Severn River - March 24th 2012

[danhgilmore]

Morning folks. My wife, Nancy, and I were able to launch our little 16' Basstracker Deep V into the Severn this past Friday. I got a line wet a couple times on our first outing, but it was more of a "get the boat out in beautiful weather" ride than a fishing trip. Nothing to report from Friday.

Saturday - My fishing buddy, Don, and I had planned on heading out mid-morning. Mother Nature had different plans, so we decided to meet at Bass Pro, do a little shopping, then have breakfast and see if the rain/storms would pass us by. We went to Fado in Annapolis and after a great Irish breakfast, and three pints of courage...er...Guinness, we decided "what the heck" and headed to Smith's Marina.

After literally TWO minutes of being underway, the rain started with a vengeance. Now, imagine in your head, two computer geeks trying to put up a bimini top in a torrential downpour. We'd make Abbot and Costello jealous. In addition, we've never fished the Severn, so we have no clue where to go. Hilarity ensued.

We left Smith's and tried to bottom fish around Little Round Bay and Long Point. The wind was really picking up, and without any bites, we decided to find a creek. After checking my maps, I wanted to try Saltworks Creek. As we were heading down that way, I looked north and saw Chase Creek, and we liked the empty shorelines, and the two big barges anchored there. We figured we'd catch something in the cover.

By this time, the rain had let up, and we got some good casts going. Further into the creek, where it breaks left and right, we started getting hits up the right channel. Don was the first to shout "GOT ONE!" and after 2+ hours of nothing, that adrenaline was right back. Sadly, the fish spit out his lure, but you all know that feeling...We were ready to fish for hours more. About 5 minutes later, he got another big hit, and about halfway back to the boat, he lost it again.

Figuring we'd found a good spot, we started circling around with the trolling motor, and lo and behold, we caught two chain pickerels. Now, here's the funny part: We're admitted newbies to fishing in the Bay and it's rivers. No one told us those bad boys have teeth. Don learned the hard, and bloody way :) Mine was 12" and his was 15". We released both, and those were the only two we caught, but you know what? The cold I have now was totally worth catching a new species of fish.

[JiggyWillis]

thanks for the report and welcome to TF. they get alot bigger, their teeth do too!

[Bottom Knocker]

Watch out for Bluefish as well..

[27 sailfish]

You'll have to join the Severn River Rod and Keg club ( SRRKC ). We'll buy your buddy a beer for lipping a Pickerel - OUCH.

The next SRRKC meeting is April 4th at Adam's Ribs in Edgewater, Md at 7 pm.

Marty's baitstore offers SRRKCers a discount that day from 5 until 7 - the shop is 1/4 mile from Adams.

You fished some good spots - just a few months early.

[news travels fast]

You guys were able to put in at Smith's Marine? I was told that the ramp wouldn't be available until May because of all of the dry storage. How did you swing that one? I'm only curious because I'd like to try this weekend.

Thanks

[done workin]

Thanks for the report.

In the past Smith's has only been open May 1. Could it be they have realized a demand and opened early?

Maybe time to call them.

[LarryC]

Glad to hear you got some pullage.I.ve never lipped a pickeral but i'm sure it didn't feel good.I'm also wondering how you launched at Smith's,i've used that ramp for 15 years and it has always opened the first week of may.

[danhgilmore]

I want to thank a member for PMing me about the pickerel season. Just to be clear, we were fishing for white perch, and were hitting the pickerels. To be honest, I didn't know the limits for them, so to be safe, we immediately released the two we caught. Because they fought so hard, we thought they were perch.

As for Smith's, we purchased a slip for the year, so they let us put the boat in last Friday. The marina is actually open all year, but in the off season, only M-F. This time of year they are super busy launching the drydocked boats. They took a little time out of their day to move the truck from the ramp, but y'all are correct: ramp usually opens May 1st. I think I heard that it may be earlier this year, but don't quote me on that.

Thanks for the welcome!

[RiverCat09]

Nice report, and welcome to the board. Chain pickerel are a lot of fun.