I hit accotink creek yesterday in light of the steadily declining bass bite. There comes a point where the colder temparatures causes the water to turn over; oxygen sinks to the bottom; bass find deep holes to ride out the winter; and fly-fishing for bass becomes impractical. Trout will now be my primary quarry until early spring. Yesterday morning’s short session was worth three trout: two small ones, and this fat rainbow that demonstrates the ample forage in accotink creek.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Float Tube Adventure
I ignored the beaver that seamed to be circling me as if I was invading his territory; but when one of my flippers popped off and sank I really began to question the rationale of bobbing for bass in ice-cold water. Propelled disproportionately to the left by my remaining fin, I headed for the closest spot to land my tube. I saw a nice drop off that looked like a good point to probe for bass with the Murray’s Strymph I had on. I managed one accurate cast, albeit an anomoly, when a largemouth smashed my fly, bowed my rod, and completely changed my morning. After an extensive fight I landed the 16 ½”pig.
Bass fishing is different from trout fishing (I know this because I do both as much as I can). Trout fishing brings a sense of calm, relaxation, and appreciation for the habitat; bass fishing is pure adrenaline. Landing a 2lb + bass on a fly rod only magnifies the rush.
Bass fishing is different from trout fishing (I know this because I do both as much as I can). Trout fishing brings a sense of calm, relaxation, and appreciation for the habitat; bass fishing is pure adrenaline. Landing a 2lb + bass on a fly rod only magnifies the rush.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Fall Float Tube Bassin'
Bobbing in 50-degree water is more than a hypothermia risk; with the right waders it is also a great way to catch bass on a fly rod. There is a sense of urgency to make a last stand before winter kills bass fishing, football, and many other reasons to live. This morning started strong with continued bream action on my popper wet fly dropper combo. As action slowed I switched to a clauser. No dice. I then went for my trusty wooly bugger and scored a 12” largemouth suspended off a concrete boat ramp. A small, hard fighting bass is a blast on a fly rod.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
More Kudos to the Pop-n-Drop
When you have a short time to get on fish, you can't beat a bass popper with a wet fly dropped off the hook bend. Conventional bass tactics produced zero bites this morning. After trying my trusty white tube and spinner bait, I put down the spinning rod and went exclusively to my 6wt fly rod. In the next hour I got two small bass and about a dozen bream in between. Hunting big bass will have to wait -- this is too much fun!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Accotink
My second morning on Accotink Creek since the fall trout stocking was worth four rainbows. After fishing this creek after several seasonal stockings I note that the rainbows tend to hold in very specific spots. Since this is my home water, I will not elaborate, but the rainbows usually gravitate to cut banks and holes that satisfy the basic trout needs: cover, current, and food supply. Also, the word is out that the trout are in the creek. The pressure is definitely picking up, and not everyone is playing by the rules. Holes with good numbers of rainbows no longer give up easy bites. The party’s over -- back to bass fishing.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
More Fall Rainbows
The Pentagon is an excruciating hell hole. That's what makes a morning like this so special. I hit Accotink Creek at sunrise and hooked a limit of rainbow trout. I fished a wooly bugger with a wet fly dropper based on a steelhead fishing tip in this month’s edition of Field and Stream. Thank you Field and Stream for the tip; and thank you Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for putting quality rainbows in our local trout stream.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
New York Rainbows Save the Day
We were ready to pack it in and declare victory after catching our one pickerel. We suddenly spotted some trout. After the first cast it was clear the trout were going for the black wooly bugger I had on. I hooked the first rainbow and David started squealing. We managed five trout in about twenty minutes. This was the experience we were hoping for.
Of all the states I have fished in my life it is hard to beat the empire state for freshwater fishing. From largemouth bass to lake trout and muskie, you can catch just about everything in New York.
Of all the states I have fished in my life it is hard to beat the empire state for freshwater fishing. From largemouth bass to lake trout and muskie, you can catch just about everything in New York.
Don't Bite Me!
We are finishing up our family vacation near Lake George, NY. We found a park near by suitable for kid fly fishing. Within the first few casts we hooked a pickerel on a wet fly. This junior member of the pike family sports some pretty nasty chompers: hence the steady apprehension in David’s eyes. Shortly after I snapped this picture our little pickerel started snapping wildly. He was released without incident.
Later in life I will introduce David to pike, and muskie fishing. But first he has to grow big enough to knock one out with an oar. Anyone who has ever put one in the boat knows what I am talking about.
Later in life I will introduce David to pike, and muskie fishing. But first he has to grow big enough to knock one out with an oar. Anyone who has ever put one in the boat knows what I am talking about.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Vemont Panfishin'
We are on the board in New England. We would have preferred trout or smallmouth, but our first scores were perch. We are in Rutland, Vermont and asked locals about a lake suitable for father son fishing. That usually means panfish, and up here panfish usually means perch. Chalk up another species to the wooly bugger.
Walden Pond
We are on vacation in New England to see fall colors, ride trains, and of course: fish. Our first stop with a rod and reel in hand was Concord, Massachusetts. David and I went to Walden Pond (of Henry David Thoreau fame) for assured public access; it was the closest green blotch on the map. It only occurred to me afterwards that Thoreau was a fly fisherman. Finding a spot to fly fish was tough. Much of the bank was closed for restoration and back casting without hooking a tree or a literature enthusiast was challenging.
There are descent numbers of trout, bass, and panfish in Walden Pond. Early on we saw a beautiful rainbow trout rising, but could not get to him. After much searching we found a good spot and got a fly in front of a couple largemouth bass. After about forty minutes of fishing we came up empty, but the “pond” was beautiful and we avoided hooking an English major.
There are descent numbers of trout, bass, and panfish in Walden Pond. Early on we saw a beautiful rainbow trout rising, but could not get to him. After much searching we found a good spot and got a fly in front of a couple largemouth bass. After about forty minutes of fishing we came up empty, but the “pond” was beautiful and we avoided hooking an English major.
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