Shaking off the Winter Blues

[harryh3o]

Things are finally warming up a little. Went out last night to break in the 6Wt I had made myself over the winter. I haven't had this much fun since the fall. 2 people turned me down to go and another had some previous engagements. So off I went alone and wore them out. Mostly 20 inch class fish, my biggest for the night being 24 inches, great stuff on a 6Wt. I stopped counting, but I would say I caught at least 30 fish in 3 Hours. (All C&R) The water temp was 50, and the fish were pretty active, not lethargic, and actively feeding.
First fish of the night
http://members.cox.net/huelsbeck/images/3-30-05/1.jpg
Pretty Ocean Striper, Black Bars, and crawling with Sea Lice
http://members.cox.net/huelsbeck/images/3-30-05/2.jpg
Been a while since I've had one of these.[grin]
http://members.cox.net/huelsbeck/images/3-30-05/3.jpg

[Wild Bill]

Nice job Harry. Up here the much awaited C & R in the Susky Flats is a mud bowl again and it does not look like it will get better any time soon. Were you in the bay or a river?

[OneMoreCast]

Oh man....nice

Look at the scar on the back belly above the anal vent. Looks like that guy dodged a bullet in his younger years.

edit....whoa...Dunno if it is the picture but it looks like a bite radius scar....it comes around the other side too. The ocean is a tough neighborhood I guess.

[harryh3o]

Hey Bill,
I saw the Susky Flats were not looking good for you guys.[sad]
I was at the HRBT, SW piece of the bay, but realy where the James, Nansemond, and Elizabith Rivers come together and into the bay. Never really any big fish there, but close and easy afternoon run.

OMC,
I noticed the marks when I caught em. I also had another one with basically the same bite, but fresh on both sides. I would have taken a pic, but I felt bad for him, and wanted to get him back in as quick as possible. I had another with a hook jaw, where early on someone had treated him bad, and his whole right jaw was a hole; still a healthy, feeding fish though.

[flyhauler]

Were you working birds? Lights? How deep? My boats going to get wet this weekend and considered some C&R on-the-fly if I can find them after the togs.

[harryh3o]

Flyhauler,
Lights, surface

[flyhauler]

Thanks! Hope to see you out there. I'll be lookin for a Skiff?

[harryh3o]

No problem, I probably will not be out there,(other obligations) SeaOX170, small and wet enough to be a skiff.[grin]
http://members.cox.net/huelsbeck/images/webboat.jpg

[Chris Newsome]

Nice fish lippin' thumb - the true sign of all hardcore striper fisherman.[grin]

Those scars look like bacterial lesions that have healed over. Its a pretty come sight on stripers in VA waters. Also, the mouth deformities may be from malnourishment during the larval stage of development. Any scientists out there have any thoughts. I see more and more stripers with mouth deformities every year.


Chris

[bhorsley]

nice fish Harry, love those guys. Proabably my favorite size--pull hard, plenty of them and you can use lighter rod. Strange how your local bass are bititng and ours so cold they are turning up their noses at even a live eel[sad]
Our sound water is 55.

[Capt Frank]

Harry
That boat brings back memories. I had that same boat in oh about 1980. The crazy thing is it had a small little splash box where the 70 HP Johnson sat. One day sitting at the end of the south jetty rocks in OC, I had a wave come over the transom. Almost before I could cut the anchor rope, the boat was 1/2 full of water. If your boat was like mine it wasnt self bailing but once I got going I pulled the inside plug, and ran on plane enough to empty her. Closest I ever came to getting swamped, shame was that the big trout were running then, but I was real careful after that scare.

[harryh3o]

Chris,
I think Ron has talked about you before. You're just up on the peninnsula right?

Brian,
There is always a welcome spot for you. Only a couple of hours away. I know it's not NC size schoolies, but great 6wt action.[grin]

Capt Frank,
It might be your boat, who knows. [smile] SeaOx 170, 1982,it's got the little splash well, it keeps out the riffles and not much else. I have the plugs in until the greenie comes over the bow, usually just as my fishing buddy is about to comment on how dry we have been riding that day. [grin] I've had her since December 2002, and I have to say she has never let me down, gotta love those three cylinder Evinrudes. From fishing on the Nottoway River, Eastern Shore, CBBT High Rise, First and Second Island, countless trips to the HRBT, Monitor Merrimac bridge tunnels, Harkers Island, even in the Atlantic a few times. That little boat has the heart man!! I'm trying to find something a little bigger, and will definently hate to see her go, but the memories will always remian of all the fish from that boat.

[bhorsley]

Harry,
i really love 18 to 26 inch fish--great fighters and you get to use a 7 or 6 wt!
I have been telling myself i have got to get back up there KO is always inviting us up--just got to do it!

[naked goby]

Those fish are there year round and some are always willing to bite. If you really want to get them, try a kayak. you can paddle right up to them and pick your fish.

[harryh3o]

Brian,
I saw a picture of KO with a nice Wreck Donkey in his hands; I'm sure he owes you a fish or two.[grin]

N.G.
True the bay schoolies are there all year, but usually pretty lethargic and not much of a fight. (But still a great cabin fever cure.) Now I don't want to hurt any yak feelings, but a yak is not the only stealth approach, and I always pick my fish! [grin] (Or do they pick me?) I should try a yak, it looks like fun. Stop by and say hey next time if I'm out there.