Pleasant morning in Weems Creek

[J.A. Veil]

I got a late start this morning and launched my kayak in Weems Creek about 9:45. I met WST 120 (Dave) who had already been fishing for several hours. The skies were overcast with an occasional light drizzle. The air temp was comfortable. The water temp was about 80 deg. Other than Dave and me, there were no other boaters or kayakers in the upper part of the creek. It was pretty peaceful.

I cast to many shoreline areas upstream of the ramp for the next 4 hours. I had not caught a pickerel in a while so was surprised when the second fish of the day was a strong pickerel that measured 21". Later I caught a second 21" pickerel and a 16" pickerel (I can't remember my last trip with 3 pickerels). I did not take any pickerel photos today. The camera batteries died when I tried to photograph the first one. Rather than leave the fish out of water for another minute while I reloaded batteries, I slid it back in the water. The second big pickerel did a boatside self-release. The 16" was somewhat anticlimactic after the two larger ones, although it was flopping around with its mouth near my private parts for a second or two before I quickly hoisted it over the side.

I also caught two small rockfish, two pumpkinseeds, and several dozen perch. I had an 11", 10.5", and 10" perch, but nothing big enough for the leaderboard of the SRRKC perch tournament. I did take a picture of one of the small pumpkinseeds -- they are so colorful. All three pickerel and many of the other fish were caught on a 1/8-oz green spinnerbait made by MKF member Bignose. I also threw a pink and white Strike King MicroKing spinnerbait. The fish showed no interest in that lure today, although on many outings, the same lure is a strong producer.

[Shady]

Great report as always. Thinking about giving it a go tomorrow morning for a couple of hours...

[J.A. Veil]

Great report as always. Thinking about giving it a go tomorrow morning for a couple of hours...

Ryan -

After Hawaii, Weems Creek may not be so exciting. Welcome back.

[ronaultmtd]

I was thinking the same thing- might try the Aqualand launch at Route 301 Bridge for a couple of hours of fishing the Harry Nice Bridge- PEPCO hot Ditch...been a year since I last fished the bridge- last time was pretty good- the only problem is that they are calling for thunderstorms and showers in the morning after a day of pretty decent showers and thunderstorms today...low tide is 5:22 a.m.- high tide at the 301 bridge is 11:14 a.m.-

[WST120]

John,

I enjoyed fishing with you today and thanks for all the tips. It was a tough day for catching, I think I caught a half dozen perch, one small rock and almost had my second pickerel, but the pickerel took one look at me, spit the hook and went home. I believe today I snagged every object above and below the water line, and maybe that's why it was a tough day for catching...

[bignose]

Pumpkin Seeds may be one of the prettiest fish in the area. Nice looking lure, too!
I also had some success slow trolling a #13 Tony Spoon behind the canoe.

I found that the lower part of Weems, below the Tucker Street ramp seemed to be showing the effect of the increased salinity, hence a flounder caught within casting distance of the ramp.
The perch have moved to their usual summer time haunts under the docks. I caught some small rock out at the mouth between the day marker and the green marker down stream.
Is it still somewhat fresher above the bridges?
Pickerels and sunnies caught upstream of the salt wedge?

[Southerly]

nice fishing and nice report. in years past, i usually get a couple 6-7" red ear sunfish. this year, a lot of 3-4", only. they look so nice, i put a couple in the chesapeake tank. i did same long years ago and had forgotten. despite being very bright and attractive when caught, they actually seem very nondescript in a tank - sort of just go in the back somewhere and sit.

[ictalurus]

Those are some nice summer pickerel. Pretty sunnies, too. I was worried that the pickerel population was going to take a hit this summer since it's been so dry and salty. I'm glad to hear they're still there and hungry.

[DOGFISH]

It is interesting that the pickerel and the sunfish are both grass related and doing well in Weems Creek. Are there areas of aquatic grass in the creek? At least some day if the grass comes back, there will still be a population of those ready to pick back up in the area again.

When I was a kid, there were sunfish everywhere in the creeks. It was fun. We would dig up worms and catch sunfish. Then we would use the sunfish for crab bait, with handlines. Then have the crabs steamed for a snack or a meal. Now that is a food chain. It was fun growing up along the bay. Even back then the oldtimers would talk about how good the bay once was. I am just glad that they have not witnessed the changes in the bay that I have seen in my 60 or so years. It used to be so fun to push a net through the grass and catch soft crabs, easily enough for our family to have a soft crab dinner. A kid could catch enough grass shimp for a day of fishing with a few dips of a fine mesh net. You would be surprised how many grass shrimp would be in the net. As a kid, we would never have to buy bait. Oh, how things have changed.

[CB kayak 02]

Nice last week I made it out in Spa Creek twice. Fished around the Eastport Bridge and had some surprises myself.

I managed a 18 inch Pickerel and we also caught some puppy drum.