THE 2012 COW STRIPER FISHING SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE
TEAM TEACHER (JIMMIE BAETY AND SON, ADAM) SHOW HOW TO LIVE THE DREAM.
Take a look at Youtube, "team teacher striper fishing" !
The photo shown here was taken in the 2011 season.
A "NETWORK" IS CRITICAL FOR FISHING ON THE LOWER BAY
Sometimes, cries for help to buddies in a network go unanswered, as happened to one fellow fishing a the bridge pilings. Out going tide and his calls unanswered left him far out toward the ocean. I hear it happening quite often with small boats and kayakes. Team Teacher was mostly nearby when Bill and I were on the water. We shared information about catches and places. Yet, a network is a built thing, and frequently Bill and I remain outsiders. Glasman, Tumbleweed, Yogi, Termite, and others on the water are aloof as far as Bill and I are concerned. Going it alone means much of the time is looking for the fish. Hopefully, the future holds a larger network that Bill and I are a part of. This year, Bill and I were on the water for at least 20 days in December. We had the skunk on only two days. Didn't have but one 9 fish day, but the other days we caught decent fish every time on the water and filled our quota for guests too.
MEDICAL EVENT CANCELS COW FISHING
Of course, only God knows what fate holds of each of us. In my case, I returned to Kiptopeke, Sunset Beach Resort, and had some vomiting and diarrhea with a black stool. The situation continued all night and in the morning, I looked for medical help. Went to Oyster to a day clinic and was informed that help was needed by an ER back across the bridge. Bill and Matt hauled me to the Sentana Virginia Beach General Hospital and it was determined that I needed real medical help.
The wind was howling on the 26th and 27th. Too much for boats my size. Friday, was different, the wind laid down and fishing was possible for a while. Unfortunately, it was the second day in a month that Bill got the skunk on him. Next morning was different, the wind laid down early and Bill and Matt boated two great fish, one thought to be a citation. Unfortunately, the next morning, it only went about 36 pounds. OK, next morning, two got boated, but Chris' was closed at noon, so no citation weight. Bill's experience said one fish was well over 40 pounds. Guess Matt will have to wait until next year for his citation, if they are still offered by VA state.
I got out of the hospital on the 31st, and my wife hauled me to the motel just in time to meet Bill and Matt coming off the water. The 2 foot seas quickly rose to 5 and most prudent small boats headed for the ramp.
We worked a way for Bill and Matt to haul my boat and drive my truck to Henderson, NC and Mel, my wife, hauled me to Gainesville. Well, in reality we hauled each other as the drive on I-95 is always congested and the 4 hour drive takes from 6 to 8 hours. Think I'm stabilized, but will look for the advice of my primary care doctor on Jan. 2. Seems that the surgery and recovery went well and I'm game for a new plan for 2013.
THE WALLEYE PLANER BOARDS PROVED TO BE A GREAT FISHING ASSET
Maybe some of them flags would make them more visible?
DEALING WITH THE FOG
Several days on the water in dense fog proved that a GPS is useless at drifting speed. Circling in unknown direcitons, drifting in the wrong direction (per GPS), and watching corks aft was one way to keep a direction. But to where, the beach, the channel, a shoal? Fortunately, my Mrs., Mel had a compass from her sailing days and sent it along with me to Kiptopeke. Got it installed and was able to combine the wake of the aft corks, the GPS, and the liquid filled compass to keep a direction. Wasn't able to make exact location by viewing a chart, but maybe by next year I'll have that mastered. Yet it's frustrating for a captain to encounter crab trap buoys, anchor ropes of fishermen sitting in the fog, etc. Too close to the shipping channel, and a small craft would be like drift wood, crunched and never to be seen again.
YES, OYSTERS AND CLAMS ARE GOOD SNACKS.
Doesn't look like Joy's and Bill's efforts are very productive?
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YA GOTTA TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT
There are times when Joy's imagination takes over and he comes up with some unusual attractions for the lip of an eel.
The first attempt at adding a flounder spinner ahead of the eel hook.
EVEN TRIED ADDING A 1/2 OUNCE EGG SINKER WITH THE SPINNER COMBO - ALL CAUGHT FISH!
The egg sinker was added on the main line above the bead/swivel. Of course, the fluorocarbon leader of about 24 inches held the 8/0 or 10/0 Ohner Circle hook.
A LITTLE WORK MUST BE MIXED WITH PLEASURE
Yep, Bill is a master at cleaning the monster striped bass. The refrigerator that Mel let us use for the motel room has a large freezer, enough to hold the filets of about 4 stripers. The Sunset Beach Resort has a "could be" very nice cleaning station. Unfortunately, fishermen can be . . .
Bill is an incredible fishing partner and provides the help I desperately need for most everything related to launching the boat, baiting and deploying lines, cleaning fish, and being a good friend.
Met Dewayne Lamb in the continental breakfast room at the motel. He and crew slayed the stripers near buoy 18 most every day by boating at least 20. Only kept the smaller for the grease. Think Dewayne is the owner of Captains Quarters on Smith Mountain Lake. Always recognized his boat by what I call the grass hopper legs on the stern. Big boat, well equipped and suitable for seas much heavier than my Sea Pro can handle.
Met Mike Smedley, Team Old School and manufacturer of Umbrella Rigs. He awarded the three of us, Joy, Bill, and Hawley with this very warm skull cap.
WE ALL LOVE OUR TACKLE
My current preference for a reel for Kiptopeke stripers is the Charter Special by Shimano, TR 2000 Lever Drag. Spooled with about 150 yards of 30 pound backing mono and near 300 yards of 40 & 50 pound yellow hi-viz braid. Recently found Sufix hi viz fluorescent orange brad that appeals to me. I depend on the knots to fail while using 40 pound fluorocarbon leader. The gil plates on the large stripers can server leader in flash. The only knot to attach the 8/0 or 10/0 Ohner circle hooks is the snell. No fish lost this year from equipment failure. Only one big fish break off. The combination of 5# strike drag tension for the lever drag with line spooled "FULL" and the Ugly Stick Custom 15-30 pound and 6' 6 inch rod length makes an incredibly tough combination,
Likely more dialog as time allows the gray muscle to ruminate.
THANKS TO ALL SENDING THEIR GET WELL WISHES. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE SO MANY FRIENDS.
WHY ARE VARIOUS AREAS AROUND KIPTOPEKE STATE PARK GIVEN SUCH STRANGE NAMES?
Plantation, cabbage patch, buoy 18, the green can, the yellow can, cherry stone, the gut, the flat, etc.?
