Pocomoke River - Bass - Tides

[Oceanoma]

All of you who know Oliver are proably aware that his brother, Zech, is working towards becoming a Bass Pro. I started fishing with my father all those many years ago and my father taught the boys how to fish. Ask Oliver about the white hankies and the Niagara River - cute story. My father died last August, and my way of dealing with losing him has been to renew my interest in fishing with my sons - Surf with Oli and freshwater with Zech and we have even reeled in the youngest brother, Jesse, by sending him a new tackle box full of goodies. Zech's in the Pittsburgh area and Jesse is in Rochester, NY.

Zech can read the water like a book. He never gets skunked. He just knows where the fish are. He's been helping me - but since he's not fishing tidal waters, even he is stumped as to where those bass will be. Zech pulled two nice bass out behind Goat Island (Byrd Park - Snow Hill) on July 7th. It was about two hours before low tide. He pulled them out between the bank and a cluster of lilly pads. When I was out last week at the same spot at high tide - I was a good foot above those same lilly pads. The next day I hit that spot at low tide. The water in that spot was no more than 6" deep and very, I mean bathtub, warm! Does anybody out there have a clue about where the bass hang - depending on the tide? I'm fishing cover - but when the tide is so high the cover has a foot of water over it or so low there isn't any water - where are those fish going to be?

Believe me - I'm getting frustrated. I feel as though the bass are watching me - sticking their tongues out going "Nah, nah - you can't catch me." Eeerrggghhhhhhhhh

Open to any suggestions!!! I'll try most anything - except I won't dive in after a missed fish like Zech did last week . . . . . Well - that's not exactly true either. I'd dive in the surf to get my anniversary present back. I hollored, "Oh no - my Bait Runner is gone." Oliver scolded me saying, "Fishermen don't cry." I caught it just in time. That time it was a bull nose ray trying to make off with the equipment. I'd love to know what Oliver's reaction was when his rig was past catching a week or so ago. Still can't believe he got it back.

[mdram]

try areas of bottom change, ledges, shelfs dropofs, ect. also look where creeks come into the river. when the water gets real hot they may look for deeper water, shady areas, someplace for them to cool off. what bait/lures are you using? change you retrieve, speed up slow down, ect. bass can be fickle. when in doubt i've float live minnows under a bobber.

[Charkbait]

+++

unless you hit the grass just right you should focus on dropoffs and changes in bottom, eg sand vs mud. If you know there are pads around or weed at hight tide times it also helps to fish the area then, the baitfish will come in to feed/hide at that time too, just because the pads aren't visible doesn't mean there is nothing in them. Tidal bass are tough especially if you don't have docks or visible structure. I do find they are bigger then their counter parts, at least in MD.

[Randy Stinchcomb]

my brother and I used to fish the Pocomoke alot, outta' Shad Landing and always had good luck wth white spinner baits around the lilly pads and fallen trees. also on the drop-offs in deeper water, "firetiger" colored stick bailts(rapalas)worked great

[Charkbait]

The other solution to tough tidal fishing is to go early and late and throw topwater baits in the low light. It will make anyone look like a pro, at least for 30 mins.

[Oceanoma]

With all the excitement of the "Fling" I forgot I posted the freshwater question. As soon as I can get Oliver to let me have the kayak again for a day or two, I'll try out some of these suggestions. I just have to work on how I'm going to get the kayak on top of the SUV without scratching the paint so Poppa doesn't kill me.

Currently Zech and I are using Trixie Shads and toads the most - running them really fast on the retrieve - or - running them fast until there is a hole and then letting them drop for a while. That's how I caught that bass up Nassawango Creek. We were using Seismic toads, but when I was in Hampton I got to go to the big Bass Pro Outdoor Shop and picked up some Gambler toads and some Gambler flappin' shad. Zech has been having great success with the black and gold flappin' shad - again - running them top water - that's on Lake Arthur, North of Pittsburgh, PA. My fall back is the Gitzit tube baits http://www.kicknbass.com/fishing_the_gitzit.htm and the Zoom pumpkin fire tail worms - both Texas rigged. Zech suggested I whacky rig the worms, but I worried about wasting too much time getting hung up in the lily pads and grass. Then last week a guy at Gander Mountain showed me how to whacky rig and still make it weedless. I'm going to try that on my next outing. He told me not to use a weight. From your suggestions, I guess a drop shot rig isn't worth it in the Pocomoke. I use bullet weights with the tube baits. Even though I hate pulling up all that mucky grass, I have been trying a white spinner with a Colorado blade since the Colorado is supposed to work best for dark water. Zech suggested I try some crankbaits and that was what I was using the last half hour I was out. The tide was very low at that point - so I was in the channel behind goat island. The bass were jumping in the lily pads, but I couldn't get one to bite.

By the way - all you guys going on the Freshwater trip, Zech just hooked Oliver up with some great freshwater stuff - lots of soft plastics, a waterproof terminal tackle box and a fair amount of lures. And, Oliver - if you read the Maryland 2006-2007 Fishing Guide, pg. 13 - it defines "lures" as opposed to "bait." When scent is added to a lure - it becomes bait - so Zech and I were not totally wrong in our terminology!!!! Zech lost ones of those smelly (garlic) toads on July 7th. When I was out last week I got it back and it still reaks to high heaven.

One last thought - for all you guys who are only fishing surf - don't forget to get your freshwater licenses!!!