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#1 Feb-28-13 5:52PM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15561

Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun


Time to go fishin' again!

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#2 Mar-01-13 6:00AM

Aches n Pains
Northern Snakehead
Registered: Feb-14-09
Posts: 211

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Very nice.  Thanks.

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#3 Mar-01-13 6:11AM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15561

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

This was put together by the "Animal"......


Time to go fishin' again!

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#4 Mar-01-13 6:14AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5414

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

But will he post when the big girls start showing up?


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#5 Mar-01-13 6:28AM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15561

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Curly wrote:

But will he post when the big girls start showing up?

You have to know where to look.......


Time to go fishin' again!

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#6 Mar-01-13 6:30AM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15561

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

"Gordon Leisch is a former marine biologist and VERY long time Potomac fall line (Fletcher's) angler. His logs go back 50 + years. We averaged the date of the first bite for a few species.  Based on his records they are as follows":

Blue Catfish              Year Round  20 - 40 pounders being caught now on the sandbar
Gizzard Shad            March 1 in numbers but always around
White Perch              March 15th
Hickory Shad             March 30th
River Herring             March 30th
Striped Bass (big)      April 1st
Snakeheads              Insufficient data  Usually around the 1st of April with a high water event
American Shad          April 15th


Time to go fishin' again!

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#7 Mar-01-13 9:02AM

Redfish12
Northern Snakehead
From: Severna Park, MD
Registered: Jun-25-10
Posts: 509
Website

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

So where to look for the big girls? I know they come through, I just always seem to miss them...

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#8 Mar-01-13 9:15AM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15561

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

From my personal knowledge, they have bee caught from Kennedy Center on up but they concentrate below the fall line since the smorgasbord is there. By the time the sun goes over the trees...the bite slows down significantly but they can be caught at any time. Tide plays in the game.

Live herring is best bait, then cut herring......alas, there is a moratorium on them.

I have caught them on 1-3 oz jigs and jigging large rattletraps. We have also caught them trolling Rebel Jointed Spoonbills.


Time to go fishin' again!

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#9 Mar-01-13 10:15AM

Bryan
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Bealeton, VA
Registered: Mar-18-11
Posts: 1194

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Several years ago while fishing a bass tournament with a friend in early April, stripers started busting shad around the boat. Not little shad either, full grown adults. I got a heck of a slam on a jerkbait but didn't hook up, and on the next cast I tied into a beast of a striper that I simply couldn't stop. That was right around the WW bridge.

We couldn't stay there to fish for them cause we were in the tourney and didn't want to lose time. It was sooo frustrating. I've caught a bunch of schoolies in there, but that was the only time I've ever run into the big girls on the Potomac.


tight lines

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#10 Mar-01-13 10:20AM

Ernie
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From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15561

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Yep...they are caught at the Greenway Flats as well....many think they spawn there.

And for the record, if in my boat and in a bass tourney, the striper wins....I am going after 'em!


Time to go fishin' again!

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#11 Mar-01-13 11:46AM

Redfish12
Northern Snakehead
From: Severna Park, MD
Registered: Jun-25-10
Posts: 509
Website

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

It looks like I will have an extra day a week to look for them so I plan on spending some time looking for them this spring!

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#12 Mar-01-13 12:16PM

Bryan
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Bealeton, VA
Registered: Mar-18-11
Posts: 1194

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Pacemaker wrote:

Yep...they are caught at the Greenway Flats as well....many think they spawn there.

And for the record, if in my boat and in a bass tourney, the striper wins....I am going after 'em!

Haha good call!

We ended up doing bad in the tourney anyway...wish I could do it all over again!


tight lines

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#13 Mar-01-13 12:32PM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15561

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

I assume you will be yakin'.....I know many that do it buy I always urge against it, PFD notwithstanding.

Let me explain.....the currents are visible but the bad, strong currents are under your sight. Hydraulics. A kayak or a person would not be swept away, they would be sucked down.

