scotttaylor
04-08-2009, 02:17 PM
Captain Kyle Johnson put us on the fish again! There were snow flurries this morning on the way to Solomons and small craft advisories were out for the entire bay but Kyle had a feeling that it would be "doable". So Bill Day, Joe Evans (PropTalk editor), Tarn Kelsey (marine surveyor), and I met Kyle on the southern tip of Solomons at 0630.
The new "Dr's Orders" is warmed by a propane heater Kyle had it cranked before we left the dock. Side curtains for the cockpit knocked down the wind chill on the way out on our short run to the east. We slowed up to put the planer boards in and set a course of 85 degrees which put the breeze and chop on our transom. For now Kyle is fishing a "conservative" and lucky thirteen rod spread. More rod holders to come later this spring!
While Kyle was setting the third line on the stbd side a striper took a Chartruse bait while the braid was still wrapped in his hand...ouch! Bill Day landed the first of about fifteen fish with maybe nineteen knockdowns. No tremendous size but all fish appeared shiny, plump, and very healthy. They swam away with a nice turn of speed when released!
The C-Hawk is a solid and stable ride at trolling speeds in the chop. No signs of any crew fighting off that green feeling. By mid morning the forecast was for even more breeze coming on by noon so we beat feet for the Pax river into the wind and chop. Again, the boat likes this condition..no spray on the windshield or over the hardtop. Plenty of spray perpendicular to our course!
Thanks to Kyle and young Taylor Smith (smithbros on TF) for a great start to the 2009 season. What a nice morning with a congenial group. I really wish I didn't have to work on opening day April 18!
Any Severn River guys interested in learning the Pax River or Cove Point to Virginia state line (main stem) should give Kyle a call. He is remarkably consistent!
S.T.
The new "Dr's Orders" is warmed by a propane heater Kyle had it cranked before we left the dock. Side curtains for the cockpit knocked down the wind chill on the way out on our short run to the east. We slowed up to put the planer boards in and set a course of 85 degrees which put the breeze and chop on our transom. For now Kyle is fishing a "conservative" and lucky thirteen rod spread. More rod holders to come later this spring!
While Kyle was setting the third line on the stbd side a striper took a Chartruse bait while the braid was still wrapped in his hand...ouch! Bill Day landed the first of about fifteen fish with maybe nineteen knockdowns. No tremendous size but all fish appeared shiny, plump, and very healthy. They swam away with a nice turn of speed when released!
The C-Hawk is a solid and stable ride at trolling speeds in the chop. No signs of any crew fighting off that green feeling. By mid morning the forecast was for even more breeze coming on by noon so we beat feet for the Pax river into the wind and chop. Again, the boat likes this condition..no spray on the windshield or over the hardtop. Plenty of spray perpendicular to our course!
Thanks to Kyle and young Taylor Smith (smithbros on TF) for a great start to the 2009 season. What a nice morning with a congenial group. I really wish I didn't have to work on opening day April 18!
Any Severn River guys interested in learning the Pax River or Cove Point to Virginia state line (main stem) should give Kyle a call. He is remarkably consistent!
S.T.