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January 6th, 2012
2011 has been one of the most unusual and challenging of my past 18 years (the time I have been on MD’s Eastern Shore). The winter fishing (2010-2011) ended on Dec. 17, 2010 when collectively every guide pulled the plug and said it was not worth fishing at the CBBT.
A few fish were caught here or there during the winter. Some power plant action occurred if you were among the lucky ones to be there on the right day.
Before the fishing reports could start in April, the rains started and those of us that fish the early trophy season on the Bay were doomed to too much mud moving down and keeping the fish away from the waters we could fish. This seemed to have a lasting impact and all Spring fished poorly and it was rare to catch any.
The normal lull between the spring migration and our summer fish season seemed to take too long. Something was wrong. The normal large schools of fish which might include Blues and late in the summer, Spanish Mac’s, never seemed to appear. We were also visited by a Hurricane which dumped huge amounts of water on the Bay and its watershed and again, too much water spoiled the little fishing we were enjoying. The rest of the season was spent looking without too much action.
Fall arrived with it the hope that the fish in the Bay would appear miraculously on schedule at our favorite Fall hangouts so we would enjoy some action. We got a little sampling but on many days the boats outnumbered the fish and you worked very hard to get just a few.
A tough Fall is being followed by another lackluster winter at the CBBT and Iam left thinking of conservation effort and hoping the Striped Bass make a comeback. I am plannning to fish in 2012 and will be making changes that I hope will work to satisfy my many clients, both past and future!
Hope to see you out there in 2012! Capt Russ
Tags: captain russ wilkinson, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake, Striped Bass on Fly and Light Tackle
Posted in Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Fall Fishing, Striped Bass, Winter Fishing |
December 19th, 2011
This report may be more of a obituary for the season than the promise of good fishing. The CBBT has become like the Susquehanna Flats in the Spring. More reputation and memories of the past seasons than current product.
Fishing for Striped Bass is best done with light tackle than fly rod since deep jigging is the best and nearly the only game. Althogh i consider my deep fly technique on par with the best it just won’t work at the CBBT due to strong currents and prdominately strong winds.
If you are jigging at the CBBT heavy jig heads with large BKD’s might work, but don’t expect lots of fish or many larger fish like in past years. Most anglers including some exceptional guides are feeling lucky to catch only 3 to 8 fish a day. The average fish is under 28 inches.
Where are the migrating fish? My guess is off shore 6 to 10 miles feeding on a more plentiful food supply and staying in more temperate waters.
Good luck to those of you that get out this winter. I have attached a photo from a few years ago remembering the better days of the CBBT.
Posted in Fall Fishing, Maryland Fishing Reports, Striped Bass, Virginia Fishing Reports, Winter Fishing |
December 7th, 2011
LOCATION: Middle and Lower Bay
SPECIES: Striped Bass.
UPDATE: December 7, 2011
FISHING CONDITIONS: we are having milder than normal temperatures which is good for the upcoming fishing on the Lower Bay, specifically the CBBT (Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel). Right now it’s pouring rain but there is a good clearing forecast for the rest of the week. Fish are deep in the mid bay area and almost impossible to catch on fly and light tackle. No shallow water opportunities exist this time of year, excepting the rare top water event. Other guides that I know are catching using light tackle and 2 oz weights to get the fish, not my bag in the least.
Lower Bay reports are encouraging with fish being caught on light tackle in deeper conditions. Most large fish are being hooked up on live bait especially after dark at the lighted sections of the Bridge Tunnel. Not impossible to do with a fly but especially difficult for both angler and the operator of the boat. Strong current and waves wear you out trying to fish these conditions after dark.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Temperatures are varied with the sun, Mid Bay 62 to 66, Lower Bay 70.7, Near Coastal 69.3 Degrees
TYPE OF BAIT FISH ARE FEEDING ON: Bunker, Mud Shad, Smaller baits not identified. .
