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Got out around 7 AM and fished until about 2 PM. Thanks to the new summit expedition seat, I'm actually not limping around which is a huge plus. My foot did fall asleep just a little, but not like it did in the hobie seat and it's more comfortable so I'm calling this a success.
I fished top water around the edges in the early morning during a slack tide and the top water bite was pretty hot. I had a fish miss my smack it lure 4 times before he actually got it. It was like a rampage at times and really exciting. I'd passed up a few barely keeper fish, confident I would catch some in the 20's. The tide started coming in around 11 and I didn't have any nice fish in the boat so I started second guessing my decision. I headed for deep water, going parallel to the current over the channel edges using my homemade mini umbrella rigs which I've posted on a few times in the past. It was slower than usual for awhile. I could see lots of fish, but I saw a dead shad which made me think that's what I was seeing. Either way, I kept trolling, putting in over 12 miles today. Suddenly my rod started ripping line and to be honest I thought I was snagged at first because of the amount of line coming off, but I grabbed it and realized I had something good, much bigger than anything I had yet. As I fought it, I was nervous. I needed to see this thing. Finally I got it up and I knew it was hooked good because it had completely engulfed the lure. I finished off the day with another keeper completing my limit.
On a downside, I must have knocked my PFD off the back of my yak after I put the fish in the soft cooler because when I reached for it a few minutes later, it was gone. I searched for an hour and couldn't find it. I was drifting at over a half mph so it could have gotten away quickly. I feel like I found every other floating thing in the Patapsco except my PFD, major bummer.
I fished top water around the edges in the early morning during a slack tide and the top water bite was pretty hot. I had a fish miss my smack it lure 4 times before he actually got it. It was like a rampage at times and really exciting. I'd passed up a few barely keeper fish, confident I would catch some in the 20's. The tide started coming in around 11 and I didn't have any nice fish in the boat so I started second guessing my decision. I headed for deep water, going parallel to the current over the channel edges using my homemade mini umbrella rigs which I've posted on a few times in the past. It was slower than usual for awhile. I could see lots of fish, but I saw a dead shad which made me think that's what I was seeing. Either way, I kept trolling, putting in over 12 miles today. Suddenly my rod started ripping line and to be honest I thought I was snagged at first because of the amount of line coming off, but I grabbed it and realized I had something good, much bigger than anything I had yet. As I fought it, I was nervous. I needed to see this thing. Finally I got it up and I knew it was hooked good because it had completely engulfed the lure. I finished off the day with another keeper completing my limit.
On a downside, I must have knocked my PFD off the back of my yak after I put the fish in the soft cooler because when I reached for it a few minutes later, it was gone. I searched for an hour and couldn't find it. I was drifting at over a half mph so it could have gotten away quickly. I feel like I found every other floating thing in the Patapsco except my PFD, major bummer.
Seriously, yesterday I measured water temp in the Severn at just below 50 deg. From here until late spring, we will be pursuing our sport in cool to cold water. It is not a good idea to take extra chances in cold water. Protective clothing and flotation devices become increasingly important.
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