Some healing

I've had a  great Spring, fishwise.  I managed to get my first Hudson smallmouth in March, and my first New England striper in April. The past two springs have been worrisome, with signs of winter damage to every fishery I frequent , especially those that need estuaries to thrive. This year, after the incredible mild winter, not so. There may be hope for a return to health yet. It may only be my warped thinking, but I saw parallels in the state of affairs in striper migrations on the coast, with what was happening in the Big Lake and the tribs.  I can only hope what I'm seeing on the coast will continue to exhibit itself on the lake ,and by extension , the SR. I imagine HT will let us know what's happening out there. I took my first trip over to the North shore of Massachusetts this weekend and the results were better than any I've had in 6 or 7 years.  I fished 6 tide cycles, and landed 200 fish. Mostly small schoolies, but with a few dozen ranging from 20" to 32".  I almost got one in the mid-30's to eat a small fly off the bottom on a flat, but the sun was bright and it was skittish....  Next trip the bigger fish will have arrived in numbers, so I'm not disappointed. It was hugely heartening to see shoals of baitfish in the estuaries, and the bottom carpeted with small crabs . Guaranteed the bottom of the SR will have more life clinging to the  rocks  and in the mud in the frog water.  There'll be more  dragon flies and damsel flies. And the small stuff that eats them.  And maybe more of that phytoplankton that starts the ball rolling. I'm flashing a peace sign in one pic, take it as a gesture of goodwill, but I did it to remind me in years down the road that this was fish number 200 in the year the stripers made a bit of a comeback. By the way, I fished like a  maniac (so what else is new)  to reach that number and quit after I landed it.  Hope springs eternal, but Spring has given great hope, at least this year.

Great report.
Nothing like Schoolies one after another for a GREAT day of GREAT tugs.

Fitchy,where is that fishing located? Looks like great fun and you don't need a boat.PM me if you don't want the world to know that location. Also,good to hear from you again as its been awhile and I was wondering if all was well with you.Also ,I hope you 're correct about the observation that MAYBE the fishing will be better on the SR this year as I am booked to be there last week of Sept and first week of Oct.

Jack, it's Cape Ann, Massachusetts and the  Parker National Wildlife Refuge south of the Merrimack River.  It's not as good a fishery as Cape Cod , Montauk, or RI, but I've been spending a lot of time there for the past 25 years. Nancy and I were married on the beach pictured with me fighting one at dawn. It's one of the few fisheries I KNOW .  I'd feel confident being a wade guide there, or from a boat, if I had one.  Not that I want to give up my spots. lol.
The best part , besides the fishery is the absolute beauty of Cape Ann. One of the jewels of the east coast. If you ever want to visit, just give me a call.  At times, all you need is an 8 wt. and an intermediate line, and you can have some real fun. I have spare rigs, stripping baskets, and plenty of time/fish proven flies.  Rich has a great fishery and the knowledge to do something with it in the Hudson, but it just ain't the same for me.  I'm too much of a stubborn, diehard fly flopper.  On a side note, a guy showed up  at one famous spot that's been mentioned in a few books and stood 10' from me. I ripped him, a new one, but relented on  continuing to be nasty to him. A mistake, as he reminded me of Chartist with a constant  blather about all his new rods and going here and there and $$$$$$$$  his azz off.  He tried to get my name and shake my hand when he left,  I just laughed.  Too many like him in the world, already, I sure ain't encouraging them.

Great pics. One of these times I'll going to have to take you up on a trip. Things are starting to really heat up. Been tearing up the trout and last night caught a bunch off the dock at my parents last night time to maybe start hitting the Hudson hard. Wish I could fish a couple places at once. All this fish and not enough time

Charlie I love Drennan, problem is that when tying leaders you have to be careful.  I use Trilene XT for leaders. Say if you tie a leader with 20/15/10 and then a tippet of 6# drennan many times the tippet is stronger than the 10# end of the leader.  I go by the diameter with Drennan. Also with Drennan you get 50m and with many others it is 25 or 30m so price is comparable or better.

I have been using P-line for tippet for several years and for the price I have no complaints.

Charlie, the fishing you do is amazing.. I believe you put a ton of acquired skill, knowledge and dedication towards the pursuit of your quarry..  You have been on some of the same streams, rivers , oceans , lakes and ponds as me,
many, many more I'm sure..  Your skills with a fly swatter are not even in the same league (imo) as myself and many folks I know, you may say the same to those you know as well..
Point is , your pretty dam good to say the least at how you chose to fish..  I try as well in most of my adventures..
We both know the spawning migration on the Mighty Hudson is a beast of it's own.. I learn more every season and been fishing this river since the mid 70's , Heck I'm still learning  ..
To me, being out there and gaining confidence by our results is very healing..
You will catch and hope you post that cow this year  !!!
 
 

I attended a pay as you go bass fishing seminar about ten years ago and the main speaker was Hank Parker.  Parker is a rep for Berkeley and he said in his opinion Vanish was the worst line the company ever made. 

Some pretty places can be found if you like to walk. I just try to keep the walking from not getting in the way of the fishing. Just like the  SR, only different.

Awesome reports charlie!!!

Thanks charlie and same to you. Ive tangled with a few preseason smallmouth with the kids. They are rather large this year. Should be a good one. See ya in fall :)

What did it take? That's a nice fish and they do fight hard.

For local trout I use a 4ft 6in light rod with 4 lb test and size 8 to 10 hooks with  a 1 1/2 to 2 inch garden worm and a tiny spin reel with a great drag.
During the local May Sucker run they were up to about 3 pounds or a bit more- Felt like whales and hit the bait like a gamefish.
Fun stuff under logs and overhang.
( still aint trout though-lol)

fichy
 An Oregon Cheese egg with a hot orange beadhead. I swipe flies out of the steelie boxes. They'll be full again, come fall. I imagine you must have some around you, Jack. Good practice for kings...

I HAD a pond 5 minutes walking from my house that was loaded with big carp.The pond was formed by a dam on a small creek many years ago and was severly silted in over the years but did have those Carp.The pond is located on township property and a couple years ago the twsp. decicded to bust the dam,of course when they did the pond went with it and the Carp are gone.There are other spots in the area but I never get to them for one reason or another.
I'll be heading to Ohio to visit the family over fathers day thru the 4th. and will try for Carp and Small mouth while there.