Fishing Report Severn River 5/13/15

[Yakinzak]

Today I trolled the severn river from bridge to bridge from 6pm-8pm. I launched from Jonas Green. I caught only one 21 inch rockfish using a white bucktail with an electric chicken swim bait. The rockfish was caught at the Severn River Bridge trolling right through the middle. 10325306_871605396188344_5721120968481251897_n.jpg 10253915_871597562855794_3068338389627628333_n.jpg

[dtandrade]

Nice fish! How deep was it were you were trolling?


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[newkayakguy]

Do u have a paddle yak or pedal.if paddle how fast was ya trolling

[Mark]

Zbennet9,

Good catch!

[J.A. Veil]

Nice going. The electric chicken color has been productive recently. During the last two days, a chartreuse plastic has been the best performer. I try to have at least one of each of those colors in the spread.

[Yakinzak]

Thanks a lot guys! I'm not sure of the depth. I haven't installed my fish finder yet and I'm using a paddle, I was paddling at a steady pace but not the point of actually having to exert myself just a steady calm paddle. being honest I thought I snagged the bridge structure when my drag started to run and as I was reeling in my yak was even moving towards where I thought I got snagged. Once I got closer to the fish it started to move on me towards the middle of the two bridge structures where it is deeper

[moc]

How heavy was your weight?

[On the fly]

Moc,
The past couple weeks been using 3/4 oz to get deeper. I know a couple people used 1/2 oz in the shallows.

Harry

[dtandrade]

I have been using 3/4 oz exclusively as of lately

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[Mark]

I haven't exactly been tearing them up but I've caught most of my 13 stripers trolling this year with 1/2 oz. jig heads.

I've used 5/8 oz. and bumped the bottom. So I reeled in line.

The largest fish I've caught this year at 22 inches hit a 1/2 oz. jig head jig as soon as it left the bottom.

The smallest striper I've caught this year at 8 inches has been on my largest jig, 5/8 oz. trailing a 5 inch plastic. Hungry I guess.

Plastic colors have been white, chartreuse and pink. Most have been paddle tails but some have been the Slam R from 12 Fathoms. That's kind of a short curly tail on a long plastic body.

Jig head colors have been white, yellow, blue, red, green and no paint. Does anyone think the jig head color matters?

I have been going about 2 MPH.

[dtandrade]

Mark, I wouldnt think the jig head color would matter because in comparison to the rest of the paddle tail or whatever you are trolling it is small. I try to match my jig head or bucktail to the soft plastic but that is just my preference. They hit lures above and or behind so I think once again the jig head color itself is not so crucial. Stripers seem to hit different colors on different days for no rhyme or reason so I always troll 2 different colors and adjust the other based on what color seems to be getting the most strikes. Seeing as how weight of lure, speed, depth, and the amount of line out play a part in how deep your lure is running I have found it best to use a levelwind baitcaster (not that a spinning setup wont work). Here is why, I basically let the lure out (whatever weight it may be), count the levelwind as it goes from one side to the other, and then lock it in. If I catch a fish I then write down the water depth, lure weight, and # of times the levelwind guide travels from side to side. I use this as a point of reference when in that depth of water the next time out. It takes time to get a feel for it all and to eyeball and estimate the depth the lure is running consistantly with spinning gear which is why I personally made the switch to a baitcaster. Sorry for the long response but hopefully this will help someone.

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[Mark]

dtandrade,

No need to apologize for the length of your answer. I appreciate your insight.

I generally try to contrast the color of the jig head with the plastic trailer -- dark to light given that I use mainly light colored plastics. That's mainly to please my aesthetic senses. I agree that the color of the head appears less important than the color and perhaps shape of the trailer.

I've wondered how stripers hit the jigs. I caught one this year with a fish tail in its throat. That indicates it swallowed the fish head first. But if they try to do that with a jig, wouldn't the line get in the way?

I use both spinning reels and bait casters when trolling. I've never thought of counting the line guide going back and forth. That'd a good idea. I just try to keep enough line out to avoid bumping the bottom.

Actually I prefer to not troll. I'd rather cast to targets to catch stripers. But I haven't caught one that way so far this year.

[john from md]

My experience with live lining and vertical jigging is that rocks hit the head and blues go for the tail.

Regards,

John

[Midnight Toker]

dtandrade,

No need to apologize for the length of your answer. I appreciate your insight.

I generally try to contrast the color of the jig head with the plastic trailer -- dark to light given that I use mainly light colored plastics. That's mainly to please my aesthetic senses. I agree that the color of the head appears less important than the color and perhaps shape of the trailer.

I've wondered how stripers hit the jigs. I caught one this year with a fish tail in its throat. That indicates it swallowed the fish head first. But if they try to do that with a jig, wouldn't the line get in the way?

I use both spinning reels and bait casters when trolling. I've never thought of counting the line guide going back and forth. That'd a good idea. I just try to keep enough line out to avoid bumping the bottom.
Actually I prefer to not troll. I'd rather cast to targets to catch stripers. But I haven't caught one that way so far this year.

Another thing that helps (me at least). Spend a few minutes ploting out some trolling runs where you don't have to worry about sudden shallow waters...or at least staying at a semi consistent depth (not only from the top of the water...but also from the bottom up to your jig!) NOAA's website has full size charts and nautical maps available free online in a printable pdf file. (here's the one for the Severn and Magothy. http://www.charts.noaa.gov/PDFs/12282.pdf )Just increase the % to 100% to zoom, move to the general location you plan to fish...and simply print out that frame of the map on a 8x11 piece of paper and take it with you for quick reference for all the water depths your FF won't tell you about until your already over them.

[Skidsteer]

Navionics also has a web app with very good contour detail that can help with planning your trip:

http://www.navionics.com/en/webapp