Fishing Forecast
These are some of the strangest of strange times an everybody is going just about nuts wanting normal to return.
Who the hell knows how long that’s going to be.
If there is any hope of not losing our sanity, it will be provided by fishing.
It’s a good way to escape, keep your distance and cure what ails you.
From the reports I’ve been getting, fish are cooperating.
Nowhere is this holding more true than in our region’s many tidal rivers, freshwater lakes and neighborhood ponds.
The crappie season is booming, with lots of fish being taken in all their usual haunts. Some of the bigger fish are coming from neighborhood water retention ponds and rural farm ponds. Lake Cahoon in Suffolk is another place to look for slabs, but these tasty and most beautiful fish are hitting everywhere.
Hard to beat a live minnow under a cork, but don’t hesitate to cast and retrieve small jigs and spinners.
You all know what that “thump” does to you.
Largemouth bass, yellow perch and catfish all are cooperating as well, especially since waters never really got that cold because of a relatively mild winter.
I’m well aware that some of you ain’t got nothin’ for freshwater fishing and that’s too bad. Everything about it is awesome if you want my humble opinion.
But our differences are what makes the world go round and grandpa always told me that if the world doesn’t go round, there’s no gravity and we all fall off.
He was one smart West Virginia hillbilly.
Saltwater fishing is a little ahead of schedule for all the same reasons freshwater action is so hot.
Speckled trout and puppy drum are hitting just about everywhere you expect to find them during the fall.
Tautog catches throughout the region, from the CBBT to near-shore wrecks and artificial reefs, have been outstanding.
Tuna action out of the Outer Banks has been fantastic for weeks, but non-residents aren’t allowed on Hatteras Island. You can still get to Oregon Inlet, and some captains out of Rudee Inlet are making the journey to the southeast to get in on the action.
Red drum are making an early showing along OBX beaches and sight-casters cruising along the coast also are finding some. They’re even hitting on area piers, but call ahead because some might be Covid-19 closed.
And these bronze-colored, spotted bruisers will be in Virginia waters before you know it.
Flounder should be showing in many of the barrier island backwaters along the sea side of the Eastern Shore.
Small stuff in the Carolina surf will include blow toads, trout, flounder, drum, sea mullet and the rest of the usual suspects.
I’m always looking for more information on what’s going on with anglers and hunters - turkey season has cranked up and I’ve been tons of birds working the fields in northeastern North Carolina.
So hook me up - yes, that was an intended bad pun - by sending me information and any pictures I can use by sending them to: lee@leetolliveroutdoors.com
