New member DC/Maryland, (just got a kayak)

[Mantis7]

Hello,

 

I am pretty new to this hobby but I am already very passionate. A little about me:  As a kid I loved playing in puddles and was obsessed with small ponds and water. My first job was at an aquarium store and I fell in love with fish. I began breeding fish, especially South American Cichlids and I wanted to go into the aquaculture field.   I went to school for Environmental Science and ended up getting a job at a law firm in DC.  Now I am stuck at a desk job and my apartment is too small for a fish tank.  I was feeling like I was disconnected from what I love and it was really getting me down. 

 

Finally it hit me, if I cant have a fish tank or work with fish I will become a fisherman and catch them. This was in January and I have been fishing every week since then and just about everyday since March.  I am hooked. It's all I can think about, whether I'm at work, in church, or with my girlfriend.  I am slaying Bass in my dreams and listening to fishing podcasts and watching YouTube videos about fishing whenever I can.

 

I also just bought a Jackson Cuda 14 and I have been kayak fishing as often as I can.  The problem is that I am sort of new to the area and I am not sure where to go.  It would be great to link up with some of you guys in the Maryland/DC/VA area or even PA (I have a car and don't mind driving a couple of hours).  I just want to meet some people who are as passionate about fishing as I am, I'll bring the beer and the live bait.

 

-Mantis

 

 

[Choporoz]

Welcome, Mantis...from NOVA.

Lots of folks from our neighborhood on here.  Check the NOVA and MD ongoing threads.  Also lots of local yakkers on FB groups - great for coordinating meet-ups

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

[Junger]

Welcome, if you have a kayak you will have access to some great water in DC. Four Mile Run, Roach's Run waterfowl Sanctuary, and all the surrounding tidal creeks.

[Mantis7]

Thanks guys.
 

21 minutes ago, Junger said:

Welcome, if you have a kayak you will have access to some great water in DC. Four Mile Run, Roach's Run waterfowl Sanctuary, and all the surrounding tidal creeks.

Junger,

 I am actually planning on hitting Four Mile Run on may 4th.  Do you think the Water is warm enough for some top water fishing?  I was going to try to use my whopper plopper that looks like a shad and see if anything hits it, foraging females might think its a dying shad and males should be guarding their beds. I believe they will still be in pre-spawn. I also know that there is some good fishing at the C&O canal but the water is so unpredictable there.

[Junger]

Just now, Mantis7 said:

Thanks guys.
 

Keeper,

 I am actually planning on hitting Four Mile Run on may 4th.  Do you think the Water is warm enough for some top water fishing?  I was going to try to use my whopper plopper that looks like a shad and see if anything hits it, foraging females might think its a dying shad and males should be guarding their beds. I believe they will still be in pre-spawn. I also know that there is some good fishing at the C&O canal but the water is so unpredictable there.

I've seen people catching on topwater there when the air temp is in the 40's. There's a warm water discharge there, so 4MR is almost always fishable year round. My guess would be spinnerbaits, underspins, maybe some slow popper action.

 

Widewater at the C&O canal always has fishable water levels. But it's about a 300 yard haul from the lot, so you'll need wheels on your yak to get it there. You can also drive up a little further and put in at Swain's Lock, which will give you access to skinny water and also the main river.

[Mantis7]

Thanks for the advice Junger, I am glad I joined this forum.  I have been lurking for a couple of months now.

[CountryboyinDC]

Hi Mantis - you should be able to get some good shad fishing in about now around Fletchers Cove.  I haven't gotten out myself yet, but it's on the schedule for later this month.  Everywhere in this region can get crowded, but there's lots of fisherfolk around too.  Especially the kayak crowd.

[RSmall]

Hello and welcome to BR.

[Log Catcher]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resources ~

A-Jay 

[soflabasser]

Welcome to the forum

[Bluebasser86]

Welcome!

[Sam]

Mantis, welcome and it is great having you with us.

 

Be sure to make as many contacts and friends in DC as you can so you can use the contacts to get a great career outside of DC by offering your future employer your contacts and knowledge of DC and how it works.

 

Now, for fishing in Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland, I am of little help.

 

We have quite a few NOVA guys and gals in the Forum and they can give you some good advice.

 

Get the 2019 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia free booklet from VDG&IF at a local tackle shop or drive down to the BPS in Ashland or go to the one on Arundel Mill circle in Hanover, Maryland. This will give you the places to fish in Northern Virginia, including the ramp off Route 1 south of DC and north of Stafford to get onto the Potomac.

