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Very nice. Thanks.
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This was put together by the "Animal"......
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But will he post when the big girls start showing up?
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Curly wrote:
But will he post when the big girls start showing up?
You have to know where to look.......
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"Gordon Leisch is a former marine biologist and VERY long time Potomac fall line (Fletcher's) angler. His logs go back 50 + years. We averaged the date of the first bite for a few species. Based on his records they are as follows":
Blue Catfish Year Round 20 - 40 pounders being caught now on the sandbar
Gizzard Shad March 1 in numbers but always around
White Perch March 15th
Hickory Shad March 30th
River Herring March 30th
Striped Bass (big) April 1st
Snakeheads Insufficient data Usually around the 1st of April with a high water event
American Shad April 15th
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From my personal knowledge, they have bee caught from Kennedy Center on up but they concentrate below the fall line since the smorgasbord is there. By the time the sun goes over the trees...the bite slows down significantly but they can be caught at any time. Tide plays in the game.
Live herring is best bait, then cut herring......alas, there is a moratorium on them.
I have caught them on 1-3 oz jigs and jigging large rattletraps. We have also caught them trolling Rebel Jointed Spoonbills.
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Several years ago while fishing a bass tournament with a friend in early April, stripers started busting shad around the boat. Not little shad either, full grown adults. I got a heck of a slam on a jerkbait but didn't hook up, and on the next cast I tied into a beast of a striper that I simply couldn't stop. That was right around the WW bridge.
We couldn't stay there to fish for them cause we were in the tourney and didn't want to lose time. It was sooo frustrating. I've caught a bunch of schoolies in there, but that was the only time I've ever run into the big girls on the Potomac.
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Yep...they are caught at the Greenway Flats as well....many think they spawn there.
And for the record, if in my boat and in a bass tourney, the striper wins....I am going after 'em!
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Pacemaker wrote:
Yep...they are caught at the Greenway Flats as well....many think they spawn there.
And for the record, if in my boat and in a bass tourney, the striper wins....I am going after 'em!
Haha good call!
We ended up doing bad in the tourney anyway...wish I could do it all over again!
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I assume you will be yakin'.....I know many that do it buy I always urge against it, PFD notwithstanding.
Let me explain.....the currents are visible but the bad, strong currents are under your sight. Hydraulics. A kayak or a person would not be swept away, they would be sucked down.
But, I know you are careful....and be careful anchoring as well. And pay attention to the gauges....4.5 is the magic #!
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I have fished the area by the bridge enough to know not to go near there on a kayak! I was hoping to find them somewhere between the key bridge and just above fletchers. I am also hoping to find a few on jigs or plugs due to the herring and shad ban, so anchoring will probably not be necessary since I won't be soaking bait.
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I may have an "extra day" or twenty this year as well. Would like to try to get together for a day a Fletchers (or anywhere) sometime this spring.
Last edited by GregF (Mar-01-13 2:55PM)
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Let me add that one trip in early April years ago we drifted in front of Regan Airport and fan casted big rattle traps and landed over 40 of those convict bass over 30 inches. Biggest was 48inches.
Capt Mike
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captmikestarrett wrote:
Let me add that one trip in early April years ago we drifted in front of Regan Airport and fan casted big rattle traps and landed over 40 of those convict bass over 30 inches. Biggest was 48inches.
Capt Mike
Sounds like a fish story to me..... thought you were a catfish guide :-)
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This is being updated everyday for those that want to hit Fletchers....
Water is too high right now....and it looks like it will be so through the weekend.
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Extended weather forecast is not cooperating! Hope the big girls don't come and go......through all this high and muddy water. Water temps are good now, but water clarity is going to be a problem for a little while.
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Curly wrote:
Extended weather forecast is not cooperating!
Been like that for a while.....I may have to put the yak in at Cedar to feel some water beneath me. And Cedar is dirty!
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Pacemaker wrote:
Curly wrote:
Extended weather forecast is not cooperating!
Been like that for a while.....I may have to put the yak in at Cedar to feel some water beneath me. And Cedar is dirty!
Silver buddy on the deep rock pile!
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Made the right call to cancel for Saturday: Animals report form 4/4 says....Continued murky and swift conditions with debris. Perch caught from shore. Breaking fish observed. Level is forecasted to remain steady. Boat rentals Saturday are doubtful and only if the LF gauge is around 5' and trending down.
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Redfish12 wrote:
What kind of breaking fish??
That would be herring and shad.....
Usually the stripers are deep and on the seams. They have plenty to eat while they visit Fletchers....hickory shad, American shad, white perch and herring.
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