Inconsistent Winter Fishing

We've been on a roller coaster this winter as fishing in the Providence River has been inconsistent at best. There have also been fewer striped bass this winter compared to past winters. In the last two weeks I have had several dry runs, but have also landed about 20 stripers including several keepers. Fishing has become strictly a nighttime affair with little action to be had in the daytime. It seems that the best nights follow rain in the daytime. Lots of rain bring a heavy flow of water down river from the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers. I think the fast flowing water disturbs the bottom just enough to wash down worms and shrimp that reside in the mud, setting up feeding.

Another phenomenon of recent weeks has been snagged fish. We are bumping into them while slowly working the jig along the bottom, yet the fish are not taking. This is evidenced by the numbers of fish I have fouled hooked in the last two weeks (about half the fish). I have also brought back lots of scales on my jig's hook to prove that the fish are there, yet not interested in hitting.

New Blog Launched

A new blog has been started about fishing Narragansett Bay in a boat by my brother, Steve. Steve is the expert boat fisherman in the family. He has a nose for smelling fish and an internal GPS for finding them. He has been fishing the Bay by boat for a long time for striped bass and bluefish and knows just about every nook and cranny in the Bay. This blog should compliment mine as we now have the Bay thoroughly covered by boat, shore and kayak! Check out his blog at www.narragansettbayfishing.blogspot.com

Bucktail Jigs

Bucktail jigs have been dubbed the most versatile lures to use in saltwater. While plastic bodied jigs have become popular with many fishermen, I still catch lots of fish on bucktail jigs or leadheads. They are also easy to make yourself.

If you are into molding your own, you can buy molding supplies (melter, molds, hooks, etc) from Do-it Molds, http://www.do-itmolds.com/. This company offers top quality stuff at good prices. If you don't want to bother with the melting and molding aspect, you can buy molded jigs from http://www.njtackle.com/.

Once you have the molded jig, you want to paint the heads. I use powdered paint sold by Do-it. The leadhead is heated and then dipped into the powder. What comes out is a shiny and durable finish which can be further cured by reheating in an oven. The fun part is adding bucktail. I like to tie in thirds. I tie in the top first, then do the front and back. Build the thread to an even consistency and knot it off with a whip finish. The hairs of the bucktail should extend about an inch past the hook, although that can vary. The thread is then coated with head cement for durability.

Some of my favorite bucktails that I make are the hotlips in the large sizes (over 1 oz.), flathead in smaller sizes (under 1 oz.) and the spearhead jig. These jigs, when plastic curly tails are added to the small jigs and pork rind is added to the bigger jigs, catch hundreds of striped bass a year for me here in RI. Yes, bucktail jigs are still hot these days!

Shrimp Teasers

Teasers are small artificials that are tied ahead of your main lure. Flies make great teasers. If you are looking for the very best teaser to use in the spring, start tying. Shrimp teasers are hot for migrating schoolies along the RI oceanfront. These fish like to grub along the bottom and there is nothing better than a shrimp teaser tied ahead of a bucktail jig or a jig with platic body to entice them to hit.



To make a shrimp teaser, begin with a Mustad 34007 hook in a size #2, although hook size can be larger or smaller. Using white thread the body is tied in first. I like to use olive chenille, but wool in various dark colors can also be used. Work the chenille body to the front and tie off. Next a clump of deer body hair is tied onto the front. Tie so that the hairs extend about an eighth of an inch in front of the tie to form a clump. Pull tight to flair out the hairs. Now, tie off the head under those hairs. Finally, pull the hairs back along the top of the fly and tie off a tail in the rear. Wind several turns of the thread tightly and then tie off. Note that the tail hairs should extend outward to about half an inch or more. When rigged ahead of a Cocahoe or small bucktail jig, these teasers are deadly for spring schoolies and hickory shad.

SHOWTIME

The winter show schedule is upon us and I wanted to let everyone know where I would be doing striper fishing seminars this year.
On Sat., Feb. 7, I will be at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, at the ASA Eastern Fishing and Hunting Expo. I will be doing my big striper show called "Striper Strategies from Shore and Boat". I'll be doing this Power Point show in the morning (10:30) and the afternoon (1:30). For additional information, visit the show's website at www.sportshows.com.
On Sat., Feb. 14, I will be at the Big E in Springfield doing seminars at the Springfield Sportsmens Show. I'll be doing the Striper Strategies Show and a show on carp fishing. For additional information, visit their website at www.osegsportsmens.com.
On Wed., March 11, I will be at the East Bay Anglers meeting at the Riverside Sportsmen's Club in Barrington to do a special show called "Upper Bay Opportunities". The show will outline some of the best striper fishing to be had in upper Narragansett Bay from shore, boat and kayak. The show begins at 7:00.
Hope to see some of my old friends at these shows.

Are You Prepared

Yes, winter stripers are available in the Providence River during the months of January, February and March. But, are you ready for the winter cold and the demands of winter fishing on a 25 degree night?.

Here is a checklist of necessary equipment.

Clothing- Keeping your hands and feet warm are priorities. I like to use quality hunting gloves that offer lots of dexterity as well as warmth. I use waterproof Rocky hunting boots that are rated for 130 degrees below zero (yikes). Pack boots also work well. Cabelas is a good source for boots and gloves. Quilted ski pants, winter hat, sweatshirt and a warm coat are also a must.

Fishing gear- Keep it light. Spinning reels spooled with 10 lb. test mono and seven foot rods are ideal. For lures, fluke-like bodies threaded onto jigheads are ideal. I like Zoom flukes in 4 and 5 inch lengths in an albino color. Mount these onto jigheads. Quarter ounce is ideal, but sometimes 3/8 and 1/2 oz. models may be needed for long casts. Fan tailed lures such as Storm shads also work.

Other gear- A landing net is a must to land a keeper bass in many locations in the Providence River since you are often high above the water. I always carry a Popnet (type of bridge net) with a long rope that can be lowered. These nets can be purchased at online stores such as http://www.tackletogo.com/. Some type of headlight is also handy.

For more detailed information, check out my latest article, "Gearing up for Holdover Stripers" in The Fisherman magazine in the Jan. 8, 2009 edition.

Winter Striper Fishing

It's a misconception to think that all striped bass migrate south for the winter. There are many places where some winter over here in RI. These places include the ponds of the south shore, the upper reaches of the Narrow River, the upper parts of the Seekonk River and the Providence River. The Mother Lode of wintering over fish reside in the Providence River.

This is urban fishing with the landscape dominated by walls, walkways, bridges, piers and city sidewalks. The fish are attracted to this area because of the warm water discharge that comes from the Manchester St. Power Plant located near the Hurricane Barrier at the south end of the river.

Unlike the warm months, winter striper fishing is simple fishing. Light spinning tackle and jigs scratched along the bottom rule winter fishing. Most fishermen use lightweight jigheads threaded with fish-like bodies, or flukes, in a light color. Keep the retrieve slow and along the bottom at all times.

Winter fishing also tends to be inconsistent with no established patterns. However, through the years it seems that nighttime and cloudy/stormy days produce the best. When the fish are around, they are often schooled up tightly, and their numbers can be staggering. For instance, last December I landed over 400 stripers from the Providence River with dozens of keepers up to 40 inches. Keepers are around but the fishery is dominated by schoolies.

For more extensive information on this fishery, watch the NE Fisherman magazine in mid January for my story on "Gearing up for Winter Stripers".