Early morning trout

[Big Mike]

John has a goal to release fish in 10 seconds, I have a goal to be off the water by 9 if possible to avoid the heat. For the past 2 days I’ve been targeting trout, and I fished the same spot both days. The area that I’m catching the the majority of fish in could fit inside an elementary school gym and there are currently surprisingly few stripers in the mix (good since not looking for them). Both days had an incoming tide and yesterdays tide seemed exceptionally high, easily 6” higher than today. Perhaps that’s a reason I got 8 trout yesterday and only 2 today. I actually think the bigger reason was high cloud cover yesterday and bluebird today. I caught all of my fish on 4” paddle tails with 1/4 oz jighead. Color didn’t seem to matter much, I got lots on pearl with chartreuse tail, and quite a few on light purple. Both days the fish were short striking, easily twice as many bumps as hookups. I fish rod in hand and dropped the bait back when I felt a bite but they were releasing it quick. Most of the trout running 13-15”, but both days gave me at least one 20” fish. Lucky to live in the slower lower with the option to target trout during the closed season.
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[dsaavedra]

Nice work, you're finding some big specks in the last couple weeks. You are indeed lucky to have that as a viable fishery... I'm not quite sure what to do up here in AACo at the moment. Perch seem like more effort than they're worth lately, they have been small and sparse in their usual haunts. I have been trying not to drive long distances to fish in the last few months because of the high cost of gas, but I think this week I'm going to bite the bullet and drive to Blackwater for some snakeheads... freezer is almost empty so I hope to bring home a few. I may end up paying SOMD a visit too.

[Red_Beard]

Nice work, you're finding some big specks in the last couple weeks. You are indeed lucky to have that as a viable fishery... I'm not quite sure what to do up here in AACo at the moment. Perch seem like more effort than they're worth lately, they have been small and sparse in their usual haunts. I have been trying not to drive long distances to fish in the last few months because of the high cost of gas, but I think this week I'm going to bite the bullet and drive to Blackwater for some snakeheads... freezer is almost empty so I hope to bring home a few. I may end up paying SOMD a visit too.

I always struggle to justify long haul trips this time of year. I don't handle the heat very well, so any open water trip is going to end early when it gets like this. Can't justify a haul to SOMD or the eastern shore for a trip that will be over by 9 or 10 a.m. I think if I do any fishing this weekend it will be wet wading a river or creek, preferably a well shaded one, for smallmouth bass and sunfish.

[J.A. Veil]

Good work Mike. I have found over the past few weeks that the fish I am targeting seem to clump up in just a few small areas. You seem to have found a trout playground. I hope it stays lively there for you.

[Jigsup]

Seems like you been having a blast lately with the trout! Good sized trout at that! Awesome!