Tweet
For my second attempt at fishing the Mattawoman, I launched from the route 225 bridge launch. I got on the water later than I had planned at 9am, with an outgoing tide but high. I got some strikes right at the launch, but decided to head further downstream, to a recommended starting spot. I caught a small bass and a white catfish in the first 45 mins or so on a beetle spin. I was really enjoying the scenery and the simple exploration of a new place so I decided to continue fishing into the early afternoon. I caught a channel catfish on a gulp ripple shad as I got closer to the wall by the path.
The activity really slowed down mid day, although I still saw the signs of fish. I saw a snakehead near the bank and probably spent a half hour trying to entice him to bite something, but I think I just scared him into hiding. I had an early evening commitment to I started heading back to the launch when a thunder storm came into view to the south. It looked like it was going west to east, so I didn't head back with any urgency, thinking it might miss me. All of a sudden, the bass woke up. I got numerous strikes on the beetle spin and caught two more. The weather change brought the bite on! Unfortunately, the thunderstorm caught up with me. I was in a pretty narrow part of the creek by the time it did, so I didn't feel like it was in danger of a lightning strike, but it was not low tide and the upper part of the creek looked very different to me from when I went down it. I had decided to leave my fish finder/gps today as the Mattawoman is so shallow, so I couldn't verify my track. I looked at google maps and it had the far left of the first big fork as the route back to the bridge. I paddled down that and ran out of creek. Wrong way! I went back and went up the middle branch which looked familiar, I just didn't remember ducking under a fallen tree on the way down! I did have to get out and drag the kayak a bit. It branched again and I couldn't remember all the little islands and fallen trees. Thunder and lightning is dancing around me at this point, so I just decide to beach the kayak and hike down a ways on foot... the bridge couldn't have been that far. So after a few minutes of tromping the the southern MD jungle, I saw the bridge and followed the stream back down to the fork. I went back to the kayak and was able to navigate the rather skinny, tree filled, stream back to the launch.
There were some spectators fishing at the bridge as I paddled up, myself all muddy and bedraggled. The launch was much steeper now than when I had pulled out so I just picked up as much speed as I could and got the kayak all of 12 inches up the bank. I walked up to the front and stepped on the bank, relieved to be back on land and almost to my dry vehicle when the muddy bank had other ideas for me. I slipped into the river up to my thighs and the kayak was starting to slip back into the river. Fortunately, I was able to scramble up the bank and grab the bow handle. The guys on the bank were kind enough to act like they see this all the time. Maybe they do! I dragged the kayak down the path halfway to the van before I realized I could put the cart wheels on and it might be a bit easier. As i dragged the kayak up to the van, another kayaker is just getting ready to unpack and head out for some evening fishing.We get to chatting and he gives me some tips for my next trip including some ideas for the snakehead. He was a friendly guy who I will be fishing with in the future. After packing up and using the last of my energy (I didn't really eat anything on my 8 hours on the water), I sat in my van and turned on the radio and thought to myself... I caught more than twice as many fish as last time out!
But really, I post this soliloquy as a cautionary tale for other newbies paddling unfamiliar water. Two feet of tide makes a big difference! And the thunderstorm will turns towards you! In closing, I've had a lot of fun on this river in two trips. I'm really enjoying the bass fishing and the hunt for the elusive snakehead. I'll be back, and hopefully, writing about more fish and less misadventure!
The activity really slowed down mid day, although I still saw the signs of fish. I saw a snakehead near the bank and probably spent a half hour trying to entice him to bite something, but I think I just scared him into hiding. I had an early evening commitment to I started heading back to the launch when a thunder storm came into view to the south. It looked like it was going west to east, so I didn't head back with any urgency, thinking it might miss me. All of a sudden, the bass woke up. I got numerous strikes on the beetle spin and caught two more. The weather change brought the bite on! Unfortunately, the thunderstorm caught up with me. I was in a pretty narrow part of the creek by the time it did, so I didn't feel like it was in danger of a lightning strike, but it was not low tide and the upper part of the creek looked very different to me from when I went down it. I had decided to leave my fish finder/gps today as the Mattawoman is so shallow, so I couldn't verify my track. I looked at google maps and it had the far left of the first big fork as the route back to the bridge. I paddled down that and ran out of creek. Wrong way! I went back and went up the middle branch which looked familiar, I just didn't remember ducking under a fallen tree on the way down! I did have to get out and drag the kayak a bit. It branched again and I couldn't remember all the little islands and fallen trees. Thunder and lightning is dancing around me at this point, so I just decide to beach the kayak and hike down a ways on foot... the bridge couldn't have been that far. So after a few minutes of tromping the the southern MD jungle, I saw the bridge and followed the stream back down to the fork. I went back to the kayak and was able to navigate the rather skinny, tree filled, stream back to the launch.
There were some spectators fishing at the bridge as I paddled up, myself all muddy and bedraggled. The launch was much steeper now than when I had pulled out so I just picked up as much speed as I could and got the kayak all of 12 inches up the bank. I walked up to the front and stepped on the bank, relieved to be back on land and almost to my dry vehicle when the muddy bank had other ideas for me. I slipped into the river up to my thighs and the kayak was starting to slip back into the river. Fortunately, I was able to scramble up the bank and grab the bow handle. The guys on the bank were kind enough to act like they see this all the time. Maybe they do! I dragged the kayak down the path halfway to the van before I realized I could put the cart wheels on and it might be a bit easier. As i dragged the kayak up to the van, another kayaker is just getting ready to unpack and head out for some evening fishing.We get to chatting and he gives me some tips for my next trip including some ideas for the snakehead. He was a friendly guy who I will be fishing with in the future. After packing up and using the last of my energy (I didn't really eat anything on my 8 hours on the water), I sat in my van and turned on the radio and thought to myself... I caught more than twice as many fish as last time out!
But really, I post this soliloquy as a cautionary tale for other newbies paddling unfamiliar water. Two feet of tide makes a big difference! And the thunderstorm will turns towards you! In closing, I've had a lot of fun on this river in two trips. I'm really enjoying the bass fishing and the hunt for the elusive snakehead. I'll be back, and hopefully, writing about more fish and less misadventure!
Comment