30+ Anglers Attend May 15th Concord Carlisle Club Meeting

Melissa Winstanley of Concord Outfitters started with an overview of their fly fishing education program, what’s needed to get started fly fishing, and photos from many of her fresh and saltwater fishing trips. Eric Swanson followed with exciting videos of Bluefin tuna fishing off the coast of Massachusetts and a PowerPoint presentation on the issues facing the worldwide Bluefin Tuna population. He also reviewed his number and size of tuna caught in the last three seasons and speculated on their long term implications and the future of the tuna fishery. Next, Dana Booth presented his photo essay of his recent quest for Mahi Mahi and Wahoo in the blue waters of the Bahamas. Steve Kirk wrapped up with tips and techniques for targeting Striped Bass, Bluefish and Bonito around Cape Cod and the islands

Block Island Fly Fishing Report - Sam Bird

They are definitely here! Paddled out into Great Salt Pond (Block Island) yesterday at first light (which is ungodly early this time of year) and found breaking fish all over. Lot's breaking right under my rod tip. I expected them to be in the 18" - 24" range but was pleasantly surprised to find they were in the 24 - 30 range. I got several fish with two keepers and then had to head in about 5:15 as the wind picked up and it got sloppy. I filleted them on the beach but in my pre-coffee fog I forgot to check bellies - but I suspect they were chowing down silversides - typical for this time of year.

I was fishing my version of a Ray's fly - a very sparse and simple tie. Body braid on the shank, about a dozen white bucktail hairs on top of that with about 8 hairs each of yellow, chartreuse, olive, on top of that (in that order) then two peacock herl and done. I usually add two strands of pearl crystal flash in with the white or before the body braid - but only two! Over the years I've become convinced that sparse flies with very little flash work best - whereas most of the SW flies in the shops are way too flashy. They catch more fishermen than fish.... Ken Abrames Striper Moon site has a good picture and recipe for other tiers out there - I recommend it highly when bass, blues are on sand eels or slversides. Here's the link:

http://www.stripermoon.com/flyarch/arc1.html

Feel free to share the info.

Tight lines,
Sam

These shots are me going out of Green Pond in the Twin Vee, a Squid boat, and a few of the five bass I caught on my first cape fishing trip of 2009. I bought some fresh squid form one of the boats and fished them in the mouth of Popponesset and Waquoit. I caught two 25 inchers from Popponesset spit and three 30 inch, 12 pounders at Waquoit inlet. There was a whole school of them at the end of the jetty. There was a strong incoming tide and the bass were sitting at the end of the jetty picking off bait as it flowed out of the sound into the inlet. When I caught the fist one about 15 others came chasing it trying to get the squid from it. They are all around the same size................but good strong fish. The second one peeled off line and I thought he was going to take me into the rocks. I had to get him in the center of the inlet toward him down. I was only using 14 lb test on the spinning rod.

Dave Martinez,

First Keeper Bass of 2009.

Details:- Size about 34 in. Cooler is 33 in- Caught with fly rod - fly used shown on chart. Clouser green and white- line used 450 grain sinking- water depth ~17 ft- location Buzzards Bay (lots of birds hitting water)- largest caught a few minutes later 35 in (same fly)- conditions light wind but very heavy fog

Gov. Patrick Stocks Walden Pond with Trout - see link below

In celebration of Earth Day, rainbow and brown trout were stocked at Walden Pond State Reservation this weekend. Governor Deval Patrick helped with the stocking along with local Boy Scouts and other families from the community.

Check out the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYQP6bc3l3U