With the full moon up I wanted to head out very early and get some night fishing in but watching the Weather Channel showed just enough showers in the area that I held off until my regular dawn start time. I cruised right to Waltons for a quick look. I was marking a few scattered fish and trolled around searching I managed one 20" fish near the VA Dare, but that was it. I didn't spend much time there and ran down to the S-curves to look around. Nothing there just like on Saturday. Nothing up in Strawberry Banks either.
So after hearing of all the fish around Blackwater/Gills after the tournament Saturday I decided to make the run. Again, I'd not done it before so this was an experiment. It wasn't bad. Made the fast cruise and found at least 10 boats working the area. I also saw Don H. and he said he got three that morning - of course that was before I got there.
As I trolled around I was marking fish and some in actual, real schools. Most looked to be 30-40ft down and while I was there nothing came up to bite. I didn't notice anyone else boating fish either. I made some lure changes and trolled around for a couple hours and then headed down lake to Bulls Run. I went into Bulls Run up to BU3 and marked a big school but didn't get any to bite. So late morning I ran back to Betty/Becky and trolled to mouths. I was marking fish but again they were down and not biting. I found one good school inside Becky but noting bit. On a whim I ran up lake and trolled the stretch from R31 to R34. I marked scattered fish all over but it seems they already had lunch and weren't biting. At least half the marks did look like small fish. I think I'll try some more on Friday. Later Joel
So after hearing of all the fish around Blackwater/Gills after the tournament Saturday I decided to make the run. Again, I'd not done it before so this was an experiment. It wasn't bad. Made the fast cruise and found at least 10 boats working the area. I also saw Don H. and he said he got three that morning - of course that was before I got there.
As I trolled around I was marking fish and some in actual, real schools. Most looked to be 30-40ft down and while I was there nothing came up to bite. I didn't notice anyone else boating fish either. I made some lure changes and trolled around for a couple hours and then headed down lake to Bulls Run. I went into Bulls Run up to BU3 and marked a big school but didn't get any to bite. So late morning I ran back to Betty/Becky and trolled to mouths. I was marking fish but again they were down and not biting. I found one good school inside Becky but noting bit. On a whim I ran up lake and trolled the stretch from R31 to R34. I marked scattered fish all over but it seems they already had lunch and weren't biting. At least half the marks did look like small fish. I think I'll try some more on Friday. Later Joel