December 18, 2010 - The last two days have been my first charters of the season on the Elizabeth.  My fly anglers caught over 30 speckled trout each day during the 4hr trips.  Speck fishing in this area is just getting started and will continue through early March.  Don't let the snow keep you from getting your fishing fix!

 

December 15, 2010 - I miss summer already!  This unusual cold snap has kept me huddled inside.  I did manage to get the boat dropped off at Top Rack Marina and fit in a couple hours of fishing before the rain chased me back to the dock.  I'm looking forward to a break in the weather to get back after the specks on the Elizabeth River.

 

December 6, 2010 - I've delayed moving the boat to Chesapeake until this wicked cold front moves through.  In the meantime, I've had requests for the steps required to make the clear anchovy fly pattern that I posted pictures of below.  I am calling it the Blasphemy Baitfish since some "purist" fly tyers would say it's blasphemy to call it a fly in the first place!  The technique to make these is definitely different than most flies, but rather simple once you get it figured out.  The fly consists of a light cured acrylic called Bug Bond in the Gel version.  The first order of business is to draw a baitfish shape in the desired size and save it as a picture file on the computer.  I resize the picture file to make different baitfish lengths from 1.5 to 4 inches.  The baitfish shapes can then be printed on transparency film using a standard inkjet printer.  Once you have printed the shapes, you simply cut them out.  The plastic cutouts act as templates to create the flies.  The baitfish template is laid flat with the hook placed flat on top of the template.  Bug Bond is applied to the front half of the template to secure the hook to the template.  Once secured, the hook is placed in the vise.  Eyes and lateral line are applied to this side of the template.  Additional Bug Bond is added to give this side of the fly a three dimensional shape.  Once this half of the fly is completed, the template is removed.  With the template removed, eyes, lateral line and Bug Bond is added to the other side.  The final product is a realistic bay anchovy or silverside imitation that is virtually indestructible!

 

December 3, 2010 - With poor striped bass fishing at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, I have made the decision to cancel my late fall/ winter season there.  Myself, other charter captains and scientists have been worried for several years that the rockfish population is in decline.  However, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) that regulates stripers says the population is at a healthy level.  I believe the biggest issue is mortality from mycobacterious which ASMFC is not even taking into account when conducting stock assessment.  Scientists at VIMS that have been researching the disease tell me that there is a 100% mortality rate and possibly more than 50% of the bay population will catch the disease at some point.  No one is for sure the cause of the disease but lack of food and poor water quality are believed to weaken the immune system which makes them more susceptible.  I hope I am wrong and things will improve.  I often am questioned about the best way for concerned individuals to contribute to saving the resource. Of all the non-profit organizations, I suggest that people support Stripers Forever. While this is a small group, it is most inline with protecting the future of striped bass.

I will be moving my boat on Monday to Top Rack Marina in Chesapeake.  The marina is a short distance to fabled "Hot Ditch" area of the Elizabeth River.  The river is a winter holding ground for speckled trout and redfish.  Some of the biggest speckled trout on the planet come from this region each winter.  I will be posting reports so stay tuned!

 

November 24, 2010 - It's that time of year when Mother Nature keeps me off the water a lot.  At least it gives me time to fit in some fly tying.  These patterns incorporate Bug Bond , a light cured glue.

 

November 22, 2010 - Working birds and breaking fish have been all but non-existent this fall... the worst that I can recall.  However, we've enjoyed some good days with rockfish on structure.  Fishing has still been slow down at the CBBT, so I have yet to move my boat down there.  I'll be hanging out here on the Middle Peninsula until next week.  Happy Thanksgiving!

 

November 12, 2010 - I returned from North Carolina early and the weather looks great for fishing back here on the Middle Peninsula.  I have openings, so let's get out there!  Here's a few pictures of the action down south.

 

October 27, 2010 - I do not have anymore openings from now through November 6 when I leave to fish for albies at Harkers Island, NC.  My plan is to return to the Middle Peninsula on November 15, and I will fit in some more charters here until the weather cools enough for good action at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  Here is a link to Tosh Brown's photography from his trip here and with Capt. Brian Horsley down at Harkers.  He got some amazing shoots of the false albacore blitz at Harkers!

 

October 26, 2010 - Cloudy conditions with a little drizzle usually makes for fast action and today was no exception with about 50 stripers and blues coming to the boat.  Good times!

 

October 22, 2010 - Last Saturday, Tosh Brown and Pete McDonald joined me for a beat down in gusty 30kt winds.  They are working on a book capturing the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic fly fishing scene.  Check out Tosh Brown's website to see his amazing outdoor photography - www.toshbrown.com .  Despite difficult fishing today in strong northwest wind, we've had a great week of fishing with 40-75 fish to the boat per morning.  The opportunity to take part in the action is getting slim.  My only remaining opening for the Middle Peninsula season is November 1.

 

October 14, 2010 - We've had to work for a mixed bag of rock, reds, specks, flounder & blues during the past week.  One day we had some sight fishing to picky stripers in the shallows.  It's fun to see the fish even if they are difficult to catch!

 

October 6, 2010 - Relentless wind and 16 inches of rain have made for challenging conditions.  I was doing a little scouting after today's charter and ran across a school of nice 24-30" rockfish in the shallows.  I enjoyed catching them on every cast, but wished I had some customers aboard to join in the fun!

 

September 30, 2010 - High winds and rain have kept me off the water for most of the week.  Looks like a couple more days before things settle out.  Striper season starts on Monday!

 

September 24, 2010 - It was a busy summer of fishing and I’d like to thank all of you that fished with me.  The cold winter made for few trophy speckled trout this summer but there are lots of spike trout that were born over the spring and summer.  We also have been enjoying very good numbers of puppy drum.  With a mild winter, next summer should produce fantastic fishing for quality specks and reds.  Striped bass action in the shallows was very dependable with an average of over 30 rockfish per morning.  As we head into early fall, we will continue to have great striper fishing in the shallows along with the mixed bag of reds, specks, flounder and blues.  October is one of my most popular months for charters since the weather is beautiful and the fish are aggressive as they prepare to migrate and fatten up for winter. I will be guiding the shallows of the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck until November 5 and then I will be spending 10 days chasing albies at Harkers Island, NC.  My season at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel will begin on November 16, and I will continue to guide into the winter as much as mother nature allows.  Warm winters allow for world class striper action into February.  The fall and winter fishery at the CBBT can be brutally cold with rough seas, so I recommend that only hardcore anglers attempt to fish during this season.  Anglers should have good agility and balance to safely tackle this fishery.  I recommend that fly casters be comfortable throwing 9wt lines with heavy flies at least 60ft.  When conditions are right, fishing can be phenomenal.  In previous years, we have enjoyed 200 fish days and have landed trophies to 50 pounds on fly.   While the last couple years have been subpar at the CBBT, this summer has produced a year class of peanut bunker better than I’ve seen in over 10 years.  With all the bait that is around, I expect this fall and winter to be banner.  Be sure to contact me as soon as possible to reserve a memorable day on the water!