Lost Rod

 Two weeks ago the striped bass returned. I have been trolling and sometimes casting either a white tandem deceiver or a black tandem deceiver. With the exception of one evening, all the fish were caught on the white ones, regardless of light level or sink versus floating line (sink gives about 12" depth at troll).

But yesterday I did something stupid. I brought three (3) rods with me on the boat. Not a good idea. After half a century of rowing, I capsized a rowboat for the first time--and lost the most expensive newest and nicest rod and reel: a St. Croix 7' and a Daiwa BG20. Damn it all! I was fly trolling the flyrods and didn't lose them. The spinning rod was along for the ride with an experiment tied on--a naked popping plug with flies behind--wanted to try.

This was of course a depressing experience. I trolled the area for two hours trying to find it. Good luck with that.

Fortunately, I went fishing afterwards and found a 27" bass (almost a keeper!) and sight cast to a fluke that was actually rising. It also took the white tandem deceiver.

Sometimes the "sharks" come out to play.

 Sometimes the "sharks" come out to play.

 

The Saltwater Is Strange This Year

 After the end of June, the Striped Bass simply disappeared from my local stretch of the Sound. So did the few Bluefish that had been around. I'd caught and ate a 15" bluefish around 1 June.

Lately, it has been bottom fishing for Porgy, if you want to catch anything. A Searobin even came out to play a week ago. Today there were a lot of baby bluefish. This is all that is running the bait that I can detect--4" bluefish. None over 7" and today, I caught 6 of them on either the small shrimp pattern I made up, or on a white double clouser on the surface. The shrimp was on full sink and slightly led on a slow troll.

But then I got to a particular spot I've only made any effort at once before. I decided to see if anything interesting is down on the bottom. 

Because the 8 weight was rigged full sink, I put on a 1 oz weight and then about 18" of leader to a small hook with a Gulp minnow. So bottom fishing but with a fly rod and line. Gulp seems to be ridiculously attractive to fish. First fish was a 15" Fluke! Damn it, that was nearly a keeper. It really fought. The 8 weight has less than 1/2 the fighting power of the 10 weight I own. Very interesting.

Then I proceeded to catch no less than 5 tiny little baby black sea bass. I mean small--6."

A 13" porgy was the next surprise. It came home for dinner.

Last cast, fish on! What is it?  Well, that's  Northern Kingfish! Size of a good trout. 15" or so. I should have eaten it. Next time.

A Pleasant Surprise

 One week ago, very end of August, I stopped by a Class1 Wild Trout Stream for a short late afternoon attempt. Water was very low in this not large stream (actually a brook). I moved a few probably minnows quite quickly. And then after about 1/2 hour we came to a very promising looking little pool. 

I was fishing a hopper--a very versatile and effective late summer dry presentation. It hit the water and a very eager 7" Brown Trout took it and jumped out of the water multiple times, looking like a miniature Atlantic Salmon.

I never touched the fish--landed it at my feet in the shallows and reached down and flicked the fly free. Off it went.