On Wed. 10/12/22 Sakonnet river below stone bridge down to Fogland pt. was loaded with bass. Tons of bait around so fish were scattered. A couple of fish at a time were coming up and busting on the bait and disappearing just as quickly. This was happening all over, but all spread out along the whole area. It made for very difficult and frustrating fishing, alot like chasing Albies.
I left there and went out as far as Sakonnet Point looking for a hot school rolling off the cape... nothing doing as far as I could see with binoculars with the exception of an occasional appearance of a few Albies randomly popping up and disappearing instantly again.
I worked my way back upriver unproductively, and was about to make one more stop to work Black Point which usually holds one or two nice bass when the tide is moving. I was about 50' South of the point, idling along and fiddling with rigging a fly that I planned to employ when I glanced to my left, right next to the boat. Out of the depths rose a bass slowly moseying along right next to the boat about a foot from the surface. The fish was as long as my leg, 40 lbs. at least. If I wasn't so stunned, I could have touched her. With shaking hands I worked the point area with every fly that I thought might work. (There's a good reason why there's no picture as my efforts to entice the fish were completely futile.) Just seeing a fish like that however, up close in the wild was a real privilege. I'll see her in my dreams all Winter.
mike carroll wrote:
On Wed. 10/12/22 Sakonnet river below stone bridge down to Fogland pt. was loaded with bass. Tons of bait around so fish were scattered. A couple of fish at a time were coming up and busting on the bait and disappearing just as quickly. This was happening all over, but all spread out along the whole area. It made for very difficult and frustrating fishing, alot like chasing Albies.
I left there and went out as far as Sakonnet Point looking for a hot school rolling off the cape... nothing doing as far as I could see with binoculars with the exception of an occasional appearance of a few Albies randomly popping up and disappearing instantly again.
I worked my way back upriver unproductively, and was about to make one more stop to work Black Point which usually holds one or two nice bass when the tide is moving. I was about 50' South of the point, idling along and fiddling with rigging a fly that I planned to employ when I glanced to my left, right next to the boat. Out of the depths rose a bass slowly moseying along right next to the boat about a foot from the surface. The fish was as long as my leg, 40 lbs. at least. If I wasn't so stunned, I could have touched her. With shaking hands I worked the point area with every fly that I thought might work. (There's a good reason why there's no picture as my efforts to entice the fish were completely futile.) Just seeing a fish like that however, up close in the wild was a real privilege. I'll see her in my dreams all Winter.
On Wed. 10/12/22 Sakonnet river below stone bridge... (
show quote)
A very frustrating experience Mike. When I used to fish the Sound, and found myself in this situation, I'd throw a tin, and let it sink below the bait before retrieving it. A Hopkins crippled Herring, or Shorty, or a Kastmaster, usually worked. Good Luck and Tight Lines.
Thanks Fredfish, sounds like good advice.
Striking Viking,
Striper, where can you find 40 lb. black bass?
Mike
mike carroll wrote:
Striking Viking,
Striper, where can you find 40 lb. black bass?
Mike
That would be a he!! of a PB, though.
It’s always the big ones that get away.
Sakonnet River update
This past weekend 10/22,10/23 the river was full of bait and stripers from stone bridge down to black point. Active feeders were spread out all over the place. I managed to land a few schoolies each day, with one nice 35"keeper (released). So much bait, it was hard to get hookups. Still nice to see the number of stripers in the area.
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