Monday I started a school for my new job in my command's safety department. It was to last only three days, but the break from the grind was much appreciated. Since it was a "typical 'old school' Navy school" we mustered late and secured early every day. This was a good thing! Not only would it allow me the opportunity to do school work it afforded me some time to do some bank fishing.
I didn't take the kayak out because Danielle had the truck at work (I know...). That was okay because sometimes you just have to go back to where it all began. Standing on a bank and tossing a line in. Tuesday I went to NAS Oceana's lake for about an hour or so. I didn't catch anything, but the beautiful part was that I had the entire lake to myself! So I took the opportunity to try some new lures out and make sure I knew what to expect the next time I used them for real. Again, nothing caught but the time was well spent and greatly appreciated.
Wednesday I went to "The Pipe" on Mill Landing Rd. It is a little honey hole I found while fishing on Nanny Creek. A culvert pipe runs under the road from one side to the other. Depending on how the wind is blowing a current flows through the pipe. If you are on the Nanny Creek side, and there is current flowing into the creek, then the bite is usually on and big fish start chasing little fish. On the other side of the road it isn't as obviously visible if the bite is on. But I know there are some good fish over there.
If you choose to fish from the bank you can "dance the road", hopping from one side to the other. That is what I did for a couple of hours. I could see the commotion of feeding going on, but it wasn't consistent like it has been in the past. The total fish count for the day was three missed strikes, two Yellow Perch, two largemouth bass, and one huge extremely mad Chain Pickerel. I lost one spinner bait and one crank bait that the Chain Pickerel stole when it cut my line with his teeth. It was okay with me, though, due to the fact that the bill on the crank bait broke off some way, somehow in the fight. Nothing was a keeper. Well, the Pickerel was, but who keeps those? Just a good time tossin and crankin!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
Finally some time on the water!
Friday, 18 October, was a glorious day! After way too long off of the water I was able to get out and get a line wet. I decided to head to Lake Rudee and launched at Owl Creek boat ramp. I checked the tide table, as well as Scout Look, to see when the optimal time was. High tide was just after 0800 and Scout Look's solunar table was saying that just after 1000 was the best time so I zeroed in on about 0900 to be casting the first shot.
After a relaxing morning with Paul I dropped him off at day care a little after 0900. That meant that I missed my target time. Still okay, but I needed to hurry. I went to Farm Fresh grocery store to pick up some shrimp to try that out on a popping cork. More about that in a bit. I headed back to the house to load up and get on the road. Luckily the ramp isn't too far from our house so I made it there in no time, got everything ready, and launched rather uneventfully.
For the first time I went behind the Virginia Beach Aquarium to try out the deeper water. There was a slight breeze blowing me into Owl Creek so I just rode that for a while fan casting. Nothing bit so I decided to try my new popping cork. That got immediate attention, but from smaller fish. So, I pulled out my ultra-light rod that I brought along for the purpose of attempting to catch bait. I guess the bait was too small because I never could get a hook set. Oh well….better luck next time I suppose.
I pulled anchor there & started paddling east down the lake headed towards the inlet. My goal was to go through Rudee Inlet, possibly out into the Atlantic a little bit, and then into Lake Wesley. Well, once I got through the inlet I quickly realized that there was no way I was going out into the big water. Swells were WAY too big. I made the right turn into Lake Wesley. What a waste of time! In Rudee I would at least see a fish jump every once in a while, but in Wesley there was nothing going on. There were a lot of boats, but no visible action. The wind was even lighter than on Rudee, too. After a few minutes I decided to head back to where I at least saw something going on. Back through the inlet and into Rudee.
Once there I headed straight for the grass island. When I got there I started throwing everything I had tied on. Swim baits, Mirr-O lures, popping cork…you name it. I saw some action on the popping cork, but I could not get a hook set. I drifted some, “beached” some along the island, but all the while I was casting. Nothing, nothing, nothing. I headed to the buoy and anchored up there. Then the fun began! I threw the popping cork and immediately got hit….HARD! I set the hook, but there was nothing there. So, re-bait the hook and start over. I threw out just a little farther and BOOM!!! This time it was a good fish! After a brief fight I got a look at this nice Speckled Trout.
