100th Post for the Monkeybubbas

We've hit 10o posts of Monkeybubba fishing foolishness. Instead of boring you with my last two skunked fishing trips I thought we should post some highlight photos from our mis-adventures (even from the days before the blog, there is no chronological order, all the great days and nights blend together). I hope all the bubbas add their photos to this post. Here's to fishin' with your bros!

Tight Lines.

High water trout on spinners

I was back in GWNF for a few hours on Superbowl Sunday. The recent rain and snow melt had raised the water level over a foot since my last trip, the water was still a milky green, but no longer looked like a mud milkshake.
There was still snow and iced up trees, but that was melting at a pace that caused it to "rain" in the woods although the sky was clear. I tried hand tied and commercial jigs because the water was still cold, but the visibility was only about 24". I looked for a sunny spot around a bend and switched to spinners.
The second hole I fished allowed two jumping rainbows within a few casts of each other. Here is a 12 incher which I took home for dinner. The second fish was a 13 incher I released without removing it from the water. Just above the head riffle I had one come in charging hard, almost right to my feet. I didn't see him until the last minute because of the low visibility, there was no where for me to put my spinner - it dropped to the bottom 14" inches from the tip that was just above the water's surface. I could have tapped the trout on the head, but he eyeballed it for a second, then turned and vaporized into a hole. There was no bringing him back up. I walked a bit further up stream and cast another dozen times, then headed for the road to walk back to the car. I was only there a few hours, but I realized how much I had missed it. I'm also glad to have the camera back.

Record Breaking VA Striper

73 lb Record Striper. Dang.

Mullet Toss

Throw a 1 lb mullet from Alabama across the state line to Florida?
Alabama/Florida Interstate Mullet Toss.
Enough said.

GWNF and Early Backpacking Trout Trip Announcement

It was thirty six degrees with a bitter wind when I got home and hour ago, now its thirty one. I bet this sweet looking trout hole is pretty damn frozen up in GWNF.
I'm planning on going back to WV somewhere around March 15-21 (hopefully). Anyone want to go? The bears won't be out of their dens for at least another 2-3 weeks if thats your concern.
It will be cold, the weather could crush the trip as it is a week and half earlier this year, so its a bit more iffy but the license info should be about the same (Wait until the last minute to buy the license in case the weather puts the trip out of the question). Look at last years planning to get more info - this trip will be more laid back in terms of planning - I don't know if I will put lure kits together, but I can just get a bunch of the lures that work and you can buy the individuals off me until Mike and Sean lose them all. There should be even less people out fishing and camping, or we can hike up and camp on one of the tributaries.
Be a man this spring, whose in?

An eerie calm...

Everything has been strangely quiet with the Monkey bubbas it seems. The end of rock season ended without much fanfare or action. My last night was at the last possible moment New Years Eve - Casting a bucktail furiously from the bridge at the Jamestown/Scotland ferry as said ferry approached. Dozens of good (18-36") stripers sat in the current, noses to the shadow line. No luck.
I did manage a day of trout fishing in George Washington National Forest in between Christmas and New Years, I landed four small rainbows. Sunday before last I wondered up there again, intending on fishing a pond that ended up being frozen over, and ended up back on the same creek, a bit icy at the edges, but good fishing. I landed four more and learned a new way to fish a micro jig.
I ordered one of the Virginia Wildlife Calendars for 10 bucks, and got it in 5 days - its loaded with info about fish runs and wildlife habits based on the calendar, as well as fishing times, moon phases and a tide chart. A good investment in our environment.

Neighborhood Lake Fish Population Survey

WOW! Eight pounder in my feeshin hole.

Well I haven't caught this guy yet and he (or more likely she) lives in my favorite local fishing hole, but perhaps I should think about beefing up from the 4 lb test before I head out again eh?- Check the fish population survey conducted in my neighborhood* lakes (*within a five minute drive of our home). You can look at pictures or read the entire document (Greg and Blair, I know you are probably the only ones who will, but it makes sense, and its a quick five minute read - lots of graphs). The management plan calls for anlgers to "Aggressively target and remove bass in the 6-11 inch range and release all fish in the 12-18 inch range" in order to correct the forage/predator imbalance. I am guessing I can do my part (wink). I think I will

Oh and by the way, I think I'm gonna find a lure that looks an awful lot like one of those 6 inch bass to try to catch that guy - know what I mean?

