Summer Time Musky Fishing

Virginia has been experiencing some fall like temperatures the past week so a friend and I decided to fish the New River.  The fishing was slow but what can you expect from summer musky fishing?  Only saw one fish and it popped up right behind my friend's fly right at the boat.  The musky backed off as quick as he showed up.  He started the figure 8's all around the boat and after a few seconds the musky popped back up and inhaled.  He got a good hook set and then re hook set him again. Pop goes his 30 lb weak spot in his leader and off swims an angry musky with a fly in his mouth. It was worth the float just to watch that and be out on a pretty section of water.

I shall be back after the musky this weekend.  I have put in my 10,000 casts as it has been a year and a half since I've caught a musky.  I am due for one.  Thanks for reading.

Fly Tying and Miscellaneous Update

I have recently been on a musky fly tying kick.  There is something almost therapeutic about tying these big bucktail flies on big hooks.  Dry flies are my most despised fly to tie.  They are tedious and I usually can only crank out half a dozen before I'm over tying the pattern.  I enjoy tying up nymph patterns, but streamers are by far my most favorite style to tie. 

On an unrelated note, fresh market bacon is by far the best purchase a person can buy outside of fly fishing.  It is a new requirement for any over night fishing/camping trip.  I'm against the whole hipster movement and fresh market craze, but I shall return to fresh market often just for their bacon.

And this past week we have been watching Holly's brother Baxter.  Our friends got Holly's brother and are out of town so we are watching him.  I have come to realize that they are better together than separated.  They keep each other entertained and wear each other out.  This picture was taken at 7:30 this morning.  They were already exhausted from playing.  If Holly was by herself she would still be doing laps at 7:30 from the living room to the kitchen to the dining room to the living room to the kitchen on repeat. 

Hope to get out soon for the musky bite while VA is experiencing this cooler weather.  Thanks for reading.

Quick Brookie Fix

A got out a little while ago for a quick brookie fix.  Streams are still running average flows and water temps are staying cool.  Figure there is still two more weeks before I have to give the small streams a break for a couple months until the water temps cool back down.

This was a good fish that put up a respectable fight.  He was camera shy though and this was the only picture I got before he jumped back into the stream.

Looking forward to taking advantage of the good water levels before I'm on to smallies and tailwater fishing for the rest of summer.

Fly Fishing Saltwater

I've been struggling to find some time to post up this trip.  This was from last weekend.  I have a buddy who has recently started up a Charter on NNK peninsula in Virginia.  We have been in conversation about saltwater fly fishing as he has been interested in starting this new endeavor.  He is experienced in saltwater conventional tackle fishing and had a great trophy striper season this year.  I decided to make a trip up to his neck of the woods cornfields for some fly fishing.  Plan was he show me where to fly fish for salty fish and I'd show him how to fly fish to shorten the learning curve.  Original idea was to hit flats for some redfish, but the cold spring has delayed their arrival.  I has just as happy to chase some stripers though.

I was kidding when I said there was a lot of cornfields.  Unlike most coastal towns I've been too.  Loved it.

I arrived Saturday afternoon and we just chilled and ate good.  The water was murky and the wind was brutal. 

Local food was delicious as well.  Oyster Rockefellers. 

And some non local snow crab legs.  I should of got blue crab, but I'm a sucker for snow crab legs.

The next day we were up early to catch the tide coming out of the bay.  We hit some spots for some residential stripers.

I could get use to sun rises like this.

Lots of duck blinds too.

Ospreys are one cool bird too. 

Friends striper.

My first striper on a fly came shortly after.

Went to a rock break and the stripers were a little bigger. 

This one hit like a freight train and put up a worthy fight.  Not bad for this ole fly guy.

Afternoon was spent relaxing and playing fetch with their dog. 

Took the big boat out for the afternoon.  Fishing was slow though and the wind had picked back up.

Messing around with the casting net.

Had a great time and Captain Chubby can put you on some fish.  If you are ever up in the DC area and want to make a detour out to the ocean for some fishing, give my friend a buzz.  He knows his saltwater fishing and can put you on some fish like he did me.

http://www.chubbyscharter.com/