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Striped Bass are  eating big to add to their body mass. Stick to large patterns if you want to hook up with nice fish.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: I am using standard 7 ½ foot or 9 foot tapered or non-tapered 30 for the Striped Bass.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9wt with large arbor reels.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Primary lines are all full sink. Use the fastest sink rate possible and using a fly with weight is the best.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Electronics are indispensible now. Fish are often on the bottom and barely show on the screen at all. Use the “bottom lock” to view a split screen view with the bottom enlarged to see what is there.
MY TIPS OF THE WEEK: Use big flys here for big fish! Light tackle guys are using combinations to equal 7 or 9 inches. Bait is large and making a meal for the better Striped Bass.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Clearing skies, great temperatures, this is the best of the fall.
Tags: captain russ wilkinson, CBBT, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake, Striped Bass on Fly and Light Tackle
Posted in Big Game, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Fall Fishing, Maryland Fishing Reports, Striped Bass |
December 1st, 2011
 December 1 and I am sitting home listening to the 20 plus mph winds blowing with the knowledge that its probably three footers on the Bay and the Tributaries are whipped up to near the same. Fishing in our mid Bay region has been hit or miss with some good days with hundreds of small fish caught and other days with no fish. Larger fish seem to have opted out of the areas that are shallow, with no good reasons that I know of. This fishing is nothing like previous years and worries me.
Coastally I hear a lot of news that migration is happening. The question for us here on the Bay is, do the large fish come into the mouth of the Chesapeake this season or do they stay farther off shore like the past two years. Temperatures seem good and consistant with years when the fishing at the lower bay was strong. Hopefully the bait supply will be in place as the big migration hits the area, otherwise the fish will bypass the CBBT again this year.
A small number of guides are reporting big fish in areas of the Bay, for brief periods and then they are missing the next trip. This is the results of just not that many fish on the Bay as a whole this year.
Check back in a week or so and I will update the report with what I hope to be great news of CBBT adventures.
Tags: captain russ wilkinson, CBBT, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake, Striped Bass on Fly and Light Tackle
Posted in Big Game, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Fall Fishing, Maryland Fishing Reports, Striped Bass, Virginia Fishing Reports, Winter Fishing |
November 8th, 2011
LOCATION: Chesapeake Bay
SPECIES: Striped Bass.
UPDATE: November 8, 2011
FISHING CONDITIONS: Water temperatures have been steady for a few days. Lots of sun and the water warms up or holds its declining temps. The bait and the fish enjoy this and as anglers we benefit by not losing our game in the upper bay. (As water temperatures fall the bait and fish move into more temperate waters, either deeper or down the Bay.)
WATER TEMPERATURE: Temperatures are varied with the sun, Mid Bay 52 to 54, Lower Bay 54, Near Coastal 55 Degrees
TYPE OF BAIT FISH ARE FEEDING ON: Spot, Bunker, Silver sides.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Mid bay the larger Striped Bass are eating big to add to their body mass. Stick to large patterns if you want to hook up with nice fish. I find the standard half and half’s and large bait fish patterns are working best for the big guys and tiny Clouser type flys for the schoolies on the surface.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: I am using standard 7 ½ foot or 9 foot tapered or non-tapered 30 for the Striped Bass and Blues.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9wt with large arbor reels.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Primary lines were full sink. Floating lines for the breaking fish work great as well but are limited if fish are in deeper waters.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Fish are scattered more than I like but sonar helps to locate the center of the stronger schools of fish. Go to the mouth of major tributaries and watching for bird activity while moving over the drop offs around 20 to 30 feet of depth. Once located, move up current or upwind of the school so your drift will carry you over the feeding Striped Bass. Sinking lines with appropriate flys will net you plenty of action. Be sure to count down the sink rate of the line into the fish. Starting too soon with your retrieve will have you coming up empty.
