Colt's Best Life - March 28th, 2026

 

 

A day Colt won't soon forget despite falling in 53 degree water with 39 degree air temps. At the end f the day I asked him if how he like it and he said, "I loved it".   Brad and I spend the day bird dogging him where to throw and catching a few on the side as well. 

Total Team Fish = ~ 50

My Fish total = 18

Biggest Fish  ~ 19"

Best 5 Fish ~ 75"

Minutes per Fish = 15 *includes guide time

2026 Fish Catch Total = 33 

Eastbound and Down River - March 25th, 2026

 

Easterly wind on the New river pushes you down the river, which in a kayak is much much better than an up wind river that stalls you out and prevents you from fishing effectively. 

I floated solo again on the New. Warm day about 65 degree with 53 degree water temps. Pretty steady and at times heavy wind from the East pushing me down the river. I got on a square bill bite early again. This time with bigger 1.5 and 2.0 size. Mad Tomato Craw was the best color until one broke me off and took my only one in that color. I should have replaced my line before now. Still a pretty solid day for March. I think my Coldwater = 60 degree strategy is changing. I used to sit in one spot dead sticking tubes forever and fighting hang up after hang-up. But that is so slow and really never fit my style. I think the play now is get a square bill and cover an obscene amount of water with it.  Could do the same typle thing with suspending jerk bait or slow rolled spinner bait. Looking for big bait but covering a lot of water to do it. Either way this tactic is 2 for 2 in March. 

Total Fish = 6

Biggest fish = 15"

Best 5 Fish = 68"

Minutes per fish = 37.5

2026 Fish Catch Total = 15

First Smallmouth of 2026 - March 22nd, 2026

 

 

I floated solo on the New for the first time after along winter layoff. The water was up just a touch and had some stain, typical for mid March. With the water getting above 50 degrees and the afternoon air at 80 degrees I figures some smallmouth had to move up, even if only for the afternoon. I started off fishing slow with Ned rig and tube jig, but he wind was blowing 10 to 20mph and shifting directions up and down river. I was not able to maintain boat control and finsesse fish int he higher flows and wind so I switched to a sqaure bill and started covering water. I soon started finding fish on very shallow, sunny, rocky banks that also had some wood near by. Several times I got strikes after banging the KVD 1.0 off of wood. I ended up catching 6, loosing two more, and missing one more. Not bad for a March afternoon. 

Total Fish = 6

Best 5 fish = 67.5"

Biggest Fish = 16.25"

Mintues Per Fish = 26.5

2026 Fish Catch Total = 9

Something For the Effort - March 11th, 2026

 

I made the loop from 219 in Lewisburg up to Marlinton, fished Knapps all the way down to 92 then fished Anthony all the way back to 219 in Lewisburg. I caught only 3, missed two and lost two. The weather was nice and the water was more low and clear than I would have like. There were way too many people out on the water for it to be a mid week day. After a long enjoyable day at least the first fish of 2026 are in the books. 

Total Fish = 3

Hours Fished = 3.25h

Minutes per Fish = 65

2026 Fish Catch Total = 3