I went out Saturday to the "secret spot" on the Little Patuxent. Water temp was around 50 degrees, and I only managed to catch two failfish. I've read comments on fishing forums where people say these fish put up a fight -- yet to experience that. It felt like reeling in a wet sock. The same size smallmouth is pound-for-pound a much better fighter. Of course, that's why I fish for smallmouth and not failfish.
Got one on a Reaction Innovations Little Dipper and another on a Rapala Shadow Rap. I have yet to get even a nibble on a bottom-bouncing worm/tube/jig this year.
The good news about this area is that the dogs are gone. The shack that was occupied by people, which I presumed was where the dogs lived, isn't there anymore. I waded across upriver because I wanted to fish that section and not be hassled by the dogs, but when I got there, I saw the shack was gone. So I waded back across and fished from the sandbar that usually extends halfway across the river.
Sorry, no pictures of failfish.
On Sunday, I went to the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge. The Little Patuxent flows through the refuge, which neighbors Fort Meade. There are also a few small lakes with largemouth bass, pickerel and panfish. You have to check in at the visitor's center and get a pass to fish -- or do anything, like hiking or bird watching -- on the refuge.
I haven't fished the river here before, so I figured I could have at it on the whole section of water. When I checked in, I was informed that only section of the Little Patuxent that could be fished on the refuge is a small area on the southeast section. I figured it was at least worth a look, and I went ahead and got all the documents and drove to that area. Fished for a couple hours, and didn't catch a thing. Not sure if I will go back considering how small a section of river that can be fished, plus going through the hassle of getting a pass and driving three miles on a crappy road at 25mph.
We're supposed to have a run of 50- to 60-degree days over the week, so I'm hoping that gets the smallmouth out of their hiding holes. Because after a handful of trips to the Little Patuxent this year, they certainly are scarce in shallow sections. And of course on April 7, Karen and I will be on the Susquehanna River with Jason Shay of Ken Penrod's Life Outdoors Unlimited.
Got one on a Reaction Innovations Little Dipper and another on a Rapala Shadow Rap. I have yet to get even a nibble on a bottom-bouncing worm/tube/jig this year.
The good news about this area is that the dogs are gone. The shack that was occupied by people, which I presumed was where the dogs lived, isn't there anymore. I waded across upriver because I wanted to fish that section and not be hassled by the dogs, but when I got there, I saw the shack was gone. So I waded back across and fished from the sandbar that usually extends halfway across the river.
Sorry, no pictures of failfish.
On Sunday, I went to the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge. The Little Patuxent flows through the refuge, which neighbors Fort Meade. There are also a few small lakes with largemouth bass, pickerel and panfish. You have to check in at the visitor's center and get a pass to fish -- or do anything, like hiking or bird watching -- on the refuge.
I haven't fished the river here before, so I figured I could have at it on the whole section of water. When I checked in, I was informed that only section of the Little Patuxent that could be fished on the refuge is a small area on the southeast section. I figured it was at least worth a look, and I went ahead and got all the documents and drove to that area. Fished for a couple hours, and didn't catch a thing. Not sure if I will go back considering how small a section of river that can be fished, plus going through the hassle of getting a pass and driving three miles on a crappy road at 25mph.
We're supposed to have a run of 50- to 60-degree days over the week, so I'm hoping that gets the smallmouth out of their hiding holes. Because after a handful of trips to the Little Patuxent this year, they certainly are scarce in shallow sections. And of course on April 7, Karen and I will be on the Susquehanna River with Jason Shay of Ken Penrod's Life Outdoors Unlimited.
