A
peek through the breakfast nook window revealed our first brush with snow. The 32 degree air preceding an on-coming northwest clipper primed our
atmosphere to usher in this short blast of large white flakes. A little sleet,
a puff of warm air followed by some light rain set the scene for a gray
blustery day. A day to take hold of our tackle inventory – in plenty of time to
orchestrate hints for the holiday season and also to prepare gear for either
up-coming warm weather jaunts or next season.
Remember
those times when neglected reels wouldn’t cast properly or fish were lost due
to ill-serviced drags? Or the time your line kept breaking and only after
blaming the new line that had just been spooled did you realize the culprit was
a damaged tip or guide? Or even better, what about your soon-to-be trophy
striper that broke loose within arms reach after a dull rusty hook gave way?
Well,
all that could have been avoided with a little forethought this time of year.
Inexpensive gear is not made to last but those made to endure the stress and
strain of hard fighting fish should last through the years if maintained. It
stands to reason that inferior products are made with inferior parts – i.e.
less expensive. That’s totally different than buying quality products on sale.
So,
take a look at your rods, reels, terminal gear and accessories and decide if
they are worthy of service or should be replaced. Now is the time for a wish
list that might include nothing more than a simple stocking stuffer or that
long wanted rod and reel that would make your fishing experience so much
better. Books are a good bet as is a trusty fillet knife or pair of fishing
pliers. And, if shell fishing is high on your activity list, a quality clamming
rake, basket or clam opener are winners as is a crab trap that’s locally made
like the ‘Crab Trapper.’
Yep,
the season is upon us and even in these times, there is always something that
could bring on smile. Embrace a moment - perhaps, with a picture-framed memory
of a cherished fishing trip. Hopefully you’ll enjoy this year’s holiday
shopping. Thought, more than ever, is going to be more meaningful when
gift-giving time arrives so be selective, choose wisely and consult an
experienced fishing outfitter to assist in your selection.
On the Water
Although
the weather over Thanksgiving was rather calm, it was a better for sitting around
the table, picking away at all those creative dishes and trading the season’s
stories. The Sound, for the most part, was cold (down to 50 degrees) and dead
calm. Along the shore, water rings created by seagulls pecking away at
foodstuffs radiated outward remaining untouched for some distance.
It
was a day to relax with very little interruption from the mundane pro games
followed by a few good moments generated by the collegiate side. After years of
asking and not knowing, finally an abstract response from the ‘great oracle’ in
the sky informed me that the broken stripes on each end of a college football
was for maximum nighttime visibility – early on games at night were poorly lit.
When complaints of poor gripping stacked up, the unbroken stripes were cut back
to half-round on each end as they appear today.
At
any rate, if one was so inclined to cast several of those calories away, some
smaller striped bass concentrated at the lower tidal rivers could have been
caught on soft/hard plastics, jigs and a few small eels or bite-size chunks.
Even a few larger fish could have been located on the inshore reefs but not
many. Blackfish/tautog have sought deeper waters and will undoubtedly stay
there until December 6th, the last day to fish for them until 2009. Sad to say,
the season is all but done on the Sound for our warm weather visitors. Soon it
will be time to fish for holdover ‘linesiders’ farther up-river or even in the
iced over coves and warm water outflows.
Even
the fresh water side is feeling the effects of the recent drop in temperatures.
Trout rivers/streams have slowed and, for maximum success, fishing should be
confined to deeper pools and slow moving water. Streamers and nymphs are good
fly choices as well as small swimmers and spinners. Northern pike remain
active, crappie is ok, smallies are still biting and largemouths are just fair.
Atlantic salmon in both the Shetucket and Naugatuck
rivers is steadily improving. The last 110 salmon were stocked in the Shetucket
bringing its total to 440 while the Naugatuck
received a total of 500. Both Crystal
and Mashapaug lakes each received 90 fish.
Note:
2009 fishing/hunting licenses and all related items went on sale at Captain
Morgan’s December 1st. Not all town halls and only a limited number of fishing
outfitters will be selling licenses through CT’s new on-line system. Call ahead
to avoid a wasted trip.
Wherever
fishing, think Captain Morgan’s for all things fishy including the latest gear,
bait, flies/fly fishing, rod/reel repair, clam/crabbing supplies and licenses.
Swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located on 21 Boston Post Road, Madison.
Until next time, from your Connecticut
shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter where we don't make the fisherman,
we make the fisherman better...
Tight
Lines,
Captain
Morgan
Pictured:
Tom Megargee (DEP fishing instructor, avid freshwater angler and excellent fish
chowder creator) landed this colorful CT River cove 40½” 15.7Lb northern pike
using live bait.
Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan