Unexpected SAV growth in Severn

[J.A. Veil]

My previous trip in Weems Creek was on May 14. I saw no obvious evidence of unusual SAV (submerged aquatic vegetation) growth in the creek. This morning I launched from the Tucker St ramp and immediately found many of my shallow water perch spots showed heavy growth of SAV reaching nearly to the surface. I am not an SAV specialist. From looking at photos online, it appears to be widgeon grass.

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The water level was slightly higher than average. I continued fishing in Weems and two other creeks in the vicinity of the bridges and found the same thing. This made fishing tougher than usual. When I cast into shallow areas looking for perch, I snagged the tops of the SAV. When I tried to troll in the creek and in the main stem of the river for stripers, I snagged pieces of the same SAV that were floating. It was frustrating -- I caught no fish and had only one bite in 3 hrs of fishing and had to work hard to keep my lures clean.

I recognize the water quality and habitat value that SAVs provide, so I am not complaining. I offer this as an observation. In more than 10 years of fishing in Weems and nearby creeks, I have never seen so much SAV in many locations. I am curious to see how this affects water quality as the summer moves forward.

Some other observations from this morning. The water was a greenish-brown color that did not look as clean as on my last trip. I had expected to see a lot of bait schools in the river by now. Today I saw just one -- the bait appeared to be small minnows, not peanut bunker. I saw very little bait in the shallow areas of the creeks, despite the SAV. In one of the three creeks I visited today I saw a small area of sunfish nests and spooked a few of the parents off their nests. I suspect they were pumpkinseeds. I saw a snapping turtle, a swimming mammal (either a muskrat or otter), and the usual cast of feathered friends (heron, osprey, kingfisher, mallard). So from a naturalist perspective, it was enjoyable.

I have done quite well trolling paddletails in the main stem river over the previous three weeks. But today was a lesson in humility.

[bignose]

During last summer, I saw that there were areas of Weems Creek that had grown substantial patches of the same type of weeds, from Tucker Street down to the mouth. Once you got past 5 feet of depth, the weeds weren't evident, probably limited by light penetration. And the same type of weed beds extended to both sides of the Severn, once again, limited to 5 feet of depth or less.
Spinner jigs, and spinner baits worked fairly well, both going thru and over the weeds. Anything with an exposed hook would harvest a bunch of salad. The perch would hang right on the edge of the weeds, ambushing the baitfish. If there was a dock there, it was that much better

I haven't been able to get out there this season so far, but hope to remedy that soon.
I'm still recovering from charter boat overdose, but if we had the same kind of clients that we had Sunday, I'd pay to fish with them! (Very nice looking young women! The Captain, who usually leaves the back deck for me to run, except to help net the fish, was out there the whole trip. He kept getting in the way trying to be "helpful". lol ).

Yesterday, over in Mill Creek, next to Cantler's, I observed substantial clouds of tiny fry in several areas. Some were probably pumpkinseed spawn ( you could see the dish shaped nests cleared in the weeds), some may have been either bunker or silversides (they were perhaps 1/2 in long, kinda hard to tell). Also the usual killifish.
We had that same green-brown color way up in the creek, but it was clearer down by Whitehall Bay.
I ran a spinner jig along the shoreline, but had no hits. The perch are clearly not in the docks and shoreline, yet.
It was a very low tide up where we are.
(It was strange, we had outgoing water all three days, and the current never really did reverse itself).

[john from md]

I fished the banks of the Severn yesterday and experienced the same skunk. I also noted only one small bait ball which seemed to be fish smaller than peanut bunker. As I was moving along the Academy seawall from Ego Alley, I saw what appeared to be a water snake in front of the yak from the look of the motion in the water. As I got closer, I found it was about a 10 inch bunker swimming kind of sideways and gulping air at the surface. I thought about grabbing him and using him for bait but then I thought he might have something I didn't want to catch and left him to be.

John Veil. Your warning the other day about weekend traffic on the river proved to be prophetic. It was tolerable until about 1100 and then all hell broke loose! It made me remember why I never took my boat near Annapolis on the weekends.

John

[jet]

did you pimp your yak down ego alley?

[john from md]

Of course! What self respecting yak fisherman wouldn't?

John

[Fishinfool]

My previous trip in Weems Creek was on May 14. I saw no obvious evidence of unusual SAV (submerged aquatic vegetation) growth in the creek. This morning I launched from the Tucker St ramp and immediately found many of my shallow water perch spots showed heavy growth of SAV reaching nearly to the surface. I am not an SAV specialist. From looking at photos online, it appears to be widgeon grass.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11916[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]11917[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]11918[/ATTACH]

The water level was slightly higher than average. I continued fishing in Weems and two other creeks in the vicinity of the bridges and found the same thing. This made fishing tougher than usual. When I cast into shallow areas looking for perch, I snagged the tops of the SAV. When I tried to troll in the creek and in the main stem of the river for stripers, I snagged pieces of the same SAV that were floating. It was frustrating -- I caught no fish and had only one bite in 3 hrs of fishing and had to work hard to keep my lures clean.

