Saturday, August 28, 2010, water temps 79 to 83.High pressure, high bluebird skies plagued the day. Launched from Tydings at safe light, and began our journey. As Mr Travis Metz and I got to our first spot, already occupied by 2 boats, with a 3rd coming in also, we headed straight to the Northeast River, first stop, Charlestown. We both worked multiple baits around the marina, where I hooked up with a 2.67 lb fish on a crankbait. An xps shallow diver. After an hour, no more bites, we moved a little farther up river. We again worked multiple baits around pilings and submerged wood. Travis hung his crankbait in a piling, I swung the boat past to free his bait, BANG, fish on. A 1.4lb fish. Tide was rising fast, and we kept firing. 1 missed fish on a shakey head, time to move again. After a run and gun few hours, no more fish, we headed in. Wasn't a bad day considering the conditions, more than a few people struggled, with a few getting shut out completely. On to the next one, September, BASS Northern Open, can't wait. See ya on the water, where life is good.... 
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July 17, 2010: MBF Tourney # 3, Dundee Creek Marina2 words- Tough Day! I spent the majority of Friday pre-fishing for this contest. Found clean, clear water, good tides, caught 1 good keeper, I had confidence. Then Saturday reared its ugly head. Overnight thunderstorms, and a major tide change muddied everything, changed the water drastically. We attempted to stick with the original game plan, ran to Seneca Creek. After a few hours, numerous bait changes, and building frustration, we moved back to the Gunpowder. Maxwell Point, crankbaits, 88 degree water, nothing! Military pier, frogs in the grass, flipped the pier, nothing. Outside grass edge, my partner Jim Hitt, finally a fish on a frog. After spending time there, back to Maxwell, over to Saltpeter, we were still struggling. We called it a day. Congrats to John and Walt on great bags, on a hard day. The Gunpowder/Dundee area has been off all year, muddy, horrible tides. With much thought, and conversation, why doesn't the MBF go north? We have an unbelievable northern area. Susquehanna, Northeast, Elk, and the Conowingo Lake. Changes need to be made. Please email any comments or suggestions you may have for the MBF future schedules or other larger Tournaments. Maybe our voices can be heard! 
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May 29, 2010: Fished the River Ratz Spring open, at the last minute, with my Mentor, John Malczewski. We came up with a quick plan Friday night, and hoped for the best. We drew boat 18 of 24, and were quite surprised when we got to our spot, and it was empty. Scattered grass and a gravel bank, with a small rock jetty, in front of Perryville VA Hospital. About 20 minutes in, John hooked into a 4 lb + fish, that spit his buzzbait halfway to the boat. Not a promising start. But we hung in there, with no particular pattern, and managed a limit of fish before 8:30. I caught fish on a frog, a popper, a crankbait, and an ikey head with a Zoom trick worm. John stuck to the buzzbait, a Strike king sexy shad spinnerbait, and a Manns Mid 1-. All three of our big fish came on the spinnerbait, a 5lb even, a 4 1/2 lber, and our 3lb 11oz fish. All the fish came from the grass on the incoming tide, the bite died with the slack tide, however, we managed a few fish dragging a jig in the grass also. As we got to the scales, we realized we had a chance to place well, and we did just that. 3rd place overall with 19.11 lbs, missing the win by just over a lb. The missed fish first thing in the morning would have sealed the deal, but its called FISHING, not CATCHING. was an incredible day with my favorite fishing partner, and best friend. Thanks John, we finally did it, got the monkey off our back. Thanks to River Ratz, always a well run tournament. 
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April 10, 2010: MBF tourney #1, Potomac River, Smallwood state park. Water temps steady at 62 degrees, stained water. We started out with a short run to a point on the main river south of Mattawoman creek. Rattle traps, and Crankbaits on a gravel bank, with a huge drop to 18 feet deep. A few short fish over a few hour period there, we moved down to Quantico. Nothing happening, tide was super low, windy conditions, chilly air. We moved to a concrete wall, on the Virginia side of the river, and after probing around, I caught the first and only keeper of my day, for 3lbs. After a few more short fish, on the Ima Shaker crankbait, and a Tru Tungsten Ikey head, with a pumpkin/chartreuse zoom trick worm, we moved to the back of Mattawoman creek. With weigh in looming at 2:45, we caught 6 straight short fish between 2 and 2:25, unfortunately, out of time. I finished 27th of the 43 boats entered, not a bad deal, next time I promise to be better. Upper Bay, May 1st, Dundee Creek Marina.........see you there |
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Welcome to the debut of Team Outcast.... First club tourney, April 3, 2010. Ahhh, gotta love a cold front. We fished our first clubby of 2010 on the Potomac river, smallwood state park. Tough conditions, cold weather leading into the night before, but almost everyone caught fish. We started out in Chicamuxen, throwing rattletraps and crankbaits in the grass, 4' deep, with my partner Mike Chittams getting some fish quick. One gravel point in particular, we drilled the the short fish, with just 1 keeper. A couple moves around, and rescuing Mikes beloved lipless crankbait ( which he later lost anyway, sorry about the tree on federal property), we finished up in the grass in Mattawoman. Mike had a great day, with 5 fish for 11lbs. I had 2 keepers for almost 6lbs. Congrats to Charlie D, with a giant bag, that included an 8lb, 8oz monster (see pic).  |
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March 7, 2010 -- Its been a long winter, 80'' of snow, cold and windy. Its all coming to an end, fishing is around the corner. Having signed with a big name sponsor, means bigtime responsibility. The opportunities are endless, and the rewards are great. I have been at Bass Pro in Arundel Mills for the past 2 weekends representing Fish Harder, in particular, Tru Tungsten. We are pushing the whole lineup, But focused on the Tru life swimbaits, and Mad Maxx frogs. The 4'' swimbaits are selling well, sold out of golden shiner, and bluegill. Its so rewarding to stand in the aisle talking to people who want to know. I answer the questions, I know the products. Its especially rewarding, and humbling when people know your name. It feels so good. Next weekend is focused on the kids, the youth, getting them involved in the outdoors. I will still be there repping the sponsors, shaking hands, and talking fishing, come join me. The boat will be prepped, the rods respooled, new baits tested, maps reviewed, fishing reports looked over, and its game on. 
