TWIF (This Week in Fishing) June 25th - July 1st

Saturday, June 25th:

Well my fishing for this week is started on the Patuxent River. I hit the river at low tide, again. I know it isn't the best time but it was when I could get out. I decided to try some bottom fishing with small pieces on shrimp on circle hooks. With the current moving like it was, as well as the breeze working in cooperation with it, I was surprised that I didn't get more bites. Then again maybe my drifting was to fast, so it may be a matter of a heavier sinker next time. Anyway I did catch 3 small white perch. But again since it was low tide I spotted another old tire on the shoreline. Suffice it to say I came home with the dirty thing again.

Later in the day I went back to Nan's Cove to see how things were at high tide. Again I arrived a little late, just as the tide was going slack. Maybe not the best time but it was a gorgeous evening. Using a small "beetle spin" I was able to catch a half dozen white perch again. There were some fish breaking the surface in various areas. I was close enough to one and cast just a little to the side. As I reeled in the spinner I hooked up. I thought it might be another perch but was pleasantly surprised when I brought in a 7 inch striped bass, my first of the season.

Monday, June 27th:

Well it's back to Salisbury for a few days. With helping out with things back home I took the kayak down with me. Now my former obsession, geocaching, is no longer. It's been replaced by kayak fishing. But the want to occasionally find a geocache is still there. Fortunately some hiders do more than just place caches in parking lots or 200 ft down a trail. Today I took the opportunity to head to a body of water that I didn't know existed even though I grew up within 5 miles of it. Williams Mill Pond is located just south of the Maryland-Delaware state line; it looks like it may even connect with another favorite of mine, Leonard's Mill. Being a typical eastern shore pond it had loads of habitat to various creatures. I spotted multiple herons, ducks, and turtles. Of course I was more interested in what was below the surface of the water. I started with one of the silver tube under a small float and I had a couple of nice pulls on it from a few nice black crappie. I paddled around to a couple of other areas and found a few more crappie. Probably around 7 pm or so I switched baits to a bright green nymph. Unfortunately the jig I was using had too big of a head and it tore the soft plastic so the bait would barely stay on. I switched again to a Bobby Garland Baby Shad. With it I caught my first true pumpkinseed, a really pretty fish. But again the jig really couldn't hold the bait correctly so I switched again to a small 1 inch curly tail grub. The first cast with it paid off 100 fold with a terrific largemouth. It was close to 14 inches long.

I had some problems getting him back into the water, since he shook out of my hand and landed on the kayak itself. (Hope he's ok.) A few more casts and I had my fourth species of the day with a small bluegill. I always enjoy getting as many species as I can so this was a great way to start my time in Salisbury.

Wednesday, June 29th: With the fact that I'm still in Salisbury I headed out this morning to Williams Mill. Exploring new water is always fun and finding out what species live there increases the enjoyment. I hit the water just before 7 am. I decided to use a small yellow plastic grub style bait that I had found while on vacation in North Carolina. (I actually found it over Easter Break in a trash can along with a small tackle container filled with other color grubs and hooks.) The bait paid off with catches of nice size black crappie and bluegill. I also caught a 9 to 10 inch golden shiner, so add another species to the list of known fish in the pond.

Later the same evening I drove back up to the same location. My sister, who had had surgery, was resting at the house. The weather was beautiful so I gave it another try. This time I was using a small white grub and I managed to catch several panfish again. But on one cast as soon as my bait hit the water a very large swirl came up and yanked on it. As I tried setting the hook I felt nothing. I reeled in the line to find my bait, hook and all, had bitten clean off. I paddled around some more giving a "Fire Tiger" crankbait a few casts. About half way back on one retrieve it got hit and reeled it but as it came to the surface the line went around my paddle. As I tried to unwrap it the fish shook off. I didn't want to give up so I tied on a "Storm" curl tail minnow. Again it got smacked really well once and I got that fish to the kayak but as I reached in to bring it onto the boat it spit the hook. I headed back to where I launched, making occasional casts to the edges of lily pads. My last cast, about 30 ft from the put in location, I hooked up again. This guy was a terrific fight as he turned the kayak to the left and right. As I got him up I saw that it was a huge chain pickerel and I really wanted him.

I got him in the kayak and thought he might be my first "citation fish." I measured it, 22 inches, and then released it as soon as I could. Alas no citation though since in the state of Maryland a chain pickerel must be 24 inches in length! Two inches too short- a reason to try again. (As if I really needed one)

Thursday, June 30th: Last full day in Salisbury making sure that my sister is recovering well. I had to put gas in the truck so I decided to hit a small stream that leads out of Leonard's Mill Pond. I was using a small critter style bait and was able to catch a couple of bluegill in some pools along the stream.

On my way out of town I stopped one more time at Williams Mill. I was hoping to stir up another big pickerel with Storm curly tail I used the evening before. I got one nice bite but no luck getting it in all the way. I did catch another good group of bluegill and crappie. In fact all totaled I caught over 50 fish on my trip to Salisbury including six different species. I was pretty happy! Until next week ... Tight lines!