It wasn't nonstop and sadly, no speckled trout showed up, but the action on rockfish up to 24 inches long was exhilarating. The fish were hungry, struck decisively and put up a good fight, and only a few wore the depressing red spots of disease. Healthy or sick, we released all we caught.
Franyo, 61, a retired Baltimore investment banker who owns the Boatyard Bar & Grill in Annapolis, was high rod by a lot, having honed his skills over years fishing with Josenhans. He also wins the award for most enthusiastic hook-setter. Every time a fish struck, he'd let out a yelp and jerk back on the rod with an exuberance that grew downright unwelcome to those of us not sharing his level of success. "If I ever do a fishing video," said Josenhans, "I'm going to make sure Dick is in it."
The harder the tide ran the better the bite got, and we probably had brought 30 rock to the boat by quitting time at 4 p.m. "That's nothing," said Franyo. "I've had days when we stopped counting at 100."
Josenhans reckons those days are yet to come. With water temperatures lingering in the mid-70s, the fall run is late, he said. "It doesn't get really good till it's in the 60s." Slomski, up in Baltimore, shares his optimism about angling prospects over the next month and a half. "It's just starting to get right," he said.
Twenty years ago, it was hard to find a light-tackle or fly-fishing guides like Josenhans and Slomski on the Chesapeake, but these days more and more outfitters keep their boats on trailers and go where the action is. Following is a list of 21 such guides who specialize in the middle bay, as provided by the Chesapeake Guides Association ( http://www.chesapeakeguides.com ):
Bo Toepfer, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, 410-535-6259
Norm Bartlett, Saltwater Fly Fishing Guide Service, 410-679-8790
Richard Borneman, Twilight Zone Charters, 410-939-2948
Mike Critzer, Coastal Fly Fishing Charters, 301-253-5605 or 240-876-6915 (boat)
Tom Cross, Fast Break Charter Service, 410-827-6687
Steve Culver, Check Your Fly Charters, 410-476-3342
Pete Dahlberg, Four Seasons Guide Service, 410-586-8340 or 703-395-9955
