In my observation there are surfcasters that have alot invested in plugs along with memoriable experiences. It would be difficult to ask them to leave their plugs at home and only use eels or sluggos even if they knew that they produce more fish.

When for a number of years I did nothing but saltwater flyfish I ran the Osterville Anglers Club Educational series with my good friend Capt Ron Murphy, charterboat "Stray Cat" outa Hyannis. I put together a 8 week program of how to get started to advance techniques each year with many, many notable fishermen, scientists, professors etc. I was quite proud of the series over the number of years it ran. Later Gene Bourque and my self did the same for Redington Rod Company. Each year someone would invariably ask the question "How can I catch big bass consistently", I would answer in kind, well for starters you can put away all your fly rods and get a ten foot conventional rod and a big sled dog of an eel", "that's how to get big bass consistently" I know what a live eel can do. I still think getting to get a fish to take a plug is wayyyyy more rewarding.

There was no direct insult, you read to much into it I merely stated that eels, like EarthGirls, are easy. Minimal tackle, minimal care, and once the technique is picked, which is quickly done, the eel does the rest.

I know, I fished nothing but for years and caught many many big fish that way. Stifftip did a 1000 pounds one night back when on Monomoy with eels. But you know what I remember most about eel fishing? It was one night years back with Eric LaFleur, we were drifting eels in Barnstable Harbor at night and had been doing very well. Numbskull had given me a jointed eel he made, (looks just like a Tattoo eel, almost identical the difference being Numbskull made this one ten years ago.) I took that jointed eel plug out snapped it on and the fish totally disregarded the eels for the rest of the night and I croaked them on that plug while Eric just watched. That was my most memorable eel fishing experience.

If you were offended it was purely coincidental, I am merely stating fact and as you so admire the eel and it's fish catching abilities, so do I believe that plug fishing is the most rewarding and demanding of a fishermans knowledge.

Is this one a little bit better Krispy? :huh:

back to what's in your plugbag for Cutty this fall..............

I'm no expert on Cuttyhunk, but I fish the Elizabeth's by boat a ton (including today). A couple of things to consider.

Most of it is shallow, what's not has big rocks that come close to the surface. The south side is particularly tough. Consider heavy mono or Fireline over there. If you use braid, bring an extra spool and plenty of leader material. Expect to lose some needles.

Although you'll find some moving water around the west end, and at times near the clubhouse and north side (and of course around Canapisit) most of the night any pull will be minor.

50/50 chance you'll have some swell/ white water this time of the year.

You'll walk a ton. If you fish from the harbor around the west end and back the south side, you'll cover 3-4 miles of rocky/uneven footing (which will take all night). If you take the road out to the west end and fish back one side or the other, it's more like 1.5 to 2 miles of very difficult going (not counting the walk out). Traveling light and carrying water is important, more so than carrying a big bag of plugs.

If you wade, and you'll want to along the south side as the tide drops, korkers or studded boots are neccessary.

For some years now, we haven't had much big bait in the fall (with the exception of last year when in the very end of October and early November we had a big mass of sea herring settle into the west end of Vineyard Sound which held fish in numbers we don't usually see that late). Juvenile bunker is probably the predominant bait (if you are a match the hatch type).

By far the majority of fish I catch daytime plugging are taken with medium dannys and 2.5 oz pencil poppers. A chrome creek chub popper and spooks also can be good.

By night, (aside from the obvious eel/sluggo option) you can't go wrong with a skin plug (either needle or swimmer). 3-4 needles are worth carrying, and a short shallow runner with some hackle has been good this year. After that you are experimenting. Swimmers work great from the boat, but getting the requisite distance from shore can be a problem. Ditto for bombers, etc. Bottles and darters don't get much use because current isn't real fast and depth is an issue, but you'll probably want to carry one in case. Likewise, I stay away from teasers in the rocks (unless I use a hookless plug which I find hard to stomach), but they do work (my biggest shore bass came from across the way at Gay Head on a Red Gill ahead of a Gibbs needle). The place seems perfect for a big jointed eel if you got one, though I haven't used mine much. I do do pretty well during the day using my own version of the smaller master lure (which is now available from Tatoo), although I can't cast it with the size conventional tackle I choose to use from shore in the rocks.