I also now know where to go for the larger 12-18" fish when a buddy comes up. They are also catch and release only for that slot, but one lake has a better population of them and is considered "in balance". Oh and there are crappies too in some of the lakes, one fish I haven't spent hours searching out ...

After work fishing

4pm.
Overcast, damp, misting.
50 degrees and falling, fog descending and rising.
Fished s-l-o-w-l-y, finally one bass mouths and spits in sight.
Getting dark, bite, line moves, hookset.
Bass digs, deep bend in the rod.
Smiling tug in the wrist.
Land him.
Release.
Repeated on the next cast.
Three more casts, dark.
Walk to the car.
5 minutes.

Home.

Thankful...

Hey Guys, you know, we are pretty fortunate to do all of the following in one night:

I caught like 15 16"ers and 2 18" keepers tonight and was able to get back, fillet them, stuff them with crab, and eat a great meal. So, think about the less fortunate this holiday season!

Back in Bloggin' Action...

After forgetting my password to the blog, I am finally back in action. This has been a pretty tough weekend for me because I have had to work and stare at a flat James River from my desk. The warm temperatures have also made it hard for me because I know that I should be out catchin' the Rocks. All of the fishing reports are saying that the bigguns are finally in the bay (making going to work even harder). All I have to say is... Greg, I hope that you fished all weekend and I am waiting to see some nice fish. As of lately, my days off have consisted of cold temps, rough water and preparations for the upcoming child (aka baby Blendy).

Even at work I think of fishing, so that is why I have attached this picture of a keeper that I caught on a "bucktail" during our last deer hunt. I have checked with the Game Wardens to find out what kind of license I need to legally keep this in my cooler.



Fish on fellas...

Fishing in my dress shoes

I have to pass by my favorite neighborhood lake when driving to Safeway, which makes it hard not to want to stop and fish the last 30 minutes of daylight. As I was returning some out of date food products I had bought, my mind began to wander over to the lake. I knew I had my light action rod, which has been ready for action in my car pretty much every day I go to work (just in case, you know?), but did I have my line clippers, a hat (its chilly), and the ziploc bag with my favorite soft plastics? I got back to the car and was delighted to find I had stashed those bass essentials in the cargo net of my trunk. But I was sans boots, I was fishing in my dress shoes straight out of work.
Sweet! I walked up to the shore just as the sun was setting and within minutes i had my first bites (which I botched two in a row, including one that yanked my drag pretty good before spitting the lure). I found a spot on a curve of the lake where there was a little school of them and worked the jerkbaits s-l-o-w-l-y. The water had gotten very cold but none the less I caught three in a row off of the same structure, then botched two more subtle bites before calling it. 3 fish, 40 minutes, not bad. I wonder how much longer I can keep catching them before the water is just too darn cold?

A few rock...

Went out with Pat from the Green Leafe last night and pulled in quite a few rockfish. Something like 12 with 6 that were over 19" and one spec that was around 19-20". GREAT night with the moon rise out of the Northeast! The 4th dock up river from mine was the spot...

Back Home, Sample the Local Waters

I strolled over to one of my local lakes after the drive back from my parents house. With my light action rod and my trusty lures I landed 3 largemouths in the last hour before dark, with no short strikes or misses. Sweet! I wonder how long I can keep catching them this way before it gets too cold, its been in the thirties most nights for a few weeks.

I landed the biggest one (respectable little guy almost 12 inches long) on my third cast while answering my cell phone as brad called. I said "hello" and Brad answered "Hey John whatcha up to?" as I felt the subtle pull on the line, I set the hook and said "I'm setting the hook on a neighborhood largmouth". Brad was a little confused, but I explained the situation as I fought the fish, unhooked and released him. Man - although I wanted to talk to Brad I gotta stop fishing and talking on the phone, it really ruins the experience of catching those little guys and I'm sure its only a matter of time before my phone goes for a swim...

It was a beautiful evening and sunset, but sorry no pictures - Rochelle has the camera with her in Arkansas.