MY TIPS OF THE WEEK: Toward the end of the daylight always look for shallow water action. The birds are going to be there too and will indicate excitement when they see Striped Bass working the bait. This is likely to be the biggest hits bigger fish of the day. Hopefully the depth will be 12 feet or less so sink times are shorter. You rarely have to strip very far before the big fish give you the tug you are waiting for.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: We are having some very mild weather this week and even the cold snap we experienced is only serveing to improve the fishing. Water temperatures are right in the range where larger Striped Bass like them. This is truly the best fishing available until the migrating fish from the coast reach the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) in the lower Bay in December.
Tags: captain russ wilkinson, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake, Striped Bass on Fly and Light Tackle
Posted in Fall Fishing, Maryland Fishing Reports, Striped Bass, Virginia Fishing Reports |
November 3rd, 2011
What can you expect in Fall? Aside from the obvious, shorter days, changing weather patterns with lots of highs and lows, rain, and the beautiful colors and migrations that you witness, you also have fishing changes that are some of the best.
Cooler water temperatures and shorter days impact the fishing dramatically. Our summer patterns of schooled fish in the open waters of the Bay changes and suddenly they are all about feeding in the tributaries. Bait begins to leave the shallowest water en-masse to escape possible freezing or dramatic temperature drops that would kill them and this exodus is a well known feeding opportunity for the striped bass and blue fish that are fattening up for winter. This trend is sometimes subtle and overlooked until the two collide in bait busting frenzies in some new area that was only rarely alive in summer. Over the years the only consistent part of Fall fishing is the surprise of where next. It is hard to keep up with the movements but they are well worth it when you find large numbers of all sizes of blues and striped bass feeding in a narrow river mouth. Some of the best days I have ever had fishing have been in Fall. Poppers are the normal lure of choice and most often a floating line is the only one you use, regardless of what fly you may put on. Who would want to catch a fish any other way?
I was out this week and caught seven large striped bass in seven casts. All were big, some bigger than others. Largest was over 36 inches and the smallest was over 26 inches. Fishing is the best it has been all season!
Tags: captain russ wilkinson, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake, Speckled Trout, Striped Bass on Fly and Light Tackle
Posted in Fall Fishing, Maryland Fishing Reports, Speckled Trout, Striped Bass |
October 21st, 2011
LOCATION: Middle Bay
SPECIES: Blues and Striped Bass.
UPDATE: October 19, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: the weather has been mixed this week with wind on a few days. Temperatures are normal for fall and not at all unpleasant. Water temperatures have fallen and I suspect the Blue fish may be thinking of leaving for their winter areas. Our nice football sized striped bass are taking over the top water action and shallow water fishing is getting to be a regular thing with terrific fish every day. The jumbo’s over 28 inches are not in the top water mix, but they shouldn’t be long now.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Temperatures are varied with the sun, Mid Bay 62 to 66, Lower Bay 70.7, Near Coastal 69.3 Degrees
TYPE OF BAIT FISH ARE FEEDING ON: Bunker, Silver sides, and bay anchovies.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Mid bay Striped Bass and blues are eating big to add to their body mass. Stick to large patterns if you want to hook up with nice fish. Try a popper once in a while if fish are holding on top for a lot of fun. 
RECOMMENDED LEADER: I am using standard 7 ½ foot or 9 foot tapered or non-tapered 30 for the Striped Bass and Blues.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9wt with large arbor reels.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Primary lines were full sink. Floating lines for the breaking fish work great as well but are limited if fish are in deeper waters.
BEST TECHNIQUES: I fish with binoculars in my hands all day long. Stop every few miles and look around with my binoculars for breaking fish or diving birds. I look at 100% of my area, even behind me where I just came from for action. It is often brief and constant vigilance is the only way to keep on top of it.
MY TIPS OF THE WEEK: Expect fish in shallow waters toward sunset. This isn’t new but when I refer to fish, I mean the whole school. We have been finding schools move quietly up on the points near where they were just blitzing on top to continue feeding on their favored bait, spot. This is happening repeatedly on a variety of locations so plan to fish late for the best of these Fall days. Use big flys here for big fish!
