Starting New Year right

[fishsalmon]

First I hope the new year finds everyone healthy.

Snuck out yesterday afternoon (1 Jan) for a quick wading trip. Let me start with air temp 28 and water probably around 45. Spent about 90 minutes practicing the cast and hoping for a fish. Actually caught a 17.5" striper on a size 1 white deceiver using the 7wt. Was my only fish but I am not complaining. Bit cold once the sun went down, bot a bad way to start the new year.

[CapeMayRay]

A fish is better than no fish anyday. All our back bay creeks had ice on them this morning so it will be awhile before we can even think about catching. Atleast you can still get out there and try. Would think it should be fairly good down where you are this time of the year. How is it compared to last year?

[fishsalmon]

This year in the lower bay has been a bit odd. Normally as the bay cools we see large bait pods, schoolie size fish and lots of birds scattered around inside the bay. Not this year. There have been some birds around the CBBT but we have seen VERY few in the lower bay compared to past years. The big fish have shown and Byrd and I have been out eeling a few times with good luck but still not the numbers we have had in past years. Last trip I even took the 9wt with a super sinking line but we had only one fish - 49" 40+lbs on live bait - and no takers for the fly. With the warmer days of late the bay temp has not dropped and the fish appear to be hanging at the CBBT and I saw a good report of bird there yesterday. I hope to do more fly fishing now that the "meat" fishing has moved to the ocean waters. With another week of seasonable temps I hope we do not see an exodus too soon. The windy weather and work (I hate both) have limited my opportunities but I am determined to make this the year I use the long rod more and try to develop a decent cast - I sill have an ugly tailing loop.