TWiF (This Week in Fishing) November 19th - 27th

Saturday, November 19th:

Saturday was my first outing since last weekend. The weather was terrific to be on the kayak, with temperatures in the low 70's, a slight breeze and bright bluebird skies. But like my last post, fishing was slow. I ended up catching only two fish, a small bass and a bluegill. Actually both were about the same length at around 8 inches.
Later in the day I drove up to Hunting Creek for about 40 minutes while waiting to pick up my youngest son from an ROTC event. My third cast, of the black and yellow grub, went tight. I hooked up with a pickerel and fought it to the side of the stream but unfortunately it shook off. Successive casts turned out fruitless.

Sunday, November 20th:

This afternoon I headed towards the middle of the county on a few errands. Of course I took a couple of fishing poles with me. I started at Hunting Creek casting the same black and yellow grub as the day before. But after a little time I switched to a small chartreuse mini Shad called a "Panfish Assassin." I made a few casts and one ended up in an area just behind a few fallen limbs. A small tug let me know that I was getting a bite so I set the hook and reeled in a small yellow perch. It was only the second I've caught at this spot so it was a surprise. I released it and then tried another bait, an inline spinner, but didn't get any more bites.
After a quick stop I then headed to the same private pond I've mentioned before. The cold front that came through had dropped temperatures considerably and the wind was still howling. Nevertheless I thought I'd try a 1/8 oz buck tail jig I had tied the day before. The wind made it hard to stay tight with the line but I was able to catch one small bass. I then headed back to the house to get some things ready for the two day school week.

Wednesday, November 23rd:

Well Thanksgiving break is here and it's my hope to catch at least one fish each day. Today started poorly with getting blanked at the private pond I like to visit. It was pretty cold in the morning while I was there. In fact as I reeled in the line ice was forming on the line guides. I headed home to do a little yard work. After lunch and a few card games with my wife and sons I drove down to Lake Lariat for a couple of hours. I paddled around one of the fingers of the lake, trying to stay on the sunnier side. Once again the bite was very slow with only getting three or four total. I was able to capitalize on two of them reeling in a 6 inch bluegill as well as a 6 inch bass.

Thursday, November 24th: Thanksgiving Day and we headed down to Salisbury. My sister's family was visiting her in-laws so we stopped and had lunch at Golden Corral. After that the boys went and saw a movie and I headed to the stream coming out of Leonard's Mill Pond. I had a couple of bites, but couldn't hook up with anything, which meant that my hope to catch a fish each day of break was for not. But there's always tomorrow.

Friday, November 25th:

In Salisbury without a kayak and still wanting to fish I have a couple of options. This morning I drove over to Pemberton Historical Park to fish Bell Creek, a tributary of the Wicomico River. With autumn being in "fall effect" (see what I did there?) there were loads of leaves on the surface. Fishing with light jigs the leaves prevented the bait from falling into the area where the fish were. So I moved down stream a little to an area I hadn't tried before. It was pretty clear of leaves as well as overhanging limbs. A couple of casts into this area and I was hooked up with a 13 or so inch chain pickerel. After that I walked down a little further and tried another area but didn't hook up with anything there.

A little later that day my sons wanted to head to the Stratosphere Trampoline Park north of Salisbury. I dropped them off and drove a little south to Leonard's Mill Pond. The stream coming out of the pond itself wasn't moving very fast. I tied on a very small jig, I believe it's a 1/64 oz. (I found it in Wisconsin this past summer.) That paired with a small Gulp! minnow. That bait was even a little too big so I cut it in half and put it back on. With that combination I was able to catch about a half dozen bluegill as well as one black crappie. All were released to swim again and I returned to pick up the boys.

Saturday, November 26th: Last day in Salisbury and once again I woke up early. With only an hour or so before we had to meet my sister and her family, I drove back up to the stream at Leonard's Mill. Using the same very small jig, this time tipped with a small 1/2 inch piece of a bright green plastic worm (Hot Worm by Field & Stream), I was able to catch three more bluegill as well as a nice 5 or 6 inch redbreast sunfish.

Those four brought the total to a dozen for the two days.







Sunday, November 27th: Last day of the break and I had to head to the school for another NHS stadium cleanup. I left early from the house and made a 40 minute stop at Hunting Creek. I had a black and green tube on a 1/32 oz jig looking for a tug on the other end. I made a few casts out into the middle of the stream and gave it a few tugs but it didn't catch any eyes. I then moved down a little further and made a cast to an area behind a few fallen limbs. Then it was "Game On!" I set the hook and began to reel. I actually let the fish swim a bit hoping it would be tired when I grabbed it. I ended up catching a nice chain pickerel, just about 18 inches long.

