Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Ernie · Aug-06-19 12:18PM

And then one day...they were gone!

Greg and I hit POR and were on the water by 6:45a.

We decided to run upriver but the water was definitely skinnier as the POR gauge was at 2'. We did scrape some rocks on the way up (and down) but the Rhino did well!

Greg was impressed at all the targets but it didn't take too long to realize that the fish weren't back yet. It was slow.

He finally connected at @9a and took the skunk off!

He then caught another one and lost one due to a broken hook.

I was busy manning the boat and putting him in great spots so my fishing suffered....

A bit later, he got slurped and put a nice one in the boat!

15.5", chunky and healthy!

We now had to navigate the skinny ledge on t the way back which is harder but we did just fine.

At this point, I was skunked so I went to old reliable, a jerk bait. This one was a Yo-Zuri F, whatever that is. It worked!

Finally got my skunk off!

We saw eagles, herons, carp, a kayaker and catfish. We saw a few small bass in the water but no sunnies or baitfish (except one time when some thing was attacking them near shore). Water was very clear but lots of filamentous algae on the submerged rocks.

The scenery, both above and below water, is spectacular. We should have caught fish. I just don't think they are there.

Still, a nice day to be out. Off the water by 12:30p and we had a great lunch at Roots. Outstanding burgers and fries!

drxfish · Aug-06-19 12:30PM

Great to see a bigger fish caught. Love the area.

Curly · Aug-06-19 12:33PM

So where did they all go?

Ernie · Aug-06-19 12:38PM

Curly wrote:
So where did they all go?

That's a great question that remains unanswered. Some say they washed down stream. I do know that some local guides (Capt. Jon, aka blue boat, and Capt. Dennis) were catching lots of them (and walleyes) in DC waters...almost to MD waters.

I have kayaked this stretch and always caught fish.

The really bad thing is the lack of bites. If you get one, you gotta make it count.

Greg said he had 5-6 bites (4 hooked fish), I had 2 (1 hooked fish).

Ernie · Aug-06-19 12:39PM

drxfish wrote:
Great to see a bigger fish caught. Love the area.

We were whoopin' it up for sure!

POR was at 2' when we started and dropped below that as we fished. That's about my limit with the Rhino.

Junger · Aug-06-19 1:15PM

Geez...was it last year or the year before that you guys were pulling up 17"ers left and right. Hopefully the stocking program helps them rebound.

Ernie · Aug-06-19 2:56PM

Junger wrote:
Hopefully the stocking program helps them rebound.

They were going to try to and it failed, unfortunately. They captured fish and they did not lay eggs. Don't know how they are going to restock now...

GregF · Aug-08-19 4:09PM

Even though the catching was slow to almost non-existent, that is a beautiful stretch of water. Frustrating to make a great cast to the perfect spot and.....nothing! But as always, fishing is about the adventure. And going up and down some of that skinny water is an "adventure"! High pucker factor! The great burgers we had a Roots on the way back were HUUUGE! I am still full 2 days later!

firemunkee · Aug-09-19 12:25PM

I keep hearing about the burgers at Roots! I really need to try them out.

Ernie · Aug-09-19 2:39PM

firemunkee wrote:
I keep hearing about the burgers at Roots! I really need to try them out.

Be prepared to be stuffed and satisfied!

momusau · Aug-10-19 3:58PM

Nice! Roots is great eating!

Pacemaker Fishing Forum

#1 Aug-06-19 12:18PM

8-6-19, UP

#2 Aug-06-19 12:30PM

Re: 8-6-19, UP

#3 Aug-06-19 12:33PM

Re: 8-6-19, UP

#4 Aug-06-19 12:38PM

Re: 8-6-19, UP

Curly wrote:

#5 Aug-06-19 12:39PM

Re: 8-6-19, UP

drxfish wrote:

#6 Aug-06-19 1:15PM

Re: 8-6-19, UP

#7 Aug-06-19 2:56PM

Re: 8-6-19, UP

Junger wrote:

#8 Aug-08-19 4:09PM

Re: 8-6-19, UP

#9 Aug-09-19 12:25PM

Re: 8-6-19, UP

#10 Aug-09-19 2:39PM

Re: 8-6-19, UP

firemunkee wrote:

#11 Aug-10-19 3:58PM

Re: 8-6-19, UP

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