June is coming along well

So I stuck with the plan and hit the Potomac again this weekend in search of musky.  And it paid off.  First we fished most of the day on Saturday with little to show for it except for a few bass and one decent walleye on a tube while fishing the skinny riffles.  The walleye was a welcome surprise.  It's not like they can just vanish because it's summer.  These fish probably set up just like a smallmouth in the well oxygenated water of the riffles and rapids and ambush prey just like a bass.  Not only did we catch the walleye but we also saw a Lynx or Bob cat (lynx rufus rufus) come down to the waters edge for a drink in the mid day sun.  It was on the WV side of the river in steep topography at a near impassible riffle or series of ledges on the river.  We figured the spot where we saw the bobcat was as good as any to stop the boat and fish for bass in the fast water.  We were hitting ledges and rocks every few seconds in this area too.  This was also the spot the walleye turned up.  Go figure.  A lynx and a walleye... truly "Wild and Wonderful".  One would think we were in the deep north of Canada.  But we were merely an hour north of Washington DC. 

Anyway... on Saturday the sun was high, clear skies, temps pushing 80 plus degrees.  Water temps started off at 71 but climbed to above 75 by mid day.  We didn't even get a sighting of a musky.  No idea why.  Too nice a day probably.  We fished from approx 930am to 930pm.  We thought we'd have the energy to fish after sun down once we ate dinner but that didn't happen.  We were both exhausted and crashed harder than toddler after a play date. 

The next morning I was up before sunrise.  The barred owls in the area were causing a ruckus but I just can't sleep in when I'm sleeping river side knowing that the best time of the day to have a line in the water is wasting away while I lay in a tent.  We set up the tents on a known musky hot spot on the inside of a sharp meander in one of the deepest pools around.  This spot once awarded me a fine musky of 42 inches one mid February a couple years ago.  It was possibly the ideal winter spot for a musky with deep water, current break but maybe not the best June or summer spot.  These fish will take up all habitat types this time of year.  The water temps are not too high where they must seek cool water.  Oxygen levels are probably optimal and therefore they can basically roam free.  One float last year about this time of year we even spotted a large musky in a shallow run just above a riffle that was less than 2 feet deep.  The fish spooked so it must have been hunting that area. So in other words, anywhere and everywhere could hold a fish right now.  and they should be feeding well.  Now is the time.  I know I've said that before. 

So... we worked a few decent looking areas along the shore.  Casting to likely current breaks.  Diego was using a lure similar to a "tornado" where the lure doubles as a spinner bait sub surface or a surface buzz bait depending upon how quickly you reeled it in.  It made more noise than your average buzz bait and it was rigged with a skirt and stinger hook, as well as with a tieable wire trace.  We had just fished a good looking eddy when we came to a large wood pile.  Behind it was another good looking eddy.  My lure fell a few feet short of it mark when Diego's was already in mid cast.  It was a dead calm, clear morning with fog coming off the river.  The silence was broken with the river just opened up and this large musky just annihilated the lure.  It was the kind of strike you dream about.  There was absolutely zero hesitation on this take.  The fish then proceeded to cartwheel and tail walk just like a steelhead or tarpon.  Gills fared, teeth showing... The most pissed off fish that swims but on an awesome show.  Diego did well fighting the fish and I immediately got the net ready.  Success.  Diego's first.  They say a musky is a fish of 10000 casts.... This fish was took a lot more than that.  But success is so sweet.  I was equally happy if not more that he caught one.  Finally.  this might be Diego's last extended fishing trip in quite a while.  Baby number two is on the way and knocking at the door.  It was a good farewell.  For now.  Couldn't have worked out better. 

The fish hit around 730am but we continued to fish till after 9.  By now Diego was getting nervous and insisted we leave.  We talked about hitting one last spot near the ramp on the way in.  We did and came up empty.  Diego took control of the trolling motor and started heading to the ramp.  Just then my line went tight and the storm giant flat stick got smashed.  This was another decent musky, maybe not as big, 32 inches or so but had plenty of attitude.  I caught this fish on the extra heavy musky mojo rod and beat him pretty quick but not before several jumps.  Doesn't get much better when two good friends score a nice fish each. 

 

Till next time.