Each October, my college buddies and I rendezvous at a cabin in the remote mountains of southwestern Virginia, specifically in Mountain Grove, VA (population 100?). The nearest "real" town is Warm Springs, if you're looking for it on a map. One of the guys has a cabin that has been passed down through generations, he walls of which I'm sure hold many colorful tales. Since I was in college in the '80's they have gone there each October to squirrel hunt, since it represent one of the season's early hunting opportunities. I use to join them back in the 80's and early 90's, and now that the kids are grown and time is somewhat more available, I've rejoined them the last 4 years. There is a core group of about 8 guys, and 2 of the others lived on my floor freshman year at WVU. Another is a classmate who I remember from Biology lab, and yet another is his son, now a student at WVU.
This Fall was remarkable in that the summer continued right up until this weekend, Oct 13. In fact, I arrived wearing shorts and a t-shirt, with the temps at home in the mid-80's the day I departed on my 350 mile (each way) journey. Add to that one of the rainiest years on record, and trees had not yet even begun to change color (this was very soon to change). This made for very tricky hunting, and the 22-sharpshooters (most of the guys) had to adjust somewhat to finally outpace the shotgunners (me) on the 2nd day. Day 1, I hit three in the morning, one of which stubbornly became forever lodged in the bark of a tree. And between 10 and 2- nothing. After 2pm, the squirrels became active once again and I quickly put 3, 4, and 5 in the bag. Squirrel number 5 died suddenly with an acorn tightly wedged between his sharp teeth- a fate I have observed once before with these same guys. Squirrel #6 came late in the day, around 4pm as I was making my way back to where I had started.
By the way, we actually hunt in WV, the cabin being very near the border. So, counting the one that got stuck, I killed 7 on Day 1 (limit is 6). Day 2, already exhausted, was windy, like- crazy windy. This does NOT make for good squirrel hunting. I killed one around 8 AM, and then proceeded to be taunted by several others that were quite adept at dodging the 16-gauge lead I was slinging at them. Having committed to cooking seafood for these WV hillbillies, and an early dinner at that, I called it a day around 1 pm, not willing to wait another hour for the possibility of seeing some more. On the menu was fried oysters, fried softcrabs, and blackened rockfish. These guys never see softcrabs, and never fresh oysters or rock so quite a treat for all. Incidentally, yes I eat the squirrels (later). Admittedly, I'm still searching for the magic approach at cooking them. Saving only the hindquarters, my next attempt will be to cook like chicken wings- deep friend and then crock pot conditioned with my favorite Carolina wing sauce.
The following weekend, (Oct 19), I had a brief opportunity to get my boat out in the morning before the ensuing small craft advisory at 2pm, and subsequent gale warning for the rest of the weekend. I launched at 8AM, and quickly began casting a couple of my favorite jig options. First location up was the jetty just outside Wenona harbor, where I caught several in short order. Wanting to quickly engage the sheltered coves (SW winds) around north side of South Marsh Island, I moved across Tangier Sound and began casting. As soon as I rounded the northeast point of the island, I began hooking up. These were really nice fish, all 15-18" and great tasty pan size but too small to legally keep. This continued all they was up to Gunbarrel Point, at which point the incoming tide had ended. The end of the tide coincided with the escalation of the winds, and although I continued to cast, this was the end of today's harvest. I don't know how many I caught, maybe 15 or 20. There were other boats around too in the same area- this obviously was no secret. but I caught more than I saw being caught. The successful lure of the day was the DOA 4" shad tail, in Day glow with a chartreuse tail, mounted on a 3/8 oz white jig head. See pic below. My buddy Mark had better luck, getting his 2-man limit of 4 keepers, and he used softcrabs. At $35/dozen and hard to find, I'll stick with casting. I know I'm going to convert Mark yet. #dealislandrandy
About 4-5 years, I sold both of my freshwater boats and for the most part completely discontinued freshwater fishing. Not because of any dislike for the sport or for any reason of being challenged. I simply did not have to time to do it. Translated, I didn't have the time to work, salt water fish, brew beer, hunt, make jerky, play guitar, serve in church, spend time with my wife, and everything else that was and is part of my life. There is a clear observation here- the older I get, 1) the faster time flies, and 2), the less time I seem to have. Mathematically, I just doesn't seem to add up to me. Maybe some day I will understand the equation.
Anyway, my fishing buddy Dan invited me to join he and some friends of his that are part of an organization called Heroes on the Water (H.O.W). Their mission is to bring healing to veterans through kayak fishing. I enthusiastically accepted the invite, only I didn't realize until that Dan had invited me as a participant, not as a volunteer. As a veteran, I had never counted myself as one adversely affected by my service, but rather as one who had benefitted so immensely. And, that is a story, a big story, worthy of sharing in and of itself some other time.
