Action on the Occoquan

[Coan Ranger]

Was guest of Pro-Line Joe today. Started about 10:00 A.M., just as the tide was starting in. Fished in 22-23' just below the railroad bridge. Had 15 keepers by Noon with more than that thrown back. Super day.

About 3/4 of fish were smokin hot males. The production from each male fish dehooked would have made Onan proud. Females were bulging with ripe eggs.

An unusual and noteworthy experience: I have read of the smell of spawning fish and had never experienced it. My part of the fish were carried home to clean in a plastic bag. When I opened the bag there was an almost overwhelming smell which reminded me of a mixture of watermelon and cotten candy. A most unusual experience. The bag had a lot of milt and some eggs in it.

Total fishing time about 2 hours. One fish on minnow. All others on jigged silver buddy or equivalent.

[MichaelScott87]

Good to hear I'll be down sunday in the little boat. The grounds still too muddy to be able to pull out the CC. Anyone know where I can find those little silver buddies? I found a few in NC last year but cannot remember where I put them.

[richardbb85]

any place near occoquan sell minnows?

[thill]

Sounds like a sweet trip! I take it these were yellows?

Never caught those on silver buddies.

-TH

[Coan Ranger]

Answers to above: These were yellow perch. Not familiar with the Occoquan area and tackle shops. Bought minnows from Kens on Lafayette Blvd. in Fredericksburg. I understand that the silver buddy is no longer in production. There is a similar alternative but I do not know it's name. A good tackle shop will be able to advise on this.

[BLUEYZWAITN]

Best lure is the circada 1/2 ounce... i get mine from gander mountain... lots of times they are sitting in the bargain bin for $2
minnows work but you don't need them... try the bend in the river bye hoffmosters marina ( 2 covered docks) there is a steel pier on the other side.. I killed them yesterday .. females up 14 inches.. on and off but for the most part i caught about 50 fish kept 10 for dinner...

also hooked what I believe to be a big striper.... It hit and took off for the potomac.. I could not stop this fish it took off warp 7 and my drag was a little to tight..
I may be there this afternoon.. Small kayak green camo hat....

jay

[Deskins]

any place near occoquan sell minnows?
burke lake used to. i live in vienna. there is a little country store near fountain head park that sold minnows. can't remember were. was usually a passenger and not paying attetion.

[richardbb85]

nice nice

where would you launch in Occoquan?

[Coan Ranger]

nice nice

where would you launch in Occoquan?

At the park off 123 just north of the Occoquan. Fee $5 for non-locals, $4 for locals.

[jig monster]

I understand that the silver buddy is no longer in production. There is a similar alternative but I do not know it's name.

Found some silver buddys at Dicks not to long ago. Xps makes one called lazer Blade. Cotton Cordells also has one ,
Gay bladehttp://image.basspro.com/images/images2/200-000/257-974-04-t.jpg

[BLUEYZWAITN]

Those baits will work great... I lost a few this year and need to replen... Caught a Nice 7lb striper yestersay in the occ on a Circada.. Thought I had one whooper of a YP...

Lets hope the rain doesn't mess things up to bad... Can't wait till next week... Should be mostly females as the spawn can be anytime..

Caught a few crappie yesterday to.. No size though

[BLUEYZWAITN]

ANYONE OUT THERE BEEN BACK TO THE OCC SINCE THE GREAT RAINS?
JUST WONDERING IF THE yp'S ARE STILL IN ... OTHERWISE i'M OFF TO aBEL RESERVIOR FOR BIG SPRING CRAPPIE.

I LOVE A BACKUP PLAN

[elduderino]

ANYONE OUT THERE BEEN BACK TO THE OCC SINCE THE GREAT RAINS?
JUST WONDERING IF THE yp'S ARE STILL IN ... OTHERWISE i'M OFF TO aBEL RESERVIOR FOR BIG SPRING CRAPPIE.

I LOVE A BACKUP PLAN

Blue, I was there with a buddy of mine on Saturday (2 red kayaks). Water was extremely high and stained. Water temps between 55 and 60. The yellow perch were no where to be found! We went from Hoffmasters all the way down to the small island in the bay (just before the Potomac) and caught nothing. We did see a bunch of fish breaking the surface in the flats in Belmont Bay, but couldn't get them to bite. They might have been carp as they had orange backs on them. Blue bird skies and high barometric pressure probably turned them off. I guess I have to wait till next Winter to "get on 'em"...

[Salmo trutta]

[QUOTE=elduderino;1559311] We did see a bunch of fish breaking the surface in the flats in Belmont Bay, but couldn't get them to bite. They might have been carp as they had orange backs on them. QUOTE]

They could have been gar. I've seen hundreds of them around there.

[BLUEYZWAITN]

The Occ is Plum full of Stripers , saw a guy trolling with small bucktails he had caught 11 stripers ... To bad you can't keep one for Din Din they are fat

[Salmo trutta]

How big are the stripers there now? Small resident size fish or the big spring girls? Or a mix would be nice. You can bmail me if you like. I fish up river from there quite a bit in the spring.

[ontherivah]

Where is the Occoquan?

[SlateDog]

Northern Virginia.......a creek off the Potomac River

[ontherivah]

Thanks Slatedog!!

[elduderino]

The Occ is Plum full of Stripers , saw a guy trolling with small bucktails he had caught 11 stripers ... To bad you can't keep one for Din Din they are fat


I spoke with a few guys on Saturday and they caught a few catfish, but didn't see or hear of too much else being caught that afternoon. Where were the stripers being caught? North of the 123 bridge?

[BLUEYZWAITN]

yep retty much north of 95 .. They are 5-8lbs range but fun pullage.. The water was still dingy and I managed 2 .. I have a fishfinder on my kayak and all day I was seeing these school of archs coming and going... I would imagine they were stripers due to the size of the archs and down deep.... once I realized all the perch were gone and the crappie weren't all that active I should had tossed a few small bucktails out and just paddled Yak trolling..

saw some herring flipping to so its all on the verge of getting crazy...shad herring rockfish and the white perch should all be in there ....