There are usually signs that tell us that Summer is over, Fall is well under way and our season is dwindling.

Sunday while out on the harbor, I saw several large flocks of geese in their familar V-formation headed south. I usually wrap up my season with a late october fishing trip to Ontario for freshwater bass. The lake is deserted and we always see alot of geese headed south. The loons are gone except for a few juveniles. The leaves are mostly down. You definitely feel the season ending.

That trip fell thru this year, but I've seen alot the same signs around here. Yesterday, on my way to drop off my daughter at playschool and to head in to work, I drove along Wollaston Beach. Right at Black's Creek I saw a massive flock of Cormorants that stretched for hundreds of yards. Thousands of 'em. It was an incredible sight.

Today... not one. Not sure if they just relocated or if they vacated the area. Either way, it was a staunch reminder that winter is coming.

I know we still have some good fishing left and I plan to get down to Rhode Island a couple times before its over. And I hope to hit the Thames River a few times over the winter...

...But, I had a fantastic season and I hate to see it end. The fishing wasn't nearly as good as the last few years, but I had a blast. The highlights included my first 30lber., a 33lb. 4oz'er caught out of the surf, and getting my dad into a great bass blitz out on the harbor when I had been skunked my past two trips out... I was really worried we were doomed. I also got to see my daughter catch her first sunfish and my wife's first keeper bass.

Things were crazy for me at times this summer and I didn't always get to do what I wanted. I only fished with my best fishing partner (your administrator) a handful of times and my wife and I only got out a couple of times. I must have only seen Bill and Julie maybe twice. I'd like to change that a bit next year, but when I think back, I'm smiling, so it must have fun.

Hope you all have a good stretch run and I hope everyone can look back over the season and smile just like I am.

Yes indeed, it's winding down and funny thing is, this year I'm not all that bummed. Maybe it's because of the slow fishing all year in general or maybe I'm just ready to tackle some honey do's. I'm not done yet and will probably fish a few times in CT all winter, but I'm definately starting to chill out and think about things that need to get done over the winter. Mainly an entire indoor paint job, which I've been putting off for years, but I can't put it off any longer :(.

The main highlight for me this year was meeting many more from this board and enjoying some good fishing time. All survived the boat ride, so I assume I'll get some repeat guests next year :). I loved the couple of days I met up with Bill and Juls down on the south side for some early blue action; too cool and I definately need to do that next year. The main fishing highlight was the one day I just killed a bunch of large in a small favorite spot, including many teens and a couple each in the 20-30-40 lb range. Don't know which was more fun, the thrill of nailing one right after the other, watching them duke it out for the tinker mackeral I lobbed right behind the boat or watching the 12 other boats that had surrounded me to try to sneak a cast on my spot :). Was a brief window back to the 80's when days like that were not so rare.

Hope to get together with some of you guys this winter, I'm always looking for company in the winter. The plug building party at Slip's sounds like a ball too.

I was thinking much of the same when I was fishing Central Beach Friday night when the wiffs of smoke from really old smellin' fireplaces along the beach got strong. You know that smell, when the chimney smoke is almost like it's from a pipe? That's what sealed it for me... I'm planning to go for a while still and take in some holdover action occasionally during the winter...

I was planning on one more weekend. Then I remembered the MDA in RI. I think two more weekends then it is quits for the winter. Slips plug building party should be fun, maybe we can talk John, and Saltheart into some rod building basics while we are at it.;)

Hard to believe the season is over already since I just got started...But hopefully I can use the winter to practice my casting so I'll be ready to go for next year..(thanks for the encouragement, jenn) maybe get out and catch some herring. Hopefully I'll be moving to CT in December, then I can get out a lot more. I just can't wait to be near the ocean (and with my Patrick :D) Now I just have to worry about packing...:p

mindi

There are some hold overs at the bridgeport powerplant too. I don't know if people will be able to fish it ever again. I'd love to. There are decent sound fish in there 30+ inches.

Folks,
"THEY WILL COME INTO NOVEMBER" :cool:

Linesides - a well respected Rhody Angler is writing several chapters worth on the Big Block Blitzes of November & December back in the 80s. I know a few people that were in on that, many from the NPSFA where they had days and nights of 40-50-60 pound bass on back to back nights from shore... Another fellow I know was getting keepers in Narragansett in late December before he switched over to fresh/ice fishing.... Yup - got a while to go yet.... Matter of fact, starting in January, I'm gonna start one of those, get a bass in every month and see how many years I can run that for :rolleyes: ;) :D :p :cool:

John the CSA has a bass a month contest. We have one member who is 10 for 10 so far this year. Last year I did it and it wasn't easy. Rich has the official club record with something like 25 straight months of getting at least one striper per month. When I get my act together I will try again for the 2002 season.

