I Know I Knocked On Wood...CRAP!!!

Date: 29 April 2012

Air Temp:59-69 

Water Temp: 60-62 degrees

Wind: 5 mph and less

Sky: Partly Cloudy

Tide: High @ 12:50 pm

Potomac River

Launched at 10:00 am and fished the incoming tide on the main river.  I caught this fish on a grass flat...

                                                        ...and then it happened.

SKI-ZUNKED!!!

Date: 28 April 2012

Air Temp:54-58 (cold front)

Water Temp: 60-62 degrees

Wind: 5 mph and less

Sky: Overcast to Scattered

Tide: High @ 11:35am

Aquia Creek


My first "skunk" of the year.  BUT...a good angler can always find the reason (or excuse).

We fished the last hour and a half of the incoming tide with little luck.  Dave did pick one up on a Rat L Trap almost immediately while crossing a grass flat on the way to shallow wood.  We fished the flat a little longer without results.  We dunked plastic amongst shallow wood and Dave picked up 2 more.  Now, 2-3 hours in and I have not had a bite at all at this point.

We changed spots and I had one fish "thump" a Rat L Trap, but no hook up.  There was really no water moving yet.  We continued to beat shallow wood and Dave picked up another.

Finally, I got a hook into a decent fish, but took too long to get the head turned and get it a way from the wood. The fish manage to wrap me around a downed tree. That (matched with hesitation and a weak hook set to start with) left me fish-less.

We decided to make an exploratory run which turned out to be good.  It didn't add to the day's fish count (or lack thereof), but we did find some promising areas for another time.

As mush as I talk about hating fishing in the wind, I think I hate fishing frontal conditions even more (especially cold fronts).  The water temp was down 7 degrees.  There were a number of boats around us and I didn't see anyone doing that well. That being said, I'm sure someone was on 'em somewhere.

Now for the reason(s).  I've already mentioned the cold front, but I did not have my fish watch either. Most importantly, have a look at this fish index (10am-5pm).  The chips were stacked against me from the start, LOL.

Grabbed My Gear And Off I Went

Date: 22 April 2012

Air Temp:46-48

Water Temp: 64-67 degrees

Wind:10-14

Sky: Overcast (moderate to periods of heavy rain and gusts)

Tide: LOW @ 2:19 pm

Aquia Creek

Launched at 2pm.  Fished the last hour, or so, of the outgoing tide (north wind kept tide going out).  It was "ON" from the gate.  I caught more than 10 fish in the first hour on the Trap.  Grass near shallow wood (in current) was key.  The bite completely died after about an hour and a half (tide was slack), so I tried some other spots, picking up fish here and there.  I had 16 fish at the 3 hour point.  I decided to challenge myself to end the day with 20 fish. The tide had started running pretty good again, so I went back to my original pattern. Fish number 17 took a while to find, but once I had it, 18 and 19 came quickly, all on the Trap.   Number 20 was a beast.  I was after it for about an hour and a half.  I lost it on 5 different occasions, just couldn't get it in the boat (probably due to my hands being numb at this point, it was pretty cold).  Finally, I switched back to plastic and hooked #20 again on the first pitch to shallow wood.  I got it to the boat and out pops my lure before I could swing it.  It's now 46 degrees, getting no warmer and the wind is howling.  I figured that was "close enough" and took off for some heat.

                                                             Fish at 6 minutes

Left The Fish Biting

Date: 21 April 2012

Air Temp: 59-77

Water Temp: 64-67 degrees

Wind: Calm-10

Sky: Clear in AM 

Tide: HIGH @ 7:30 am

Aquia Creek

Dave and I hit the creek early this morning.  Started at the usual spot.  Had some fish thump the "Trap" but no takers.  We shot across the creek to fish some pads and docks.  Dave hooked up almost immediately.  We continued on that pattern for about two hours picking up a few fish on plastics and  Traps.

Went back across to the cove and missed some fish on plastics on a dropoff.  Connected with a few fish off the point on the Trap.

Went to the main creek community flat and got nothing on the first pass.  Coming back Dave whacks a couple and the fish watch went off showing four fish.  Dave hooks a couple more and I missed three.  Dave then hooks into something serious, but he was unable to land it.  Whatever it was peeled drag like crazy and took off for wood.  I'm guessing the wood gave it the leverage to get off.  We never got a look at it.

With the clouds rolling in the bite got better, but I had an engagement and had to leave them biting.  Yes. we got off the water during the best bite according to conditions.

