flats on thursday

[wolfman]

I am thinking about finally taking a day off from work and floating my kayak on the flats for my first time. Any suggestions/comments would be appreciated.
which is prefferred, launching from Tydings or Perryville?

Thanks,[smile]Chris

[JoshKaptur]

I've launched from Tydings every time... but I don't think it matters where you launch. Be ready to cover some ground... you will need to look for warm water.

I've gone about half a dozen times and haven't been skunked yet. I am going to post some insights I posted previously on the KFS forum:

Some observations from my several trips out:
- use braid with mono leader... greatly enhanced feel and better able to fish soft plastics correctly
- troll a spoon when travelling... my best 3 fish were when I was hauling to get from one point to another... faster than I would have trolled if I was trolling.
-lures that have caught fish for me: large rattle trap, hyper striper stump jumper, BKD with jigheads, crippled alewife, tony acetta. I really hope to get some good top water action on the 28-29 trip.
-stay away from the fleet... I caught almost no fish when I was in the thick of the rest of the boats, although I did enjoy the admiration.
- bring a thermometer for recon. If water is getting colder while you are searching, keep searching. Leave the spoon out, but don't bother jigging around if you just lost a few degress from point A to point B. The opposite is true... if you just gained a few degrees, make several passes or jig it up. Better yet, look for the warmer water near dropoffs or channel edges (fishfinder required).
- don't be afraid to fish shallow... my best fish came from a trolled spoon in about 3-4 feet of water.
-pay attention to the tide/sun/wind combination when anticipating where the warm water is. If you haven't had much sun, and especially if the tide is outgoing, try your river mouths. This was particularly true earlier this season... now things are getting warmed up everywhere and the warmest water is not necessarily coming out of the river, even on cloudy days.

hth,
Josh

[HJS]

Josh - Thanks for the info. I'm thinking of launching my 16'canoe (with trolling motor, 2 batteries) from Tydies on Wednesday or maybe Thursday morning. What size spoons, in inches, are the most productive???

[JoshKaptur]

Tony Acetta 15 and 17... not sure how big they are in inches. Most of my spoon fish were caught on green/chartreuse crippled alewife... My local Walmart sells two sizes... mine caught on the smaller size. Recommend crimping the barb on the stinger hook because they can really engulf it.

[wolfman]

Thanks for the info, I have not confirmed that I am going yet.
But will post a report if I do!
Chris

[Salient Running]

Wolfman- Best of luck if you make it out. Be sure to let us know how you do. I'd like to try it for sure but it may not happen this spring. A remote chance Friday.

Josh - Thanks for sharing the tips. Especially re the temps.

Could anyone give me more info about the Tyding launch site? Are there any restrictions about pre dawn or after sun set? Thanks much! Fish on ya.

[Salient Running]

I finally found what I had come across awhile back re a tydings launch site in a sea kayaking site as well as an old thread. It's not at the marina. If you have used it I'd like to know how it has worked out for any of you out there. Particularly the vandalism factor if you get back later that expected. Been there, felt that!
See below:

Public launch area is located at the north end of town just north of the railroad bridge. If you have trouble finding it, look for the American Legion (on the water) or Stark Moon Kayaks, 500 Warren St., Havre de Grace, MD 21078 (just south of the launch area on the opposite side of the street).

Shown at following URL in 2nd photo:
http://www.seakayak.ws/kayak/kayak.nsf/7fa3095d976a5b7c8525711d006d6667/369b50e15b17e3d885256c80006e61d0!OpenDocument

[JoshKaptur]

I have not used it, and it makes your trip to the flats that much longer (at least an extra mile). I always launch at Tydings. If you think you might not be back until later, park on the street instead of in the parking lot. It is a very nice part of Havre De Grace, and I would be shocked if there was vandalism near the park.

The attendant at Tydings is very nice... I specifically asked if I needed to pay the $5 launch fee and he said "no motor no fee." He always gives me feedback on where the fish have been caught, and once told me when it was too rough to go out but I went anyway that he watched me with his hand on the phone for over an hour.

By the railroad tracks just sounds like a problem in terms of it being a place for teens to congregate and be bored.

[mdfish]

You can also reach the flats south of North East toward Turkey Point.

[wolfman]

sorry it took so long to post a report, been way to busy.
Left Tydings around 10am and went due north towards the VA. hospital. I saw alot of birds working and a few boats so I thought I would take a chance. But as most other reports have confirmed, nothing was biting.
I ended up dropping an anchor and casting to an area that dropped off from 2-3ft to 6-8ft and after about three hours I got my one and only fish, only 19" but it was fun. I had another; much larger bass, follow a rattletrap up to the boat, but she didn't take the hook.
I started off the water around three and of course the wind picked up and was blowing directly into my face, I actually got quite nervous about making it back[sad] but I just kept paddling.
All in all, it was a wonderful day, and a great first experience on the flats, just wish the fish were more cooperative.

[JoshKaptur]

Great report. Yeah, the bite slowed down for about a week there, but looks good again. Got any plans this Saturday?

[wolfman]

actually I was going to try and look up the other website today. Do you have any information that you can share about Saturday. If it is Kayaking and Fishing I would definetly(sp?) be interested.
Thanks

[JoshKaptur]

At least half a dozen kayak fisherman are meeting at 8:00 at Tydings on Saturday. See my Yak Armada thread below. Here is the link to the KFS thread:
http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/2776043174/m/9471044022

Josh