Coming Attractions

 

Fan tailed lures like the Cocahoe
Minnow mounted on a jighead
are hot lures in the early going.

The clock is ticking down to the start of the striper fishing here in RI.  Within weeks, migrating stripers should hit the south shore oceanfront of the state. During most years big numbers have moved through in the early going.

Dates: My logs tell me that the first big numbers will be landed along the oceanfront around the 15th of April, give or take a week depending on water and air temperatures. Last year I got my first ones on April 14.  In 2020, it happened on April 15. About ten days after the first ones are landed along the oceanfront, they will begin to appear in the Bay.

Sizes: If you are looking for keepers, you started way too early. The first fish are generally small, averaging 12 to 16 inches.  You might find a 24 inch fish here and there, but the majority will be small. Keepers arrive around May 1.

Light Tackle Rules: Most fishermen are fishing light with rods of 7 or 8 feet matched with small spinning reels.  Some will use 10 lb. test mono; others go with 20 lb. test braid.

Jigs Rule: Jigs of all kinds rule the early season fishing. Most fishermen will be using a fan tailed body like a Cocahoe Minnow a jighead.  Other will catch them on small bucktail jigs under 3/4 ounce spiced with curly tails. Still other fishermen might use a fork tail body like a Zoom fluke on a jighead.  White will be your best colors.

The Passing of Surf Legend Dick Geldard (Dropper Dick)

 It was with sadness that I learned of the passing of Dick Geldard today.  I knew Dick well, fished with him often and during the season we often compared notes on places that were hot. 

Dick Geldard holds a keeper 
striper that was taken last fall in
Narragansett. He was a surf legend
along the RI south shore 
oceanfront.

Dick will forever be known as one of the best surf fishermen that ever fished the RI shoreline.  Dick was in his eighties but still fished along the rocks and sands of the south shore just about every day up until his passing. He could maneuver along rocky shores like a mountain goat, and he had the stamina to outfish and outlast fishermen fifty years younger than him.  He had a zest for life and was one of the most enthusiastic fishermen I have ever met. 

He knew the RI oceanfront like no one else.  He knew every hole, pocket and rip that existed along the shore from Narragansett to Westerly, and he knew how to fish them. He was deadly with a bucktail jig, and he made all his own jigs and floats which Snug Harbor would carry. His bucktails were in high demand. I saw many occasions where he would just hand them out to fellow fishermen.  One day I went back to my vehicle which was parked at a Weekpaug Beach and there was a bucktail under my windshield wiper.  It was one of Dick's signature moves to let me know he was there earlier.

Dick was well known as a tournament fishermen and often won the surf striper category in the club tournaments and other tournaments held in Narragansett. He also fished extensively in freshwater.  He also often talked about fishing for smallmouth bass in Maine with his son. They went up to the cabin for weeks at a time.

I'm sure I will feel Dick's presence when I start fishing the oceanfront in the spring.  He had his spots that he loved and cherished, and we often fished those places together. He will be missed.

From the Kayak....First Schoolies; First Slot

My first striper of the year was a holdover
that I caught from the kayak.  It hit an unweighted
Super Zoom fluke trolled from the yak.

 I went out today on my first voyage of the year in my Old Town Sportsman 10-6 Pedal kayak. I was on the hunt for holdover stripers, and I found some.  I landed two schoolies and a small slot fish.  I got all of them trolling zoom flukes (unweighted) along with a small Rapala X-Rap swimmer. The slot took the swimmer and the schoolies took the fluke.  I also had quite a few other hits, but as is typical of fussy holdover stripers, they were not taking. 

This year I set up two trolling rod holders in the tracks on the kayak.  I just added a Yak Attack Omega Pro rod holder to go with my Scotty rod holder, so now I am able to troll two rods in search of fish.  Trolling is a breeze in the pedal kayak since it is hands free.

Holdover stripers exist in many of the river systems in southern New England. It's the only game in town right now since the migrating fish are still about a month away.