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Clear skies, great temperatures, this is the best of the fall.
Tags: captain russ wilkinson, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake, Striped Bass on Fly and Light Tackle
Posted in Blue Fish, Fall Fishing, Maryland Fishing Reports, Speckled Trout, Striped Bass |
October 12th, 2011
LOCATION: Middle Bay
SPECIES: Blues, Weakfish, Speckled Trout and Striped Bass.
UPDATE: October 12, 2011
FISHING CONDITIONS: the weather has been more stable this week with hardly any wind. Fall conditions are not yet established but should be in place following one or two more temperature drops. Fish are schooled up and the bluefish are still here and in great numbers. Large bay sized football sized blues that like to take your line and run with it. Very hard to locate truly quality striped bass so far but they shouldn’t be long now. Speckled Trout and Weakfish are also around in numbers and are eating often better than Striped Bass or Blues.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 66.9, Lower Bay 70.7, Near Coastal 69.3 Degrees
TYPE OF BAIT FISH ARE FEEDING ON: Silver sides, bay anchovies, Bunker, Crabs, Spot, and other species.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Mid bay Striped Bass and blues are eating small Clousers with flash easily. Small gummy minnows are a real hit with some of these schools. Try a popper once in a while if fish are holding on top for a lot of fun.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: I am using standard 7 ½ foot or 9 foot tapered or non-tapered 20 to 30 for the Striped Bass and Blues. Add a little wire for the blues and Spanish or expect to lose flies. For Cobia use straight 80.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: Blues and Striped Bass I’m using 9wt with large arbor reels. I always use large arbor reels.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Primary lines were full sink. Floating lines for the breaking fish work great as well.
BEST TECHNIQUES: use all you have to locate fish this time of year. I stop  every few miles and look around with my binoculars for breaking fish or diving birds. I look at 100% of my area, even behind me where I just came from for action. It is often brief and constant vigilance is the only way to keep on top of it.
MY TIPS OF THE WEEK: Birds aren’t the only indicator on the water. Watch activity of other boats. Yesterday I noticed a boat move quickly to a location only to stop immediately and I suspected he had seen activity I couldn’t from where I was. I went closer and sure enough, birds were diving on bait being pushed up by the fish. That started several hours of non-stop fishing for me and my clients.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Blue fish are still with us until the next 10 degree drop in water temperatures. Get out and fish for these great fighting fish while they last!
Tags: captain russ wilkinson, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake, Speckled Trout, Striped Bass on Fly and Light Tackle, Weakfish
Posted in Blue Fish, Fall Fishing, Maryland Fishing Reports, Speckled Trout, Virginia Fishing Reports |
October 6th, 2011
LOCATION: Middle and Lower Bay
SPECIES: Blues and Striped Bass in Middle Bay and Blues, Flounder and Speckled Trout in the Lower.
UPDATE: October 5, 2011
FISHING CONDITIONS: A surprising number of milder days interspersed with rain have occurred this past week. Opportunity to get out and cover water without the  discomfort of big waves has been great. Schools of small blues and striped bass are feeding on the small silver sides and bay anchovies in open water while the larger fish are targeting bigger baits, frequently in shallow water. It’s cooling off enough that fishing tributaries along the shore lines and at drop offs is productive and will only improve. General size of fish is on the smaller size. Speckled trout locations in the middle bay are generally along point and structure but extremely moveable. Located one day in a specific location and the next they can’t be found anywhere close. In the Lower Bay the specs are often more plentiful and located in tributaries along the Bay.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 71.4 Degrees, Lower Bay 73 Degrees, Near Coastal 72.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Silver sides, bay anchovies, Bunker, Crabs, and other species.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Mid bay Striped Bass, Spec’s and blues are eating small Clousers with flash easily. A peanut bunker size fly with light colors is working in some cases even better. Poppers work when fish are breaking on top and add a teaser fly tied to the hook of the popper is working great in many cases
RECOMMENDED LEADER: I am using standard 7 ½ foot or 9 foot tapered or non-tapered 20 to 30 for the Striped Bass and Blues. Add a little wire for the blues and Spanish or expect to lose flies.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: Blues and Striped Bass I’m using 9wt with large arbor reels. I always use large arbor reels.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Primary lines were full sink. Floating lines for the breaking fish work great as well.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Top of the water column is where we are finding most of the fish but a deeply fished fly or lure will bring back a real lunker on occasion. Fishing structure is not a guarantee but you can expect a bigger fish if you work the structure during strong current opportunities.
