Wrapping up 2010 with a couple fishing trips.

[netman9]

Decembers cold temps dropped the bay water below 40* at a fast rate sending the striper to NC before Christmas. I gathered what info I could added the great wx window that was fast approaching the middle of this past week and headed to Va Beach Wednesday morning in search of striper. The weather had been blowing and reports of 12" of the VA Beach snow made for plenty of chatter around the coffee pots with few discussing fishing, so when we arrived to the frozen ramp Wednesday morning we knew we were going to be in search of warm waters in the unknown.



NOAA was calling for 2' with 13 sec dom period and 5-10k W winds and they missed it in the best of ways as we were greeted with slick calm seas.




We were heading S looking for any life and made marks within 10 miles near the Crayon Boxes, 40' of water close to the 3 mile line. Drop 2 lines down working the marks readying a 3rd when Ewing tells me Wyatt is SEA SICK! This has never happened in 4 years of boating with the three boys and on this trip we logged milage that put us over 1,000 miles for the year. Wyatt being the tropper that he is insisted he wasn't sea sick leaving a chum trail 100 yds back. He repeats he's fine, saying lets continue and fish. Watching Wyatt as we work the area pulling the boat in and out of gear working the bottom and lower water column for the next hour before making the call to go further South. Reports of limits being caught off the Duck Peir over the radio had the energy up and our original plan was to fish an are 30 miles South of Rudee so we continued our journey. We stooped our ride south a couples miles below the light with winds rotating out of the North building a little chop adding to no Bait, Birds or Bite making for a tough afternoon in an area that produced fish earlier. We covered alot of water and our only marks were in the first part of the trip. Arrive back at the ramp and the talk is the same while the fishing center had a few on display as we motored by.



Wyatt ended up having a temp of 101* Wednesday night and was doing much better Thursday morning delaying our next trip to New Grandmothers and another shot at trout.

Made the call early Thursday afternoon to head south on I-81 getting to moms in time to open a few gifts. Friday morning, after another award winning breakfast we head to a section of river in Marion, VA we had not seen before. Temps were nice and getting better making the snow covered banks a bit on the soft side. Tough fishing and after close to 2 hours we finally found a few feeding fish.

The most exciting part of the day was spotting a large fish moving around a deep hole with lots of current that would go 10+ pounds. I had left the waders at home making room for packing leaving me to bank fish. Nolan and Wyatt were further up stream in a stretch I couldn't access in boots making it hard to get their attention. Before Wyatt made it across the river a second large shadow joined the first. At this point I try some video with no luck and continue to work my little 1/64 oz jig near them. With Wyatt nearing the fish spooked and I foul hooked one rolling it on its side and losing line with the sound we all love to hear. Wyatt is as excited as any kid could be spotting the trophy size fish running up stream and shouting to Nolan still fishing up river. It was over as quick as it started and thats when I released the info I saw with the roll of the large scaled CARP that I had played for a brief moment. Not many pictures today but have a little video footage for later.



We had many great trips over this past year and we're already looking foward to what the 2011 season might bring.

[gottaflylee]

I really enjoy your reports. One can tell how you love you kids and it is great to see you out with them as much as you are. All the best in 2011...

[merry marlin]

Great report and pictures as usual Todd... That Wyatt is one tough little sportsman!
Those boys have their priorities set straight with those trout in the snow and short sleeves...
MM

[SportFishStaff]

Love the trout in the snow pics.

[LuckyLady]

EXCELLECT THREAD and read ! The floating dock looks very familiar where is it ? I think I have a picture to match !

[netman9]

EXCELLECT THREAD and read ! The floating dock looks very familiar where is it ? I think I have a picture to match !

Thanks X2! The dock is just inside Rudee Inlet/ VA Beach Fishing Center. The dock with the lone canoe in the snow is what got my attention for the picture, probably common further north.

[SeaBiscuit]

Thanks for another nice report netman. The picture of the boys in tshirts and waders while their catch is laying on snow is a neat one.
SeaBiscuit

PS pretty work on your carp!

[LuckyLady]

Thanks X2! The dock is just inside Rudee Inlet/ VA Beach Fishing Center. The dock with the lone canoe in the snow is what got my attention for the picture, probably common further north.

Man I thought I had a picture to match but when I pulled it up its not a match but I still think I have one..This one is from Norfolk Dec 2007

[LuckyLady]

Man I thought I had a picture to match but when I pulled it up its not a match but I still think I have one..This one is from Norfolk Dec 2007

Think I am getting closer!!! This one is somewhere in that area

[netman9]

Think I am getting closer!!! This one is somewhere in that area

Don't try to hard!!! Please!!! Each try those fish are getting bigger...it was a picture of a my fish in pictures aren't that big!



Our best of 2007 was only 49". Not as heavy as the class of fish we found in 2008, but our longest striper landed to date. 07'/08' great fishing in the bay/beach front into mid Jan. 2009 and this year were short and cold early sending the fish South or East making it harder to find them from C'ville. Love the pics! Netman