Now, this is where I must insert a hard-earned lesson that I forget every time I go out fishing on my kayak. Have ALL of the gear you need READILY ACCESSIBLE!!! Once I had this fish on the end of my line, and next to the boat, I realized that I did not have the following gear set and ready:
Are you seeing a trend here?! After I got all of that stuff sorted out, with the fish still on the line thankfully, I landed this beautiful fish! It measured out at 16 ½ inches and sure was good on the table for dinner!
After this one the bite was steady, sparse, but steady none the less. There was no more action on the popping cork. The only other action came on a new swim bait rig I set up a few weeks back with this being the first time I have been able to use it. It is just a simple piece of fluorocarbon line with a ¼ ounce jig-head tied to both ends. Then I tied a loop in between so that they are staggered. When you retrieve it through the water it looks like a miniature school of bait fish. Every time I was hit when I threw this rig the back swim bait was the one that was nailed. Stands to reason I suppose as the predator fish will go after the isolated/weaker fish. So the one at the back may look, to them, like that fish. Or maybe it had a dinner bell inside of it and I didn’t know it. Whichever was the case I don’t really care because I landed me two other smaller Speckled Trout. They fought way outside of their weight-class and that is all that matters.
All in all it was a good, much needed, day on the water. Here’s to hoping the time between trips isn’t as long as the last one!
After a relaxing morning with Paul I dropped him off at day care a little after 0900. That meant that I missed my target time. Still okay, but I needed to hurry. I went to Farm Fresh grocery store to pick up some shrimp to try that out on a popping cork. More about that in a bit. I headed back to the house to load up and get on the road. Luckily the ramp isn't too far from our house so I made it there in no time, got everything ready, and launched rather uneventfully.
For the first time I went behind the Virginia Beach Aquarium to try out the deeper water. There was a slight breeze blowing me into Owl Creek so I just rode that for a while fan casting. Nothing bit so I decided to try my new popping cork. That got immediate attention, but from smaller fish. So, I pulled out my ultra-light rod that I brought along for the purpose of attempting to catch bait. I guess the bait was too small because I never could get a hook set. Oh well….better luck next time I suppose.
I pulled anchor there & started paddling east down the lake headed towards the inlet. My goal was to go through Rudee Inlet, possibly out into the Atlantic a little bit, and then into Lake Wesley. Well, once I got through the inlet I quickly realized that there was no way I was going out into the big water. Swells were WAY too big. I made the right turn into Lake Wesley. What a waste of time! In Rudee I would at least see a fish jump every once in a while, but in Wesley there was nothing going on. There were a lot of boats, but no visible action. The wind was even lighter than on Rudee, too. After a few minutes I decided to head back to where I at least saw something going on. Back through the inlet and into Rudee.
Once there I headed straight for the grass island. When I got there I started throwing everything I had tied on. Swim baits, Mirr-O lures, popping cork…you name it. I saw some action on the popping cork, but I could not get a hook set. I drifted some, “beached” some along the island, but all the while I was casting. Nothing, nothing, nothing. I headed to the buoy and anchored up there. Then the fun began! I threw the popping cork and immediately got hit….HARD! I set the hook, but there was nothing there. So, re-bait the hook and start over. I threw out just a little farther and BOOM!!! This time it was a good fish! After a brief fight I got a look at this nice Speckled Trout.
Now, this is where I must insert a hard-earned lesson that I forget every time I go out fishing on my kayak. Have ALL of the gear you need READILY ACCESSIBLE!!! Once I had this fish on the end of my line, and next to the boat, I realized that I did not have the following gear set and ready:
1. Net out and ready
2. Fish Grip out and ready
3. Pliers out and ready
4. Ruler out and ready
Are you seeing a trend here?! After I got all of that stuff sorted out, with the fish still on the line thankfully, I landed this beautiful fish! It measured out at 16 ½ inches and sure was good on the table for dinner!
