Vernal Reds

For me, it is one of the most anticipated times of the year.  

Big.

Red.

 Drum.

 Roaming the flats of the Eastern Shore...

marauding...

annihilating...

leaving slicks of oily remnants in their wake... 

It's just a matter of finding the time 

to find them.

So far, I've only crossed the CBBT twice this season.  Luckily, I was able to find them both times.  On the first day, the weatherman's magic 8-ball was wrong again.  The wind stuck around too long and the rain showed up hours ahead of schedule.  However the water clarity was good enough to still spot schools at times.  The side scanner unit came in really handy though for JBrooks, WillyRags, LuckyLockhart and yours truly.

I found the school 4 or 5 times that day.  A few times, I couldn't have seen them without the Hummingbird 698ci HD si, and a couple of times my eyes saw them before the unit.  The first encounter was early in the morning with the sun in our eyes and wind on our face.  We spread out to cover more water.  I noticed a long diagonal marking on my screen to the right and before I knew it I was paddling right over it.  Then all of a sudden the water erupts violently about 40 feet in front of me.  I spooked em and several large reds exploded on the surface.  The wind caught my 5" paddle tail before it could get to the target area twice but Jeff took the cue and paddled up until he could get a good cast.  He hooked up, but broke off.  Jay was paddling near where the top end of the diagonal marking would go and hooked up a minute later.

Jay Brooks 47"ish Red Drum

We lost the school after that, but we knew they couldn't have gone far.

With the wind being stronger than expected, the water wasn't exactly stand up friendly.  However the Predator 13 was still stable enough for me to get up and take a look around.  And even with the clouds moving in, the polarization on my Maui Jim's cut through and I was able to find the school a couple of times.  After I pulled up a 48"er, Jeff Lockhart got one at 46"ish.

48"

As the rain showed up, I relied on the side imaging unit again.  After covering a good amount of water, the blank screen would suddenly get lit up with marks and I tried my best to choreograph which way my buddies should cast.  We all hooked up, lost fish, and hooked up again on the same school.  At one point we had 4 on at the same time.  I landed one more at 46", William Ragulsky got one at 48" and Jeff scored a 51"er. 

I ended up finding another small school and watched a big fish follow my lure to the boat, but ended up spooking.  All in all, it was a great first trip out for the big reds.

My second trip was a short one.  I had strict orders from the boss lady to be back at a certain time.  The sun was out and the wind wasn't too bad, but once I paddled out to the flat, I realized how dirty the water was.  Again, I was glad I brought the Humminbird side scan unit.  Normally it would have become a troll and hope kind of day, but I actually found a school using the imager and casted to them instead of trolling.  I only landed one though before I had to call it quits.

41"

I'm hoping to go again, 

but you know how life goes...

VIDEO: 40" Striper on Fly / Kayak

Here's a video that accompanies the earlier post, "Slingin' Big Flies".  Unfortunately there was a delay in hitting record on the remote so it starts about 10-20 seconds after the hook set.  The fight lasted about 8-9 minutes but I edited it down to about 7.  Hope you enjoy.

VIDEO: Sightcasting ES Stripers

Slingin' Big Flies

Just on the other side of a small shoal, I saw them.  3 big tails with big dots waved as they slowly cruised away from me.  I was sure there were many others just out of sight.  I scrambled to get into position and as I started slinging the fly rod, excitement got the better of me and my line clumped up.  The half and half (clouser/deceiver) fell short.  Richie who was right behind me bombed his swimbait far past and nearly had his rod ripped out of his hand immediately.  My second and third casts didn't find their intended receivers and before I knew it, the school was gone.  

47.5" Red Drum for Richie Bekolay

Joe Underwood, who a little farther away called over the radio announcing that he was also on the board with a 47.5" red drum.  

Knowing it was going to continue to be a challenge and a struggle with the fly rod, I had to make a decision.  I brought my heavy spinning gear just in case I wanted to switch from my 10wt, but I really wanted to catch a big fish on the fly.  Fly casting on the kayak can be insanely frustrating.  I didn't bring my Predator, which is easier to stand in, but the wind pushes it a lot (since it has high side walls) and paddling long distances is difficult in that boat.  The Trident paddles much better, but standing is a little tougher in open water.  I can fly cast on my knees in the Trident, but it's still tough.  Add wind, being so low to the water, flyline management in tight quarters, people in your back cast, the anxiety of trying to catch up to moving fish, knowing that you have a regular rod right behind you that would make it so much easier to hook up…

It's a recipe for absolute utter frustration.  

