess I missed most of them. I saw Bill in one corner of the cove though. We were there for another 30 minutes or so. I didn't catch anything and surrendered to the skunk.

Bill and I were the first back to the parking lot, and the others slowly came in. We chatted a little while waiting for some more people to come in, and then went to lunch. Highlights from lunch? Probably MemoryMaker's swag gifts - hook1 stickers and keychains (thanks again).

[moc]

Like Sun, I am beat. I pulled a muscle in my back at work two days ago, but I was determined to fish. I am aiking right now. I got to Jonas Green around 6:15am. I did not launch until after 7:00am. Sun was right the wind was stiff and cold. I was dressed for the conditions so I was fine. I caught 4 pickerals today, with the largerst, which was a whopper, got off the hook when he came up to the side of my boat. He was big. I fished three creeks in an attempt to stay out of the winds. I caught one pickeral at Manresa Cove. I caught nothing at Winchester Pond. Since I was not getting anymore bites I travelled to the other side of the Severn, and fished Cove of Cork. That is where I caught three more pickerals. Chexone fished there with me. I was using minnows on a jighead. He was using afticials, which failed to produce a fish. I gave him some of my minnows, and before I knew it he caught at least 3 pickerals. It was 11:17am and I decided to head back to shore. Chexone decided to join me on the trip back. I also ran into Splitscreen on the water and I gave him some minnows.

I went to lunch with the rest of the Kayakers to Giffin's, 9 of us in all. Not everyone went to lunch.

After lunch, myself, Chexone, and Chimo went over to Hillboro on the Eastern Shore to fish the creek over there to use up some left over minnows and worms that we had. I did not catch anymore yellow perch on minnows. I did catch a bullhead catfish on worms. I also caught, several types of sunfish. Chimo and Chexone also caught small crappies.

We I am beat and barely able to keep my eyes open. Despite the cold weather it was a fun day. I was also good seeing another new member, AL.

[chex]

Glad to see you guys got some nice pickerel!!

I first headed into Weems Creek and went all the way back to the end of it without a bite. On my way out, I crossed Chimo and Ictalurus who said they'd caught some in a cove a bit downstream, so I decided to go there, but in the distance I saw a red yak and knew it must be Moc, so I caught up to him as he entered Cove of Corks. There, sheltered from the wind, we fished for a while and Moc caught several pickerels. I didn't catch anything until Moc gave me a minnow (thanks!), and then I hooked 3 myself. Lost 2 at the boat but eventually landed a 19 incher (pictured below).

Thanks to surfdog for organizing this.

After lunch, Moc, Chimo and I went looking for some yellow perch in Tuckahoe Creek, but only found dozens of tiny panfish and a few small cats. Good fun...

[moc]

Lunch at Griffins

Memory Maker provided swag and nametags for us.....

[new2yaks11]

Glad you guys braved those winds and fished the Severn. I was loaded and ready to go. I looked at forecasted winds and just wasn't up to fighting those winds on the wide open Severn. It turned out to be a nice afternoon anyway. Good to see some decent sized pickerel caught.

[moc]

More Pics from Lunch....

More Pics from Lunch....

[Shady]

Nice work on finding a few nice Picks guys, sorry I missed it.

Thanks everyone for sharing your pictures.

Really looking forward to next months M&G at Fletchers...

[tufnik]

I would have thought the artificials would work, but the live minnows were the ticket. Good work in braving the cold. Nice report.

Oh, anyone take home dinner?

[Aesiegel]

Sounds like everyone had good time today. I'm sorry I missed it, although while coaching my son's soccer practice this morning, I was a tad chilly. I'll have to get out this week in the 70 degree weather.

[ronaultmtd]

Dang it looks cold in those pictures, Moc- Down here in warm Orlando, Florida it is 80 degrees... Fly home Thursday where it is supposed to be 79 degrees...
Rockchaser those Sweatshirts looks awesome!

[Shield]

Looks like everyone had a good time. Sorry I missed it again. Thanks for the pics.