As the 2001 season starts to draw to a close, let’s reflect back for a moment.

What was your best fishing experience this season. It didn’t have to involve the largest fish of your life, the most exotic location you’ve ever been to, it just had to be special for YOU.

Well, what can you tell us?

What did you learn from that event?

Meeting Slip, Tattoo, And You:D

I had one killer day for large fish this year, but I had a lot more fun the couple days I spent on a flat with FW/BC fishing for blues. That was a ball and I definately need to get me some more of that come spring of 2002. Just something about standing in skinny water and watching blues pretend they are Atlantic salmon :), great time.

I started fishing out of my kayak more this year in the bay area and the experience was out of this world. I saw acres of bluefish starting in late summer to the mid fall. I must have been in countless schools of bluefish and the most memorable was in front of Gaspee Point. There were so many blues thrashing around me that I got soaked with water and baby menhaden. I know what you are thinking what the heck are you doing in a kayak with all the teeth in the water. That thought never crossed my mind. The monent I launch my kayak and chase the fish all the worries of the world is left on shore. The only thing on my mind is how long will I last out there until my arm is sore from fighting fish.
Besides the blues, I caught my share of stripers. The only difference between the two in the kayak is how to unhook the fish while you are in kayak and the other is bass will take you for a journey around the bay. I had bass pulled my kayak for over 300 feet from where I had the hook up. Of course most of my fishing excursion took place at nite and the judgement of land can seem to out stretch. If you haven't tried this type of fishing or hunting for the bass or blues I would give it a second thought. Good luck and hope to see you out there next year in the "fish boil".

Hey Breakfast Fish, I thought your best time was when we hit the channel marker !!! Good thing you were sleeping, see ya in the morning//////////////

I just had a [best time] all year , got back more into fishing this year and just had fun , great meeting new fisher/people, the ccookouts at the legs, mystery trip with f/w & b/c, Westport thanks to red crabber ,laughs with Jenn, Fishparts kids,this site, fishing w/ G/S and getting a education/ yet bob acknowledgeing I at least have a chance/ Sheila getting her first Striper since getting sick/Johnr helping me get set for shore fishing, but with this belly and waddle in the waders, the boats looking better!!!!!!! and last but not least E N J O Y I N G !!!!!!!!!!!;)

Id have to say all the get togethers I went to this year have to rate right up there ! The Ditch fling , 3 legs of the S-B tourney and the fall fling . I missed a number too do to other obligations ( we will try not to let that happen again ) . meeting new people and seeing old acquaintances . And being able to fish into Dec with warm water and fish to be caught !

Toss up -

The best fishing experience for me wasn't what I would ordinarily call special but it was pretty stinkin' cool. Basically, all it was to walk down to the end of the street to wet a line. The end of my road isn't a great fishing spot but it's great because it's at the end of my road... And there was another couple spots right around the corner. Catching teen bass that danced on top of the water becuase of how skinny the inlet was :D ...(next year I plan to scout other walking distance spots)...

The other best fishing experience was the 3rd leg - on probably the most beautifull night condition-wise of the summer - seeing three guys get nice shore bass. No monsters but all nice fish and a wonderfull night - with each fish getting larger than the one before. But the spot is such that will make any surfcaster drool and shake his leg when the spot "develops" (too bad it's on Private Property :( ;) ). As it was a C&R, I wound up spending "the mini-blitz" measuring and releasing fish for the other guys - but very worth, uhh, missing most of the mini-blitz...

http://www.striped-bass.com/leg3_crabbera.jpg

http://www.striped-bass.com/fishp2d.jpg

I had a great time fishing with many of the people here on the board. Started this spring with John and Saltheart, a nite on the boat with clamdigger and John, a few trips to the ditch with Saltheart and Smokey, the spring opener and three of the four legs with everyone.

The best day fishing was probably the day clamdigger took my oldest and I out fluking. He still thinks sea robin is the best.

The best day fishing was probably the day clamdigger took my oldest and I out fluking. He still thinks sea robin is the best.
Certainly when the Sea Robin "Snorts".....