I released it and and moved down to another spot to cast a couple more times. Again a cast to an area that had some places to ambush prey and I hooked up with another pickerel. This one was about 15 inches or so; both nice fish. I hooked up with one more but it shook off before I got it to shore.

The last couple of weeks have been pretty good for me. Not huge fish, or big numbers of fish but still a lot of fun on or along the water. Temperatures are still dropping and until the water turns hard/solid I'm going to keep trying. Until next time ... Tight lines!

TWIF (This Week in Fishing) November 3rd - 13th

Thursday, November 3rd:

With a little time before my last class of the week I stopped by a neighborhood pond. I was using a small, 1/16 oz, jig and trailer and managed to hook up with one black crappie. I had a couple more bites but no serious takes. Having only a few minutes, about 20 or so, I was satisfied with one fish and headed to class.

Friday, November 4th:

Tonight's the last regular season football game and I had to head to Charles County. Since we also had a two hour early dismissal I had extra time so I stopped off at Tilghman's Lake Park across from LaPlata High School. When I arrived I looked at the lake itself and thought "Man the shoreline is covered with fallen leaves." But as I approached I saw that I was gravely mistaken. The lake itself had been drained down quite a bit. I decided to go ahead and try a few cast, but where I was standing was a good 5 to 6 feet below the pond's normal level. (I will say it made it easy to see some of the ledges for when I visit again with the kayak.) I still caught a couple of small black crappie. I then had to get back on the way to the game but it was as a nice break.

Saturday, November 5th:

Yesterday as I drove to Lackey High School I passed by the Myrtle Grove Wildlife Management area. Having fishing there a while back, as part of my "Fish across Maryland #FaMD""Fish across Maryland #FaMD", I knew a little about the area. Today I decided to return with the kayak. As I arrived I spotted a few anglers standing on the shore watchfully tending their line. The state department of fisheries had planted some trout here and these guys were trying to get their share. I pulled out and paddled across the lake to an area with some lily pads that were beginning to die back. Casting a small jig, dressed with deer hair, I was able to catch a half dozen fish. I'd make my casts just outside of the pads and occasionally the lure would get hit by bluegill or a crappie. None of the fish were a keepable size, so they were all released. As I returned to the launch I saw looked at a couple of the other anglers. No one was catching anything which to me proved that I had to get to where the fish are; so I was really happy I brought the kayak.

Sunday, November 6th:

For a second time this weekend I got the kayak out on the water. This time I took it out on the Patuxent River, leaving from Nan's Cove. The fishing was tough as I really didn't get many bites. Paddling around the edges of the cove with the falling tide the fish just seemed to have disappeared. I did catch a couple of white perch on a small Beetle Spin lure in an area with a little deeper water close by. After an hour and a half I tucked my tail between my legs and headed back to the launch.

Later in the day I drove up to Hunting Creek and spent a little while casting a small jig. Once again the bite wasn't that terrific and I only caught one bluegill.

Tuesday, November 8th: Election Day 2016 and I choose fishing!

After doing a couple of things around the house I drove up to a small private pond and spent some time casting a jig tied with deer hair. It paid off in a small way with a couple of smaller crappie. I switched to golden jerkbait and was able to catch one bass.
Later, before my class, I drove over to another private pond in a neighborhood a little east of my school and spent some more time trying to catch a few. There I caught a handful of crappie including a nice 11 & 1/2 inch one. Each of them were caught with a small 1/16 oz jig with a Arkie Lure Baby Shad trailer. I also tried a crankbait, Firetiger pattern, and was able to catch a 14 inch bass.

Friday, November 11th: Veteran's Day in Calvert County meant inservice for the teachers. After they were all finished I headed home for dinner and some time with the boys. Our football team had a home playoff game so I headed back to the school early for a chance to try a few casts. I decided to try the same small jig with the baby Shad. It paid off a little with a couple of crappie as well as a couple of small bass.

Saturday, November 12th:

A quick stadium cleanup this morning and a head cold that hit me hard around lunchtime really limited my fishing today. I gave the pond at Calvert Cliffs State Park a try to no avail. It had trout planted in it a few weeks back, and I could see a few playing around the surface. But I didn't get any bites at all. A little later in the day I drove up to Hunting Creek for an hour. It was, if I remember correctly, the second cast when I hooked up with a 16 inch chain pickerel. Photos and then a release, then about another 30 casts or so but no more fish.

Sunday, November 13th:

November hasn't been very nice to me on the fishing front. But then again I like to fish shallow from the kayak, and with the changes in weather I think I'm just not hitting the right spots. Nevertheless I did get a couple of hours on the kayak. I got a few of nice hook ups but I was only able to land one small fish, a real "dink" if you will.

I've said it before but my fishing will slow down a good bit the week. Swim season begins on Tuesday so after school outings will be done. I'm not really upset about it because I thoroughly enjoy working with this team. So until next time... Tight lines!

