Susquehanna Flats | Josenhans Fly Fishing Blog

Susquehanna Flats – Take 3!

20 01 2016

Josenhans Fly Fishing is currently taking bookings for the Susquehanna Flats catch & release season that runs from March 1 through May 3. That being said, I’m only fishing April 10 through April 22, so I have a very limited number of dates available. Half, 3/4 and full day trips are available. Fishing license and top-of-the-line Sage and G.Loomis tackle is provided; as are my custom tied flies, ice, bottled water and soft drinks. The past two flats seasons have been a washout, so let’s hope the third times the charm. There was a good number of thirty-inch rockfish in the bay this past fall, so I’m counting on their return to the spring’s pre-spawn staging grounds. When it’s right, there’s nothing like it! Contact me to discuss your trip at 443-783-3271 or kjosenhans@aol.com.

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Tags: Chesapeake Bay, fly fishing, G.Loomis, Hogy Lures, Light Tackle, RIO Fly Lines, rockfish, Sage Fly Rods, Shimano, striped bass, Susquehanna Flats, yeti coolers
Categories : Fishing Reports

First Week at the Flats in the Books

11 04 2015

Muddy water but some very nice fish being caught. Here are our three best of the week.

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Tags: Chesapeake Bay, G.Loomis, rockfish, Shimano, striped bass, Susquehanna Flats
Categories : Fishing Reports

Good Year for the Susquehanna Flats?

23 02 2015

While last year’s Susquehanna Flats catch and release season surely tried the patience of even the most passionate flats aficionado, I look for better things to come as this spring approaches. Here’s my reasoning. This past fall saw a pretty good run of striped bass in Maryland’s mid and lower bay. Beginning in mid-September, Tangier Sound and the bay proper along with the shallows surrounding the bay islands of Tangier, Smith, South Marsh, Holland, and so on, provided some of the best fly and light tackle angling for rockfish that we’ve experienced in several years. As the waters cooled, stripers gravitated towards the deeper channel edges of lower Tangier Sound, Smith Point and the mouth of the Potomac River. While the strong 2011 year class was well represented, many fish in the 28″ to 32″ category were also brought boat-side. These bigger males should begin returning to the spawning grounds in March, and I have to believe many of the 2011 fish, which should be approaching twenty inches or better, will tag along and fill in the gaps. There is always the chance of a true trophy of 40-inches, or more. All we need is some relatively clean water. Hopefully, most of the heavy snow melt gives the Susquehanna river basin a break for a change.

To that end, I will once again be trailering my Jones Brothers to Havre de Grace for this very special spring fishery. I still have a few open dates remaining during the month of April, so if you would like to get in on this fun shallow water fishery please email or call me at your earliest convenience. I can be reached at kjosenhans@aol.com or 443-783-3271.

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Tags: Chesapeake Bay, Costa, fly fishing, G.Loomis, Hogy Lures, jones brothers marine, RIO Fly Lines, rockfish, Sage, Shimano, striped bass, Susquehanna Flats, Tangier Sound, Virginia Eastern Shore, yeti coolers
Categories : Fishing Reports

Bay Grasses Making a Comeback

4 12 2014

Interesting article on the resurgence of underwater bay grasses on the Susquehanna Flats. Thought you might like it. Let’s hope the rest of the bay follows suit.

Underwater Grass Comeback – ScienceDaily

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Tags: bay grasses, Susquehanna Flats
Categories : Fishing Reports

Flats Update

18 04 2014

High, muddy water persists.

Due to the latest rains I have canceled the remainder of this weeks trips. However, I am going to give it one last shot next Wed – Fri. I have added three days because all of the fish that have been caught in between the downpours have been fairly nice sized fish (5-30#). I currently have one full day open and that is next Wed, April 23. I can fish 4, 6 or 8 hours. Morning or evening. I’m hoping for the best next week because there are some big fish around and the water should clear by then. If interested, I’m filling this on a first come, first serve basis. Please call ASAP if interested.

