Sometimes the trips are short...

The boys wanted to kayak and fish Sunday morning, so I loaded up and undertook the long paddle upriver. Its about 1.5 miles to the “special spot” as Drew calls it- just below the Hug Monster Bridge.

The way up- shirt on

There was a lot to see on the way up. One of the local Great Blue Herons has become very brave, and let us pass within 20 feet. The boys were impressed with how big he looked from so close. The river was covered with leaves- the first time it’s looked like this. As much a result of the extraordinarily dry weather than fall approaching. Fish were everywhere, very visible. The boys pointed them out as I paddled.

After the hour or so it took to paddle up, Drew stood up in the kayak and immediately fell in the water. It was less than a foot deep where we sat, so he just popped right back in. But it scared him, he was not happy. And it was pretty cool. Not cold, but nothing like it was two weeks ago. It was very warm out, so I told him to take off his shirt so he could dry off. He did, and he warmed up quickly in the hot sun. But it scared him enough that he had no interest in fishing. He just wanted to sit and nibble on snacks- which was fine with his brother.

So I got to fish a bit, and the boys enjoyed watching the fish fight- and of course they had to touch each one and ask the same questions every time. “Can I touch it?” (yes) “Does it have teeth?” (yes, but they are very small) “Can I throw it back?” (sure)

We got our money’s worth out of the kayak this summer, that is for sure.

The paddle back- shirtless and bashful.

Biggest smallmouth bass I've caught on the Patapsco

Played hooky this morning- it was just too nice out to drive to work. I was on the water at 6:00, and paddled about 1.5 miles upriver to where the kids and I have done well. I snuck as quietly as I could up to a stump below a cool tributary where some bigger fish hang out. I launched a big tube up against the stump, and right away a fish thumped it. I set the hook- and---- nothing.

Drat!

I tried again, a fish took again. I set the hook and this time managed to sink it in an 11" fish. This was the biggest fish I've caught so far this year on the river. Not bad, but I'd seen a good 15 inch fish there the day before while biking, so I was a bit disappointed. More casts led to nothing. Oh well, you win some you lose some.

I decided to keep going upriver just to explore. I'd never been past this spot on the water. I blasted through 3 or 4 pretty nice holes, but only saw 12 inch fish and big suckers. It's very clear, and though the river is 50-80 feet wide, it's only about 15 feet wide in the deep spots- which are no more than 5' deep. I can see pretty much everything.

I keep going through skinnier and skinnier water, in some places slipping through boulders in seams that barely fit the boat. It's really not looking promising, but I keep going. Then I see a big log in the water in a rocky area at a bend. Hmmm... Looks fairly deep- at least 3 feet or so. So I throw a nose-hooked smoke with purple flake 3" stick-o to the head of the hole. Almost immediately, there is a take. I set the hook, and it feels decent. I bring the line tight, then grab the paddle to stay out of the bottom part of the log that the stream is pushing me into. The fish comes to the surface and boils, and WHOA!!! that is a BIG fish. I don't really believe my eyes, and right away I realize that there is no way I'm going to land this. I'm being pushed into a big snag, and as the fish is upcurrent of me I'm pulling it right into the snag- where it will easily wrap me up and pull off the 6 lb braid and tiny size 6 hook.

I crazily alternate between reeling and paddling with my left hand to keep the boat out of the wood. The fish for reasons I do not understand is fighting more or less straight upcurrent from me, so it's fighting both the current and my ultra-ultra light 6' Lamiglas. Twice it goes all the way under the snag on downstream runs, and I have to fend off the wood with one foot while holding the rod underwater to keep the line clear. Both times the fish runs back upriver and clears itself. The fish never jumps, but it boils several times giving me good looks at it and keeping my adrenalin pumping. After what feels like 5 minutes of "this fish is going to break off any second" I am in total disbelief when I see that I've worn the fish down, and that I'm gaining control of it. I very quickly get it on the surface and keep it there, drop my hand down and lip it. I really can not believe what I'm holding. I put it to the ruler on the side of the boat- it's a solid 17" fish- in great shape and with awesome color. I've never seen a fish anything like this in this river.

I have the camera handy, and quickly take a few shots. I'm relieved when she swims off strongly, right under a big rock in the deepest part of the hole.

I've caught bigger fish, but none that I felt like I'd earned quite as much as I did this one. What a great way to start the weekend!!