Monday, May 31, 2010

Niantic Memorial Day Report

Went out this morning to see if any stripers have taken up on the near shore points and rocks. Hadn't heard any reports, but somebody has to be first. Left the public dock in Niantic (by Hillyer's) at 2:30 am, and had an ebb tide until 7:30 am. Seas were dead calm and water temp around 60 degrees. Marked tons of fish right outside the mouth of the river, but caught nothing after trying for an hour an a half. Ran over to the power plant where I quickly worked the rocks with a bucktail and then ran over to the outflow. Almost immediately hooked into a striper on a 6" pink sluggo/jig that eventually straightened out the hook. Caught a couple of blues. Worked up to Harkness but got nada. Marked lots of fish in Twotree Channel, probably fluke, but I'm not into that. Ran back to the outflow at about 8:30, which was full of idiots coming close to running into each other and one guy casting over everyone (including me). Finished up with a run to Black Point, were I lost another fish trolling tube and worm(blue/striper??) Wind really picked up (weather man sucks) and I got soaked the whole way back. Overall, a fun morning.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

LIS Fishing Report for 5/26: A wild night on the Blackhawk

Went out on the Blackhawk last night looking forward to a good night of striper fishing. The last few days have seen lots of big fish landed, and the full moon was promising. Captain Dubrule was fired up and the night looked promising. Forecast were for a few widely scattered storms and light winds with a big ebb tide for most of the trip. We left at 10:00 pm. So much for the CT forecast. The first hour was slow as the slack tide finally started to turn, but we could also see the weather coming in and the temperature was plummeting. Lightning was flashing to the west, south over Montauk, and north over CT. By midnight, the tide was running out fast, but the storm was bearing down. A few fish were being landed. By 1:30, the wind was howling, rain was horizontal and lightning was striking all over. The rips in the race were becoming almost unfishable. We ran around trying to get on a bite. A few good fish were landed, including 2 in the 40lb. range, but I think a total of about 10 ended up in the boat, on a night most of us thought we would limit out. We heard reports of gusts 50-60 mph in Niantic. We kept at it until nearly 4:00am, and tried just about everything. I felt sorry for the few who did not bring foul weather gear. Despite the skunking I received (and loss of 4 rigs), it was pretty cool being out in the storm. Safety was never an issue and it was a hell of a show. This being my first trip on the Blackhawk, I was impressed with Captain Dubrule's enthusiasm and desire to interact with the customers. Most party boat skippers spend the trips isolated in the wheelhouse leaving all of the interaction to the mates. The trip was fun, and I will definitely give them a few more tries this season. As the saying goes, there's a reason it's called fishing and not catching. Sorry, no video (would have been way cool, but it was too dark and wet).

Monday, May 17, 2010

Glastonbury Ferry

Tried out the Glastonbury Ferry Friday 5/14, hoping for some stripers or catfish. Stopped by Hanover as I wouldn't meet John 'til 6:00ish. Fished mostly sandworms on the CTR, but other than constant harassment by perch, weren't hit by anything. Weather had been cool, and the tide was incoming, so conditions were far from ideal. Can't say that it was a productive night, as you will see. In the end, a storm chased us home.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Eventful Weekend

Well, this weekend wasn't boring, and cost me a down payment on a boat. Windstorm took out my truck, my ability to tow my boat, and will limit my fishing for the next few weeks, just as things heat up.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Hanover 5-7

I'm picking up some nice fish just after sunset, but some guys just don't get it. Fellow I've seen the past 2 nights down hasn't caught a thing. Keeps chucking his Rapala out into the middle of the pond, while I pulled 3-4 good keepers from either side of him within 5-10 feet of the bank. I don't want to be too intrusive, but have mentioned in passing that some real nice fish are holding right up near the shore. Even offered him a Storm King frog as he seems nice enough. Now granted, I'm no KVD, but if some dude catching a lot of fish offered some advice, I'd give it a try. There's this old guy down in Norwich who is a magician catching stripers when nobody else gets squat. If he told me to stand on my head while I retrieve, I'd give it a try!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

5/4 Local Report

If my local is any indication, time to get out and fish. Lots of action, and I've fished primarily spinners and especially the Bass Pro Humpin Toad or the Strike King rage toads in pumpkin. Haven't really pulled out the tubes or Senkos in my back yard as I'm fishing real shallow in lots of grass and the place is crawlin' with frogs.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Hanover Pond

Bass are really starting to hit. Missed one big female 3 times this evening. Lots of smaller active bass. Fished a spinner and a plastic frog. Frogs are my favorite nightime go-to. Be throwin a lot of salmanders as well the next few weeks.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

CT River Report May 2, 2010

The Haddam bite slowed a bit this morning, but we still had schools of keeper size stripers breaking the surface and hitting sluggos early. Nothing like the past 2 days, an no gulls to mark the bait schools.