Friday, August 28, 2009

August 28 Fishing Update

The storm last weekend put tons of weed and sand into coastal waters, making for a slow start to the week. Things have picked up significantly, and the striped bass have been providing hot surface action out and around Sugar Reef at the start of the ebb tide since mid-week. On the down side, the area is VERY crowded with boats (picture opening day of trout season on Meadow Brook Pond) so either have patience or go explore some other likely areas. Bait has moved into the area --- it looks like 1 - 1/2 inch long sardines --- and the bass are feeding heavily at the head of the rips over the reefs as the tide runs hard. Some slammer blues in the 10 to 12 pound class have moved in as well, so be sure your terminal tackle is ready for tangling with these toothy critters! Bonito? I keep hearing rumors but I have yet to bump into any personally. The other thing NOT around is the bell buoy at Watch Hill Point; it must have broken free during the big swells last weekend.

David at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry tells me the Wood River is still in good shape, but with the heat set to high over the past week, early and late in the day has been best. Targeting the deeper holes and shaded banks will improve your odds for success. Terrestrials are the way to go so be sure you have ants, inch worms and some hoppers in your fly box.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Bonito have arrived!

Reports from Block Island, Charlestown, Watch Hill and Madison (CT) all are saying bonito have arrived in the area. Best bet for these speedsters at the moment is Block Island in the Coast Guard Channel, though Plum Gut and The Sluiceway are generating good reports as well. Frequent sightings along the Watch Hill area suggest the fish have just arrived and should become more common through the weekend. No reports of Little Tunny anywhere in the region.

Dave at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry reports a bit of a slow down in the action on the Wood River over the past week, no doubt due to the intense heat we have been experiencing. Early or late in the day is best. Expect limited insect hatches so your focus should be on terrestrial patterns. Seek out the shaded, deeper pools.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Fishy News

Bad news for all you "hexagenia" junkies---David at River & Rip Tide Anglers in Coventry tells me the hatch has about petered out for the year. On the plus side, water levels have receded and the river is quite fishable. With water temperatures still in the mid to upper 60s, the trout are loving it and are well dispersed about the river. Terrestrials are the way to go, with lots of green inch worms hitting the water from over hanging trees. Look to the deeper pools and shadowy areas as the heat stays turned on and water temperatures climb.

In the salt, the action had tapered around Sandy Point over the following week, and I had little luck scaring up a fish anywhere between Napatree Point and the outer Stonington breakwater. Things were pretty quiet out on the Watch Hill reefs as well, on either tide. But David was out Tuesday morning at Sandy Point and found lots of well fed school bass that provided some hot action for the first few hours of the day. Hopefully this is a harbringer of good news for the reefs as well.

Rumors of bonito off of Block Island, but no confirmed reports for the Watch Hill region.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Hex Hatch Update

According to David at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry, the Hexagenia flies have made a bit of a resurgence early in the week in response to the heat and slowly receding water levels. If you need one final "hex fix" before it ends --- and it will end very soon --- get out there now.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Fishing Update

Heavy rains have put the Wood River nearly over its banks, and this has put off the Hexagenia hatch according to David at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry. Look for water levels to recede over the weekend and expect a resurgence in the hex hatch, though it is nearing its end point. Morning caddis provide dry fly action, with terrestrial rounding out the daylight hours. Some Light Cahills create a limited evening hatch.

In the salt, the western side of Sandy Point has been hot for schoolie striped bass feeding heavily on sand eels. Watch for feeding terns to clue you in on location of the feeding school. Bluefish in the 2 to 4 pound range have made an appearance, so if you are tossing flies go well stocked. Action on the reefs off of Watch Hill has been hit-or-miss over the past week, with a big offshore swell making things unconfortable at times, and churning sand and weed into the water nearshore. Expect this too to improve over the weekend.

Did I hear someone say bonito? Nope, not yet but keep your eyes open as they are due to arrive in the next week or so according to my calendar. If you can get there, Block Island is hot, hot, hot for large striped bass (a number of 50 pounders have been taken with lots of 30s and 40s) being taken by day on eels, cut bait and even surface plugs----yes, surface plugs by day to 30 and 40 pound striped bass.