Fall catfish bite

[dsaavedra]

What's the step-by-step procedure like for launching a big fishing kauak at LM? From google maps it's not clear if/how you might go around the guardrail to launch.

[paxmule]

My kayak is 33.5" wide. On the right side of the guardrail, I can wheel it around that edge of it with a couple inches to spare on either side even with my paddle secured to the side. Then up onto the upper dock, down the ramp and straight off the edge of the floating dock which is just about 4 inches off the water. If you use a pickup, you can pull up back wards to the guardrail and unload over it onto your cart.

[dsaavedra]

So there's no way to go around the guardrail and straight to the water? Gotta use the floating dock?

Backing a pickup right up to the guardrail is smart... that could work for me

[Slackdaddy]

So there's no way to go around the guardrail and straight to the water? Gotta use the floating dock?

Backing a pickup right up to the guardrail is smart... that could work for me

Yes,, the only true access is over/around the guardrail onto the wooden pier, then down the alum ramp onto the floating dock and straight into the water.
Years ago, before the ramp/floating dock was installed,, I would climb over the weed covered boulders on the right of the pier.

[paxmule]

It's a straight down drop-off of 5 or 6 feet next to the pier and then there's weeds on either side. There's a small sandy area on the roadside a quarter-mile north but it's private. Then there's clyde watson ramp around a half mile south on the prince George's county side of the river. They require a pass if you use a trailer but free otherwise. They have a gate with hours fluctuating through the year. I believe its open at 7am typically and last I was there closed at 630pm.

[Jigsup]

I back my pick up to the guardrail and unload my kayak onto the pier. It really helps if you have a kayak cart to utilize. You can drag the kayak onto the pier (I don’t know bout others) but soon as my kayak hits the grooved aluminum ramp it’s acts like a cheese grater. Going back up the ramp is even worse. Once you get onto the floating dock you can maneuver the kayak around pretty easily. Make sure you keep an eye on your kayak. If current is ripping it will take the kayak away from the pier.

[SpaceCadet]

Inspired by all this catfish chatter, I launched at Clyde Watson yesterday morning on a strong incoming tide. My first time launching there, having moved to northern Charles County earlier this year. Caught some fresh bait right at the dock to go along with the shrimp I brought, and headed downstream against the current towards the Milltown Landing site and drifted slowly back. Had steady action throughout the morning, and lost count of how many fish I caught, both channel and blue. Easily 15+ fish. Fishing two lines I had several instances of both lines going down at once. Unfortunately caught none of the big blues that paxmule has been pulling in, but still some respectable sized fish. For whatever reason, I found that 19-21ft was the depth I would get bites, despite the FF being completely lit up* at almost all depths. Still, a beautiful morning to be out there.

*It never ceases to amaze me just how many fish there are in the Pax, yet how difficult it can be to fish. You can paddle for three miles straight down that river, just off the main channel, and never see a break in the fish. But drop a worm, lure, or whatever, down there and all you'll get is an occasional small catfish or white perch. There's a lot of carp in there (which I personally also enjoy fishing for), but they can't be what's clogging up the FF. Maybe its shad, but where are the big predators if there's that much bait fish? It's a very strange river, particularly in that area. But I enjoy how very unpressured it is.

[paxmule]

Sounds like a great time and plus on bait being by the launch. My last trip, the biggest fish was caught just upstream from clyde watson launch where the west bank begins to slightly bend east. i had a carp break surface right next to me a couple weeks ago. Kinda scared me. Interesting tidbit, PRP told me today that clyde watson is now open 24 hours until february so no waiting for gate to open or getting off the water before it closes. Of course the water will be too cold to safely be on a kayak within the next month but having 24 hour access is great. I figure next weekend the duck hunters will start to have the area overrun as duck season starts back up on the 12th. Windy conditions forecast for sat and sunday and the same next weekend so its gonna be hard for me to squeeze in my last few trips for the year. I might be able to get 1 or 2 more trips in but then ill be done until spring.

[SpaceCadet]

Sounds like a great time and plus on bait being by the launch.

Yep, some garden worms and a size 12 hook, dropped right down next to the dock and it took all of ten minutes to get enough fresh bait for the morning!

Of course the water will be too cold to safely be on a kayak within the next month but having 24 hour access is great.

I have a dry suit, so I don't mind being out there in the winter. I did a little of that last year and caught a some fish in very cold weather. So I'll probably be out there a few times this winter now that I'm 15 mins from that launch. The dock itself gives easy casting access to pretty deep water too, so shore fishing might work as well. I'll report back as the winter progresses...

[paxmule]

I decided to get a trip in this afternoon from 3-6 because of the wind this weekend. Didn't do so hot. I was having a lot of trouble finding good current breaks and the outgoing tide was stronger than I've seen yet. I managed a 12 lbr and 2 dinks in 3 hours. I did see an eagle grab a fish out of the water so that made it a good time. My fish pic wasn't so great either. 20221104_160610.jpg

[paxmule]

Today was mostly a bust for me, but jigsup got a good fish, im sure he will post a pic. I only got a 5 lb blue. My normal methods weren't producing but I can say I've still never been skunked on the patuxent.

[Jigsup]

Paxmule. Time and a chance happens to us all. Only thing I thought about that might have produced more big fish bites was drifting. I’m not set up to drift in that fast current. But that should be no problem for you. I wish there would have been a way for me to control drift that whole area.

[Slackdaddy]

What kayak are you in ?
Could you hold position or effectively control drift with a "peddle kayak"

Paxmule. Time and a chance happens to us all. Only thing I thought about that might have produced more big fish bites was drifting. I’m not set up to drift in that fast current. But that should be no problem for you. I wish there would have been a way for me to control drift that whole area.

[Jigsup]

I fish out of an Ascend 12t. It’s a great kayak overall with a minor upgrade (raising the seat). It’s a paddle kayak. Definitely looking into a peddle drive kayak.

I could hold position for bit with the paddle. But when I get to the spot I want to fish I don’t want the paddle in my hands. Plus it be nice to have another form of propulsion. Having a peddle kayak would work pretty well against that current. Or even a trolling motor setup.

[paxmule]

I actually did use my trolling motor against the current for a while after you went back downstream. I used speed 1 and it took me .5 mph against current. I had a big takedown but it came off. I think bait was my problem. Ive been having trouble getting fresh alewife the last couple weeks amd I was using frozen gizzard shad