Delicious Incidentals!

This weekend I decided to head to Rhode Island and join my brother for some striper fishing. During the week he had been fishing the famous worm hatches with fairly good results, with every phone call and text I grew more and more anxious for friday afternoon to come! Friday finally came, and brought with it a perfect 70 degrees, sunny, with light winds. The cinder worms should be going nuts! Unfortunately there wasn't a worm to be found, and the bass were either no longer in the pond, or not feeding. We managed a couple fish, and had a great time none-the less. 

Hooked up to a schoolie from the kayak

Saturday morning we slept in a bit...till about 545, grabbed some breakfast and launched the kayaks back into the same pond. Brian missed bite, I never even had a tug. After a single drift we decided to try another spot and packed it in. Launched at spot 2, fished in 2 different places without seeing a fish. After a while I decide to roam some some skinny water in hopes of finding a fish up on the flats...although a bit early, I thought maybe the warmer water would attract a couple up. No fish there either, but I did spot a squid! I decided I was going to try and catch the squid, knowing they are usually fairly aggressive. When I got back to where it was, I found a school of them! I drifted my fly past without a strike, so I went to snag mode, and after a few tries I got one! I called my brother over, and we both were at it now....I snagged one more, and the school took off. Oh well, Calamari for dinner!

Snagged Squid!

So, although I didn't come back to CT with the sore arms I was hoping for, I still had a great couple of days fishing some different water with my brother. Maybe next weekend....

Back on the homefront, reports from the CT river are better daily! Time to get down there!!

Captain Bill

860.918.2338

Captbille@gmail.com

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

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

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

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!

First Fish 2011!

When I woke up this morning it was 34 degrees, and snowing! So much for the first day of spring! I had a ton of things to get done before I head out of town for work later this week, so naturally, I got in the truck and headed for the river. When I got to the river I found I was far from the first one there, so I had to do a little searching for a stretch to call my own. Upstream quite a ways I found an empty parking space, and no other fishermen. I geared up and hiked up the river a bit with plans to fish my way back to the truck. My second cast produced a swing and miss by a trout, 2 casts later I brought him to hand, fish #1, a small rainbow:

I continued my way downstream, casting and swinging a white wooly bugger. I noticed early on the fish were hitting (as they usually do) at the end of a swing rather than on the strip, so I just kept on swinging! The next hour and a half brought a half dozen or so fish to hand, or close enough, and quite a few more hookups that ended in the old LDR...long distance release! A nice mix of browns and bows, with a couple in the 15" class, very nice fish!

When I reached the truck I was damp and cold, the temperature dropped another couple degrees. I called it a day and moved onto my errands!

I will be out of town until April 11, but after that my calendar is open for trout fishing trips! It won't be long until the stripers are here (more info for saltwater trips coming soon!)  Hope to hear from you soon, Captain Bill

Captbille@gmail.com

860.918.2338

Getting Ready!

I hope everyone had a great winter! I've been tying flies in preparation for the coming weeks! The rivers are clearing of ice, and the fish are waiting! Last season saw a great saltwater season and of course the trout and smallmouths in our rivers didn't disappoint. Here are a few pics from last season to get you in the right mindset!

Without doubt, this season should provide equally as much fun! Again this season, I will be offering both fresh and saltwater trips. Freshwater will be starting soon (next week if weather allows!) and again I will be offering the "Beginner" flyfishing trip. Getting started in Flyfishing can be tough if you don't have anyone to show you the way, so I offer you to spend a few hours with me, and will start you off right, showing you some casting techniques, the various knots you'll need to know, fly selection (as well as all gear selection!)  and to me what can be the most daunting task to a beginner, where to look for fish in a river....or how to "read water".  All you'll need is a pair of waders or hip boots, and a valid CT fishing license. I'll provide all the gear you'll need! This trip will be about 3 hours or so, is limited to one person at a time, but will make special exceptions for this if requested (Parent/child for example).  We will fishing various rivers in eastern CT depending on time of year. Cost is $100. I can be reached a Captbille@gmail.com, or 860.918.2338.

Before too long, I'll be posting up info for the saltwater season....Stay Tuned!!
Capt. Bill