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Tags: rockfish, Susquehanna Flats
Categories : Fishing Reports

Josenhans Fly Fishing – Susquehanna Flats 2014

13 12 2013

Believe it or not, I am already receiving calls about the 2014 Susquehanna Flats Catch & Release Striped Bass Season. For those of you who have yet to fish the flats with me, I keep my Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman docked at the Havre de Grace City Yacht Basin for several weeks each April. If you have fished the flats, you also know that the fishing can be like Forrest Gump’s proverbial box of chocolates – “you never know what you’re gonna get.” This past spring we experienced a handful of days (five to be exact) of some of the hottest fishing the flats can provide. Rockfish up to 43-inches provided consistent action in water no deeper than six-feet, exciting light-tackle fishing to say the least. Then we had an early spawn and the stripers vacated the flats for over a week, and never really returned in numbers. The remainder of the season was spent working really skinny water, casting to several pods of trophy stripers that ventured back onto the flats post-spawn. This can be exciting fishing, especially during low-light periods when the large rockfish would crash a surface popper. There were several days where we did more fishing than catching, but that chance at a real trophy on light tackle kept people’s interest. That said, you can book your trip today with the assurance that should the rockfish decide to play hard-to-get, I will inform you ahead of time so you can decide for yourself if you wish to roll-the-dice. When making your decision, be mindful of the fact that the fishing can get hot with each new tide. Drop me an email at KJosenhans@aol.com or give me a call at 443-783-3271 if you would like to get in on some shallow water striper fishing.

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Tags: Bass Assassin, Bass Kandy Delights - BKD, Chesapeake Bay, fly fishing, G.Loomis, Li'l Jimy, rockfish, Specialized Baits, striped bass, Susquehanna Flats, topwater
Categories : Fishing Reports

Josenhans Fly Fishing 20 Year Anniversary

8 01 2013

No, not my marriage – I’m very happy to say that that’s actually a bit more. Actually, the year 2013 will be the 20th year of operation for Josenhans Fly Fishing. Formerly Josenhans Sportfishing, I changed the name a few years back, in part to remind Chesapeake Bay area anglers that salt water fly fishing is alive and well here in the “Land of Pleasant Living.” That said, I’m currently finding that over half of my trips are spinfishing or baitcasting outings. This suits me just fine, as I enjoy and welcome all manner of light-tackle fishermen. But I digress. Point being, while there have been some special individuals along the way who have given me professional advice and words of encouragement, if I began to name names I would surely overlook someone. Therefore, I would like to thank all of my clients, blog readers, newsletter subscribers, sponsors, outdoor writers, tackle industry contacts, well-wishers and friends; with a special heart-felt thanks to my family, for making the past twenty years possible. Your past and continued support is appreciated!!

Current Fishing Report – I have none. I have been enjoying the Christmas and New Years holidays with my family. I am making plans to have some minor cosmetic work done to my Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman 20. Just a few dings and scratches after nine years of hard use. The integrity of the hull and fittings is remarkable. I think I tightened one screw on the leaning post after nine years of punishment on the sometimes choppy waters of Tangier Sound. You just can’t buy a better fishing boat for the money in my honest opinion. Anyway, I think you will be pleased the next time you step aboard.

Josenhans Fly Fishing Goes Mobile – If you have a smart phone, your can now view my Web site in mobile format. While still a work in progress, this really does allow for easier viewing of the key features of my site. You always have the option to switch to the full site format. Comments and suggestions are welcome, and encouraged, from my readers.

Susquehanna Flats Dates Going Fast – This is just a friendly “heads-up.” While I usually don’t try to “extort” dates from my clients, I have been filling my calendar in April at a record pace. Many of the callers have been new clients and I welcome each and every one of you. If you have any inkling of booking a trip with me for the catch & release season at the flats, please call, or drop me an email at your earliest convenience. I still have plenty of good dates available, but I anticipate filling them ahead of last years schedule. As usual, if the water or fishing conditions are impossible, you will be given the option to cancel, or reschedule. That said, the adage “you won’t know unless you go” is never more appropriate than on the flats. Last spring, some of our best “big fish” days were had casting in coffee-colored water with a strong nor’ westerly breeze. I look forward to hearing from you!

Winter Fishing Opportunities – I am currently scheduling trips on the scenic Pocomoke River out of Byrd Park in Snow Hill, Maryland. This is ultra-light tackle fishing at it’s finest. We’ll be casting crappie jigs, minnows and flies to yellow perch, crappie, pickerel and bass. A six-hour trip is only $300 and this includes fishing license, all tackle, cold and hot drinks, along with ice for your catch, if you so choose. I expect to have the boat back and ready by February 1st.

