Mudskimmer

PJ, not to derail things but did your reds show up this summer? I haven't done much catching lately. Got a stingray on a crab fly (not foul hooked either)! on my last trip but nothing to brag about. I am hoping to squeeze in one more visit to the shore before the end of August. Hope the local fishing picks up in the fall. Salinities been real low this summer closer to home. TLOCD, the various intermediate lines marked as striper lines (my current one is a SA line) have worked well for me in the surf.

Got out yesterday for what was a beautiful day for fly fishing (not catching). Found some rollers again and one big girl surfaced only a few feet from the outboard. But still no one was interested in eating what I served. Kind of maddening, but that is tarpon fishing. They eat when you least expect it and when you think your set up for a great day they wont bite. I did get a visit from a rather large shark that swam toward my boat, took a few laps around in a circle, and then went on his or her way. I was wishing I had a bit bigger boat for a few moments.

Must be nice. I am constantly looking at my watch. Leave the house at 6:45, catch the bus at 7:00, catch the metro at 7:10, get to work by 8:15...As for the day of the week, they all kind of run together. But not tomorrow, I'll be tossing flies for that silver unicorn down on the eastern shore. Cant pass up light and variable winds! Especially this summer. Wish I lived closer, like someone on here does....

I'm sure you guys are right. Muddy water is likely more of an angler psyche problem than a fish problem. They got those big eyes for a reason. But I'm still sticking with my black colored flies. PJ, how did you all fare in the storm?

On my recent outing I had one rod with a standard intermediate line (1.5-2.5 ips) and the other with a SA 500 grain bluewater express sinking head with an intermediate sink running line. I didn't fish any spots that were 50 feet deep but I did fish a spot over 30 feet. I was on anchor and was able to feel the fly ticking the bottom when the tide was running hard so I think there are ways to get it done. When the tide wasn't running hard I just fished the standard intermediate. Even though I didn't get any takers I felt like I was in the right zone to get a bite. Of course, the other challenge is the water clarity usually stinks in deep river environments and you have to hope a fish runs smack into your fly.

Piker, hey we are just getting started on the season here in the Mid-Atlantic. I'll be back at it again at the end of the month. Its still a long shot but I am not throwing in the towel just yet.

Capt. Bob, thanks for the tip. A hookup up here is such a rare occurrence I'd hate to lose one due to a big line tangle. Those hard mono core lines I was using tend to tangle up easy, at least for me. PJ, I wish you could have made it. I didn't mention it before but I also scouted out a good bit of the flats and creeks at high tide but didn't find any reds. Saw turtles, crabs, and rays up on the flats but no redfish. Not sure we are going to see the numbers that were around last year unless they are just late arriving.

Well, despite my best efforts the competition is still wide open. I did find some rollers and bubble trails to cast to on Monday but no takers. Monday morning was actually perfect for the big herring. Little to no wind and water temps in the high 70s. Tuesday got pretty windy and rough. I fished anyway but no sightings. The bilge even came on a few times, little too rough for a flats skiff. Only saw 2 green heads in two days and I made sure the locals won't be bothered by those two ever again. However, not likely to make a dent in the billions of relatives still alive in the marshes. Anyway, sorry no fish pics but here are a couple of stills.

PJ, Sounds like you have a mighty nice setup there. I think the big herring are still down in the Keys. I was reading on another forum where they are still pretty thick down there. But I know they can appear out of nowhere if the ocean temps come up a bit. Tidewater, I could probably get to the upper Honga in a little over 2 hours. The 3 hour estimate was for the end of the road at Hoopersville. When I had a bigger boat with my father we would just launch on the western shore and motor over to the Honga. Its a beautiful area.

I'll second that. I have to say, you and PJ's outing last year inspired me to give the fly fishing a try for them. Last year I caught some smaller ones in the lower Potomac (although the slot size reds were around last year too) but my spies that live down there haven't seen them yet. So I drove down to the Gwynn's Island area (about the same distance for me as the Honga (3 hours away). I was really hoping for trout too but their tough to come by this year. I am hoping they do move a bit farther up the bay.