I recognize the water quality and habitat value that SAVs provide, so I am not complaining. I offer this as an observation. In more than 10 years of fishing in Weems and nearby creeks, I have never seen so much SAV in many locations. I am curious to see how this affects water quality as the summer moves forward.

Some other observations from this morning. The water was a greenish-brown color that did not look as clean as on my last trip. I had expected to see a lot of bait schools in the river by now. Today I saw just one -- the bait appeared to be small minnows, not peanut bunker. I saw very little bait in the shallow areas of the creeks, despite the SAV. In one of the three creeks I visited today I saw a small area of sunfish nests and spooked a few of the parents off their nests. I suspect they were pumpkinseeds. I saw a snapping turtle, a swimming mammal (either a muskrat or otter), and the usual cast of feathered friends (heron, osprey, kingfisher, mallard). So from a naturalist perspective, it was enjoyable.

I have done quite well trolling paddletails in the main stem river over the previous three weeks. But today was a lesson in humility.

HI, John

I had a similar skunk on Sunday 5/25. For my maiden voyage of 2014, the weather was good, sunny and a light breeze all morning; tide was pretty sluggish, high tide for Brewer Pt (closest to where I launched on the north side of the Severn) was at @ 4:00 am; water temp was 66 F at Thomas Pt. Perhaps the slow falling tide accounted for the slow day on Sunday for several of us? I launched at just after 6:00 am and returned at 11:30'ish am, so five hours of fairly steady fishing and nothing.

Prior to launch, I tried to net some fresh grass shrimp in spots that had been loaded with the little cridders in prior years. They are not in yet, so neither are the perch. I suspect when I try again and net some shrimp, the perch will be right behind them.

I too noticed the new grasses, and tried to stay on the edges, but it was tough because the edges of the grass line kept changing. Let's hope it bodes well for the general health of the rivers, including the beleaguered blue crab. I'll trade grass snags for a healthier River any day.

I paddled, trolled and casted as I went upriver almost to Aisquith Creek. Along the way I ducked into a secluded skinny water creek to get out and stretch. While walking, I saw a large fish about two feet in length in the shallows turn away as I came upon it. Intrigued, I paddled into the little pond. I saw it again, and it was a carp! Has anyone else seen carp yet? I am a little concerned as I was told they are somewhat invasive and could pose a problem. Any comments on that?

In the same creek I saw an otter duck up and under a couple of times. All along the paddle the bird life was alive and kicking; osprey, blue heron, whooping cranes, etc. They all didn't seem to have any trouble fishing for their fledglings. Maybe we can learn some new techniques from them?

[J.A. Veil]

Several of us fished again this morning. For me, it was a repeat of yesterday -- lots of grass and no bites. My Propel drive got clogged at one point in 25 ft depth from all the floating grass. I had to lift it up and remove the grass.

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By the way, the people who used Jonas Green park over the holiday weekend were slobs. Both of the Porta-Pots next to the parking lot were filled with not only human waste, but trash too (seriously -- Subway bags in the urinal!). Here is a photo of one of the two Porta-Pots.

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Fishinfool mentioned carp. There are large numbers of carp that reside in the shallow muddy area just upstream from Indian Landing. There are probably some further downstream too. I saw a floating dead carp this morning a mile downstream from Jonas Green.

[Raptor]

All,

The SAV was a PITA! However, I did manage three; a dink, one about 12"-14", and one 18"-20". It was a slow bite probably due to the weak/late ebb. All three fish were caught in roughly the same spot on the same lure - a 5/8 oz (made by Mark) white buck tail jig with a 4" white gulp. I did get one "kayak shaker" hit but when I got the rod out of the holder nobody was home.


T.

[bignose]

As to carp being invasive, we are about 100 years too late on that one. They are pretty much everywhere. They can tolerate almost any water quality and salinity level short of oceanic. Think aquatic version of a cockroach, they would survive a nuclear war.
And they were busy making little carp, in the small local pond I fished in today. Lots of splashing and carrying on!
In England, they are considered a prize tournament fish.

[john from md]

[
In England, they are considered a prize tournament fish.[/QUOTE]

That's probably because they ate every thing else!

John

[bignose]

[


That's probably because they ate every thing else!

John

The English or the Carp?

[Mark]

I got the big zero today, along with injured pride, a dry hawg trough and an untouched homemade bucktail jig that apparently only works for Raptor. I offered to retie his bucktail because the hair is almost gone after several trips and a dozen or so stripers. But he wouldn't let me touch it. Can't say that I blame him.

[Yak Fish]

Carp fishing is awesome! It's a great relaxing day on the water. Anchor up and throw in some dough. There are monsters out there that fight hard.

As far as trolling through the weeds, it is not worth it. The lures pick up debris so quickly that they spend more time out of the water than in. It is so darn frustrating. However, that said, the right lure can be used. I use a really shallow Lucky Craft (I wish I knew the name of it) to troll over weed tops at high tide for largemouth. For whatever reason the lure is shaped in a way that is more likely to shed weeds. I can't explain it because it looks just like a regular crankbait. So maybe you guys can give that a try.