I do have a few regrets. I rarely had a chance to fish with my old fishin' partner Greg. Never fished with Bill this year (he didn't fish) or with Joe. Hardly fished with FW, BC, Saltheart, or Smokey either. I hope to make up for that next year....

I had a lot of good times fishing this year. One of the most memorable was fishing Cuttyhunk with the CSA. Had a fun trip just hangning out with the guys,and all the stonecrushing that goes along with that. It was nice to get a couple of good sized fish this year as well!

JohnS

I had alot of fun meeting new people, and learning new spots. I made legs 2-4 and had a grand time. I am looking forward to the spring already. I would really like to learn some more new spots this year. I want to say thanks to everyone I got a chance to fish with, for letting me tag along.

..As strange as it is....I would have to say that when I reflect on this past years fishing events...what sticks out the most is meeting many fishaholics like myself, via the internet...its literally blown my mind. I used to tell my honey that people talking and meeting through the internet was insane..." I WOULD NEVER....blah, blah, .." ..but look at me now....I spent quite a few nights with fellas I met for the first time...{ reminds me of my reckless years...but with girls ;)...shhhhhh.....don't tell her!! }

..on another site, I met up with about 30 fishermen at the Ditch, then in Rhode Island with a new group...then I drove to Maine to meet up with Grandpa Ol' Spook, JD and BillB...the whole way up thinkin to myself...." I must be nuts! "...I was driving to Maine by myself to fish with guys I never met..( while I usually fish alone )...Sheeesh!! whats this world coming to?:D:D

..I have picked up a couple of tricks, as well as shared some...but the idea of meeting people who love this " SPORT " as much as I do....is a treasure in its own!!( yes, I do consider it a sport! ):p

Ditch Fling:..a few of the fellas were on the opposite side ( any familiar faces? )..that was missing from the Cod trip JohnR....a group photo for the Cod post...

Sounds like a lot of great memories were filed away under 2001.

For me, my personal high came from directing and producing a video featuring Lefty Kreh. It had taken over two years to plan. When it finally unfolded, it was nothing short of fantastic. There I was setting the stage for one of the world’s greatest anglers to ply his skills against one of my favorite fish, in one of the most hallowed spots in all the striper surf – Cuttyhunk.

For four days I tried to capture how Lefty approaches fishing every possible type of structure, in every possible type of weather and sea condition. We caught fish on the legendary Sow and Pigs reef. We caught fish in deep water drop offs, on shallow flats, in boulder fields, at the mouth of a pond, in calm water, in heavy seas, in just about every condition an angler would have to cope with.

It was a great experience learning how Lefty would: analyze the situation and then makes his decisions on lure or fly selection, how he would animate his fly, how he would count down as his offering sank to depth and then alter the depth until he connected, how he would choose color, size and profile of a fly to match the bait in the area, how he would make 80 foot casts, all day long, even with wind, and how every fish caught seemed to be as exciting as Lefty’s first.

The soon to be released videos will reveal, not only a treasure trove of useful information, lots of great underwater seascapes and schooling fish, but it will also capture the jovial and gregarious personality of a truly wonderful human being.

There were many other 2001 highlights: videotaping sailfish as they worked balls of bait 20 miles off Costa Rica, filming a mako shark devour a bluefish after rocketing up out of the cobalt-blue ocean, watching a 400 pound mako jump 10 times with leaps over 15 high and 30 feet wide, descending through schools of bass on Sow and Pigs Reef, spotting 40 and even 50+ stripers in shallow water, even chasing schools of mullet in the wash.

I’m also grateful for all the new friends that I have met both in the virtual world of the Internet and on the water. I’m grateful for every sunrise and every sunset, and as good a year as it was, I can’t wait for next season.

Bloo - I never did get any shots on the Cod Trip that kinda-sorta never was... Saltheart will agree with how bad I am with the camera but I think BM got a couple shots, maybe even a few of Slip's green tinge (but I heard Slip ransacked BM's house for the evidence http://128.241.205.103/vbulletin/images/smilies/smash.gif )