Hope they are there tomorrow.  I know its supposed to rain all day, but I'm an addict.

No time to fish today...So I had to make it quick.

Date: 20 April 2012

Air Temp: 50-57

Water Temp: 64-67 degrees

Wind: Calm 

Sky: Partly cloudy (foggy)

Tide: HIGH @ 6:52am

Aquia Creek

Only got out for about two hours today.  I could not see due to the fog, so I stayed around the marina for about 45 minutes.  Once I could safely get to my first spot, I made a short, slow run.  The tide was still coming in and the current helped.  I caught five fish pretty quick.  The "better" fish didn't hit until the fog burned off.  Once the tide died, so did the action.  They wanted the Trap REALLY slow.  Nothing on plastic today.

Wish I could have stayed, but apparently there is more to life than fishing. So they say.

                                                               Ramp at 5:50am

Numbers No Size.

Date: 19 April 2012

Air Temp: 51-60

Water Temp: 64-67 degrees

Wind: Calm to <5 mph

Sky: Partly cloudy

Tide: HIGH @ 6:11 am

Aquia Creek

Fished the slack and out going tide this morning.  Ran to the usual Trap spots...no good.  1 or 2 dinks.  Fished it for about an hour.  Switched up and started throwing weighted plastics on shallow wood.  Size got better quickly, but still nothing great (1.5ers and 2s).  Ended up with 20+ fish.  

I managed to catch one in textbook fashion with a Chatterbait.  (only my third Chatterbait fish ever).

                               Picked him up on the first cast to this isolated stump in open water.

I also caught one pitching a 10" worm on a 3/4oz flipping weight in shallow wood.  I don't usually throw plastic that big.

Headed out in the morning again.

Couldn't Ask For Better Conditions

Date: 18 April 2012
Air Temp: 55-59
Water Temp: 66-67 degrees
Wind: Calm to 5 mph
Sky: Overcast w/light drizzle (off and on)

Tide: HIGH @ 5:26 am

Aquia Creek

At it again on the Aquia this morning from 6:45am -11:30am.  Rolled up on my fist spot and immediately found fish.  Traps were getting steady action.  I must have put hooks into 6 fish in the first hour.  I only boated 3 though.  Long story.  I can't even guess how many fish I failed to hook up with.  The video shows it all (the first hour, that is, edited down to roughly 13 minutes).

I caught fish the entire time I was out.  Every presentation I used produced.  Traps in the grass and shallow structure, plastics pitched into lay downs and boat slips.  Yep, Boat Slips!  Who fishes docks when its overcast?  I do now!

I did have a problem.  Out of the 6 Traps on the boat, only two were fish-able. Of the two fish-able lures, one went sailing into a tree on the bank when it snapped off during my cast.  I didn't know about the other lure until later, when the Trap bite had started to slow down.

I plan on contacting the lure company about brand new lures splitting (on the first day of use) and taking on water rendering them useless.

                                       I will not be caught Trap-less AGAIN!!!

Tourney Guys Took All The Fish

Date: 15 April 2012
Air Temp: 67-70
Water Temp: 65-67 degrees
Wind: NNW 9-12 mph
Sky: Clear
Tide: HIGH @ 3:10 pm

Aquia Creek

Hit the Aquia around 4:15pm with my Man , 50 Grand, JB.  It has been a loooong time since the last time he came out on the boat.  Almost 5 years to be exact, but who's counting?  The important thing is he made it out, LOL.

                                                     JB - Mattawoman - 2007

I was hoping to get him into some of the hot "Trap" action that has been going on lately, but that really didn't pan out.  I imagine the number of big tournaments (that were in the area) may of had an effect.  There were a lot of fish taken and the fish that remained have been really pressured lately.

We tried the best producing areas with little luck, as far as quality goes.  Picked up 2 decent keepers on a lipless in shallow grass.  Also, managed  to boat a few dinks by pitching plastics tight to shallow cover. We ended up with 6 fish in a little over 3 hours.  The lack of quality fish had no bearing on the fun factor.  The weather was nice ( a little more of a breeze than I prefer) and the company was great.

Although we didn't load the boat with lunkers, there was an added bonus.  JB bought his "Super Camera" along and got some some amazing photos that captured the definition of beauty (he also took some photos of scenery and nature crap too, LOL).

We have plans to do it again real soon.


                                                                 Beauty

                                                                         
                                                                       JB

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