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

Memorial Day Weekend Kickoff - May 26th, 2023

Deep May cold front slowed fish down some compared to two weeks ago. Brad and I still managed over 40. I had 22 but no size. 

Total Team Fish = 42 

Total Fish = 22

Biggest Fish 12.75”

Biggest 5 Fish = 61”

Fishabiliry Factor = 6 

Wind, Falling Water, and Cool Temperatures on Clayor - May 25th, 2023

Tough day led to having to resort to some finesse spinner baits to get bit at all. Managed to catch some small fish. Tough day overall. 

Total Fish = 20 

Biggest Fish = 12”

Best 5 = 61”

Fishabiliry Factor = 5.5

Post Spawn Production - May 24th, 2023

Starting see a summer pattern emerge. Numbers going up average size going down. Lots of little fish being caught. Still a lot of fun. Brad snd I had a great morning soaking in some pre holiday weekend Greenbrier atmosphere. 6 miles over 6 hours floated yielded 72 fish between me and Brad. 

Total Team Fish = 72

Total Fish = 56 

Biggest Fish = 14.25”

Beat 5 Fish = 63”

Minutes per Fish = 6.42

Miles Floated = 6 

Fishabiliet Factor = 7.25

Little Lure Big Fish - May 22nd, 2023

The smallest lure in the box catches the biggest fish on this day. Sometime finesse leads to big things. 

Total Fish = 8 

Biggest Fish = 19” 

Best 5 fish = 74.5”

Minutes per fish = 13.2

Second Run of the Day - May 16th, 2023

The second run of the day was from my house to Southside. Not as many fish but some better quality fish. Flukes dominated all day and fish fed best between passing showers. 

Total Fish = 33 

Biggest Fish = 17” 

Best 5 Fish = 73.25” 

Minted per Fish = 6.36 

Fishability Factor = 7.75 

Fish Total for 2023 so far = 312 

Total time on the water in 2023 = 103.5hrs

Minutes per Fish for 2023 = 19.9 minutes per fish 

Total Fish Caught Since January 2008 = 11,432

Morning Pass - May 16th, 2023

Fished from the dam to Southside from 6:00 to 10:00am on this raining morning. Caught a lot of little fish and a few good ones. I seemed to miss or lose a couple more quality bites. 

Total Fish = 41 

Biggest = 15” 

Best Five = ~68.6” 

Minutes per Fish = 5.85 

Fishabilty Factor = 8.5

Catching not Fishing - May 13th, 2023

Just a ridiculous day on the water.  A little rain caused the fish to gorge. I caught 22 in the first hour. Greg and I caught a combined 69 fish total on 4.25 hours. A great day. 

Total Combined fish = 69 

My Fish Total = 41 

Biggest fish = 17.5”

Best 5 fish = 73.5”

Minted per Fish = 7.9

Panfish Day - May 12th, 2023

Bass were in a foul mood on Bluestone. Could be related to the spawn or could be pressure. I switched out to a 1/4 spinner and ended up catching a few bass as well as 22 various pan fish. Most were very big pre spawn bluegills. Although did have a crappie and a couple redeye. 

Total Fish = 22

Biggest fish = 9” 

Minutes per fish = 13.6