I decided to do a little fishing on the Pocomoke River this afternoon to see if the water temperature had risen above the 38 degree mark of my previous outing. The cold nights of late had me a little concerned. As if reading my mind, the gauge on my Lowrance HDS 7 quickly told me the water was a frigid 37 degrees, as I proceeded to back the Jones Brothers into the dark river water. Well, as they say, I’m here. And fishing doesn’t have to be catching to be fun. Something I tell my clients, on occasion. As the air temperature was fast approaching the sixty degree mark I pointed the bow south and took off in search of anything with fins.
As I began to cast a 1/16 ounce crappie jig near the mouth of Nassawango Creek, it wasn’t long before a slight tug at the end of my G.Loomis ultralight signaled that something was indeed moving in the icy depths below. After a brief head-shake or two I was soon greeted by a brightly colored yellow perch of about ten inches. As I went to remove the hook from her upper lip the fish didn’t so much as raise a fin. Perhaps being pulled from water only five degrees from freezing had cooled this creature into a zombie like state, or maybe she was just enjoying the unseasonably warm weather as much as I was. Sorry Mrs. Perch but back you go.
Much to my relief, and enjoyment, I started to catch fish of other persuasions as well. Crappie, bluegill and two overstuffed pickerel – the largest a whopping 24 inches – all came boat side. As the sun started to touch the cypress tops, and with Canadian geese loudly honking their evening intentions, I decided to head to the ramp after a very successful midwinter afternoon. It’s too bad fish are cold blooded. Except for the couple dozen that greeted me in the boat, the rest missed a beautiful day. Pickerel video
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