Apalach 11.24

Post by **Barhopr** » November 25th, 2006, 1:05 am

Had to go to sopchoppy this AM to take care of some work related duties and decided that since I was that far down I should drag the skiff down and try my luck. Since the tide was -.4 @ noon there was no big hurry. Finished my business by 9 and struck out for apalach. Put in at the city ramp around 10:45 and was fishing soon after. Fished around the oysterman for a while and got a nice sheephead. Moved down the oyster bar a little more and picked up a 22" Red. Now we get to the hard part where I need the advice. I polled up into a cove on the back side of an island that was no more than 8-10" deep. Got one 14" red at the mouth of the cove and moved further in. Out in the middle over mud bottom there must have been hundreds of reds sunning and would have nothing to do with anything I showed them. No spoon, DOA, topwater, live scrimp, jig, bucktail nothing.

I spent nearly an hour following this school of reds around with no takers.

What should I have done? I gave up about 3pm( still a -.2 tide) to get home before company got to the house for dinner.

Post by **birddog** » November 25th, 2006, 6:32 am

I don't think there's much you could have done. Reds like that are extremely spooky and usually not very hungry.

Maybe Nole can offer some assistance.

Glad you got to see such an amazing sight.

Post by **noleflyfisher** » November 25th, 2006, 12:10 pm

Nice report. BD's right. In my experience those laid up fish are the toughest. I fished yesterday as well and had a tough time coaxing the fish to eat. As the day progressed the fish got happier. I think the key to getting those fish to eat is to approach them methodically and fish something small and slow like a doa shrimp or an unweighted 4 inch jerk worm. Try to cast well past the fish and bring it by them (not into them). I had several fish swim up to the fly yesterday and watch it on the bottom before deciding to eat. If would like, send me the GPS number for your cove and I'll test the theory.

Anyways, that's my two cents for what it's worth. Looking forward to your next report.

Post by **birddog** » November 25th, 2006, 1:43 pm

noleflyfisher wrote: If would like, send me the GPS number for your cove and I'll test the theory.

Me too.

Post by **Eerman** » November 25th, 2006, 3:59 pm

Still exciting even if they don't eat

Post by AJ » November 25th, 2006, 6:09 pm

Hey Barhopr, ya got a cast net?

Post by **Barhopr** » November 25th, 2006, 10:06 pm

I had the castnet thought for a brief second but all I could think about was laying into one with big shoulders in the 8" water and watching him cut up. Nole.... I can't say exactly where, but just let me know when you want to go and I'll show you. I'm good for polling for a few hours If you are. Same goes for you birddog.

Heres the Red. Dad was affraid he was going to drop over the side so he insisted on the death grip in the gills.

Post by **rocket** » November 25th, 2006, 11:57 pm

Hate to say it but times like that are when a shrimp seems to be the only thing the will eat.

Post by **birddog** » November 26th, 2006, 6:13 am

Post by **Redbelly** » November 26th, 2006, 8:15 am

live bait...real fish food

Post by **Barhopr** » November 26th, 2006, 10:16 am

I tried live shrimp w/ no takers. next time I'll fish them slower.

Post by **birddog** » November 26th, 2006, 1:11 pm

birddog wrote:

The thumbup is for an opportunity to fish with Barhopr not the live bait.

Post by **noleflyfisher** » November 26th, 2006, 2:28 pm

birddog wrote:
birddog wrote:
The thumbup is for an opportunity to fish with Barhopr not the live bait.

Me too. Very kind offer Barhopr.

Post by **Redbelly** » November 26th, 2006, 3:54 pm

birddog wrote:
birddog wrote:
The thumbup is for an opportunity to fish with Barhopr not the live bait.

I was just puttin in my .02 worth, not responding to yore responding..

Post by **wevans** » November 26th, 2006, 7:07 pm

Sounds like a great time BH

sorry I couldn't meet up with ya, I had a date with my grandson ta go fishin