But I stayed with it.

Richie and Joe had a phenomenal day.  Their tally kept getting bigger and while I was happy for them, my fly just kept missing the mark.  It wasn't until we paddled up to a huge black mass near a shoreline that I finally strip set the hook into a worthy fish.  It was a super tight school of big stripers and Joe and Richie both hooked up immediately.  My fish pulled me into the school and it was utter chaos.  Fish were just shooting off in every direction and my fly reel was screaming.  Oh, and I forgot to mention, I was using 8 lb. tippet for a chance at an IGFA line class fly record for Red Drum.  So that was the first time I got to see the backing of my fly line.  Insert huge grin here.

40" Striper on fly/kayak

It went on to become one of the more memorable days I've ever had on the water.  Richie and Joe went on to catch several big reds, most of which were citations, and also trophy stripers as well.  When I found out that their stripers were citation, I gave in and switched to the heavy spinning outfit.  I landed one more striper at 41" then switched back to the fly when we found the reds again.  Luck didn't favor me the rest of the day, but I still wasn't complaining in the slightest.  

It was a choice I made 

and now I can honestly say that I understand the challenge that is

slingin' big flies for big fish on the kayak.

Here's a video of the fight (added 6/25/14)

Follow Your Nose

Kevin and I car pooled over the CBBT and found Jeff Lockhart getting ready to launch at our favorite spring locale.  We scoured the flats that morning knowing that Richie Bekolay and Joe Underwood had luck there the day before.  Click their names for the reports. 

It wasn't too long before I got a whiff of something that shouldn't bring a smile to my face, but it did.  It's not exactly a pleasant odor and it's not easy to describe.  Imagine a big school of 30-50lb reds chowing down then collectively taking a huge dump.  It's a strange dead fishy kind of smell, sometimes rotten crab depending on their diet.  If it's not their poop, it might just be their slime.  I'm not exactly sure but either way it's a most delightful aroma when you're on the hunt. 

The smell got stronger the closer I paddled to a certain slick I spotted.  My side imaging unit had a few blips to my right and in my excitement, my first cast backlashed and fell short.  I quickly undid the birds nest and casted in front of me, where I thought more fish would be.  My 5" Berkley swimbait hit the dirty water and within three cranks it was inhaled.  As it pulled me into forward, I then realized how big the school was.  Big reds were all around me and my Humminbird screen was completely filled.  The fight brought a giddy smile to my face as the powerful beast spun me around and took me on a ride.  

The 47" release citation Red Drum got camera shy and took off before Kevin or Jeff could get a decent photo. 

Not too long after that, our noses were graced by that certain smell again.  We saw the slick and as Kev got closer, he hooked up on the troll. 

45"er for Kev

Shortly after that, the dreaded four letter word picked up and blew us back to the launch. 

Fishing with Kevin is always a blast, 

but especially on a successful first trip out for the big reds.  

I'm sure we'll have more fun stories to share in the near future.

Tardy to the Drum Party

I was actually caught off guard.  After finding the right time to ask the boss lady if I could go for big reds this weekend, she looked at me with a sharp glare... "It's not that I don't want you to go.  I'm just so tired of you coming home and whining like a baby about getting skunked again and again."  Cringing from the salt that just got dumped on my festering wound I thought "so that's a yes?" 

This would be my 7th trip in a month.  Many Eastern Shore regulars as well as several first timers watched me strike out over and over as their reports of successful trips, I admit, drove me wild with jealousy.  The ill-fated timing... that one bad knot... the enslaving wind forecasts... and all the tiny on-the-water decisions that cut me with every could-have-been replayed themselves as my frustration got worse and worse.

But with so many friends cheering me on, I finally made it to the big drum party.

Photo courtesy of Joe Underwood ©2013

An entourage showed up at the Wise Point boat ramp on Memorial Day morning and we scouted the area thoroughly.  In the mix was mister YakAttack himself, Luther Cifers, and his son Tyler who had just graduated two days before.  Luther was on a mission to get his soon-to-be Virginia Tech Hokie on a big red. 

One of the stars of this spring's drum run, Joe Underwood, hooked up first on the troll.  I immediately turned around and paddled toward the school.  After spooking two reds right in front of me, I tossed my swimbait passed the area they were going and hooked up with the quickness.  It shot straight at me as I furiously reeled in the slack line.  I saw the giant go under the kayak and rush off in the opposite direction I was headed.  While spinning the kayak, I thumbed the spool a little too hard and *pop*.  Expletives exploded out of my mouth as I slammed the rod tip into the water.  Immediately, I grabbed the trolling rod and start casting, but no dice.  After things settled, Joe landed a nice 47"er and I started feeling a little déjà vu from a few weeks ago where I busted off a big red while others landed theirs. 

