Easter Trio - March 31st, 2024

I caught 3 bass in the first 15 minutes on a skirted Ned. I thought I was about to go on a run and start dealing……wrong. Not another fish in the next 2 hours and 45 minutes. Fishing can be had. I had a good one about 2 pounds chase and miss. I followed up with a fluke over the lay down he was on but crickets. 

A Tales of Two Gregs - March 27th, 2024

Greg, Greg and I fished 6.5 hours in Bluestone. We landed 8 fish (Harper 4, Nahodil 2, Me 2). We missed maybe two more one being a broke off musky. Fun day, nothing big all fish on Ned in deeper water, except one shallow on square bill. 

False Start - March 23rd, 2024

Bostic and I started off behind Advance Auto on what was initially a calm morning. I fished a tube super slow all around the confluence of the New and G brier with no interested takers. I switched to a KVD 1.5 and started working the route 20 side and caught a pair of 15” fish and lost another. We decided to restart and float from the dam back to Advance. We fished the water below the spill way and I missed one and Brian lost one. The wind then hit us hard out of now where and closed our day out early. I lost a square bill and found a square bill. 

Brookside Afterwork - March 19th, 2024

No hits, no runs, no errors. One hour fished. 

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”