A Winters Delight-Catching Striped Bass

[Tom_Hughes]

[font "Times"][size 3]Dave,[/size][/font]

[font "Times"][size 3]I know the pictures are too large. I wanted to email this to you before posting, but you show no email address. Please cut them down if needed.[/size][/font]

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[font "Times"][size 3]A Winters Delight-Catching Striped Bass[/size][/font]

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[font "Times"][size 3]From Friday, 12/27/02, until Sunday, 12/29/02, I enjoyed the most productive striped bass fishing trip of my career.[/size][/font]

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[font "Times"][size 3]Darryl, John B, Francis, Bill and I met at Kiptopeke State Park on the Eastern Shore of Virginia at 11:00 on Friday 12/27/02. The ramp was in excellent condition as we watched Darryl launched his 25’ Parker (a small fee of $10.00 covered the ramp and parking for 1 day).[/size][/font]

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[size 3][font "Times"]The seas were flat calm as we headed just west of the High Rise. The sight of working birds interrupted our journey as we headed west on the bay side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT). There we landed some hard fighting and healthy striped bass on light spinning equipment with soft plastic and metal spoons. [/font][/size]

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[font "Times"][size 3]Once reaching our original destiny, fishing was slow as the current was still. This lasted for approximately 1 hour. Then an incoming tide started moving the current at a moderate rate. From that time on, until sunset, we caught striped bass by running and gunning to different structures located around the CBBT. We had no help from working birds the rest of out trip, but it wasn’t needed, since Darryl understood how to locate fish ‘on structure.’ [/size][/font]

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[font "Times"][size 3]On Saturday the water was rough, but again we landed fish throughout the entire day with only a 1 hour break where the waters seemed void of fish. On Sunday before heading home we caught another large number of stripers on light tackle. The water temperature on the ocean side of the CBBT stayed at 42.6 degrees throughout our entire stay. The morning bite produced more fish, and the afternoon bite produced larger fish.[/size][/font]

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[font "Times"][size 3]The following pictures tell the story.[/size][/font]

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[font "Times"][size 3]Bill...all s [/size][/font]

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[url "http://www.fishingworks.com/Users/UserFolders/Tom_Hughes/PhotoImages/Bill_Zell_Striper.jpg"][/url]
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[font "Times"][size 3]Francis…an angler in process[/size][/font]

[font "Times"][size 3][/size][/font][url "http://www.fishingworks.com/Users/UserFolders/Tom_Hughes/PhotoImages/Francis_Zell_Striper.jpg"][/url]

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[font "Times"][size 3]My largest striper this trip[/size][/font]

[font "Times"][size 3][/size][/font][url "http://www.fishingworks.com/Users/UserFolders/Tom_Hughes/PhotoImages/Picture%20021.jpe"][/url]

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[font "Times"][size 3]John B…with his largest to date (42 1/2 inches/38 pounds)-this striper was revived and released after this photo was taken. Thanks JohnB.[/size][/font]

[font "Times"][size 3][/size][/font][url "http://www.fishingworks.com/Users/UserFolders/Tom_Hughes/PhotoImages/JohnB_42.5in_Striper.jpg"][/url]

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[font "Times"][size 3]PRODUCTIVE LURES:[/size][/font]

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[font "Times"][size 3]7” & 5” [url "http://mywebpages.comcast.net/HerbsTackleShop/index.htm "]Bass Assassins fished[/url] on 1 1/4 to 2 ounce jigheads (various colors)--[/size][/font]
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[font "Times"][size 3][url "http://www.hopkinslures.com/contact.htm "]Hopkins SHORTY[/url], 2 1/4 ounce spoon--[/size][/font]

[font "Times"][size 3][/size][/font][url "http://www.fishingworks.com/Users/UserFolders/Tom_Hughes/PhotoImages/ACF3C7.jpg"][/url]

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[font "Times"][size 3]FISHING TIP: [/size][/font]

[font "Times"][size 3]Use a drink cooler to keep fishing line stored in. If used for leaders the line will keep tight as it comes off the spool.[/size][/font]

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[font "Times"][size 3]Tight Lines,[/size][/font]

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[font "Times"][size 3]Capt. Tom Hughes[/size][/font]

[font "Times"][size 3]Fly & Light Tackle Guide[/size][/font]

[url "http://www.capttomhughes.com/"][font "Times"][#800080][size 3]www.capttomhughes.com[/size][/#800080][/font][/url]

[font "Times"][size 3]Now Booking Trips For The Susquehanna Flats[/size][/font]

[davetclown]

Thanks Tom for this teriffic report and picture proof.

you can go ahead and post the pics I will fix them when I come across them. (not a problem)

Those are some nice looking fish,

if any one would like to see the pics in their full size, you can click on the pictures for full veiw.
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[Tom_Hughes]

Dave,
Thanks for your reply and assistance.

Have a Happy New Year,
Tom