I managed to get out again after a hiatus with a buddy of mine looking for some reds or trout using some of the flies tied up this past winter. Despite what I consider a gallant effort I came up empty with the long rod. Tried crabs, mullet, bend backs but they would have none of it. We even encountered some tails mudding in super shallow water at low tide but being rookies at poling I think we spooked most of them. Then after several hours, I picked up the only conventional rod I brought along that day with a spinnerbait and proved that they were indeed present. My buddy got one at the same time. Called it a day and headed home. Beautiful day on the water but boy was it hot. Maybe next time I'll get one on the fly.

So that's what they look like! Nice to see some fish pics.

Nice to see some ties. I think they will draw some piscine interest. Been pretty slow in these parts lately. Work has been really getting in the way of getting out for my first red or trout of the season. Gonna try next Monday.

Thanks Capt. I don't recall seeing the green and white version until now but those black ones are definitely in my box.

Capt Bob, Probably safe to say that youngster is hooked for life. For that Belize order, will those be flies for the flats or deeper river stuff? If the latter, I'd love to see what you tie up.

Looks like it was time well spent. Nice ties. I'm hoping to happen upon some of those big nameless fish in a month or so, assuming I am assuming correctly here.

And here I thought bull sharks were the most dangerous man-eater on the eastern shore.

I'm sure your right about not many folks targeting them in VA under the closure. The area I was thinking about is actually north of the state line in MD where surprisingly the trout season is business as usual. No closure. Usually MD is more stringent than VA but the winter kills were all in VA. I never catch that many anyway so it doesn't matter to me whether I can keep em or not. Good luck with that flounder!

Thanks guys. PJ, I'm thinking about towing the skiff over to the eastern side of the bay for my next trip to try for some specks. Salinity and water temps usually run a bit higher over that way. Reports are trickling in from over there but no great numbers yet. Ofcourse, next to tarpon, I dont know of another saltwater species that will drive people to such great lengths to conceal info or outright lie about their whereabouts. If successful, I'll be sure to carry on that tradition.

Played around with some cling wrap this weekend. Thought it might be a unique idea until I googled it and found out there are lots of them out there. Oh well, hope the fish like it. If not, I can always douse it in pro cure or gulp! Also, tied up some gurglers, some with rattles some without. Still waiting for it to warm up in the Mid-Atlantic and for the trout and reds to arrive.

Thanks PJ, I feel better already. Times sure have changed though. When I was a kid, I just had to show up for dinner. My parents didn't have the foggiest idea where I was most of the time. These days it seems parents are carting them around constantly.

Ain't that the truth. I dont know how I managed to squeeze in that little fishing trip between my Anniversary (that night), mothers day, baseball games and soccer games, not to mention everything else. But its good therapy so I try to make it happen at least once in awhile. The rest of the time, I'm thinking about fishing.

Its always a good time to try the salt. Around here though I think the light tackle fishing is just starting to pick up. Most of the locals are still trolling for the big migratory striped bass (aka Rockfish) but that is just not my thing. I was only about 20 minutes from PAX so there are definitely some opportunities.. I tied up another color combo of that goat hair baitfish that I think the trout might like (if I can find them) since I have always done well on soft plastics in pink for trout.

Well, I got a day pass from the nuthouse so I drove to some saltier waters or at least brackish waters for the day. I was hoping for some early season reds or trout and wasted about 3 hours looking. Finally switched gears and tossed one of those arctic goat hair mullet flies at the jetties just off the boat launch and had some fun with schoolie stripers. They inhaled that fly! Water was really clear despite all the rain last week or so. Water temp about 62F on the lower Potomac. Still a few weeks behind normal this year. Here are a few pics of the day.

I picked up my custom 11 wt from my friend yesterday. I think he did a real nice job with it. Tried a bit of casting in his pasture and even with my unruly style I was able to sling it out pretty good. I haven't bought a new rod in over 10 years. Man are they light. I like the REC reel seat and guides so far. Hardly notice the guides are there. Here are some pics of the finished product. Only thing now is for the first fish to show.