Shenandoah River - Harpers Ferry, WV - 2008

[Ricky]

In years past I have always posted more than a dozen or so reports from the Shenandoah River in Harpers Ferry, WV. This year I am just going to update one post each time I go. That way I'm not cluttering the main Freshwater Board with posts. This will be that thread.

A little background:

I am mainly fishing on the Shenandoah River about 4 miles north of the Rt.340 bridge. This exact spot can only be accessed by foot. I've been fishing this exact spot since I was very young. I know it well. Most of the time I wade out to a specific spot that I have found to be the best spot on that part of the river. Though sometimes I do get to take my dad's boat out. You will be able to tell when I've been fishing on the boat because that's when I'll post pictures. When I'm wading I don't have a waterproof camera to take with me. So the fish I catch when I wade are only photographed when I keep them, which is rare.

I do not hold back any information in my posts about where I am fishing or how I am catching the fish. If asked I will post maps of the area as well as information on how to get there or at least close to the location. I know some look down on this, but if it wasn't for such a sharing of information then what would be the point in such a message board like the one that we are on?

The fish I catch are nothing that most would brag about. The occasional 18'' or larger fish really keep things interesting after you catch a bunch of 12'' fish all day. No matter the size, smallmouth bass are fun to catch.

If you have any questions about the fishing I do or anything of that sort I urge you to ask it in this thread where all can see the question and answer rather than PMing me where no one else would benefit from the process.

[Ricky]

Saturday - June 7th, 2008

I got out for a mid-afternoon trip for around 2 hours. I only waded out about 150 yards or so due to the high-ish conditions of the river. Where the water usually only comes to my waste it was near my chest. I was using a small white bleeding heart spinner bait tipped with a 3'' white grub. While receiving multiple hits I managed to get about 5 fish to stay on long enough to taste my thumb. All were around 10-12''. The water was suprisingly clear and warm. In the water that was at my chest I could still see my feet. All-in-all it was a fun day.

[Ricky]

Sunday - June 8th, 2008
I got on the river at around 6pm and was out by 8pm. This time I ventured out a little more than the day prior. The water was still up a bit. Between where I was and my normal spot is a deeper hole that is usually about high chest to neck deep. Being that the waste high spots were at my chest I didn't want to try to go around it while I was out by myself. I was using a solid white spinner tripped with a 3'' white grub. I caught 3 fish using this lure working it sideways through the current. I switched to a heavy, white Mepp's spinner and worked it very slow against the current. Using this I got a couple of hits but didn't have any takers. I wish I could've stayed longer, but I work nights and had to be leaving for the job by 9PM.

[GBASS]

What size spinner bait do you use Ricky???

[Ricky]

I'll have to look. They are not big. Pretty much I buy a couple of the smallest ones that Walmart will have.

[GBASS]

I'll have to look. They are not big. Pretty much I buy a couple of the smallest ones that Walmart will have.

Thanks, they're probably 1/8 oz. then. I have 1/4 oz. spinner baits that I occasionally use on the Patapsco, but I think they're a bit too heavy at times. I see we both use the same outfitter!!!

[Ricky]

Wednesday - June 11, 2008
I got out into the river around 12:30PM. The water was quite mirky from yesterday evenings storms. I could still see my feet in up to 3ft of water. Because of this I didn't venture out very far. Call me a whimp, but if I'm alone I won't step into a spot of water that I'm blinded to the bottom of. I've heard one too many tales off freak deep spots that will grab your leg. That and I'm affraid the boogy man might be under there. Anyway, it was very sunny out with very few clouds in the sky. I started out using the same small, white spinner tipped with a white grub. After multiple casts and only 1 strike I switched to a Booyah white spinner that I picked up lastnight at Walmart. This was one of the biggest ones they had. Within 10 casts I was hooked up with what turned out to be a really nice smallmouth. With his lips touching the first eyelet on my rod his tail was touching the top of the reel. I haven't messured how long that is so I'm going to have to take a guess and say he was better than 20''. I usually mark my rod with inch lines, but this is a high tech new rod I picked up at Walmart for the whopping price of $15 (my rod and reels will see the water a lot.. I'm not dunking something I paid good money for in the water). Anyway, a couple casts later produced a 10 or so inch smallie. After that was a lot of casting with no success. I switched to one of my favorite lures to use for the walk back; a white buzz bait. Even with it sunny... why not? I wound up having one decent size fish hang on for a ride but flipped the hook on a jump. I was out of the water by 3pm.

[BBCroaker]

Hey have fun but be careful up there.
Might be good to have a PFD on when that buggie man grabs you in the deep hole.
Think about it.
Want to keep enjoying your good reports.
Keep em coming!

[Ricky]

On good, clear water days there is not one stretch of the river that I am on that you cannot see bottom in. I found one deep hole last year that put me in water up to my chin. I had a buddy with me though, and I could still make out rocks in the bottom of it. If you don't have polarized sun glasses you're effed.

[Ricky]

Friday - June 13, 2008

I got out later than I wanted to, around 11am. I fished until around 1:30pm with only one catch; a 7'' bluegill. He slammed the biggest spinner I had. I tried it all; big spinners, small spinners, white, green, yellow, black, topwater, crankbaits. It must have been an early bite.