Sunday, Aug. 29 (from Joe)...Made my first kayak trip in search of bass and
panfish. I had wanted to try launching at Back Bay NWR, but the winds
were forecast at 10 mph all day long, and I thought that might make for a frustrating
day’s fishing in open water, so I decided, instead, on Oakum Creek, which I
know—from Charlie's videos—to be sheltered from the wind. I took a bass rod
and an ultralight spinning outfit (2 lb. test mono). Before I had even
left the dock, I thoroughly fan-casted the area around it while sitting in my kayak,
moored to the dock, first with a 5” watermelon Senko Texas-rigged (no
weight). When that didn’t elicit any bites, I started jigging a
brown-and-black Trout Magnet (1/64 oz. jig with 1” split-tailed plastic grub)
around the same area with my ultralight rod. On one lift off the bottom,
I got bit and played a feisty bass of a pound or so for a couple minutes until
it jumped and spit the hook. That quick bite was encouraging, but,
unfortunately, not a harbinger of the day’s fishing to come. After
fishing the dock area pretty thoroughly, I paddled 50’ or so inland and moored
to some cypress knees, and then started another cycle of fan casting. I
continued this way for another hour or so, working both the Senko and the Trout
Magnet around each area. I really wanted to catch a bass on that Senko,
but, with no bites forthcoming, eventually decided to switch to a buzzbait on
the bass rod and a small Mepps spinner on the ultralight. Tried those for
a while, but it was so hot and, being the middle of the day (I started fishing
around 11 a.m.), I decided that the buzzbait probably wasn’t the best
choice. Tried a chartreuse spinnerbait for a half-hour or so, but no
cigar. There were a lot of swirls and fishy activity—some of it, I think,
from bowfin gulping air off the surface—but, with the heat and high sun, I
surmised that most fish would be holding in deeper water off shore. I
tied on a small Johnson silver minnow and attached a 3” white split-tail trailer,
and jigged that along the bottom. Watching the action of this lure, it
looked absolutely irresistible to me! I fished it for a good hour or
more, all to no avail. Eventually I decided to cover a bit more ground by changing
my mooring and fan-casting approach, so, since the wind was blowing me back
toward the launch, I paddled a good way inland, and then let the wind blow me
back while I fished. Tried targeting the shallows on the shady side up
under overhanging trees and little cuts and offshoots, but nothing. Tried
fishing deep somewhat off shore and even in the very middle of the creek, but
never got another bite. Tried everything I knew to try, and even
eventually switched back to a swimsenko and Trout Magnet, but nothing
doing. Significantly before I expected it, the dock came into view. Checking my watch, it was 3:40, and my butt was so sore I needed to get
out of that kayak for a bit, which proved to be a little tricky (but I managed
it without turtling). I thought about an exploratory paddle across the
North Landing River to see how difficult it would be to reach Milldam or Snake
Creeks from Munden Point Park, but, being late, and being exhausted, I just
decided to end my trip then and there. (Once these dog days of summer leave town, you'll likely find the fish a tad more cooperative, Joe. Best of luck! --Ken)
Saturday, Sept. 11 (from Wayne, me and Mr. C)...The three of us left West Neck Marina together in the pre-dawn hours this morning, intent on trying to find a few fish...at least that was the case for two of us. I would be less than truthful if I didn't own up to the fact that it was another slow day, but we succeeded in meeting our goal. At day's end, after stops in four different holes, we had boated a double-limit of bass and lost a few along the way, too. The bites came on a mixture of baits. We now have info we'll need to plan our fishing day in the next tournament, our last qualifier of the current season, which is scheduled for a week from tomorrow. Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, the Mr. C mentioned earlier was a cicada that rode all the way from Wayne's house this morning to the marina, accompanied us all day long in such places as the boat's dashboard, on top of the windshield, and clinging for his life to the net on the floor of the boat as we journeyed from one spot to the next. We thought we had lost the little creature when we recovered the boat, 'cause he was no where to be seen. However, as we learned while talking to a friend, the cicada had decided the safest place for him to ride was up under Wayne's console. We heard his all-too-distinct sounds as we were talking to our friend. Don't know if we could call him a good-luck charm, but at least he was company...the silent kind, which more times than not is the best kind anyone can have.
Sunday, Sept. 12 (from Rob and Craig)...Launched from West Neck this morning in search of some new locations to cast a line during next Sunday's tournament. In their own words, it was an "OK" day, as revealed in the fact they caught four keepers between sunrise and about 11 or 11:30. Understand they also caught a couple of bream, including one real nice crappie. In any event, they're ready for next Sunday, and that's what matters.
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