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February 23, 2010 -- Here we go into the 2010 season, incredible new sponsors, New club, and a new outlook. First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to my manager, webmaster/administrator and friend, Tracy. Without her, none of this is possible, great job girl. I have signed a new sponsor for 2010, Fish Harder/ Tru Tungsten. Please check out their site at www.fishharder.com, or become a fan on facebook. This is a huge signing for me, it opens a lot of doors, and I'm thankful for the support they have given me. I will be promoting Tru Tungsten, Picasso, & Mihatchii hooks, as well as Crooked Creek tackle 100% full speed ahead all year long. I have joined a new club also, as a charter member of Team Outcast. We are planning big things for the start of a brilliant new club, with new ideas, and a fresh twist to bass fishing. A great bunch of quality fisherman, that I look forward to competing against, but foremost, sharing and learning from. For those who havent heard, In a previous blog, Johnny Duarte, who qualified from my boat for the Junior World Championship, with a landslide win at Dundee, WON the Junior World Championship in Florida. Let me repeat, HES THE WORLD CHAMPION. Congrats Johnny, cant wait to get ya on the water this year. All in all, Im so grateful for my fans, and the support I have been given, and the future ahead of me. Lets whack em, make a good showing, and have fun. Chuck |
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August 8th, 2009. Misty Morning club tourney, Dundee Creek Marina. Water temps @ 78* in the am, to 82*afternoon. Saltpeter creek was the exception, @ 88*. Right from the start, according to all weather reports, was gonna be a tough day! And it was. Took a short run up in the Gunpowder river, to a secret rockpile, known only to a select few. Alternated between a Yum Buzzfrog, and an Ima Shaker Crankbait. Not much happening with the frog bite, however within 20 minutes hooked up with a 3lb fish on the crankbait. Ran to a grass bed at the state park, nothing going. Back to the rockpile, another 2lb keeper. Things look promising............. A few blowups on the frog, a miss on a shaky head, and 2 more short fish from the rockpile. Played the run n gun game all day, chasing tides, junk fishing. The sun burned through the clouds, temps heated up, fish turned off. All in all, was a good day, we didnt blank, but lost the overall points lead, with less than 5 minutes remaining. Watched 2 fish caught right at the marina, dagger in the heart. Still have 4 tourneys left to get back to the top. WE WILL DO THIS! Until next time, Tight lines.........C |
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July 19th, 2009 Jr World Championship qualifier Water temp 76*am, 81* afternoon Was a tough day for fishing, regardless of age or ability. Very high tides early, the morning after a high pressure system, no wind, blue bird skies. However, Johnny Duarte, fishing from my boat, in the 11-14 age group overcame. He kept his head down, and fished. and fished. and fished harder. Throwing a 10 inch ribbontail worm to bridge pilings paid off. First 4lb fish came strong about 10am. Johnny kept going, we ran all over the Gunpowder River, lay downs, grass, piers, rock piles, nothing doing. HE made the decision to run back to the bridge, where again he tossed the 10'' worm. On back to back pilings, just after noon, he missed another 4lb fish, and a smaller keeper. Undeterred, he plugged away, and it happened. Another fish over 4 lbs in the boat. I was very impressed with this young mans ability, and tenacity. He never gave up, fished until 1:55pm, with the weigh in at 2. After which, he went and won the casting kids competition. A clean sweep for a boy with a truly bright future in the sport of bass fishing. Congratulations young man, GOOD LUCK in West Virginia.    |
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Conowingo lake, July 11th, 2009 water temp 81* Launched out of Glen Cove at 5:15am, Headed south along the shore from Glen Cove to Hopkins. Throwing a Green pumpkin/ Chartreuse YUM Buzzfrog, and alternating with an Excalibur XR75 lipless crankbait, Red and Chartreuse. Had a small limit of smallies before I got to Hopkins. Inside Hopkins, in the grass, with the buzzfrog, got a few good bites. 1 tree in particular, gave up a solid largemouth. They were really sucking water through the dam, and the grass came almost completely out of the water. Ran to the train bridge, close to the public ramp. Behind the Second bridge, tight to the wood, with a Green pumpkin 5'' Berkley power shaky worm, rigged on a 1/4 oz football jighead, another solid 2 1/2 lb largemouth. Ran back to Hopkins about 11am, worked the same trees with a Black Emerald Zoom trick worm, wacky rigged, on an 1/8oz Zappu Inchy Wacky jig head, another 2 1/2 lb largemouth. Worked around the cove, as the water started to rise up again, a few short fish. Worked to the point on the right side out of Hopkins, Throwing the Excalibur to a good rocky point, 2 1/4lb smallmouth. Worked back to the "magic tree'', 1 more flip with the wacky rig, 1 more fish over 2lbs. All in All, was a great day, best five went 11lbs 6oz, a solid limit for July on Conowingo lake. |