April has been going gangbusters all month long with no signs of letting up. Many clients have reeled in personal bests and many "firsts" as well. Even guys used to catching bass in freshwater are putting a hurt on some Baffin trout.
Repeat clients checking in for a refresher course and brand new students of the game have all met with success despite the high winds and murky water
conditions.
The middle of the month was starting to look like Ladies day around here as the women made quite a show of putting it on the guys. Sherri is no stranger to
catching Baffin Big Girls but this one, her personal best, fell for a bright orange Skitterwalk on a very windy morning after a cold front blew through. I told
John, her husband, that if she catches the big trout once you might be able to write it off as a fluke. But when it happens again, well..................
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZEenVv9vD4
You will have to excuse the odd angle for part of the video. John was just learning how to use my camera. From the way Sherri has been fishing lately, it looks
like John better get good real quick LOL.
Hurricane Mike showed up with his girlfriend Cynthia in tow. Our goal was to put this wadefishing newbie on a few solid trout on artificials. After a little
coaching, and a lot of persistence on her part, I think we can say............ Mission Accomplished. And a personal best to boot. WTG girl!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF9I5m-J060
My buddy Bill got in on a last minute scouting trip with me when he and his partner failed to qualify for the second day of a local redfish tournament. He made
up for lost time by hooking up with this hefty trout.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQSy-lC3frI
Whats becoming a rather common occurence this year, a flounder or two has been caught on most of my trips the past few weeks. I hope this trend keeps on
keeping on. I really like these tasty flatfish and they seem to really like the soft plastics we have been tossing. Here's Mike with one of these feisty
fish.
Speaking of the lures we have been chunking, Our hot soft plastic baits for the month are pictured below:
The new pearl/black Devil Eye has been an exciting new find. My first five casts with this new color produced four trout with three of those topping the
20" mark. Can't say I've had too many lures make that kind of debut. So if you are reading this Jake or Jason, please send more LOL.
A little more recent, we had a multi-boat trip with Capt. Jim Onderdonk www.pocolocolodge.com . The weather was the
usual small window in the morning and howling out of the southeast by noon. Fortunately for me, I had a hardcore group that was willing to grind it out in
tough conditions. They were rewarded with a couple of days of tremendous catches as we probably had 40 fish over the 20" mark topped by Steve's new
personal best. WTG guys!
I managed this trout which was not outstanding for her length but rather for her girth. This 24" trout weighed in at a whopping 5 1/2 pounds. There truly
are some big ol' Fat trout down here right now.
Yesterday, we had another great outing looking exclusively for big fish. Gino got his 30"er. Unfortunately it was a redfish rather than a trout but proved
to quite a thrill and a heck of a good fight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M19URFIpv4
Gino ended up with a real nice 27"+ trout but I was too far away for a pic and he wanted to release her unharmed as quickly as he could. I personally
thank you for your conservation ethic my friend. Its reward in itself just to watch those Big Girls swim off.
Then, I got to play a bit with an aggressive Big Girl who just couldn't live without my pearl Skitterwalk. She didn't go 30" either but was as
close as you can get. It pays to have that drag set a little light when fishing for these sows with topwaters. This one was barely hooked in the side of the
gill plate and if I had cranked down and tried to horse her in, I would have certainly lost her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFmvxMX9c6Q
We are wet wading now and I will admit, that first dip in the morning will really get your attention. Be aware if you plan on fishing down here anytime soon,
there are lots of jellyfish (sea nettle) in the water so wear the long wading pants and you will be fine. The waters are looking good with some areas showing
almost two feet of visibility. The baitfish are plentiful and the trout and redfish are plenty aggressive. Praying for light winds and maybe a little rain
wouldn't hurt. Looking forward with great anticipation until the next chance to get on the water.
Remember to practice conservation and just keep 5. Later, Aubrey
