Sunday

[CaptMikeStarrett]

I posted on LGMouth board..

Snakeheads have been fun to catch BTW.

http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/largemouth-smallmouth-bass-fishing-board/265498-sweet-sunday.html

Capt Mike

[golfinjoe24]

Nice pics, I still need to figure out a date with my dad to get out with you. Just been really busy.
did find a few stipers today but not on the fly

[David M]

Very nice Mike. So how long do you think it will be until you can target those snakeheads? Despite all the hard work by those trying to erradicate the snakeheads, I think we may just have to get used to them being here. To date I haven't caught one but I want to. Ever since we did that snakehead event on the Potomac years ago I've been thinking about how to target them successfully on the fly.

Joey, the best way to make sure you get a striper on the fly is to not take any other gear out with you. It might take a trip or two, but when you get into them it'll feel that much better.

David

[golfinjoe24]

David,

I will need to try that thursday evening and see how it works out. Just alwas get scared of the wind!

[David M]

The wind can definitely make things a lot more interesting with the fly rod. That's where the sinking line is huge b/c you don't really need to cast all that often. A couple of water hauls to get the head out of the tip-top and then just pay out the running line. As long as you have a drift going you can leave the fly in the water and just let it sink back down. It isn't pretty but it works. David

[CaptMikeStarrett]

In the last couple of nights I have learned so much about how to catch snakeheads. There strike areas are way different than LGMouth and the tide is a major key to locating them. Also I found they will not just strike at anytime.. They very selective about lures.. unless they are on there bed area.

Capt Mike

[Salmo trutta]

I've spoken to a few Chain Bridge regulars who have strictly started targeting these fish. They said they find them in the back eddies by waiting for them to rise while taking a gulp of air. From there it's game on but the only lure he's been able to get them on were broken back rapalas, the three or four inch variety in baby bass color.

Weird how they can occupy so many different habitat types. The area upstream from chain bridge couldn't be any more different than the area you're fishing.

[CaptMikeStarrett]

Sunday we had one push a big Dalberg fly around with out opening its mouth. And later we had one explode on a frog like the biggest LGMouth in the river.

They are very gamey and will really add to the fishing fun over the next couple of years.

And GolfnJoe if you do not book soon you may not be able to go this year. I have a very busy summer ahead of me.

Capt Mike

[golfinjoe24]

Ya, I will look at our schedule a little more but I dont know now if we will be able to. Got some stuff with the grandparents going on and we might have to go out to ohio and I have been really busy with my employment process for the State Police.

[golfinjoe24]

O ya Cap'n. Did you get my msg I sent you a few weeks ago?

[Capt. Ahab]

snakeheads in the P'tank?!?!?

[CaptMikeStarrett]

snakeheads in the P'tank?!?!?

No not yet and hopefully not for a long time. The pristine eco-system on P-tank is a very delicate balance of nature and any added presure could mess it up. But in the last couple of years a new preditor has been added there. The Blue Catfish and the bullhead population has dewindled due to there apetite for small bullheads. Like Mattawomen Creek the Dragon Run will be destroyed by man's encrotchment at some point in the future. The human race is just like locusts on our planet. Hopefully we will learn to co-exist with nature..

The area is Mattawomen Creek and in the last year or two the snakeheads have got a grip on the backwaters real good. I am embrassing it rather than fight it. Heck a three foot snakehead that will eat a big Waldorf Hair Bug ain't all that bad.. and they are tasty too.

Capt Mike