Snakehead report
July 09, 2023
Woodbridge
1 photo

Trip Summary
Trip Summary
The Fishing Detective Guide Agency LLC Snakehead week in review :
The good news first - this week 3 clients caught their first snakehead. All of them on topwater - which is the only way that matters for snakeheads. The rest of the ways is catfishing !! The total snakeheads for client trips since June 11 is 61 snakeheads.
The rest of the news - the fishing for snakeheads has been tough for me for the majority of 2023. It requires great and repeated casts. A lot of great and repeated casts !! I’ve watched sone very good fishing not result in very good fish catching. I’ve watched sone poor fishing result in fish. The lesson is that poor fishing can result in fish on the terms of the fish but great fishing will always be great fishing by my terms. This means great fishing is a result of understanding habitat and proper presentation. It also means persistence, patience, concentration, and observation. Snakehead fishing is very much like playing third base. You play 9 innings and all your skill and ability is decided on 2 balls hit in your direction.
I would advise potential clients if the reality as of now is that this isn’t fishing from the bank with a bobber and a worm. It isn’t senko fishing in Piscataway in the spring. It isn’t fishing a tube on the Susquehanna. It’s a downsized version of musky fishing. I enjoy the challenge but again it’s not watching the so called experts who made a utube video. (On the police department tge expert was always the one who made a PowerPoint and now I see this narrative followed in my beloved fishing). You must know I also enjoy and only validate those who go into the public hunting of the big woods and chase bucks. That’s how I’m wired. I recognize great fishing like I recognize a great hunter. I recognize effort combined with skill - not fish stories. It’s really about you and how you are wired. If your a pond fisherman or hunt private land or high fence - hey you do you. Snakeheads this year certainly wouldn’t be your cup of tea.
The hydrilla is now filing up the shallows of creeks. The hydrilla has grown to the edge of arrow heads and marsh edges. The problem isn’t necessarily access to these arrows - the problem is the lack of edges. If you can find a bare edge between the marsh and the hydrilla - then your in business. If not and they buried in hydrilla - then good luck. The other options are holes created by pads, etc in the hydrilla or low tide moving out to the edges and throwing a swim bait. The last thing is very early morning or evening when they cruise the top of hydrilla.
The snakeheads on average have been much smaller this year and past consistent spots have become very inconsistent. What does that tell me ? It tells me the same thing that I saw on the Susquehanna. Do you think that smallmouth or snakeheads just abandon spots that they have used for years ? Prime spots are just abandoned ? No … that’s not how it happens.
All this said .. I still love it. I enjoy people being exposed to the thrill of a topwater snakehead bite. I love power fishing and I love frog fishing. IM built to work and the challenge. I frankly will tell u that easy snakehead fishing appears to be in the Blackwater region. There will be a lot of “experts” made by Blackwater like a lot is smallmouth “experts” were created by the Susquehanna. I may go down there on a trip and I’ll crush them just like I did the Susquehanna smallmouth. However, the difference is that I understand the difference between great fishing and a great fishery. The potomac has been quite challenging this year but on one day we had 32 strikes so I remain optimistic. I haven’t even been to my secret spot this year !! So I got that going for me ?.
In sum, it doesn’t matter what creek u enter. It’s the same thing. Throw to inside edges of marsh edges. Do not throw on matted grass but look for holes or clear spots. Throw into hydrilla holes created by pads or Arrow heads. Go to outside edges of hydrilla hole n low tides and throw swimbaits, etc. On low light - throw a buzzbsit over grass. Embrace it .. embrace snakehead fishing … embrace challenge.. embrace each cast because each cast makes you a better fisherman. Every single cast, every single second on the water creates a fisherman. It’s not your lure or your parroting back a fishing video .. it’s every second of good and bad experiences that result in learning. I love it so don’t invalidate the guys working so hard out there to become better by sharing your “knowledge”. Go out and do it … show me… dint be like every guy that wants me to share their delusion because I’m too smart for that game. Embrace and love your passion - good or bad .. you get better by doing not by knowing.
Good fishing … your friend - the hardest working guide on the river - Thee Fishing Detective. Go tell the car washer what I say ?.