Stripers 2019

April 5 striper migration report shows them entering the Hudson.
Not here in CT---yet according to that, but some local shops around the Housatonic reporting some schoolies.

The hens are starting to move upriver HT.  Some big girls have been caught up around Bear Mountain this weekend.

What Fisherlady sayed. 👍

If we waited only for reports of catching, there would be little to no forum.

Besides, in my book, fishin is more about good times makin good conversation with good friends and tight lines.... usually mean I'm snagged. 😭

You may NOT leave this forum Rich,if you do it will die and we don't want that,we enjoy the story and the pictures.By the way,I'm booked at Cannons 9/27 thru 10/5.Hope you can make it then so we can tell some fish stories while we battle the Kings,Coho,and trout!

r3g3
Know how ya feel Rich.
Never got to go for Steel this year or for a second time during last Falls King season either.
After having a place up there in the recent past, and fishing a lot year round,  its disappointing.

C'mon, you didn't fish all that much, you were too busy mowing the pasture, raking the leaves and getting plowed out!

She's afloat in the mighty muddy. Right next to the big grey boat as always
Bait is very prevalent and we all know what that means.
First actual fish starts Wednesday for me.

Slow going for smallies in the year round section for me. Did get some 'eyes near  a lock. Murky and cold she be. As for the lower spectrum of the slot limit, many of the fish handled by the hordes of slack jawed mouth breather bait fishermen are going to die anyway; might as well make them count as keepers.  Larger fish are actually tougher, and certainly not as susceptible to being hooked deep, circle hooks notwithstanding. This is bore out by the studies I receive from biologists I've fished with, so I'll take their word.  My S-J-M-B comment was not directed at bait fishermen in general (especially on the Hudson, where it's almost a MUST DO), it is more directed at many of the yahoos I know that chase them from Vt. and my area. Not a one survives some of that crowd.  Best of luck out there, I'm sure it'll be a good season- numbers look very promising.
     Though I'm tempted to throw my yak in down in Saugerties  or fish the Esopus flats, I think I'll wait another week and a half and go down to Narrangansett and the breachways. I'm booked in my favorite campgrounds  on the Merrimack and Cape Ann for later in May and June.  Last year was spotty fishing for me.  Taking care of my  hospice- at -home Mom at night and  spending all summer getting a damaged house and a farm back together from the tornado we had in early May made fishing so far off the list of priorities  it just didn't happen.  Hopefully, this year is different. I've already caught large numbers of big rainbows and some browns, both out West on the San Juan and Animas in NM and Colorado, and here at home from the float tube in lakes.  Can't wait for the first stripers ,though.  Got herring?
Bet you do.

Off to a good start!  Deep circle hooks are beyond impossible. I tried some on big flies and the fish that  got hooked deep required an emergency room and a board certified surgeon.  I threw them out.   I'd rather see the regs  that were once in place in some NE states - 1 at 36"+.  The only thing that  holds the regs in place is the fact that the young-of-the-year survey has been good. Let a few years where that drops and they'll try another tack. Those fish have to go out and populate Joisey and Lawn Guyland waters  and generate revenues for another 6  months.   Do you keep a locked barrel of herring at the dock?   
   I'm sure you'll be into 30's as in pounds, soon. 

As far as my readings go, the Hudson is considered to be doing better than the Chesapeake. It may have something to do with water quality, it may be the stocks themselves. Some Chessie stock travels all the way to Nova Scotia. Hudson fish tend to  not travel past Montauk. None of the scale samples taken in the area around the North Shore of Ma. have shown them to be Hudson fish. I seriously doubt they'd close the season in the Hudson unless there was a drastic change. Herring would have to completely collapse, or the breeding population fall  well below sustainability levels.
   I don't know about the Hudson, but when I was a little brat growing up in Joisey, stripers were unicorns. Blues, mackerel, flounder were good, linesiders not there. I assume the Hudson didn't have a breeding pop. then, as Chessie fish mix with their northern cousins off of  Bruce Springsteen land.  I hope for the best for all of us.  
    I looked at my property in New Mexico while I was on vacation, and I realized I'd fly the other way to the coast on vacations if we ever moved.  It'd be  extremely difficult to see stripers disappear again.  Fight the good fight.  Stripers forever!
    Good luck to everyone, seeya when the salmon start to trickle in.

Braved the cold wind and rain.
Got a few.

Great job HT.

Yes

Stop that you two. Now I’ll have to pull some striper out of the freezer (also not caught by me but a friend that had a great weekend last summer on the Potomac).

I made a chowder with striped bass a few summers back.  

Stop it ya big tease......😄😄😄

Good for you Hot Tuna. I'm enjoying your adventures and the truth be known, a bit envious.... but just a little, mind ya.😏


Troutbum that chowder looked absolutely delicious.🍺

Family recipe or one I can find on the net and I'm wondering if panfish fillets would work?