TWIF (This Week in Fishing) April 30th - May 6th

This week's fishing adventure began Saturday morning around 9:00 on St. Mary's Lake about 40 minutes south of here. Overcast skies, a slight breeze and air temperatures in the mid 50's, I thought conditions were terrific for a morning of fishing. I had three rods rigged three different ways but went with the trusty tube and 1/32 oz jig. It paid off with a little over a dozen fish, mostly largemouth bass. I was able to catch five different species, including a small chain pickerel as well as a small, maybe 5 inch, yellow perch. That's the greatest number of species ever at this location.

Sunday morning: May is here and the rains came with it. I had planned on putting the kayak on the water but with the showers we received made that a moot point. Anyway that didn't deter my desire to wet a line. I started at a small private pond, one I've mentioned before. I decided to try an orange Powerbait grub on a 1/8 oz jig. It paid off with a couple of bass, both about 14 inches. On the ride home I tried another pond a couple of my students told me about. I had a few nice takes, but only got one to shore, a nice crappie.

After warming up at the house for a little bit, I decided to drive up to Sewell Branch, the small creek in the middle of the county. It's my one spot in Calvert County where I can target chain pickerel. And today I was able to get two really nice ones. Casting to old trusty silver and speckled Arkie tube I hooked into a 22" and 23" fish. Not one between 22 and 23 inches, but two different fish.

Tuesday, May 3:

Middle of the week and getting a chance to fish is always fun. The convenience of Tuesday's attempt was wonderful. My youngest son had a track meet in Charles County. Literally across the street from the school is Tilghman Lake Park. It has a pond, with a small pier that stretches out about 60 ft or so into the water. I had a small yellow and black Zoom grub tied onto a 1/32 jig. I made some casts along the edge of some vegetation and reeled in slowly. On the third or fourth cast my lure got hit close to the pier. I made sure it was hooked and reeled in a small black crappie. It was the first fish I've caught at this location so I was pretty happy. More later I hope.

Friday, May 6th: To say that it's been wet in our area is an understatement. We've had rain each day this week and you can really tell when you look at the smaller bodies of water. The water itself is almost a mocha color which really has made fishing kind of tough. Standing on shore you better be throwing something with some flash if you want to attract any attention. Today while my oldest son was at swim practice I hit a private pond with a Panther Martin "Vivif Style Spinner Minnow." Imagine a normal inline spinner but with a soft plastic swimbait as a trailer. The blade did the trick as I was able to catch a nice largemouth as I swam it along the shoreline. Hopefully the rains will stop soon and I can get the kayak back out. Until then … Tight lines!