Hi Gang

I made my first trip out in the Chesapeake region after returning from about a month fishing in Patagonia (big report and pics coming soon). Chris called me and said we should give the white perch a try. We fished both the Tuckahoe and Choptank (Red Bridges) from high tide moving to low. We started at Tuckahoe at high tide, but there was not a lot of current and the fish did not seem to be biting, at least on a fly, but others with bait and jigs were not getting any action either. We decided to go and check Red Bridges, a few people were there. One guy fishing right at the falls with bait said he had been fishing a few hours and caught about 20 white perch (mostly small) and a few small yellow. Everyone else who had been there an hour or just about getting started had no luck. Chris and I hit some of our regular spots and did not even have a bite. Talked to one guy who was fishing downstream and was walking back as we were walking downriver who had been fishing a few hours and he only caught one. The guys said there was a good run about 2 weeks ago where it was hot for about 3 days with white perch up to 18 inches. Some thought the run was over, but a few regulars said they think with a few more days of warm weather the fishing will pick up again.

One thing I will say is there if you fish Red Bridges or any park area, please pick up your trash. I absolutely hate seeing trash in nature. Trash is so out of place in nature (that includes cigarette butts) and there are plenty of trash cans around, just throw it away. I feel like its total disrespecting nature when I see it. Sorry, had to vent that:eek:

Chris and I decided to go back to the Tuckahoe and catch the second half of the falling tide. The current started to really move and there was a regular there, Philip, who just got a new 14ft jon boat and we saw him anchored a spot and tearing them up every cast. He said it started about 45min after we left and had not stopped. Chris and I waded out, but still were not hooking up. I added a sink tip to my floating line and sure enough next cast, FISH ON. The action was pretty steady until Chris dragged us away because he had to made a dinner meeting in Annapolis. Dinner meeting over catching, what is the world coming too?:rolleyes:

Talked to Philip and some other locals while we were all catching. One gentleman had been a commerical waterman for 20 years, he said the perch were really big before the nets went into the river. He said as soon as they went in a week or two ago all the fish went from 12, 14, 18 inches to 8inches. He said all the fish we would get now would be 8inches or less. He was about right. All the white perch we caught were up to 8 inches. He and everyone else who was fishing and chiming in between catching agreed the nets should be removed from the river. Hard to argue when you are out there catching and talking to regulars who are fishing the river every single day of the season. Something to think about.

All and all a nice day out on the local tributaries of the Chesapeake. If the rain holds off I will try and get down there today for an hour or two.

[I]Equipment for those interested[/I]
Fly Rods, 6 and 8wt Sage XPs with floating lines and later 8-10ft sink tips. Hotfly of the day was a grass shrimp pattern and a chartreuse and white clouser minnow on a 4 or 6 hook.

[I]Conditions[/I]
Partly Sunny, 65-70 air temp, 40-45 water temp. Fished high tide moving to low (real current movement started on the second half of the tide). Water was gin clear (see first pic, taken with out a polarizer)

Good luck out there!

Brandon