Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Fish Fry!!

Combine the high cost of fuel with mixed reports from the striper front, and I am in no hurry to rush down to the salt! One thing I didn't get to this past winter was ice fishing, and filling the freezer with a bunch of panfish. No big deal, it can still be done, I just can't wait too long or they start to take on a muddy taste as the water warms. So, today Travis and I picked a local pond and went to it! It didn't take long and we were catching fish...mostly pickerel, but with a nice handful of Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and a Calico Bass mixed in. Here's what we took home:
Here's what they looked like once I got them home and cleaned up....
After a dip in beer batter and then into oil....
And here's what they look like just before I devour them!
Hoping to add a turkey to the freezer tomorrow morning, then back to the fish! 

Captain Bill
Captbille@gmail.com
860.918.2338

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Weekend

Well its that time of year when its tough to decide what to fish for!!! Everything is starting to happen! On friday my friend Mike (some of you might know him as "Huskybass" from the local internet fishing forums) invited me up north...way up north...to fish one of his smallmouth honeyholes with him. We met early, drove for couple hours, and hit the water. It was a little colder up there than at home, a chilly 32 degrees! The water temp started at 46, and even by noon was only up to 48 or 49. This made things tough to say the least! We did manage a few fish, the best of which was this smallmouth, a solid 2.5 or so.
Mike with a nice smallie
Saturday morning I went along on a youth turkey hunt. The rain held off and let us hunt for a couple hours but the birds didn't want to cooperate for us. Hopefully next saturday the weather and turkeys are more forgiving! Saturday night my brother came home from RI for easter, and after a quick dinner with our parents we hurried to a local lake hoping for more smallmouth action. We fished for just over an hour and managed 3 smallies, the best of which was about 16", a solid pound and a half. It was my first time fishing from a canoe in a long time, brought back a lot of fun memories from our youth!
My canoe smallmouth
Sunday morning Brian and I joined Chris in his skiff out onto the lower CT river hoping to find some long overdue striper action. To say it was foggy would be a gross understatement, you could rarely see more than 50 yards or so. The river was the color of chocolate milk, and full of debris making for interesting conditions. The fishing was slow, I don't think the aforementioned helped. I did manage one fish which I think was a local, but I can't say for sure....
First 2011 CT river striper, photo by Brian Embacher
Despite the slow fishing, we did see and or hear a lot of waterfowl, which is of course my other passion! We spent the morning surrounded by Buffleheads, Old Squaw, Brant, Mallards, Gadwall, Canada geese, and handful of shorebirds. 

More rain coming this week....all week.  Its getting old!!! Thanks for reading!
Capt. Bill




Thursday, April 21, 2011

Enough with the Rain!

With the CT river swelling far beyond its banks, I haven't bothered heading out yet. Luckily Travis knew of some shore fishing spots where the extra flow didn't cause as much of a problem and we might find some local fish hanging out. We gave it a shot and each scored a schoolie. Travis scored first, while I got tired of short strikes. I switched tactics, grabbed the flyrod with my favorite green deceiver and hooked up second cast. Unfortunately that would be it for the afternoon! Big plans tomorrow..stay tuned!
First bass, 2011!!

I'm expecting big things to happen soon....give me a call or an email to book! 
Captain Bill
860.918.2338
Captbille@gmail.com

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Catch-up!

Been a while since I've posted, I was away for work, then away again for vacation. I did get out a couple times before I left, but when this was what I was dealing with, I wasn't too upset about leaving!
I did manage a fish or two...


But none the less...Hawaii was calling! I did catch a ride on a charter one day, in hopes of marlin, but without success. While there Mike did help me catch my first carp on fly...on a topwater hopper!
So now I'm home, and back on the water! Tuesday I was short on time so I just hit a private pond, the brookies in there are gorgeous!
Tonight my buddy travis and I hit a local river. He was throwing an array of metal and minnow lures, I was throwing streamers as usual. We both managed a couple of strikes, but the fish were tough, high sun and a ton of fishing pressure was showing its effects on the stockies!! We watched countless fish nose right up to the lure or fly, then scoot away! 
One brown couldn't resist the muddler minnow...
This weekend brings with it opening day for trout season on non trout management areas. The rivers will be a little crowded, but thats alright, I'll be turning my attention to stripers! 

The usual "early season" bass bite is an afternoon bite...I'll keep you all updated...get ready!