Old Man Winter isn’t going to make it much longer. This early false spring in February is a lot of fun. I got bit by four mosquitoes while working my gardens, and the ants are digging new tunnels. I’m waiting for the soft plastics to emerge from the woods.

The peepers started up Tuesday night for most of the night. Then it was a spring-warm Wednesday morning, but it’s going to get much colder after this blow subsides. We’ll be back to the 30s at night, and 40s in the afternoon for a little while longer.

I’d start fishing or get your gear ready, or both. Mild winters make for early fish, and in some cases really early because they didn’t really go too far south. It’s a tough guess with all the crazy weather these days. Honestly it makes it more fun: “Well look what we hooked up today, didn’t see that coming yet.” We fish later and later into the fall each year for summer fish. A mild winter will produce the same results — early-running fish.

It’s hard to go by the signs on land from back in the day. When the henbit blooms in the fields the flounder will arrive. The osprey are better indicators that fish are coming back because they are usually following the food.

There are many indicators for the waterways aside from the blooming land plants. Many animals are dependent on each other’s migration patterns. Red knots need to coincide with the horseshoe crab spawn for the food they need for their journey. Striped bass tend to follow bunker and other bait fish schools. The fish know best, so go fish and see which ones are moving around the most.

A piping plover has already been seen on The Point in Cape Henlopen. The Point will close for the summer on March 1 to Sept. 1 for migratory bird protection.

White perch are being caught around the bay beaches on bloodworms. Yellow perch are showing and are starting to move into waterways to spawn. The white perch are fat with roe, which many anglers like to eat.

Some short striped bass action around moving water and structure was on the menu the other day. That will slow down as soon as it gets colder. The water around the back bay areas of the inland bays hit 50 in the shallow areas. Small bass were more active, and it was fun on light gear. We even saw some crabs running amok in the mud. Clamming is still good, so get the waders out on warmer days.

Freshwater fishing has been producing bass for dedicated anglers. These warmer days get more people out so more fish are caught. There’s a lot of crappie action in the waterways.

Opening day is coming for trout. It’s been fun watching anglers complain online about kids fishing a day before them or watching the same person try to borrow a friend’s kid for the day. Taking a kid fishing on kids’ day doesn’t mean you are allowed to fish as well. You can help them, of course, but the idea is to give kids a chance to fish without the insanity of that opening day bully attitude.

If you are taking your kids and want an easy bait to try, use Fishbites bloodworm formula. The fast acting in the red package is better in cold water, but those long lasting will work putting off a little scent. These are stocked fish, they will eat just about anything. Stocked trout are hungry fish. There is always the power baits and trout worms. A little spinner is fun for casting. Panther Martins are my favorite for trout.

If you ask for your physical trout stamp when you purchase one, DNREC will send it to you at the end of the season. I just got my 2022 the other day. I can get my 2023 when I purchase my license and ask for my 2024 stamp, too. DNREC is required to keep the past three years of stamps and then they are destroyed.

If you’ve never gotten a trout stamp, it’s a fun collectible for you or the kids. The trout stamp is $2.10 for ages 12 to 15. These can be ordered online for opening day and are required for kids over 12 fishing for trout. Under 16 is the fishing license cutoff.
I always buy the trout stamp whether I fish for them or not to help support the program. It costs a couple bucks to be a good steward.

The surf has been quiet except the occasional skate or dogfish if you spend all day out there. These warm days get us thinking about spring and empty beaches before the madness begins in summer. It would be great to see gates one of these days instead of the reservation system.

There will be a petition going around soon to rebuild the Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier to its original footprint. I think anglers are getting tired of hearing it can’t be done when everyone knows at least one of a few companies that build piers for a living in Sussex County. Even the bird folks are interested in a longer pier.

The fishing would be much better. There would be room for many more anglers. Literally 200 people could fish the pier at one time, which translates into money. It would increase the area and economic impact and the monies it generates from fishing licenses would pay for it in a matter of years. Right now, the only good section to fish on that pier is still closed.

Cheswold is having their outdoors show this Saturday at the fire hall. The Atlantic City Boat Show is happening right now into Sunday.