Month: March 2018

Glad March is Almost Over!

March is always a challenging month. The transition from winter to spring makes it difficult to consistently locate and catch fish. For me, this March has been particularly difficult. Between high winds and a calf injury, I have not been fishing very much. When I did fish, it was a hit or miss proposition.

On Sunday, it was cold, rainy and windy. The boat landing was empty. As I surveyed the vacant parking lot, I thought all these people are much smarter than me. Idling away from the ramp, I envisioned people drinking coffee and reading the Sunday paper in the warmth of their homes. It confirmed my initial thought, everyone is smarter than me.

After a short run, I deployed the trolling motor and began casting a Z-Man StreakZ 3.75 on a 3/16-ounce Finesse Jig to a wind sheltered bank. On the second cast, I caught a keeper size Flounder and began to feel a little bit smarter. A few minutes later, I released a 27-inch Redfish and determined it was a smart idea to go fishing. Shortly thereafter, a Trout completed an inshore slam and I was a total genius. About then, it started raining heavily and my delusion of grandeur was shattered on the rocks of reality. Turns out, I am not very smart after all.

Given this realization, I am surprised that over 35 people have already confirmed attendance for my April 21st class on Four Things You Can Do to Catch More Fish. The event is being held at the Pierce Park Pavilion from 10:00 till noon. After the class, lunch will be provided. Additionally, there will be breakout sessions on casting, rigging soft plastic lures and tying fishing knots. The class is free. However, I am asking attendees to consider a donation to the Lucy Boyle Memorial Fund or the Respeck Initiative (that is working to restore our Trout stocks after the die-off caused by the snowstorm). If you would like to attend, please confirm your seat with an email to [email protected].

Daylight Saving Time

Now that we have set our clocks forward, there is an extra hour in the afternoon to go fishing.  Recently, Elliott and I took advantage of the additional daylight and released a few Redfish On The Fly.  It was a little breezy but my Shimano Asquith 8 weight made presenting the fly effortless.  The Reds were hungry.  The sunset was beautiful.  Another great fishing trip with my son.

It Pays to Explore

The Ralston Creek boat landing is closed for renovations until the end of March. Thankfully, the Beresford Creek boat landing is still open. While it only takes a few minutes to launch in Beresford Creek and then run around Daniel Island to the Wando River (where I fish most of the time), I have decided to take the month of March and learn more about fishing in the Cooper River area. My first trips have been very promising.

On Monday afternoon, I decided to fish in Clouter Creek. The tide was falling and about an hour away from dead low. This provided me the opportunity to see oyster bars that are normally covered during higher stages of the tide. Most of the oyster bars were dry or in very shallow water. A few were in water between 1 and 5 feet deep. These were the bars that I spent a little time fishing around. Redfish were feeding near the shallow bars. I could easily seem them sloshing around. A quick cast of a StreakZ 3.75 on a 3/16-ounce Finesse Jig produced a solid strike. The Reds were not particularly large but they were hungry and plentiful. After releasing a few, I went in search of Trout.

The Trout were a bit more spread out. Most were congregating at the base of oyster bars in deeper water. Each deeper bar seemed to hold a fish or two. By hitting a few bars, I managed to release a decent number of Trout. The size of the fish was larger than what I have been seeing in the Wando. Most were 16 to 18 inches long and I released a few approaching the 20-inch mark.

I love fishing in the Wando River. However, the Cooper River area is growing on me!

The Charleston Angler Saltwater Experience – March 24

Casting accuracy and efficiency are instrumental to consistently catching fish.  On March 24, I will be sharing casting techniques that will  help you catch more fish.  Please join me at The Charleston Angler Saltwater Experience in the Shimano Experience Center located at
9550 Palmetto Commerce Pkwy.

Hope to see you there!

April 21 Fishing Class – Four Things You Can Do to Catch More Fish

On April 21, I will be teaching a fishing class at the Pierce Park Pavilion from 10:00 till Noon. My topic will be Four Things You Can Do to Catch More Fish. After the class, there will be hands-on breakout sessions for tying knots, casting instruction and rigging soft plastic lures.  A BBQ lunch will also be served.

Ankona Boats and Salt March Skiffs will have a few of their skiffs  on display and available for demo rides after lunch.

The Charleston Angler  team and members of the Daniel Island Inshore Fishing Club will be on hand to help with the breakout sessions.  Our goal is to provide the personal instruction needed to master casting, knot tying and rigging of soft plastic lures.

The class is free. However, I am asking attendees to consider a donation to the Lucy Boyle Memorial Fund or the ReSpeck Initiative (that is working to rebuild our Trout stocks after the massive winter die-off).  Seating for the event is limited.  Please confirm attendance via email to [email protected].

The address of the Pierce Park Pavilion is 1801 Pierce St, Daniel Island, SC  29492.  The Pavilion is located behind the pool.

 

Rapala XR10

Another Trout on the Rapala XR10

The water temperature is now in the middle 60-degree range and still pretty clear.  Great conditions for fishing with a suspending jerk bait.  This week, I have casting a Rapala XR10 with my Shimano Zodias and Curado 70XG outfit.  It as been a bit breezy, so the extra weight of the XR10 and wide range of adjustment on the 70XG (without opening up the reel) has been a great combination.  Turns out, Trout like it to.