The Rhody Schoolie action is off to a slow start this year (or normal and the last few years have been too good depending on one's point of view). If you are still heading down, keep an eye on the winds. THey have been ESE and South along the shore for the past few days and occasionaly turning SW. South winds are marginal but if they turn SW that can be good (provided the fish are in). I have not heard anything for the last few days so I don't know if the numbers have increased (from the two that I know of O: ) but chances are fair to good that it is now heating up...

If you get The Fisherman, read #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&'s (Bill Nolan) "Fishing the West Wall" or you can read a similar but smaller #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& West Wall article on this site: http://striped-bass.com/Articles/articles.shtml

Pay particular attention to the small bucktails and teasers as that's what gets the fish. Make use of a grubtail (white or chartreuse) on the bucktail jig... There is not much water to play with so a large jig is not needed (or recommended). Also, with the first fish showing up at the Wall, if you see people not fishing teasers hooking up, be sure to remove your's. Also good to have 3" to 4" Shad bodies, white/pearl/chartreuse...


Let me know if anyone is venturing out there this weekend... I may scout some tomorrow afternoon and I may be there Saturday...

Thanks, John - I plan on going sometime over the weekend, not sure just when yet, depends on the weather and I'll also keep an eye on the wind. Saturday is the only day that is out for me, too many chores that day. Was hoping for tomorrow since that is when Don said he'd be at the shop, but depends on the weather. Loaded up on the bucktail jigs last week. Am also bringing some other stuff that it is probably too early for, but they are new toys that I just want to try out. Gotta learn some stuff with these new things before I head to Jersey in early May. Will be computerless once I leave work today, so I'll let you all know what I found next Tuesday.

Looks like winds will co-operate tommorow - SE and SW. But I have no van, so no way to get there. I guess I'll get it back next week when they finish putting in a new motor, then I can fish. Maybe I can sneak out ith the wifes car tom. and hit the nuke plant.

Wish you luck Steve. I may hit it tomorrow, see if things are cooperating but you'll be offline...

Slip, what happened to the motor? Downtime on the $$ vehicle sucks... Good luck at the plant (bring yer dad...)

Hit the Prov Power tonight for 45 minutes on the way home - 1 micro-bass. A couple of the "Locals" were drifting frozen squid chunks in front of the outlow and blocking off one of the most productive spots... They didn't get squat and prevented anyone else from fishing it right... Had to bail out.

Long story John, basically I think the leaky timing chain cover may have let some anti-freeze into the oil but it( the gasket and oil) was changed the week before I broke down. The codes on the van's computer said misfire in 2 of the cylinders so the mechanic changed the wires. but the damage was done and once it warmed up the oil pressure dropped and it was rapping bad(#1 bearing). 80000 miles and it was driven with low oil pressure so a new motor is needed. Neco Engines has a 5 yr. 100000 mile warranty, but I'm paying for it. Ford did a recall on the pick-ups but not on the vans with a 4.2 liter because of the timing chain cover gasket, well why they didn't recall the vans is beyond me :( I looked into trading it in as is, for a new 8 cylinder but the $ didn't work out.

Ya I think my dad works a half day fridays so maybe he can go with me. You have a good Easter weekend now, I wonder what the Easter bunny will leave Liam.

Slipknot,
I know at least one person who got a new engine for their ford minivan because of head trouble and two others who had to suck it up and pay for it. I don't know if it is the same size V6 engine, but I do know the cut-off was 100K miles. It might be worth looking into. Automobile$ the bane of our existance....

Sorry to hear that Slip. What year is the van? Who changed the the timing cover gasket? The National Highway Traffic Saefty dudes have a searchable database for technical service bulletins at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/servicemmy1.cfm .. Atleast you can search the TSBs yourself...

I've been a slightly similar situation as I have a 92 Bronco with 2 failed oil pumps that has been rapping for 18months now but the motor won't die. I also have an extended warranty on it until 7/2002 but won't cover the bearing if "worn", only if the bearings "fail"...

A local mechanic did the work. It is a 97 and they stopped making the 4.9 straight six in 96 arrrgggggg. I will be making more phone calls and writing letters until I get some answers or some help paying the 4 grand. I am lucky I don't have any installations for a while, just shop work. So John are you trying to get that bearing to fry before the warranty is up? I think mine fried when it misfired and the revs. went way up in order to maintain speed on the highway, they should never have put that v-6 in a full size van.

The fish will be hear soon, bout time!


Fishpart, those may have been the 3.8. Those engines suck too.