Tom Hughes, an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide, will speak at the MDTU Meeting on March 18, 2015. Tom has been guiding on the Susquehanna Flats and the Chesapeake Bay for more that 15 years. His experience rates him as a 5 Star guide on the Orvis website. He enjoys guiding both fly or light tackle anglers from the novice to the experienced.
His PowerPoint presentation will cover fly fishing the Susquehanna Flats (spring) along with the Upper & Middle Chesapeake Bay (summer, fall) for striped bass. He had a very productive year in 2014 and will go over what flies and techniques were used to make that happen.
The meeting will be held at the Towson Presbyterian Church, 400 W. Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, Maryland. 7:30pm-9:00pm, March 18, 2015. Free and open to the public.
Showing posts with label saltwater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saltwater. Show all posts
Monday, February 23, 2015
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Catching Nice Stripers - ALL DAY LONG
Billy Mellendick and I fished the Lower Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River late last year on a windy day with a bluebird sky. Fishing was fine, but there was no catching that day. We talked about that trip throughout the year and were determined to make things happen this year on that stretch of the Bay.
We left Catonsville, MD at 5:00pm, and with calm winds forecast, we planned to use Billy's boat instead of mine. After picking up some essentials; coffee, orange juice, egg with bacon and cheese sandwiches, at the Farm Store off of Rt. 97, we headed to Pt. Lookout State Park. After launching the boat we headed toward a productive location known as 'Two Fingers'. When we arrived there were plenty charterboats trolling, a handful of boats light tackle jigging, and plenty of working birds. Once we stopped the catching started.. The stripers were taking a 5" Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ rigged on a 3/4 ounce jighead and a Storm, 6", WildEye, Swim Shad , jigged off the bottom in water from 55 feet to 42 feet. The larger fish were away from all the boats and stayed there until the fleet moved in.
You can see some gannets in the above picture. If you're looking for the larger stripers look for this bird working the water. This picture was taken after a large majority of boats had left the water. That allowed us to float over schools of ocean run stripers. Before we knew it lunchtime had passed so we ate on the run when the boat was moving between the schools. The current became swifter after 2pm and we changed to Shimano, JTVF112, Butterfly Jig Flat-Side 112g/4 ounces (caught the largest fish this trip).We left Catonsville, MD at 5:00pm, and with calm winds forecast, we planned to use Billy's boat instead of mine. After picking up some essentials; coffee, orange juice, egg with bacon and cheese sandwiches, at the Farm Store off of Rt. 97, we headed to Pt. Lookout State Park. After launching the boat we headed toward a productive location known as 'Two Fingers'. When we arrived there were plenty charterboats trolling, a handful of boats light tackle jigging, and plenty of working birds. Once we stopped the catching started.. The stripers were taking a 5" Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ rigged on a 3/4 ounce jighead and a Storm, 6", WildEye, Swim Shad , jigged off the bottom in water from 55 feet to 42 feet. The larger fish were away from all the boats and stayed there until the fleet moved in.
Most Productive Light Tackle Techniques this Trip: The boat is drifting with the motor off.
Jigging the Bottom During Different Current Speeds
Slower Current – Soft plastics baits are very productive here with jigheads just heavy enough (normally ¾ or 1 ounce) to keep the lure in contact with the bottom. Cast the lure up current and let it hit the bottom. Keep the rod tip in line with or parallel to the horizon while moving the lure, in short horizontal jigs, back toward the boat with a tight line and the lure on the bottom. Do this until the lure is back to the boat.
Swift Moving Current – Metal jigging spoons and butterfly jigs are very productive here with enough weight to allow it to hit the bottom again and again, etc. From the up current side of the boat , open the bail allowing the spoon to hit the bottom. Let some additional line out, normally as much as the water. When the line is tight, move the rod tip from 9 o’clock to 12 o’clock swiftly. From 12 o’clock back to 9 o’clock keep a tight line moving the rod tip fast enough so it doesn’t diminish the movement of the spoon when it is falling back to the bottom. If the lure stops before it hits the bottom, set the hook.