But the day was young and the search resumed.  Joe was flanked by Luther on one side and me on the other when he made visual contact.  Since he already landed one, he let his true character shine by backing off and letting Luther, me, and a few others take our shots.  I couldn't see the fish from my angle, but I noticed a difference in the surface ripples and put my swimbait out in front of it.  I hooked up again.  And broke off again, even with looser drag.  I didn't have time to lament at that moment since I knew the fish were there.  An almost panicky feeling came over me as I grabbed my other rod.  I fan casted the area and paddled in the direction the school was going, but again, we lost them.  After lingering in the area, a little while later William Ragulsky picked up a nice one on the troll and much to Luther's delight, Tyler got a 42" while casting.  

CONGRATS, TYLER!
Photo courtesy of Luther Cifers ©2013

I decided to put away the rod and reel that broke off twice.  After putting a lot of pressure on that 30# braid over the last two years (e.g. big reds and sharks at Sandbridge) I should have changed it out earlier.  My 50# spinning set up became the go-to and when I hooked up while blind casting, it held up to the test.  It was one of those hook ups where I hadn't even started cranking yet.  Just as I was closing the bail, the line came tight and the acappella from my drag grabbed everyone's attention.  Part of me wanted to tighten it up, but after the last two hook ups, to say that I was nervous would be an understatement.  When I finally had it in my lap and stretched it to the end of my 4ft ruler, a sigh of relief came over not only me, but everyone else there who knew about the overweight monkey on my back.  

Photos courtesy of Joe Underwood ©2013

As the day progressed, the wind's crescendo put a sour note on our search for more big reds.  Alex Britland and I met the notorious Wicked Pissah himself, Joe Maccini, in the back of a creek slinging little puppy drum with his spinnerbait on every cast.  

We crashed his party of one and proceeded to hootin' and hollerin' with him about how fun the little reds were on light tackle.  The action was literally non-stop.  Had I not forgotten the tagging kit, I would have ran out of tags fairly quickly.  I even pulled out the big 10wt, which was intended for the big girls, but was still fun with little reds up to 19".  

Loading up at the end of the day and not cursing the parking tag hanging from the rear view mirror was much needed.  When I pulled up at home, I was half way tempted to pretend like I didn't catch anything just to see how my wife would react, but my big goofy grin gave it away.  I know we're in it together when her sigh of relief from checking one off the list is as satisfying as my own.

Too bad there's no rest for the weary as I'll be after number 4 soon.

Shutter Happy

That fickle temptress, Lady Luck refused to play any role in the last several attempts to achieve my recent objective.  Big red drum have been caught by several kayakers this spring, making my failed endeavors that much more exasperating.  

However, some of those unsuccessful fishing days did turn out to be great "nature days".  Putting my angling frustrations aside, I took the opportunity to get shutter happy on the local wildlife.

First up is a rare shot of a posing Rob Alderman.  Normally seen in the Outer Banks area, it is a rare sight in these neck of the woods.

Next, Lee Williams got us all excited while pointing out a big...

"made you look."

And I guess I shouldn't complain too much since I did find a few bluefish in Rudee inlet and some decent flounder up to 18" as well.

I also had an amazing experience with a dolphin.  As I was trolling along, one breached on my starboard side a little towards the rear.  It came up about 15 feet away.  Then again about 10 feet away.  Then again.  I kept paddling along as it cruised up beside me.  You know you're close when things get all slow motion and you can see it's eyes looking back at you... checking you out... I can almost hear it in my mind... "wutcha doin'?  Ain't no red drum here, dude".  Then Richie Bekolay, who was trolling on my port side, reminds me that I should have my GoPro on.  Of course, it was the day I didn't bring my remote and by the time I reach forward, turn it on and start recording, my new buddy was gone.

The highlight of nature day was this bald eagle. 
(Click photos for larger view)

 I was grateful to Kevin and Lee for pointing out the majestic creature.  He had been munchin' out on a 47" almost dead striper that had washed up on the marsh.

And speaking of local wildlife, there's a good chance you'll run into this guy on the Eastern Shore during this time of year.  His annual migration to this area has been well documented over the last several years.