Chesapeake Report 7/25

[Dave Sikorski]

Punched the clock at 3, made great time to the marina, 3:50. Welcomed by a flat tire on the trailer. Darn screw had been in there for a while, but couldn't find it. Tongue jack needs replacing too.

That wasn't the start of the trouble. Before leaving home I scoured the house and truck for my reel for my 8 wt. that has my Rio Lake line on it. Couldn't find it anywhere. I can't seem to find my back up lines so it's off we go with a 9 wt and an intermediate line.

Finally get the boat wet and we head to the first spot. Plenty of bait, and dad snags a big menhaden. Good to see, but not what we're looking for. Off to the usual spot, get there and there they are. Slashing and splashing on the top spread out for about 500 yds. Looking good. About 12 birds max.

It's the end of the outgoing, and with a decent SSE breeze, you can barely tell there any current at all. Dad chucks his stingsilver into the school and I flip my line in the water and begin stripping line off the reel to make a cast.

HA...fly hasn't even sunk out of my sight when a team of striped ones go after it. Skunk is out of the boat. Wishing I had a smaller rod, but they're plenty spunky and hitting like freight trains. I catch 4 18-20" fish on my first 5 casts. Dad seems to be the bluefish man w/ the occasional striper.

Some moron joined us and did his best to push the fish down as he chases the dozen birds around. Remember, I said 500yds of occasional breakers and this asshole is chasing the birds. Seemed like 2500rpms was his preferred engine speed.

Anyway, we caught steady for about 2 hours. Ran down to Tilghman to get a burger, caught a few more fish, and ran home with an increasing breeze at our backs and a beautiful sunset to the west.

Fly of choice was a rattle clouser. 60 degree jig hook w/ clouser eyes tied in at the jig bend. A rattle w/ mylar piping over it and epoxy, the chart/white sparse bucktail tied in behind the eyes. A great fly when the fish are on bay anchovies or silversides.

Luckily I had more than one. With the increasing wind I did my best to try and give myself an earing, then broke the fly on my motor cowling.

It was full contact out there for sure. That hard spot right behind my left ear still hurts. As well it should, that sucker nearly put me to my knees.

Somehow I didn't take a single picture of a fish.

-D

[brad regan 01]

good job Dave.

[Dave Sikorski]

Lazy fishing



Capt. Bird Chaser



Fly of choice...it looks like this one has a little polar flash in with the bucktail. Don't do it, it fouls!



Tilghman Island gate keepers.



Knapps Narrows.



All she wrote.



-D

[flatbottom]

nice read and pics dave

[tieoneon]

Great report and nice pics Dave. Give me a call when you get a chance. You might have to come down soon for a redfish/cobia combo.

[CapeMayRay]

Nice pictures! Sounded like a pretty good day overall with some good action. You didn't think everything would be perfect, did you? That is only on the television shows where they tape all week.

Out with you dad, fish action, no fly earing, I would say good day!

[Paul Sikorski]

Sorry I missed it. I knew it would be a good day when I couldn't get out of work...

Drew looks happy fishing from that bucket chair, and he really did loose a lot of weight!!

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Just what the Doctor ordered for a morning read! Pretty work big guy!
Holwachagot

[Tom Hughes]

Dave: Thanks for posting the report. It's been a very exciting year so far and we still have fall in MD and late fall and winter at the CBBT.

[Dave Sikorski]

Tom-

I think you rode by me yesterday on the top side of Poplar Island.

I was in the camo boat that was out there shooting cow nosed rays.

I had just gotten you e-mail report and was looking at it on my blackberry as you drove by.

Was that you or a look alike?

-D