TWIF (This Week in Fishing) October 21st - 30th

Friday, October 21st: School has been going well, and the classes I have to take are doing the same. This week, our school system had an inservice day on Friday. After the pleasantries of that I took some time before the evening's football game to stand on the side of pond. I began with using one of my buck tail lures I had tied. Unfortunately it can snagged and my line wasn't quite strong enough for me to get it back. I tied on a golden jerkbait and began casting again. On one long cast after the lure hit the water, my line felt heavy. I gave it a good yank and brought a small bass to shore. It was about 13 or so inches long but since some rain was just starting I was happy to head back to truck.

A little later that afternoon, after a bite to eat, I headed to a new spot that my school principal told me about. The pond is about the same size as the other I had just tried. I still had the jerkbait on my line so I gave it a few casts. One cast along the shore I hooked up with another bass. This one was a bit larger, maybe 16 inches or a little more. I got him to shore and snapped a picture and then released him back into the pond. I saw a few panfish swimming and tried a smaller lure but the largemouth was the only one I got here. I'll have to try the spot again.

Saturday, October 22nd:

After the stadium cleanup this morning I drove up to the mid county area and stood along Hunting Creek for 40 minutes or so. I brought a Rapala micro minnow that I had added some buck tail to the back hook. On my second cast the line wrapped around a limb that overhung a small portion of the creek. And of course I wasn't able to get it back. After the line broke I tied on a small jig with a green and white tube and promptly caught a nice 7 or 8 inch bluegill. He was released and I began to cast again. On one cast just behind a small outcropping into the stream my line went tight very quickly. I reeled down and set the hook as best as I could. I then spent a couple of minutes bringing in a nice 16 inch chain pickerel. A picture or two and he was back in the water to fight again.

Sunday, October 23rd: I woke up this morning wanting to try a couple of different locations. Little did I think I'd try three different ones. I started at the private pond casting a 1/8 oz jig I had tied with some buck tail. I put a Bobby Garland baby Shad on it as a trailer.

I didn't get a lot of bites and only managed to catch one crappie. Not sure if I just wasn't in the right area, or if the bright "bluebird" skies were affecting the fish but as I said not many bites.
After pretty much failing there I drove up to Hunting Creek in the middle of the county. There I switched to a little smaller jig and was able to catch a few bluegill. Again not the biggest fish I've ever caught, but at least they were pulling on the other end of the line.

To round out the day, and the weekend, that afternoon I took the kayak down to Lake Lariat. There was a little wind on the water so I was pushed along here and there. I was able to pull in behind an outcropping of trees or a small point occasionally. Once again using the smaller jig I came up with a few panfish, just about a half dozen.

Saturday, October 29th; The week is over and there's no stadium cleanup today. In actuality my sister's birthday was yesterday and I was heading to Salisbury for a quick visit. I got started from St. Leonard a little later than I thought I would but nevertheless I was across the Rt 50 bay bridge by a little after 8 am. Knowing I would need to stop for other reasons I decided to hit the stream at Wye Mills. I spotted another pickup truck and figured I was only stopping for a half hour so I wouldn't crowd the other gentleman very much. In that half hour I was able to catch three small crappie and a bluegill using 1/16 oz jig with a Bobby Garland "monkey milk" baby shad.

My goal today was ultimately to get on Williams Mill. I had looked forward to it the entire week. I never would have thought I'd spend 90 minutes paddling around and only hook up with one small chain pickerel. With the "coolish" temperatures I figured the fish might be up higher in middle of the day, but maybe the high pressure had them thinking differently. Either way I was disappointed and discouraged but I'll try again another time.

I had a little more time before I was going to head to my sister's house so I drove over to the Pemberton Historical Park on the western side of Salisbury. The creek was pretty clear and I could see at least 18 inches down. I stood on the shoreline for about 40 minutes using a small red and chartreuse tube from Creme. Again I only managed a handful of bites and caught just two bluegill.
While it wasn't the Saturday of fish catching I had planned I still enjoyed the time out. But more importantly I enjoyed the time of seeing family which was why I made the trip down in the first place. (Plus there's always the ride home the next day 😜

Sunday, October 30th:

On the ride home from Salisbury I decided to stop off one more time in the Wye Mill area. This time, instead of fishing the stream, I put the kayak on the lake itself. As I went around the first bend I realized that this was a location I would want to come to again. The lake looked pretty big and having only an hour or a little more, I knew I wouldn't be able to even really begin to scratch the surface of where to find fish. I tried the wind-blown side but really didn't have much luck. Then I paddled over to the protected side and made my casts along the shoreline. I ended up catching a few bluegill along with one nice size redear. It was a lot of fun trying new water. It also gives me another option for my rides to the lower shore. Now I just need to renew my efforts on "Fish Across Maryland." Until next time... Tight lines!