But, I know you are careful....and be careful anchoring as well. And pay attention to the gauges....4.5 is the magic #!


Time to go fishin' again!

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#14 Mar-01-13 12:35PM

Redfish12
Northern Snakehead
From: Severna Park, MD
Registered: Jun-25-10
Posts: 509
Website

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

I have fished the area by the bridge enough to know not to go near there on a kayak! I was hoping to find them somewhere between the key bridge and just above fletchers. I am also hoping to find a few on jigs or plugs due to the herring and shad ban, so anchoring will probably not be necessary since I won't be soaking bait.

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#15 Mar-01-13 2:55PM

GregF
Northern Snakehead
Registered: Mar-21-11
Posts: 712

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

I may have an "extra day" or twenty this year as well.  Would like to try to get together for a day a Fletchers (or anywhere) sometime this spring.

Last edited by GregF (Mar-01-13 2:55PM)

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#16 Mar-01-13 4:47PM

captmikestarrett
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Potomac River
Registered: May-06-08
Posts: 2164
Website

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Let me add that one trip in early April years ago we drifted in front of Regan Airport and fan casted big rattle traps and landed over 40 of those convict bass over 30 inches. Biggest was 48inches.

Capt Mike


Light Tackle Fishing Guide on the Potomac

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#17 Mar-01-13 6:15PM

Osprey
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Forestville, MD
Registered: Nov-16-07
Posts: 1234
Website

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

captmikestarrett wrote:

Let me add that one trip in early April years ago we drifted in front of Regan Airport and fan casted big rattle traps and landed over 40 of those convict bass over 30 inches. Biggest was 48inches.

Capt Mike

Sounds like a fish story to me..... thought you were a catfish guide :-)


20' Key West..16' C-Hawk...Hobie Pro Angler...Hobie Outback

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#18 Apr-02-14 10:04AM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15561

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

This is being updated everyday for those that want to hit Fletchers....

Water is too high right now....and it looks like it will be so through the weekend.


Time to go fishin' again!

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#19 Apr-02-14 10:39AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5414

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Extended weather forecast is not cooperating!  Hope the big girls don't come and go......through all this high and muddy water.  Water temps are good now, but water clarity is going to be a problem for a little while.


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#20 Apr-02-14 11:16AM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15561

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Curly wrote:

Extended weather forecast is not cooperating!

Been like that for a while.....I may have to put the yak in at Cedar to feel some water beneath me. And Cedar is dirty!


Time to go fishin' again!

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#21 Apr-02-14 12:29PM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5414

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Pacemaker wrote:

Curly wrote:

Extended weather forecast is not cooperating!

Been like that for a while.....I may have to put the yak in at Cedar to feel some water beneath me. And Cedar is dirty!

Silver buddy on the deep rock pile!


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#22 Apr-04-14 8:37AM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15561

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Made the right call to cancel for Saturday: Animals report form 4/4 says....Continued murky and swift conditions with debris. Perch caught from shore. Breaking fish observed. Level is forecasted to remain steady. Boat rentals Saturday are doubtful and only if the LF gauge is around 5' and trending down.


Time to go fishin' again!

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#23 Apr-04-14 9:28AM

Redfish12
Northern Snakehead
From: Severna Park, MD
Registered: Jun-25-10
Posts: 509
Website

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

What kind of breaking fish??

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#24 Apr-04-14 9:32AM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15561

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Redfish12 wrote:

What kind of breaking fish??

That would be herring and shad.....

Usually the stripers are deep and on the seams. They have plenty to eat while they visit Fletchers....hickory shad, American shad, white perch and herring.


Time to go fishin' again!

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#25 Apr-04-14 9:38AM

Redfish12
Northern Snakehead
From: Severna Park, MD
Registered: Jun-25-10
Posts: 509
Website

Re: Fletcher's Cove Area Fishing and Outdoor Fun

Yea... I need to start getting down there before work...

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