 

Or, you can drive down to Hope Springs or Willow Landing outside of Stafford, put in there, and paddle up creek towards Aquia or go down creek towards the Potomac and hug the bank. Great fishing from kayaks where the bass boats can't fish.

 

Check out the GMCO maps of the Potomac and other places to fish in Maryland and Virginiaa that they offer: http://www.gmcomaps.com/

 

Plan to attend the fishing expos in Virginia and Maryland in January and February. The Richmond Fishing Expo is in January so watch the Forum as I usually post the details when they are released. There is/was a big show in Timonium so check it out on the Internet. You will meet lots of kayak guys and obtain a lot of information on where to launch and fish.

 

All the best and don't forget for DC and NOVA you need 1) WAZE on your iPhone; 2) lots of gas in your car; 3) patience in traffic; 4) your needle nose pliers and fishing licenses for Maryland, DC and Virginia.

 

Welcome to the Forum.  Have fun in traffic.

 

 

 

 

[ptomacbass]

I live in Friendship Heights too, I'm the house near Mass ave with the bass boat.

[Mantis7]

20 minutes ago, ptomacbass said:

I live in Friendship Heights too, I'm the house near Mass ave with the bass boat.

Haha I have passed your house and admired your boat. Small world.

5 hours ago, Sam said:

Mantis, welcome and it is great having you with us.

 

Be sure to make as many contacts and friends in DC as you can so you can use the contacts to get a great career outside of DC by offering your future employer your contacts and knowledge of DC and how it works.

 

Now, for fishing in Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland, I am of little help.

 

We have quite a few NOVA guys and gals in the Forum and they can give you some good advice.

 

Get the 2019 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia free booklet from VDG&IF at a local tackle shop or drive down to the BPS in Ashland or go to the one on Arundel Mill circle in Hanover, Maryland. This will give you the places to fish in Northern Virginia, including the ramp off Route 1 south of DC and north of Stafford to get onto the Potomac.

 

Or, you can drive down to Hope Springs or Willow Landing outside of Stafford, put in there, and paddle up creek towards Aquia or go down creek towards the Potomac and hug the bank. Great fishing from kayaks where the bass boats can't fish.

 

Check out the GMCO maps of the Potomac and other places to fish in Maryland and Virginiaa that they offer: http://www.gmcomaps.com/

 

Plan to attend the fishing expos in Virginia and Maryland in January and February. The Richmond Fishing Expo is in January so watch the Forum as I usually post the details when they are released. There is/was a big show in Timonium so check it out on the Internet. You will meet lots of kayak guys and obtain a lot of information on where to launch and fish.

 

All the best and don't forget for DC and NOVA you need 1) WAZE on your iPhone; 2) lots of gas in your car; 3) patience in traffic; 4) your needle nose pliers and fishing licenses for Maryland, DC and Virginia.

 

Welcome to the Forum.  Have fun in traffic.

 

 

 

 

Thanks Sam that's some good info.  I understand why I need needle nose plyers after my post-work fishing session yesterday.  I caught 5 bluegill/pumpkin seeds out of a small pond in Bethesda right off of the Capitol Crescent trail and Mass ave.  I had my Leatherman with me and I could barely fit it in their small mouths to get the hook out.  I had to let one go with a hook in it's throat and felt terrible. I won't be making that mistake again.

[microotter]

Welcome! If you don’t mind me asking, where do you store your kayak? I live in DC, but my apartment doesn’t have storage so I had to leave my kayak with family in PA. 

[Mantis7]

2 minutes ago, microotter said:

Welcome! If you don’t mind me asking, where do you store your kayak? I live in DC, but my apartment doesn’t have storage so I had to leave my kayak with family in PA. 

Right now I have both of my kayaks sitting on top of my Subaru Forrester. I called it an apartment but I am actually renting a small room in a house.  There is a backyard with some storage space, but given the spontaneity of my trips these past couple of weeks, I have just left my kayaks on my roof.  I know this is stupid because someone could steal my yaks but I have them chained to my roof rack with a bike lock, so if anyone wanted to steal them it would need to be a pretty coordinated operation. 

 

I may be able to store your yak in my backyard if that would be easier for you.  I also have an extra 12 foot fishing Kayak that I am using for my buddy/girlfriend fleet if you ever want to hit the river.

[microotter]

Thanks for the offer! I am definitely down to fish some time (kayak or shore). I am new to the area too and have been checking places out the past few weekends. 

[whitwolf]

Welcome!

[Glenn]

Welcome home!  We're glad you're here.