Got hit with that OOOOH WEEEE!

4 May 2017
5:30 - 11 am
Incoming tide
Air Temp 50-64
Water Temp 66-67
Wind: East 20 kts G30

Hit Dahlgren at sunrise.  Next few days are supposed to be crappy so I forced it.  Wind was supposed to be manageable (below 10kts) until 11 am ish.  When I got there at 530: am it was already blowing.
Not sure what they were at launch, but by the time I came in she was up to 20+kts and gusting to 30 out of the east.  3-4' seas makes for a rough ride.  The tide was incoming from 5am -11.

Never connected with any fish, but it was more of a scouting trip looking for rips.  I'm guessing the wind had too much chop to have any visible rips.

Ran to the usual spots, but added runs to the Swan Point bar  and Cobb Island.  Under these conditions I didn't see anything special, but Swan Point maybe worth another look.

Air temp was 50-64 and water temp was 67 near plant and 65 at Cobb Island.  High for the day was only going to 67 per the forecast.

Morning wind: East 10KTS+

Back at the dock...
https://youtu.be/Wxue5L4Xw04

Blown off the Bay

3 May 2017

Hit the Bay around Solomons.  Got out about 7am.  It was already windy and getting stronger.  Wind out of NW @ 15KTs gusting to 25.  A dozen schoolies came off of the power plant on a suspending Bomber jerkbait.  1 did come off the boulders between the discharge current "swirl" and the rock bank on 6" paddle tail swimbait with 1 1/2 oz lead head.

NOAA reported water temp at 67.  I did not confirm on the finder.  Shame on me.
Air temp was in the upper 50s climbing to low 60s.  Today's weather was a good 10 degrees cooler than the day before and almost 20 degrees cooler than the week before.

Ran across the bay to the east side (20 mins) which was a mistake with a NW wind and no protection on the point.  The wind wanted to blow the boat into the shallow bank.

Ran back a cross to the point near the lighthouse , but the wind was getting stronger.  The trolling motor could not move against the current on 10, it would just hold its position.

Decided to call it (noonish).  GPS showed 37 miles covered in total.  Not bad for the old girl in those conditions.

Back At It 23 Apr 2013

Date: 23 April 2013

Air Temp: 53-55 (day before forcast of possible thundestorms)

Water Temp: 63-64 degrees

Wind: 6-10 mph

Sky: Few (had been overcast all day, but cleared up quickly after 2:00 pm)

Tide: HIGH 5:00 pm'ish

(full moon, appeared to be neap tide, have to verify). Verified, not neap.  Neap occurs 1st and 3rd quarter of moon phase.

Aquia Creek

Been out a few times in the last few weeks.  Really been slow.  Couple of 4 and 5 fish days.

Had a little bit of time, so I hit the water around 3:30 pm.  Tide was still coming in good.  I had a decent fish on the first cast with a Trap to shallow wood.  Three more boated in no time. I decided to leave my spot, because I was curious to see what the mouth was doing (I did boat one more on my way out of the cove to get on plane, just over 1 hour of fishing).  I wanted to see if a previous pattern (ticking grass tops) was still producing at the mouth.  NOPE!!! NADA!

Next hour at the mouth was pretty uneventful...

...Made my run back up the creek and stopped a new cove on the left with a lot of laydowns.  Threw a finesse worm into a tree and landed my 6th fish on the first cast.  Stuck around a little and missed another on a Trap.  Water had been slack since leaving the mouth.  Ran up and over to beat the bank near the RR bridge and nothing.  Only gave it 10 minutes or so. Started at the blind and didn't get much further.  Started to get cold and hungry.  Did see a number of fish starting to break water.

Headed in and was off the water by 6:30 pm.

Fun 3 hours.

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.