While heading to a job on an Ocean Drive property, I noticed a large number of gulls actively "working" the water just off the shore between Price's Neck and Kings Beach in Newport. Curious, because it's pretty unusual at this time of year, I drove out to the end of the parking area at King's Beach to get a closer look. The birds were slamming the water amid massive splashes over an area of about 100 yds. square.
Having cleaned and secured my gear for winter storage weeks ago, I could only look on and drool. I don't know if it was big bluefish or bass, but for sure they were big, and there were lots of them. An unusual, but welcome sight in December.
gotcha, and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
JOS,
I'm new to this stream game. What do you mean by "with a little leash?
Bummer...I have a friend in N.H. who had a mouse get into the electrical system in the dashboard area of his one year old pickup. The damage came to $8,000 and change! He now leaves packets of moth balls scattered throughout the truck when it is parked.
Another, less aromatic but effective solution is to put dryer sheets (fabric softener) in the areas that rodents might access or try to build nests.
FYI the little bugger fried himself when he chewed into a live wire, too bad it wasn't the first one he tried to dine on.
Day three and the progress continues. The flow rate is significantly reduced today making it more easy to wade safely, and to get a good drift. We spoke with another fisherman at the parking area, and he showed us the nymph/dropper rig that had been working well for him. I had some flies that I had tied that looked similar to his, so my buddy John changed his setup to match.
We worked the North side of the river in the guage pool area. Circumstances had conspired to limit John's fishing time this year, and he had not caught a single fish this season. Utilizing the "borrowed" rig and technique, John hooked and landed a monster brook trout of about 18-20"! (Both of our phones were left in the car, so no photographic evidence, sorry.) After he hooked and fought another brookie, smaller than the first, but not by much, I too switched over my rig. Eventually, I hooked up and enjoyed a brief but vigorous fight with a solid fish before he spit the hook. "Better to have loved and lost", etc...
The fact that flies that I tied had fooled several wild, native fish into thinking they were food, completely made my day. Also, how cool that John broke his year long drought, with a fish of a lifetime! Sometimes it's not about the "tonnage" landed, sometimes a single fish can make the entire trip.
Nutz,
Appropriate away! Use it like you made it up.
I'm spending a week in Jackman Maine and getting some time in fly fishing on the East Outlet of the Kennebeck. I'm told that it's prime water for trophy wild brook trout and landlocked salmon. Two days on the river and so far I've actually managed to get one (small) brookie to come up and take a whack at my fly. I take that as an accomplishment since I have absolutely no idea about what I'm doing. Despite years of reading and watching videos, there's no substitute for actual on the water experience.
Fishing may be fishing, but this river fishing is an entirely different game than fishing the salt. I've talked with quite a few fishermen streamside, and while they are all free with sharing local knowledge and tips, It doesn't translate into newfound ability. (Fred Astaire could tell you all about how to dance, but it wouldn't mean that you could hold your own on a dancefloor with Ginger Rodgers.)
The flow rate is higher than normal which makes the wading treacherous, and the sheer speed of the water not only wants to take you off your feet, but makes it tough to get a good drift. I spoke with two fishermen that took an unexpected swim already this week. I'm very glad that I've got a folding wading staff. Up till now, it's been the most important piece of equipment that I brought, including my flyrod.
There are fish here, I have seen several really nice fish landed, it's all fly fishing only, catch and release at this time of year. So far, the fish have managed to elude me. The scenery is spectacular, it feels like you've stepped into a postcard, but I'm glad I don't have to rely on catching fish to be able to eat.
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.
stretching a line is always good whenever it happens
Striking Viking,
Striper, where can you find 40 lb. black bass?
Mike
Thanks Fredfish, sounds like good advice.
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.
Whalers are stable, but unforgiving heading into a chop. Even a moderate chop will beat the snot out of you. Best bet is to start fishing upwind, and work your way back. Otherwise it can be a very long, and very slow return trip.
I fish mostly in the salt, and usually use my 4 piece Reddington. That one I can still fish all day. It is currently sidelined awaiting a tip section replacement. The ten wt. I built myself. Nice rod, but a bit of a bear when it comes to prospecting/blind fishing. A couple of hours is a real workout on the shoulder, and it doesn't help that my mechanics are probably not what they should be when it comes to casting. Fortunately, I mostly fish from my 13' Boston Whaler, and this time of year it isn't hard to find working schools, plus the 10 wt. has a little more backbone which comes in handy as the fish tend to be bigger in Sept./Oct.