My turn......on a river near me

Captwalleye 05/08/2010 - 20:01 Trip Reports River I got up early this morning grabbed my pack and rod and headed for one of the dams on the Patapsco river.It was a fairly long walk and I arrived just as it was getting light.
I moved into a postion that allowed me to cast along a wall and commenced doing just that.The first cast was a short one because I wanted to see how the lure was swimming.I had a Lucky Craft 100 Pointer on and was using a pop pop pause retrieve.The lure was acting just the way I wanted it too and as it came closer.I saw it was being followed by a fish.I slowed down my retrieve and watched the fish follow but not strike.I guess the fish finally saw me and disappeared.

I flipped the lure out again along the wall and when the lure got close enough to see again.I saw two fish shadowing it.They looked kind of familiar too.The next cast I went for broke and really whipped it out there.About a quarter of the way back in.I was rewarded with a nice solid strike.I took my time and didn't horse it in,and when it did finally get close enough to see.I had a 19" Walleye on.Nice way to start the day.

I wound up staying there in that spot just short of two hours.I wound up having a total of nine Walleye on and landing six.I had other strikes but they must have been just slashing at the lure and not really trying to eat it.These fish ranged from 18" thru and including two 25+"ers.I kept two of the smaller ones and released the others.All were healthy and put up a pretty good tussle.

I consider this to have been a great morning.Now all I have to do is get off my raggety rear end and start getting out more like this and go fishin'.
What's been holding me back? Good question.....just me I guess.Now to fix that.Time is short..don't waste it.

Round 2 Looking for the evening bite

Captwalleye 05/10/2010 - 04:59 I decided yesterday evening to go prospecting again at the same place.To my dismay there was alot of cosmic debris courtesy of the high winds and the people that like to throw stuff in the water floating around.I had to pick my shots to cast and still had to clean my hooks almost every cast.

I fished for about an hour and a half with a total of six strikes.As I was working the lures in I could see fish following but they'd turn away when I moved to move the lure.I landed two fish,a Sunfish with an attitude,and a 25.5" Walleye.He thought he was it too.Soaked me while I was trying to land him.

I threw three different lures.A Lucky Kraft 78 Pointer,a 97 Slim Pointer,and a "Jimmy Buffet Special" which is a "Parrot" colored # 10 X-rap.The Sunfish took the 78 Pointer and the Walleye slammed the X-rap broadside on the pause.

The evening bite wasn't as good as the morning but....I figure the wind and cooler temp had a hand in that.It was still good to get out,and I was not skunked.I'll go again just as soon as I am able.

I need to get one!

DanMarino 05/11/2010 - 20:21 Great job Capt!

I need to hit the Potapsco. I've been hitting the Patuxent and some tributaries lately with the fly rod in hopes of getting something other than fallfish.

Still looking for my first walleye ever and hope to catch one this summer as well.

I lucked into a muskie on the Potomac last year, so a walleye should be easier.

Tom

thats what i was waiting for

space inwaders 05/09/2010 - 12:51 Nice work Capt, this is what i've been waiting to hear!

I have been wondering about your local waters and looked back through archived reports to re-read some of your reports.

I too have been focusing on my home waters, and finding a couple eyes. None up to 25 inches though, those are real nice ones there. Its great to find em closer to home isn't it? Good work, keep em comming!

-steve

Yes it is

Captwalleye 05/10/2010 - 05:16 Thanks Steve, I decided to fall back on an old and closer friend.I knew they were there.Just didn't expect them to be so cooperative and plentiful.It's not like that all the time,and there are plenty of times I've just gotten excercise out of it.
I hope I can continue to get out there and keep catching them.Along with posting.My get up and go seems to have gotten up and went.

Dam Removal

ShawnLittle 05/11/2010 - 08:05 Hey Captain!

How do you think the removal of the four dams on the Patapsco is going to affect your toothy critters? Are dams an important part of their structure in your experience?

He Lives!

muskalungee 05/11/2010 - 14:47 Shawn! The Capt and I talk about you almost every time we go fishing. We were worried about you man. Glad you're OK!

Muskalungeeeeeeee!
-Mike
Co-Founder, MDfishing.org

MIA......

ShawnLittle 05/11/2010 - 15:58 HEY MUSKALUNGEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Yeah, I'm ok. I felt bad not replying to anything but I had some philosophical differences with some of your previous members in regards to the keeping of monster bass and then another one taking a jet boat out on the Monocacy and was young and stubborn enough to think I am always right.

Got older, married, wiser, more patient, and working too hard to care about little differences in life. I'm ready to start contributing again but don't think I'm ready enough to give out my Loch Raven secrets to some young guns.

I AM TOTALLY STUNNED!!!!!!

Captwalleye 05/11/2010 - 10:42 Hey Shawn!
Where have you been? It's about time you reappeared.Got some new guys here that need some guidance on your water,Loch Raven.
Good to hear from you again.

I believe the removal of the dams will impart a significant change in the lay of the river as we know it now.As each dam is removed the areas immediately above and below will alter (possibly in a drastic way)due to the new current flow.I haven't had a chance to go and see the dam site right below Rt 40,but know it's pretty much gone.That's where the Walleye first made themselves know to me back in the early 70's.Than it was after Hurricane Agnes in 72 that they were caught below the dam downriver from Ilchester rd.I caught a monster 3"er (that was a strange looking minnow for sure)while seining for Hellgrimites right below the Rt 144 bridge in the late 90's or early 00's.So that tells me their propagating and there are quite a few year classes in there.

Walleye seem to like places where the depths vary.They hang out in the deeper places until the lights start going out and than come out and terrorize.If they can't find depth they'll look for places with shade or spots they can get under to escape from the bright light.Now that doesn't always hold true.They can and will appear when and where you wouldn't expect them.If their hungry they're coming out to eat.

I have spots that have paid off in the past.I look for similar spots as I travel,and when I find them give them a real chance to prove themselves.

Awhile ago you mentioned that the DNR said there were no Walleye in the Patapsco.SHHHHH what they don't know won't hurt them.There are a few other species in there they'll probably claim are'nt in there either.That's alright too.Enjoy them.Once all the dams are gone there is a real good chance that all those fish that used to run up that river will start doing so again.Hopefully the DNR will assist that transition along with some transported to some predetermined spawning areas fertilized eggs.Mother Nature will take over from there.I may not see it,but there is a very good chance that you will.Enjoy it!

Mission.....

ShawnLittle 05/11/2010 - 16:06 I will be spending the rest of spring and all summer, mostly on Friday mornings in pursuit of my first wally. I will be spending most of my time on the Patapsco in search but if things get desperate, I might be taking the drive to the Potomac. It will happen, hopefully closer to home than not. First stop will be Daniels dam........

Funny you should mention my previous post about DNR, I put "Walleyes in Patapsco river" in Google and there was a link that popped right up to my post on this site from a couple of years ago.

Loch Raven has been good to me this year, damn good. Last Year, not so much, in fact even the Monocacy didn't treat me as well last year as it usually has. Anyone remember having any problems with numbers of fish last year?