Rainy Sunday Afternoon

[J.P. Williams]

Didn't have enough sense to come in out of the rain this afternoon. Millenburg, C. Bohlman, and R. Bohlman are safe, but I had a good day.

In lieu of a nice racy kayak like Capt. John Veil, I slid my beat-up old Grumman 17 into the river and wandered off to a special place w/ my trusty 9' double-blade. Actually caught ten fish in two hours. Two were thick 11" white perch that I didn't take pictures of. Ditto five 12-18" pickerel. Wish I had a picture of the 18. It threw my plug on a perfect jump just before I headed home.

Caught three pickerel big enough to measure and photograph, but not enough to jack up my total. All three were 21.25-21.5". See below.

16777

16778

16779

16780

The last photo is a Clown 1/4-oz. X-Rap suspending crankbait, w/ hooks cut down to doubles and barbs crimped, which caught all ten fish. That has been my go-to lure for the whole Derby. Today, the big fish were all in 2' of water or less, and they hit quickly as I began to retrieve the plug after long casts w/ 10# PowerPro. All winter, I used a quick burst-&-stop retrieve, but today I used the plug more as a twitchbait. It picked up dead leaves on a lot of casts, but it works shallow enough that it covered the flats where the fish were (spawning?) well enough. Its weight-transfer system makes it cast better than any other 1/4-oz. plug I've ever fished. It also catches white & yellow perch. Am I going to try it for rockfish? You bet!

Great tournament, folks! I've really enjoyed it. Greg suggests that we add a yellow perch category for next winter, & I agree. What do you think, Gentlemen?

Best, JPW

[goose70]

looks like you made lemons out of lemonade, today. As for a Y. Perch category, that's a great idea.

[mill686]

Way to make the most of an otherwise miserable day JP. :thumbup:

And like you JP, I can see where these X-Raps will do very well with rock. I also threw the "Sub-Walk" version. I didn't get any pickerel with it, but it sure looks like an enticing lure for old "line sides".

I love this tournament. It gives me an excuse to hit the water during the doldrums and makes me feel like an adventurous fisherman having to brave the elements while seeking my catch.

It's been fun. Can't wait until next year. :yes:

[J.A. Veil]

In lieu of a nice racy kayak like Capt. John Veil, I slid my beat-up old Grumman 17 into the river and wandered off to a special place w/ my trusty 9' double-blade.

Congratulations John Page. You had a fine catching day.

I had never thought of my kayak as "racy". It is a functional tool to get me to the fishing grounds with a little exercise as a side benefit. Your Grumman serves exactly the same purpose. Obviously it worked just fine today.

I am eager to get my new-to-me Gheenoe Classic shallow-draft skiff fully outfitted and on the water this summer. It is something like a no-frills mini bass boat, with a flat bottom for standing up to cast, and a trolling motor. Unfortunately, it won't improve my fishing skills, but will be fun for running around the Severn and poking in shallow spots. Most Gheenoes are owned by folks in FLorida. Many of their Gheenoes are equipped with poling platforms above the outboards and casting platforms in the bow. That is not part of my plan for local fishing, but who knows.

[Big E]

Pretty work JP!! I sat inside with my new pup yesterday and wondered if I should've been out doing something outside. Boy you made the best of a crappy day nice job catching.

-Evans

[Virgil Poe]

Good job on customizing the trebs :thumbup:, and squeezing a little sunshing out of a drizzly day :yes:.

[deadlowtide]

If there is a consistency award this year, it goes to JP for always putting pickerel in the boat. I swear, it's been either heros or zeros for us all pickerel season. Great job and too bad here weren't any 23s mixed in the bunch!

[attml]

Congrats to JP for his rainy day persistance! Nice work!

I would be one of those zeros this year. I swear I am convinced that Chris and Greg have been dropping moth balls overboard near my part of the river all year! The only pickerel I caught all tournament was a sub 20 inch hammer handle. I didn't have a single follow from shore all fall or winter despite what I threw at them!? It has been a crazy year!

[mill686]

If there is a consistency award this year, it goes to JP

Yes, and I've seen it first-hand.

He's old school too. Not once did I see him throw the helicopter or turd lure.