It was really difficult to leave this beautiful stretch of our Bay, but unfortunately the catching day was ending and we had a 2 1/2 hour drive in front of us. On the ride home we talked about how exciting the day had been and when can we get down to the Lower Bay again. I talked with Capt. Brady Bounds and with the water temperature now at 44 degrees he advised me that the fish should stay there until Christmas....I sure hope so.
Thank you Billy for inviting me to fish with you this trip.
Happy Holidays to All
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Educational Video-Light Tackle Fishing for Striped Bass with a Suspended Jerkbait
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| Click on Above Picture to View a Short Video Explaining Who to do this Technique
NEXT MONTH
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| Click on the Above Picture to See the Agenda |
Monday, December 30, 2013
Ending 2013 on a Great Note - Catching Striped Bass
Billy Mellendick , Doug Schopman, and I decided to launch at Sandy Point State Park this past Saturday, 12/28/13. It would be our last time on the water this year and we surely didn't want to end it by being skunked.
We started catching just prior to when the current was flooding the swiftest (0.99 kts) at the location we were fishing on the Chesapeake Bay. We were in Billy's boat and during the 1st drift he put us on the fish. The water temperature was 39.5 degrees so we went with, from our experience, the most productive lure in cold water...Z-Man Scented Jerk Shadz 5 & 7 inch.
Be safe and enjoy 2014.
We started catching just prior to when the current was flooding the swiftest (0.99 kts) at the location we were fishing on the Chesapeake Bay. We were in Billy's boat and during the 1st drift he put us on the fish. The water temperature was 39.5 degrees so we went with, from our experience, the most productive lure in cold water...Z-Man Scented Jerk Shadz 5 & 7 inch.
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| Click to Enlarge |
I have tested the above Z-Man lures against other soft plastic baits, both with or without scent. The one with scent ran a close 2nd, where the non scented plastic wasn't in the running. The Z-Man, 5" Redbone, pictured above, landed over 15 stripers and is still ready for more. There is no need to change them for a fresh one unless they are coming off the hook.
Doug Landed the Largest Striper for the Trip
I Also Landed a Nice One
If you would like to learn how to maximize your time on the water by locating and catching more striped bass, please attend my 2 Part Lecture Series on Feb 1 and Feb 8. Please click on the picture below to see a short YouTube video explaining the agenda.
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| Click to View a Short Video on the Agenda |
Tight Lines & Smooth Seas,
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Taking Your Best Buddy Fishing
Curt planned a fly-fish outing for his best fishing buddy, Bruce, who was also his father. They have fly-fished many exotic locations throughout the years and wanted to add one more location, the Chesapeake Bay. Their plan was to catch some hard fighting striped bass and other saltwater species.
The weather during both days was outstanding; not too hot or humid, with a slight breeze keeping the waves low on the water. There hadn't been much topwater action in prior days, so a 9 weight fly rod, teamed with sinking fly line, and a 3" sinking clouser fly, were used and were very productive during the entire trip.
It's always a pleasure to show my clients some of the Chesapeake Bay jewels.
Unfortunately I always have to call 'last cast'. When I did Bruce made one of those casts all fly anglers like to make, right up to Sandy Point Lighthouse. On the 1st strip it was fish on. The outing finished with Bruce catching a nice 23" striper, tying up the score of 140 fish (70 each) for the 2 day outing.
The weather during both days was outstanding; not too hot or humid, with a slight breeze keeping the waves low on the water. There hadn't been much topwater action in prior days, so a 9 weight fly rod, teamed with sinking fly line, and a 3" sinking clouser fly, were used and were very productive during the entire trip.
Nice striper caught by Curt on the 1st day
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| Click to Enlarge |
A little variety
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Thomas Point Lighthouse
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| Click to Enlarge |
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