Fished for: Crappies
Date Fished: 10/4/98
Boat Name: (Jeffrey Wibles Boat)‘Anna’s Luck’ - Ranger, 361-V Fiberglass Bass Boat - 150 HP Johnson Fastrike Outboard
Water Temp: 65 Degrees
Water Clarity: 2 Feet
Seas: Still Until 10 AM Then A Slight Chop
Weather: Cloudy
REPORT:
Jeffrey Wible and I fished on Sunday, 10/04/98 from 7:45 AM until 4:00 PM, on Mattawoman Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River, located south of Washington, DC on the Maryland side. We launched at Smallwood State Park in Charles County, MD. The tide was outgoing when we started.
All fish were caught on light spinning and bait casting equipment using artificial lures.
SPECIAL NOTE: Jeffrey Wible, President of the Beltway Bassers, has bass fished the Potomac River for over 10 years. Russell Amidon of Seaford, DE and Shelly Ewell of Georgetown, DE, both active members in the Delaware BASS Federation, had a club tournament scheduled on the Potomac River, Sunday, October 4, 1998. Jeffrey was nice enough to tell them exact locations on Mattawoman Creek that have been holding bass lately. He also gave them a detailed map pinpointing these locations.
We talked with Russell and Shelly throughout the day and at 1:00 PM they haven’t caught a keeper size bass. However their luck did change! By weigh-in time Russell had the lunker bass (heaviest bass caught during the tournament) and enough total weight to place 2nd.
To me this was a special day. I was fishing with a very knowledgeable fisherman that was willing to share his knowledge. Jeffrey not only put Russell and Shelly on Largemouth Bass, but he put me on some large Crappies. Thanks Jeffrey.
LURES USED: soft plastic baits rigged on 1/16 and 1/8 ounce round head jigs, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 ounce skirted jigs (with trailing pig, Uncle Josh #11 or Zoom Big Pork), deep diving crankbaits, 4" double hula tail spider grubs and 5" single tail grubs on a screw lock weedless jighead.
TOTAL CRAPPIES CAUGHT WAS 55. The Crappies ranged in length from 8" to 12". 50 were of keeper size. The most productive structure was underwater timber in mid channel.
STRUCTURES FISHED: Points, underwater timber, and grassbeds.
MOST PRODUCTIVE LURE: Mr. Twister, 1 1/2" Twister Tail, Chartreuse Grub
BIGGEST CRAPPIE CAUGHT ON: Mr. Twister, 1 1/2" Twister Tail, Chartreuse Grub
MOST PRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUE: Jigging - cast the lure out, let it drop to the desired depth (drops 1 foot per second), then either lift your rod tip swiftly from 9 o’clock to 11 o’clock, or put the rod tip on the water. Use sweeping motions while taking up the slack line-pause for 1 second. Repeat this again and again, until the lure is back at the boat. Most Crappies were suspended between 4 and 8 feet of water and would take the bait on the fall.
OTHER PRODUCTIVE LURES THIS TRIP:
Bass Assassin, Shad, 1 1/2", Chartreuse/Silver Glitter, #SA01452
Bass Assassin, Shad, 1 1/2", Crystal Shad, #SA01343
Bass Assassin, Curly Shad, 2", Crystal Shad, #CSA35343 (dyed with chartreuse on the tail section)
OTHER FISH CAUGHT:
10 - White Perch
8 - Bluegills (6 were keeper size)
6 - Largemouth Bass (largest being 14")
2 - Yellow Perch
1 - Striped Bass (16")
FISHING TIP:
When your fishing productivity is low, or about the same, and you are searching for new and different ways to catch more of your favorite fish—join a club or organization. This gives you an opportunity to talk with some very knowledgeable fishing people. You can learn new methods and techniques, then when applied, allows you to have more productive fishing trips.
Organizations On The Web:
CCA MD - Saltwater Sportfishing (www.ccamd.org/)
MSSA - Saltwater Sportfishing (www.mssa.net/)
PSG - Saltwater Sportfishing (www.heyfish.com/)
Maryland Bass Federation - Bass Fishing (www.mdbass.com/)
and many more.
Good Fishing…..Tom Hughes
Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers Association
Freelance Outdoor Writer And Speaker