Report from Fletcher’s Cove - April 7, 2010

Just the facts this time… I’m bushed from servicing all the fishermen who have come out of the woodwork the last few days!

The torrid temperatures of the last 72 hours have dramatically changed the angling reality at Fletcher’s Cove. The river was high and cool last week and fishing was poor. Now, the Potomac is clear and warming faster than a cast-iron skillet on hot coals. When this happens in the early spring, it brings all the assorted fish together for a multi-cultural “love-in.” Herring, white perch, hickory and American shad and striped bass are in abundance at Fletcher’s.

One angler today reported catch and release results of one-hundred hickory shad. An American shad of approximately six pounds was caught. Two instances of anglers boating walleyes while white perch fishing were seen. Big catfish and stripers are out there in the mid level eddies, munching on baitfish.

Truth-be-told, we need a cool down to keep the fishing in a good place. With much more heat, many of our finned friends will high tail it back to bigger water. Fish are cold-blooded creatures and water that warms this quickly gives them a real “hot-flash” mentality. They won’t stay still for long! There will be many more schools of fish to come, but a moderation of the weather would be beneficial, both for their reproduction and our chance to angle for them.

Fletcher’s Cove tackle shack has plenty of shad darts, D.C. fishing permits, bait and assorted terminal tackle for purchase. Weekends are a crush… fish on weekdays if you possibly can. All work and no play makes Sandy Fisherman a sad, sad boy or girl.

Dan