At 6:50 AM Saturday morning, I show up at this secluded and restricted access pond near Salisbury that has been granted exclusive access to for this event. The "regular" volunteers are already there, having camped in the night before. Dan is there too, and I stagger around for a brief while drinking my coffee, meeting the guys, and forming a vision of what may develop as the daybreak draws on. I had visions of 10 volunteer guides, me among them, and 20-30 veteran kayaking/fishing participants, ready to slay largemouth in a small lake rarely visited by men with hooks. What developed was more of the opposite- 20-30 volunteers, and less than 10 participants. Well, since the regular guides already had a good experience base, I quickly became just a veteran fisherman, blessed to fish this unexploited hone hole.
We didn't launch until ~8:15 AM, which was a little unfortunate. It was a warm, still, overcast morning, but the clouds parted soon thereafter and with it came full blue skies. Just after launching, I hung a nice 15" bass on my all-time fav topwater lure- the "Hula-Pop". There is absolutely no re-counting how many bass I have caught in this lure. Unfortunately, at least briefly, this would be my last top-water catch of the day. I next turned to a 4" lizard (in watermelon seed color) on a 1/8 oz jig head, so simple. The sides of the lake were drowned pine, and structure was aplenty. I soon hooked another nice one, but then the sun came up full-strength and this show was over.
My next move was to the opposite side of the lake. The fall sun was rising at an angle, and there was plenty of shade on the opposing shore, so that's where I headed. As soon as I got there and got out my first cast, BOOM- money. For the next 60 minutes, I caught a largemouth on nearly every cast. It became ridiculous,... At one point, I had to set my rod down and grab a drink of water. As I grabbed my drink of water, I left my rod tip hanging over the bow of teh kayak, with the lure dangling 6 inches in the water, unsupported of course. Now- by now you know where I'm going with this. Yes, for real- a bass grabbed that dangling lure and almost ripped my rod over the side of the kayak. Nore pic- hat pulled down low- I forgot my sunglasses.
I needed to leave just after 10 AM to get back and watch a WVU football game with my wife. Yes, we have dates like that. I'm told by Dan that the fishing was great the rest of the day also. I'm hoping for the opportunity to fish there again, and also to fish with these H.O.W guys again, regardless of there or somewhere else. Next up is Squirrel Camp near Mountain Grove, VA (actually we are fishing in WVU. More details on that next week.
#dealislandrandy
Final weekend of September brought gorgeous sunny weather, west-northerly breezes, and most welcome- cooler temps. Since it had stayed so warm so deep in the year, I was sure I would be able to time a perfect outgoing tide in the Manokin River with hungry rockfish. I launched out of St. Peter's Creek in Champ, MD, flying solo and determined to fish until dark and trust my GPS to get me back to the dock. I'm starting to get more comfortable launching and especially re-trailer the boat in the dark ,and even solo when necessary. I just installed new roller guides, and I think they help position the boat as it is coming up on the trailer.
On Friday, 9/28 I anchored at 4:30 pm at the mouth of the small creek draining St. Piere Marsh, which I had mistakenly called Teague Creek in the past. It's actually on the Champ side of Teague Creek (north). I must have cast 5000 times between then and 7:00 pm (sunset 6:50), and I rotated my rigs every few casts. I was using top-water, shallow diving, and also 4-inch bass assassins on 3/8 oz jig-heads. The only takers were two small (sub-14 inch) speckled trout. But- noteworthy were that these fish were the first speckled trout I had connected with this year. And, they coincided time-wise with some of the better spec fishing I had experienced last year.
The real mission of this weekend was to reposition the camper at the fishing camp. For years I/we had been encroaching on the neighbor's property, and it was finally time to correct that. As a result, I didn't get out on the water until 4:30 pm on Saturday 9/29, and I was quite exhausted when I got out there. I spent the first hour casting jigs toward the south end of Little Deal Island (facing west). It was blowing straight out of the west, and the water was quite rough. When I finally rounded the south end of the island and gained protection from the wind (and now the tide just starting to ebb), that's when the fish started to bite. First up was a really nice speckled trout. I was using a brand new Penn reel and had not had opportunity to dial in the drag, and I think the loose drag cost me this spec right at the side of the boat. Estimated length, 18 inches. Over the course of the next 45 minutes, I caught 3 rockfish, all a tasty 16-17". If only I had more time, but the sun was setting, I was tired and wanted to try the jetty outside of the Wenona harbor. I should have stayed behind Little Deal Island. Next trip not planned to be for 3 weeks, as I 'm on track to go to Squirrel camp Oct 11. #dealislandrandy
