Maryland - From muddy waters to Multispecies

[Johnsfolly]

We got a break in the cold temps with highs near 60 deg today. I missed going out and trying to catch the incoming tide on Sat. Trying to make up for that today. It was warm enough to convince Lvie to come with me and fish. I have been researching target fish species in the creeks and rivers in Maryland using a stream health website that details the fish and invertebrates collected at sites from all over the state. I have a creek chub sucker as one of my targets for this year and I found a stream near our house where several have been collected previously. Since I was planning on going for these guys, I brought along the redworms. What I did not account for was the rain that we got last night and this morning. The creek was running muddy as were most of the small waters that we passed over. Still we soaked some worms and did not get a bite. I will try this creek again since it looks to have some great potential in new species for us.

Livie wants to go back to recover something that she found while getting down to the creek. She found this roadkill Sika stag. These Asian deer have established breeding populations here in Maryland since the turn of the century. I did not know that they were established in our county. If we had a couple of bags and a saw it's likely this guy would have been in the car. We buried it with leaves and plan on returning for it later.

After several non-eventful casts we pulled out and headed to a local lake to find some clear water and active fish. We started fishing one of the creek inlets into the lake. Like the other creeks it was running muddy. In fact it was muddying up the lake. Made some casts but no bites. We walked around a section of the lake that I have not fished before and found that there was a pond next to the lake. The pond looked clear and we found an opening in the wooded bank to make some casts.

Looked good. I could see that there were green furled leaves under the water. This pond was shallow and will likely be covered in lotus leaves in the summer . Better fish it now. I was fishing a rod that was given to me from a friend. It was one of his dad's rods and I wanted to knock the dust off of it by catching some fish. We stuck with the worms. I quickly caught a bluegill. Then Livie caught one as well. My next fish was a golden shiner (a first one of this species in Maryland).

Then Livie caught one as well.

After that it was on. Livie even got her line draped over a couple of thin branches and caught a bluegill while trying to get the line out of the tree. I had her get the fish up out of the water and swing it. I could get my rod to catch the fish and line and pull them to her. She released the fish and got the line out of the tree amid some slight hysteria.

On her next cast she caught her first black crappie of the year. I was surprised that it took the worm and so was Livie.

We caught a few other fish, shiners and bluegill, but the bite slowed and Livie was concerned about hanging up in the trees. So we moved to a spot that i thought looked more open. It was and there were fish waiting to bite here as well. At this time Livie had nine fish and I had caught seven. The goal was to be the first to a dozen fish. I would catch up and Livie would catch one more. She hit 12 as I was reeling up my 11th. I stated that the fact that I had to go back and rebait my hook allowed her to win. Of course that led to quite a bit of trash talk by my daughter about being more efficient in the use of her worms .

After I had caught my 14th fish, I switched to a black and green trout magnet while Livie kept throwing the worms. I caught 6 fish on seven casts. The first five fish were all different species. I caught my first largemouth bass in Maryland (a giant for sure). Followed that up with a golden shiner on the next cast.

On the third cast came a nice chunky redear sunfish. Not as big as some of those that @JUNGLE JIM 1 catches in MO, but a nice small pond fish for sure.

A black crappie was the fourth fish and then two bluegill. Since I had some work to do at home, we had to call it at 4 pm. We each ended up with 20 fish and Livie's was her only bass for the day.

Definitely ended up being a great day with my daughter catching fish!

[Quillback]

That's fun, getting out and exploring some new water and it looks like a spot worth returning to.

Didn't know about those Sika deer either, is there a season for them?  You'd think there would be some hunting pressure on them due to their uniqueness here in the states.

[BilletHead]

30 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

We got a break in the cold temps with highs near 60 deg today. I missed going out and trying to catch the incoming tide on Sat. Trying to make up for that today. It was warm enough to convince Lvie to come with me and fish. I have been researching target fish species in the creeks and rivers in Maryland using a stream health website that details the fish and invertebrates collected at sites from all over the state. I have a creek chub sucker as one of my targets for this year and I found a stream near our house where several have been collected previously. Since I was planning on going for these guys, I brought along the redworms. What I did not account for was the rain that we got last night and this morning. The creek was running muddy as were most of the small waters that we passed over. Still we soaked some worms and did not get a bite. I will try this creek again since it looks to have some great potential in new species for us.