 |
| This is still the most beautiful fish I have ever caught! |
After this one the bite was steady, sparse, but steady none the less. There was no more action on the popping cork. The only other action came on a new swim bait rig I set up a few weeks back with this being the first time I have been able to use it. It is just a simple piece of fluorocarbon line with a ¼ ounce jig-head tied to both ends. Then I tied a loop in between so that they are staggered. When you retrieve it through the water it looks like a miniature school of bait fish. Every time I was hit when I threw this rig the back swim bait was the one that was nailed. Stands to reason I suppose as the predator fish will go after the isolated/weaker fish. So the one at the back may look, to them, like that fish. Or maybe it had a dinner bell inside of it and I didn’t know it. Whichever was the case I don’t really care because I landed me two other smaller Speckled Trout. They fought way outside of their weight-class and that is all that matters.
All in all it was a good, much needed, day on the water. Here’s to hoping the time between trips isn’t as long as the last one!
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Hopeful
Supposedly I have Friday off. Supposedly the weather is to hold out and be nice for a change. If that all comes to pass, and that's a big if, I'm headed out to (most likely) Lake Rudee for some light saltwater fishing! Now all I wish for is, again....if I get to go, some cooperative fish.
Back-up plan? Bass Pro Shops I think. Either that or I'll end up cutting the grass.
Here's to hoping Plan A works out!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
It's been a while....
So here I sit at work....dreaming of fishing. I haven't been in a very long time! As a matter of fact the last time I wet a hook, other than little walking trips with Paul for about 30 minutes, was August 30th. Like I said, I've stopped a couple of times and used the "emergency rod" from the trunk. (I really need to get a better "emergency rod". That thing is a piece of junk!) But not a "real" fishing trip where I take the kayak out. Work and school have gotten in the way. Mostly school as this half of the semester will be over this weekend. THANK GOODNESS!!!
It was with great expectation that I announced this past weekend, standing in the kitchen, that "I'm going fishing next weekend!" To which Danielle just looked at me, shook her head, smiled a little smile and said, "Okay......IF we have time." Dreams crushed I tell ya! CRUSHED! But that didn't nearly crush me to the core of who I am as bad as this WEATHER!!! A tropical wave/depression/storm/hurricane thing (it, nor the weather folks, could decide what it was) made landfall on the Gulf Coast last weekend. I expected it to roll up the Atlantic coast and hit us my mid-week. And that it did. However, it looks like it wants to stay around until the beginning of NEXT WEEK!!! Doesn't it realize that I have FISHING TO DO?!?! The percentage chances are supposed to be rather low this weekend so I may TRY to squeeze a short trip in if the winds aren't too bad. I REALLY want to head out to Rudee and see if I can hit the Puppy Drum, Gray or Speckled Trout. I'd even take a confused Flounder if they are still around! You MIGHT even convince me that a Blue Fish would be okay, too! (Convincing me of that might take an "adult beverage" or three, though)
So, here's to hoping the "weather gods" fully understand how I'm feeling about all of this and cooperate with me!
It was with great expectation that I announced this past weekend, standing in the kitchen, that "I'm going fishing next weekend!" To which Danielle just looked at me, shook her head, smiled a little smile and said, "Okay......IF we have time." Dreams crushed I tell ya! CRUSHED! But that didn't nearly crush me to the core of who I am as bad as this WEATHER!!! A tropical wave/depression/storm/hurricane thing (it, nor the weather folks, could decide what it was) made landfall on the Gulf Coast last weekend. I expected it to roll up the Atlantic coast and hit us my mid-week. And that it did. However, it looks like it wants to stay around until the beginning of NEXT WEEK!!! Doesn't it realize that I have FISHING TO DO?!?! The percentage chances are supposed to be rather low this weekend so I may TRY to squeeze a short trip in if the winds aren't too bad. I REALLY want to head out to Rudee and see if I can hit the Puppy Drum, Gray or Speckled Trout. I'd even take a confused Flounder if they are still around! You MIGHT even convince me that a Blue Fish would be okay, too! (Convincing me of that might take an "adult beverage" or three, though)
So, here's to hoping the "weather gods" fully understand how I'm feeling about all of this and cooperate with me!
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