Upper bay 8/30

[n2bassn]

This is good news having a upper bay board. I guess I will post a upper bay report to celebrate. Today Friday 8/30 I launched out of anchor on a high tide and ran directly to the flats to fish some grass. After about 3 hours of casting practice I had a big zero. First time this year I have not been able to get bit out there. I really do not know what the deal was. Frustrated, I left and started to fish hard cover. Ended up with 6 keepers that went around 16 lbs for best five. A bad day turned into a pretty good day. I am a little concerned about the grass bite. If it is still good for others, I am going to have to figure out what I am doing wrong.

[RiverRatMD]

Hey whats up N2bassn! Thanks for the report I think the Upper bay forum is gonna be great! Keep the reports coming!

I'm with you 100% The flats started with a bang this year and then the flats started changing. I've pretty much abandoned the flats at this point. Not that there's not fish out there in areas, but like you said....Other patterns have started producing making the dead times much less! My shoulder just can't take casting & casting all day long! The grass bite on the flats is still there in some way out of the way pockets. But if you're not constantly out there and on top the fish, it's hard to be consistant right now.

Went out last night for about 2 1/2 hours and fished nothing but hard cover. We Got 6 with the biggest only around 2 3/4 lb but she was FAT!! Smallest was about 5 inches long but Lost another bigger one, but only fished about 100 foot of shoreline! Real windy!

[MD Doug]

Went to the flats yesterday for the first time in a few years. Spent a lot of time bouncing in the wind out there, looking for a pod of fish, but it never happened. We only managed 1 from the grass. Caught 2 more from some wood but that was it for us. Thanks for posting-I feel a little better knowing that I wasn't the only one stuggling in that sea of grass.

The tide never seemed to go out. The wind was coming straight up the bay.

[n2bassn]

You are so right about he wind. Even in the northeast it was difficult trying to fish a dock. It is going to be interesting the week after next when the everstart comes to town. If the fishermen have a difficult time on the flats the area could fish vey small if everyone goes to hard cover. I am 66 years old and I have always wanted to try one of those tournaments. So this year I signed up. I am not sure what I am getting into but it is on my bucket list so I figure what the heck. Based on the last time the BASS open was in town a 12 to 13 pound average got their entry fee back. I believe that was in 2010 and I do not believe the flats was producing the same then. During the week a 12 to 13 pound average is not a problem fishing hard cover but 100 boats will make a huge difference. There is also a BFL regional on the upper bay on October 3,4, & 5th. I will also be fishing that. I never fished BFL's in my life so when I saw that the regional was on the upper bay I thought I would give it a shot. I decided to fish he Shenandoah division. So far so good. After 4 tournaments I am in 11th place. The last one is on the Potomac on 9/21,22. I will have to fish that one just to keep my spot. Next year I do not plan to do BFL's unless the regional is back here again. I will say that fishing the BFL's were fun to fish. It can be frustating when you have to fish two bodies of water you have never fished before but the challenge was fun. At least I was able to have 5 x 2 in every tournament except Smith Mountain Lake. I only had three but missed getting two in the boat. Thats fishing. Some days are diamonds and some days are stones. I am taking labor day weekend off and will begin my official practice next week. I will post reports.

[RiverRatMD]

I wish you luck my friend! I hope you do well. Keep us filled-in on your results.

[fishinjim]

Some days are diamonds and some days are stones.

You got that right, Billy. I seem to recall having one of those "stone" days from the back of your boat last year in the Mr Bass tx. lol.

Good luck down on the Potomac and in the Everstart. I'll be rooting for ya for sure.
Work will keep me away the weekend of the Everstart, but I'll probably go down to watch thursday's weigh in.

Would wish ya luck in the BFL regional too, but I may be fishing against ya in that one and will need to keep all my luck to myself. lol.

[JayLaw]

When looking at the temps this year it really has not been a hot summer, water temps never seem to really reach that 84-88 degree range for any length of time and then with some unusual cold fronts rolled thru in august the water temps have been hovering in the 78-80 degree range and probably cooler at night, which I believe has given a lot of these fish a little bit of an early movement off the flats back towards the creeks. Pressure on the flats could also have adjusted the mood of the fish but that didn't seem to hurt it last year as much. I still give the flats an hour or two each time but you will need to hit at the right 45 minute window of the tide, but I would be ficousing on docks, hard cover up creeks and go shallow in the backs of creeks, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and crank baits are your friend!

[RiverRatMD]

When looking at the temps this year it really has not been a hot summer, water temps never seem to really reach that 84-88 degree range for any length of time and then with some unusual cold fronts rolled thru in august the water temps have been hovering in the 78-80 degree range and probably cooler at night, which I believe has given a lot of these fish a little bit of an early movement off the flats back towards the creeks. Pressure on the flats could also have adjusted the mood of the fish but that didn't seem to hurt it last year as much. I still give the flats an hour or two each time but you will need to hit at the right 45 minute window of the tide, but I would be ficousing on docks, hard cover up creeks and go shallow in the backs of creeks, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and crank baits are your friend!

+1 You said all that needs said!