Shows and Speaking Engagements 2013 – I will be giving PowerPoint presentations to several area clubs during the winter months, and I will have my usual table at the CCA sponsored Lefty Kreh’s TieFest 2013. Contact me for additional information. If you are in the area, please drop by and say hi.

PowerPoint Presentations

February 19 – White Clay Fly Fishers, London Tract Baptist Meeting House, Landenberg, PA

March 6 – MSSA DC Metro Chapter, Steamers Seafood House, Bethesda, MD

March 7 – Trout Unlimited Northern Virginia Chapter, Vienna Firehouse, Vienna, VA

Fishing Shows

March 9 – Lefty’s Kreh’s Tiefest 2013, Prospect Bay Country Club, Grasonville, MD

Ron Long hefts the last fish to come into my boat in 2012 – His 41-inch trophy striper

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Tags: Chesapeake Bay, fly fishing, Pocomoke River, Susquehanna Flats, Tangier Sound, Virginia Eastern Shore
Categories : Fishing Reports

Josenhans Fly Fishing ~ CBBT Rockfish

12 12 2012

CBBT – While the eel dunkers are catching a few mammoth stripers just offshore of Cape Charles, the light tackle guides fishing the CBBT pilings and islands have had their work cut out for them. The bite has been good on occasion, with a few of the rockfish stretching the tape to 50 inches. There have been other days when it’s been a chore to boat ten fish in the 20’s. I had a modest day last Friday with a dozen or so fat rock up to 38 inches (21 pounds on the boga). I’m taking a wind day today and then plan on fishing the pilings hard this Friday and Saturday. I hope to post a few photos of big stripers next week. Wish me luck!!

Skip Powers shows off a nice CBBT striper

Crisfield – My year is about done fishing the shallows around Tangier Sound, and we ended on a good note, averaging fifty schoolie stripers in the 17″ to 24″ range. Lots of fun on the featherlite G.Loomis spin and fly tackle that I supply. We enjoyed a great season with specks, stripers, redfish and blues and I’m already counting the days until the first stripers arrive at the Susquehanna Flats. In the meantime, I’ll be looking for trophy fish at the bridge tunnel until cold weather hits, and then slowing down a bit on the backwaters of the Pocomoke River, casting to crappie, yellow perch, pickerel and bass. The Pocomoke is a beautiful tidal river and the fishing is laid back. A great way to enjoy a cool winter’s day.

Christmas Gift Certificates – It’s not too late to order Christmas gift certificates for a 4, 6 or 8 hour guided fishing trip. This is the perfect gift for the angler who has everything. I’ll make sure it arrives before Christmas, and I do take VISA or MasterCard!!

The client always has a better selection of flies than the guide!

Fishing the creeks of Smith Island

Bushels of oysters awaiting a buy boat at Smith Island

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Tags: CBBT, Chesapeake Bay, crappie, fly fishing, G.Loomis, Largemouth Bass, pickerel, Pocomoke River, rockfish, Susquehanna Flats, Tangier Sound, yellow perch
Categories : Fishing Reports

Josenhans FF ~ Better Late Than Never

5 06 2012

As promised, here are some final shots from a very successful spring Susquehanna Flats season. Though many of the BIG stripers had spawned and gone by mid-month, there were enough new recruits in the 30-inch plus range during the last two weeks of the season to keep things interesting. All-in-all a great way to start the summer striper season. Thanks again to all who fished with me and I look forward to seeing you again soon, either for some Tangier Sound fishing or next spring on the flats.

My Best!! Capt. Kevin Josenhans

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Tags: Chesapeake Bay, rockfish, Susquehanna Flats
Categories : Fishing Reports

Josenhans FF ~ Big Fish at the Flats!!

15 04 2012

Here is a quick look at my first full week fishing the Susquehanna Flats. Despite the relentless westerly wind – which most days blew at a steady 20-25 mph – we managed to catch a good number of rockfish, along with some reel drag-burners! From Tuesday the 10th to Saturday the 14th, my clients boated 14 stripers of 30-inches or better, with two over 40. The bulk of the big rock measured in the 33″ – 38″ range. Largest fish of the week was a 41-inch trophy that would most-likely have bottomed the scales to near 35 pounds. Several days saw as many as 80 school-sized rockfish from 16″ – 28″ brought boat-side. Enjoy some photos of this past weeks action.