JohnS

I am not excited about it "being over" :(

I need help and I know this is where the healing begins. I mentioned taking the kids to the beach this weekend to see where daddy fishes and I was accused of "being obsessed with fishing". I am!! I could barely hold the rod the first time I fished with my dad I was so small. When I finally got my first rod I would spend every afternoon after school casting in my back yard. When we went to the store I would spend every minute in the fishing tackle aisle just looking at stuff. When I was finally old enough to ride my bike to the nearest pond unsupervised I was there almost every day. As soon as the ice went out I was fishing for brookies in the stream across the street from my Dad's shop. My Dad made arrangements for me to go fishing with a retired friend of his during the week. We used to visit a friend in Jamestown almost every weekend, I used to surfcast with a boat pole and never even got a hit, but I was out there weekend after weekend. As I grew older and responsiblity increased I fished on and off when I got a chance. A couple of years ago I met Saltheart and the whole fishing thing took on a life of its own.

I got both of my boys fishing before they were two and they get excited when I say lets go fishing. They get angry when I go after Stripers because they want to go too. Maybe in 5 years I can start taking the oldest with me :D and develop a whole new generation who appreciate the outdoors are happy with who they are and know how to think for themselves.

Its never over! Probably one more weekend for me stripering but deer hunting has already started, cod fishing, freshwater till ice then ice fishing. Winter fishing on the Cape is great no waterskiers or jet skis and the bite is still good!

It's never over! I totally agree with cratt. Got ice? Ice is as good as wood in my book. It all boils down to how bad do you really want it it's that simple folks. it's probalbly a good thing that the stripes migrate south for the winter, I think it makes me a appreciate them more so when I hook up with stripers.
There is life after surf, really there is I tell ya.

JohnS

Over, somebody say over. Was it over when the Germans bombed pearl harbor? Hell NO, and it ain't over now. When the fishing gets tough - the tough go fishin' Whose with me?

Iceman
:p

When did the Germans attack Pearl Harbor? ;)

Definitely, the season isn't over... I want to hit the RI surf a time or two and the Thames goes all winter. And I have a return date for a couple days out on the Florida flats with some reds and snook to look forward to...

But while it ain't over, it isn't the same as slingin' eels in the surf under the stars 20 minutes from my driveway, or droppin' the boat down the street and lookin' for birds and breakin' fish.

It just won't be at my fingertips like it has been all summer...

I don't know, I just get a bit of a knot in my gut when the leaves start falling, when its dark at 6pm, and that wind starts getting a bite to it. I love fall, but its a bit ominous.

Maybe I'm just afraid of the credit card damage my wife will start doing as Christmas approaches... you spent what on your 3rd cousin, twice removed!?

But you're right, if I want to keep fishing, I just need to put in a bit more effort and tough out the cold.

I got the bad leg now and with rescheduling my trip , my season is in deep jeapardy of being over rather abruptly. However , back when I fished four days a week , I always kept fishing through the Thanksgiving vacation. I may have to take some trips in November just to make up for what I'm misseng the last half of October.
Smokey is suffering withdrawal just talking about missing a week so I'm sure if there are fish around , he'll be gung ho to keep going in November in RI. Hard to believe its winding down, Its seems like just last week I was heading down to the wall for earling spring fish...like March 27! Time flies when you are having fun. :)

Great year, the fishing been better , but not the people Ive met on this site !!!!
If your really going to be that bored, your all welcome to come digging thru the ice with me this winter///


We have a good month left before we have to think holdovers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:cool:

Yep.. It is getting towards last call. Been promising the wife that October would be the last month of bassin, I have to admit she has been pretty darn tolerant. It has really been a bonus making a bunch of "good friends" who share in the same interests and are also commited to the pursuit of the "holy cow";) I feel very good about being able to come to this board and chat/brag about what is going on, not only in the water , but also what is going on in these times of changes. I really want to thank you John, for starting this board and also being an extremely gracious guide and also letting me pick your brain about a few fishing spots and how you like to fish them. The thing is...everyone is so willing to share thier own personal knowledge. Whether it is rod building, plugs, rubber, or even spots where the fish are. This is one fantastic site that has brought me endless hours of enjoyment and i do expect to be a supporter and participant for a long time to come. So i just want to say thank-you, to all of you, for being here.

Thanks Red - Pleasure to have you aboard... I'm wondering if I should start a fishing widows message board for all of our other halfs but I donm't think that would be too bright ;)

Seriously - other than fishing with #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&, this has been the best way to learn about striper fishing. So many knowlegeable people chippin in and helping out... Just need to protect a few spots though ;) :D :p :cool: :rolleyes: