Ranger Day at Moncove - March 16th, 2024

Bostic, Jared and I fought the wind on a cool March morning. Jared caught a 3 and 2 pounder early then nothing. Then I caught a 3 pounder two hours later. Jared caught another little one. Bostic missed one and lost one. 

Solo on Claytor - March 14th, 2023

Fished 5 hours solo on Claytor. Air got up to 75 degrees with water temps up to 52. I hooked and lost two on ned rig in deeper water early then nothing for a while. Tried Jerkbait and square bill but no bites. Picked up a fluke and had two chase right off then caught a 19” and later a nice spot, with once more largemouth coming later. Had a couple more follow and not bite. No smallmouth to be seen today. 

March Grind - March 5th, 2024

Following what was an epic day to remember became exactly what you might expect….grinding out early spring fish. We fished hard for 6 hours and had only 6 bites landing 4 small mouth. Biggest was maybe 15”. Awesomely warm and comfortable day to be on the water though. 

Why I Don’t Crappie Fish - March 3rd, 2024

Greg, Stan and I started off trying to catch some crappie on a 65 degree Sunday. We fished an hour and a half at that game and I caught 2 bluegills only so we stitched gears to bass fishing around 3:30pm. Then what happened next turned out to be the most epic day on Bluestone. We went on to catch five fish over 18” and three fish over 20”, with a best five of 96”. I had two citations one at 20.5” and 21.25”. All up super shallow in 3” or less reeled slow. 

First Smallmouth of 2024 - February 24th, 2024

This time of year it is like spring and fall and fighting over the fate of our weather future. Sunny one minute and cold rain the next. I fished two hours had one bite caught one smallmouth. 

Brown Trout and Lightning- February 10th, 2024

Nathan and I fished Indian Creek for three hours on a rainy February morning that actually had some lightning. Nathan caught two and I caught one. We hooked and lost three more. All fish were smallish browns and were released. 

2023 Year in Review

2023 Totals:

43 Days fished, landing 509 fish, fishing 158.25  hours.

2023 Year Long Stats:

-3.5 trips per month 

-11.83 fish per outing 

-18.65 minutes per fish 

- Most fish in a single day 70 on May 16th 

- Month with most outings May (13) 

- Biggest bass  of year 21” New River Virginia May 11th

Total fish caught  since January 1st, 2008 = 10,543

658.93 fish per year average over 16 years

2023 Fishing Goals 

1. Get my kids out on the water more often 

2. Show my kids some new water

3. Fish 52 or more days

4. Fish 200 or more hours 

5. Land 750 or more fish 

6. Fish 3 new places 

Short Supply Shad - October 18th, 2023

Shad are hard to find this year and what small amounts I do see there are not bass after them like usual. I did see a musky, 2 strippers, and a bunch of catfish chasing shad. 

Total Fish = 7 

My Fish = 6

Biggest Fish = 17.75”

Best 5 Fish = 64.75”

Cold, Clear Water - October 11th, 2023

No shad in sight. Cold clear water 

 fishing feel like fall. 

Total Fish = 12 

Biggest Fish = 15”

Beat Five Fish = 62”

Fall to Summer - September 29th, 2023

Started off cold and ended up hot. Caught 16 mostly after 10am.

Total Fish = 20

My Fish = 16

Biggest Fish = 14”

Biggest 5 = 58”

Everything But Quality Fish - September 28, 2023

Perfect conditions but not bigger quality fish on this day. Go figure. 

Total Fish = 13

Biggest Fish = 12”

Best Five Fish = 53”

Mountaineer Football and Smallmouth Bass - September 23rd, 2023

The afternoon of the first official day of fall was spend on the boat fishing for smallmouth listening to Mountaineers beat Texas Tech. Some wind and rain made it feel like fall. 

Total Fish = 15

My Fish = 10

Biggest Fish = 18.75” (Jared) 

Best Five Fish = 58”

Bull Falls to Baltimore - September 20th, 2023

Total Team Fish = 23

My Fish = 15

Biggest Fish = 19.5”

Best Five Fish in inches = 68”

Perfect early fall morning for a half day of fishing before a work trip up Baltimore. Caught one really good one below some shoals. A lot of little ones. Saw a couple other nice ones that chased and would not commit. Only saw one shad ball. 

GoodYear Blimp Day - September 6th, 2023

After a false start due to a dead cranking battery went onto catch 15 total fish and see the Good Year Blimp over Bluestone Lake along with a bald Eagle despite the lost hour. 

Total Fish = 15

My Fish = 10 

Biggest Fish = 16”

Minutes per fish = 24