Deer Herding in Mill Creek

[Mark]

Raptor and Skidster got an early start this morning chasing white perch in Mill Creek. When I joined them an hour or so after they had begun they told me the bite was hot and they were correct. Raptor also mentioned that he had caught a large pickerel.

I’m certain the three of us boated over 100 white perch. I got 30 alone, all on a 1/8 oz. jig with a spinner attached. I used white, yellow and chartreuse Mr. Twister grubs as trailers. Most were caught close to the shoreline on wooden structure.

The majority of my perch were in the 8 inch range but I caught a couple over 10 inches like this one:

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The most interesting thing happened after Skidster departed for work. Raptor and I stayed on the water. We were about 100 yards apart when I heard a big splash in Raptor’s direction. I saw a deer lunging in the water close to where Raptor was fishing apparently in an attempt to swim across Mill Creek. However, it probably hadn’t bargained on two kayakers being nearby so it soon made a beeline back to the shore as Raptor and I closed in on it. I managed to snap this photo of it swimming:

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Here’s a photo of it just after it clambered back to shore. I can’t believe how quickly it scaled those rocks.

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Back to fishing, Raptor and I also tried for stripers traveling all the way to Greenbury Point. We trolled and casted but caught no stripers.

It’s great to see the white perch in back force in the shallows. Now if only the stripers would join them...

[Skidsteer]

Great fishing with you guys this morning.

I like catching lots of fish!

[Fishinfool]

Nice report Mark! Good camera work, especially on the deer. I guess she has a boyfriend across the Creek.

[Raptor]

Just fishing along when a deer runs across the field and jumps into the water 25 feet away from me. She was quite surprised to find out she jumped between two kayaks. BTW - a Native Mariner Propel can keep up with (even gain on) a scared swimming deer.

[Fishinfool]

Just fishing along when a deer runs across the field and jumps into the water 25 feet away from me. She was quite surprised to find out she jumped between two kayaks. BTW - a Native Mariner Propel can keep up with (even gain on) a scared swimming deer.

We should organize a charity event race then; a Native Mariner Propel vs a Swimming Deer.
I'll take the over/under...

[J.A. Veil]

I'm glad to hear that the perch are out in force. They are nearly 6 weeks behind schedule.

I enjoy seeing the unexpected wildlife sightings that our area brings for us when we are out on the water.

[Mark]

John,

Yes, the perch were definitely divas this year making us wait long for their arrival.

But they are active now.

At one point I caught 6 on consecutive casts.

Another time I boated several on consecutive casts right in front of an active osprey nest -- a dangerous place to live if you're a perch. Mom was squawking above me as I was reeling in potential dinners for her offspring. I thought those fish probably had short futures even though I released all of them.

[archeryrob]

You should see the deer swim out here. Waterfowl is open Thanksgiving week in Maryland, so we are hunting the river. West Virginia deer season opens Thanksgiving week and you'd be amazed how many deer figure it out and swim to the Maryland for 1 week of safety.

[RavensDfense]

What tide did the deer move on? Bow season opens Sept 7th. Just wanna make sure I'm hunting the right tide.

[buzz]

Can you bow fish for deer?
And if so, do you need a fishing license or a hunting license?

LOL.... j/k

[bignose]

Apparently, you guys spoke to the Charter Captain I work for.
He mentioned that several of those "kayak guys" stopped by.
Sorry I missed you, I was working at a Football Camp.
Gotta keep busy in retirement.
I had told him that Mill Creek was full of perch.

[Raptor]

Apparently, you guys spoke to the Charter Captain I work for.
He mentioned that several of those "kayak guys" stopped by.
Sorry I missed you, I was working at a Football Camp.
Gotta keep busy in retirement.
I had told him that Mill Creek was full of perch.

Yup, that was Skidsteer and I out for a morning of Perchin. We had a great time poking our way down Mill Creek. He had to go to work and I met Mark to continue the day. The high point of the morning, I guess was a 22" Pickerel that I caught not too far from your Charter dock. Skidsteer lives just up the creek from your Charter Captain and my community water access is just up Little Burley. It was nice to speak with the Capt. as they prepared to go out. We were kind of hoping you would be there.

[bignose]

I hope Skidsteer tore em up with the spinner jigs I sent him for testing.

BTW, how's the fishing up in Burley Creek?
Pretty area, never made it up that far.
I've done well at the pilings by Possum Point (be careful, lots of sharp stuff there) and way up Mill Creek above Cantler's.

Access, unless you know somebody, is a bit difficult.
LJ wants $20.00 to launch, and since he rents out his overflow space to Cantler's, it's understandable.

[Raptor]

I hope Skidsteer tore em up with the spinner jigs I sent him for testing.

BTW, how's the fishing up in Burley Creek?
Pretty area, never made it up that far.
I've done well at the pilings by Possum Point (be careful, lots of sharp stuff there) and way up Mill Creek above Cantler's.

Access, unless you know somebody, is a bit difficult.
LJ wants $20.00 to launch, and since he rents out his overflow space to Cantler's, it's understandable.

I thought I replied to you last message but I guess it didn't take, or there was some kind of operator error. So here go again. We did really well in Martin's cove and along Mill Creek. I don't think we "tore them up" but we did do quite well. I can't really say that I have fished Burley all that much so I can't really give you an accurate report. However, I did catch my biggest surprise fish in Little Burley the year before last - an 18" Red fish. I also never fished the pilings cause it just looks like snag city. Mark may have, as he often fishes that area of the creek while I like to troll along the edges of the channel. We got most of our perch along the bulkheads on the creek side of the Burley mouth and along Lapedas's cove (the Tudor house by the shoal poles). If you ever want to launch from Little Burley just let me know you can use our community water access anytime. It is a short paddle to Mill, and Whitehall bay, Only one downside - if you launch during max ebb you get to play the stink mud stomp - not very fun.

T.

T.