Fishing Forum

The wife and I took TubeDude's advise and fished Walsburg Bay on Sunday, from the shore. When we got up there (6:30 or so) the first turn out was packed so we cruised down to the second one and had it to our selves. Walked down, set up, and cast out. I using the cralwer/mellow combo, the wife using rainbow Super Zeke's. The water was glassed up and steam coming off, wish I had a camera, it was awesome.

So 10 minutes in and the wife is hooked up, a perfect little 14" bow, we were there to catch dinner so it didn't bother me so much that he swallowed it. I got a few bites soon after but couldn't set the hook into anything. This pretty much happened all day, bite bite bite but no hook sets. That first fish was the last fish. And it didn't matter what bait we threw out there, they'd bite it but not take it. PowerBait, Super Zeke's, Night Crawler's, Marshmellows...the fish got fat off us yesterday, that's for sure.

Some interesting things:

A huge crawdad hung out in front of us all day, even decided to sample our catch on the stringer. He clawed at the gills a few times, I had to poke him with a stick to get him to stop it. I tried to catch him a few times, I thought about throwing him on a hook and sending him out for a big old bass, but I didn't have my proc with me and didn't know if it was legal, so I didn't do it.

Also, a little water snake sure thought I was interesting. Now...I'm not one for snakes, as a matter of fact...I hate them, but I kinda liked this little fella. He came up on my left through the reeds and poked his head out and just stared at me. Then he went under water and came up right in front of me, doing the same thing, just staring. I figure he was in love with my bright red shirt. He lost interest after my wife threw a stick at him.
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[cool][#0000ff]Glad you found a "wildlife friendly" spot. Sorry you didn't score more hookups. Okay to feed the fishies but some of them could have returned the favor.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You should always take a few lures when you fish up there. Also, a bubble and fly rig early in the morning can be very effective.[/#0000ff]
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The wife threw a black Rooster Tail with silver spinner and I tossed a gold Kastmaster for a while. Then it started getting hot and sitting down and enjoying an ice cold beer sounded better than walking the bank. We bait fished from then on out.
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Thanks for the report. I've never fished DC, but I'd like to one day. BTW you can use the dads as bait up there. Too bad you didn't throw him on the hook!
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TubeDude,
You mention a Bubble and Fly in the morning at Deer Creek. I have tried that combo in the evening without any success. What fly or type of fly in the morning? I have seen some flies that I thought ought to work but nada. Sometimes right at dusk they hit black buggers on the troll. Any input would be appreciated. I would like to take the Grandkids and a bubble and fly is easy for them to fish.

or email <rpeterson@calderaengineering.com>
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[cool][#0000ff]Evening is usually best for the bubble and fly, but sometimes they are active near the surface in the morning too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Like you, I have had good luck with a black bugger. I tie some of them with red tinsel in the tail and on the back.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One of my favorite bubble and fly patterns, in all waters (including DC) is the "Silver Hilton". It is a steelhead pattern from the west coast and trout like it all over the country. (see pic).[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have also done well with "fry flies"...small streamers tied with either a gold or silver body. These can produce well when there are lots of minnows in the water. A plain white streamer or small zonker can work well too. Got some good smallies on those.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]For the kids you might substitute a "garden hackle" if the fish aren't hitting flies. I used to keep busy baiting and taking fish off the lines for my kids when I chucked out a water filled bubble with about 5 feet of leader and a size 6 hook with a 1" piece of worm on it. The kids can't fish it wrong. If they bring it all the way in, just heave it out again.[/#0000ff]
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