Bass on the Run

[Wild Bill]

Bob W and I drove to VA Beach Tues and got to Owl's Creek launch about noon. The reports on the VA Board for Mon were all skunks. Several boats coming in as we were about to launch had skunks Tues morning. Things sounded bad on the VHF. Apparently the cold front and full moon had done a number on the stripers.

We ran south and stopped on a number of groups of gannets diving hard on bait. There did not seem to be any predators with the bait. Ran about 40 miles and started to notice this terrible smell on the boat.

Chuck joined us on Wed. We heard the Oregon Inlet boats caught some good fish the day before. Decided we would run as far south as we needed to go. The weather was perfect with a warm breeze out to the SW. We again stopped on a number of groups of feeding gannets with no stripers. We were about 50 miles south when Chuck's friend (Big Fish Bob) called. He had called several friends of his in NC and found out where the fish were. By this time we were only about five miles from the hot spot. When we got to the location, there were about 20 boats scattered out working the big school.

The fish were near the three mile line in about fifty feet of water. They were not on the bottom but were suspended. We needed to modify our technique and switch to chartreuse to start catching. Once we had them dialed in, we caught some good fish. Biggest was 43"/36 pounds.

Some bug grabbed me and I had a fever and sore throat. I thought maybe catching quality fish would cure the problem but it did not. Chuck ran the boat back the 60 miles to the launch. It is the first time in over 40 years that I got sick on a fishing trip. I always thought the brain prevented illness during fishing.

Thurs's weather looked super and we now knew two locations with lots of fish. I wanted to fish, if at all possible. Loaded up with Nyquil, went to bed and hoped for he best. Got up and felt worse. Decided we better head for home.

Not quite the trip we planned, but we all caught some nice fish. I may go back one more time.


http://home.ptd.net/~bschotta/kh5.jpg
Bob with His First Fish of the Day

http://home.ptd.net/~bschotta/kh4.jpg
Caught Several Fish Like This

http://home.ptd.net/~bschotta/kh2.jpg
Chuck with a Good One

http://home.ptd.net/~bschotta/kh1.jpg
43"/36#

[mctrout]

Man oh man, that is some sweet fishin, Bill. good for you. Sorry you got sick.... Keep up the good work!!
Brendan

[Lov2Fish]

Bill, Another great report, --127-3- along with fantastic pictures! ( Why doesn't that surprise me!! ) Sorry to hear about your getting sick, big time bummer!

[peter mac]

Guys,
Beautiful fish!!! I am soooooo jealous, can't wait for spring. What flies were they hitting? again congrats on another killer trip, your reports have helped me get through this winter.
Peter Mac

[Wild Bill]

Hi Peter-

I prefer flies but sometimes it is the least effective way to catch and I give in to the spinning rod. In this case the fish were in 50-70 feet of water and spread out in the water column. It was frustrating at first because the trollers were catching big fish. We had to come up with a technique to cover the entire water column over a long range to catch them without trolling.

What worked for us was to cast a 2 oz lead head with a 7" chartreuse bass assassin as far as we could and let out enough line to touch bottom. Then we would reel at a medium rate about six cranks and pause. We would repeat this until the lure was back to the boat. The method enabled us to cover maximum distance and also fish all depths. Just jigging the bottom did not work at all. All the fish hit on the pause.

I am not saying a fly rod could not catch any at all but the fish were spread out over a very large area and not clustered tightly. You had to really cover some water to get them. Once I found a method that worked, we stayed with it.

When guys catch fish on the fly rod on my boat, I try to work the fly rod and reel into the pic.

After I recover from Bronchitis, I am going to try to make one more trip down there.

[peter mac]

Wild Bill,
Flexibility is a good thing, the guy with the most options usually catches the most fish. You guys figured it out, well done. Good luck on the next trip.
Peter Mac

[itsmoderating]

What a Great Report. Looks like you "Knocked them Dead" Hope you feel better
PS What was the Smell ?

[MarkZ]

...S-K-U-N-K

[Wild Bill]

Yes, on our travel day we only had limited time left to fish and did not run far enough south to find the fish. In running the ocean in the winter, I like to get back with some light and not in total darkness. We ran 40 miles south and the fish were 60 miles south. The next day with additional information on where the fish had been caught, we made up for it and slammed them good. That is the first skunk I have had on my boat since I purchased it in 2004, and I fish often. I like to try for the "mother load" and sometimes it does not work. Funny how the huge stink completely disappeared as soon as we started to catch.

Since I take only take my buds, they all know my plan. I will leave small fish to find bigger fish. I have caught enough small stripers for my lifetime. That is what is so exciting about winter ocean fishing. It is rare to catch a fish under 28".