Livie wants to go back to recover something that she found while getting down to the creek. She found this roadkill Sika stag. These Asian deer have established breeding populations here in Maryland since the turn of the century. I did not know that they were established in our county. If we had a couple of bags and a saw it's likely this guy would have been in the car. We buried it with leaves and plan on returning for it later.

After several non-eventful casts we pulled out and headed to a local lake to find some clear water and active fish. We started fishing one of the creek inlets into the lake. Like the other creeks it was running muddy. In fact it was muddying up the lake. Made some casts but no bites. We walked around a section of the lake that I have not fished before and found that there was a pond next to the lake. The pond looked clear and we found an opening in the wooded bank to make some casts.

Looked good. I could see that there were green furled leaves under the water. This pond was shallow and will likely be covered in lotus leaves in the summer . Better fish it now. I was fishing a rod that was given to me from a friend. It was one of his dad's rods and I wanted to knock the dust off of it by catching some fish. We stuck with the worms. I quickly caught a bluegill. Then Livie caught one as well. My next fish was a golden shiner (a first one of this species in Maryland).

Then Livie caught one as well.

After that it was on. Livie even got her line draped over a couple of thin branches and caught a bluegill while trying to get the line out of the tree. I had her get the fish up out of the water and swing it. I could get my rod to catch the fish and line and pull them to her. She released the fish and got the line out of the tree amid some slight hysteria.

On her next cast she caught her first black crappie of the year. I was surprised that it took the worm and so was Livie.

We caught a few other fish, shiners and bluegill, but the bite slowed and Livie was concerned about hanging up in the trees. So we moved to a spot that i thought looked more open. It was and there were fish waiting to bite here as well. At this time Livie had nine fish and I had caught seven. The goal was to be the first to a dozen fish. I would catch up and Livie would catch one more. She hit 12 as I was reeling up my 11th. I stated that the fact that I had to go back and rebait my hook allowed her to win. Of course that led to quite a bit of trash talk by my daughter about being more efficient in the use of her worms .

After I had caught my 14th fish, I switched to a black and green trout magnet while Livie kept throwing the worms. I caught 6 fish on seven casts. The first five fish were all different species. I caught my first largemouth bass in Maryland (a giant for sure). Followed that up with a golden shiner on the next cast.

On the third cast came a nice chunky redear sunfish. Not as big as some of those that @JUNGLE JIM 1 catches in MO, but a nice small pond fish for sure.

A black crappie was the fourth fish and then two bluegill. Since I had some work to do at home, we had to call it at 4 pm. We each ended up with 20 fish and Livie's was her only bass for the day.

Definitely ended up being a great day with my daughter catching fish!

              Way to go guys!

  Livie your a dandy. What your stoic dad does in facial expressions you make up for it tenfold young lady!

   BilletHead

[Johnsfolly]

Just now, Quillback said:

Didn't know about those Sika deer either, is there a season for them?  You'd think there would be some hunting pressure on them due to their uniqueness here in the states.

There is an open season for them that is a little bit different than the whitetail season. They are found in just a few counties. They are creatures of the swamp and difficult to hunt due to the places that they like to live. One of the species that I definitely want to harvest. Little Asian Elk!

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Very fun report.   I hope to have one similar soon. 

[JestersHK]

Love seeing you two catching together!  Kierstin said to tell Liv hi!

[Johnsfolly]

1 hour ago, JestersHK said:

Love seeing you two catching together!  Kierstin said to tell Liv hi!

Will let her know buddy.

[Johnsfolly]

Some more pond and creek photos with Livie (was when she was still going out with me).

Pumpkinseed sunfish

Livie with a nice colorful redbreast sunfish. One of her yellow perch.

OMG a Stinkin Bass!!!

 

[JestersHK]

That last pic made water come out my nose lol.  Tell your kiddo nice job from me.