MY TIPS OF THE WEEK: I have been changing flys often to find the best pattern that the fish will eat. Right now when in schools use very small Clouser type minnows or other sparsely tied flys. I have had days when a new pattern would work for several fish and then as if they started to recognize the danger they would avoid it. I changed flys and again hooked several fish.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Shorter days, rain and falling water temperatures will surely make the fishing improve. Expect good days in between the windy fronts that are moving through the area and go fish!
Tags: captain russ wilkinson, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake, Striped Bass on Fly and Light Tackle
Posted in Blue Fish, Fall Fishing, Speckled Trout, Striped Bass |
September 24th, 2011
LOCATION: Lower and Middle Bay
SPECIES: Upper Bay: Blues and Striped Bass. Lower Bay: Flounder, Specs, and Croaker
UPDATE: September 24, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: Fall has arrived and we had a huge rain this week to remind us of the changing season. Just before the rain came we had several days of overcast skies with only the threat of rain and I was out for three days of good to excellent fishing. The Blue fish in the upper bay are schooled up nicely and provide hours of fun on fly although they have been mostly small. Structure fishing for Striped Bass is really worth the effort with the cooler temperatures and early bites are likely on many days. Lower Bay the Bay side creeks and smaller tribs are producing.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 70 Degrees, Lower Bay 73 Degrees, Near Coastal 73.9.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Silver sides, Bunker, Crabs, and other species.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Striped Bass and blues are eating small Clousers with flash easily. Larger half and half’s are working well also. The best set up this week has been a popper with a small trailer fly tied right onto the hook. We have caught two fish at a time in the schools using this set up.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: I am using standard 7 ½ foot or 9 foot tapered or non-tapered 20 to 30 for the Striped Bass and Blues. Add a little wire for the blues and Spanish or expect to lose flies.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: Blues and Striped Bass I’m using 9wt with large arbor reels. I always use large arbor reels.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Floating lines for the poppers on breaking fish is working great. To fish structure where we hope to locate bigger Striped Bass use a full sinking line.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Move the boat up wind of the moving breaking fish. Stay off just enough that your motor and boat presence doesn’t disturb the schooling fish. HINT: a motor and splashing boat will upset the bait and ultimately break up the schools of feeding fish and you will have to start all over if you drive onto the bait ball. If using a popper with a teaser land the fly rig over the fish and immediately start a popping motion. I found that a pop, pop, pause worked best this week but experiment a little to see what works best for you.
COMMENTS: Fish are eating in schools with even more determination than in summer. Find the right area with loads of bait and when those fish schools hit action looks like a washing machine in full cycle. Exploring rivers areas for small concentrations of fish is a good thing right now as well. Cooler water has the fish along the shore line and around docks and pilings. Pay special attention to deep pockets of water along the shore.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Weather especially the wind is having the greatest effect. Pack a sweatshirt or light jacket to stay comfortable. Big blues and Striped Bass are common in our fishing right now. If these are your favorite, don’t wait to get out. As water temperatures drop the Blues will leave the bay for more temperate waters to the South.
Tags: captain russ wilkinson, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake
Posted in Blue Fish, Fall Fishing, Maryland Fishing Reports, Speckled Trout, Striped Bass, Virginia Fishing Reports |
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