Bottomline, don't carry too much, go with what you have faith in, and fish with confidence.......even if the place isn't paved with fish, the chance at a real big loner is there with every cast.

I love that last line George :D

i dont walk too far at night I get scared . I cant seem to go anywhere on them rocks every time I step they roll and roll .

Truth is you don't neccessarily have to. The west end where the road ends can be plenty good (though it gets pretty shallow as the tide drops). But for those who've not been there, they need to realize you can't access most of north and south shores (at least west of the harbor) without walking in from the ends. Cutting through brush and clamboring up and down those cliffs in the dark doesn't work well, at least back years ago when I tried it. Trying to wade around the pond during a nor'east storm was also a mistake. Hence my screen name.

I changed my mind, I am bringing Sea Worms and fishing them on the bottom. I'm not walking no where

The 3.5 ounce, to me, is a moderatley slow sinker that will come up on top pretty fast. I did some testing 2 summers ago as to sin rates and it was slower than both the 2 ounce and 2.5 ounce Habs needles. It also comes back up to the surface faster than the smaller needles. Just because one plug weighs more than another, doesn't mean it sinks faster. There is more wood to lead in the big girl than the smaller ones.I really like that plug in sticky water. It casts well, rides high (for me), and draws in some BIG bass. I crank her in nice and slow, too. I dropped a really good fish on the SW point my first trip out to the island on the Habs 12"-er, too. Took one cast, hooked the fish, and brought the plug back in with 2 straightened 4/0 VMC's. Granted the fish was probably hooked in the skull (usually the case with straightened hooks on needles) but it still had some good weight and pull.

tlap,

Hope to see you on the island in a couple of weeks. Talked to Asa tonight and the shore report was very encouraging but things can always change overnight as you know.

Numbskull is right on with his packing light advice. Don't overdue it. Think Willem Dafoe giving Charlie Sheen some advice in the Jungle in Platoon. "You're humping way too much, troop."

I know its probably personal preference by I've never been a big fan of Korkers compared to good felt soles in the rocks. I find Korkers make me more clumsy and limit my agility. I've taken more spills in Korkers in bubble weed than in felt boots due to getting hung up. If you're slipping with the felt boots then you're moving too fast and not paying enough attention to your footing. Also, korkers are contrary to the goal of traveling light. Always travel with a buddy as well.

I plodded all around Cutty without Korkers, just my felt soled waders and had no problems whatsoever. Korkers not needed IMHO, but if ya feel the need, ya do what ya need to do.

WHITE PLUGS

anything white, dannys,needles, white white white

Perhaps, but I suspect the fish are eating lobster and choggies in there as well. I've had pretty good luck with a 2.75 oz beachmaster needle in blurple, even when some moon is around. I suspect it imitates some of the darker food they hunt. Others I know do well with black and gold.

Well that should just fry his brain the rest of the way...

I just want to thank each and every one who contributed to this thread, it has been one of the more informative ones this entire summer, not only for Cuttyhunk but for any plugger. Thanks again all.

you ain't kidding :wall::behead: :soon: :devil2:
everytime I read these threads I go thru stuff again. but that's it, it's in the truck to stay.
I weeded out 2 plano boxes in 2 or 3 separate reorganizings and that's as far as I'm going

I have a beachmaster needle in blurple, I took it out last night :rollem:I have the olive one in my plugbag.
my brain has short-circuited:scatter:

now I have to decide whether or not to bring my korkers, if I do, I may not even use them but if I leave them, I will have needed them of course.:hs: :gu:

Oh man! Now I have to reorg my plugs coming to the island this weekend, as I still have too many - don't really need 9 pencils, but each one is slightly different -- and probably don't need a dozen spooks, or dozen needles, but the question is the big what if ........ hate to be without.

Slip....bring them anyway! If you decide you want them at least they are on island with you! Have fun you guys!:bounce:

My first trip to the island, I packed WAY more stuff than I needed. Since then, I get away with a much more specialized, smaller pile of gear. When I am out and about, I only bring my single row Skinz bag with 2 plugs per tube and one large plug in the side. Maybe a few slug-go's in the flap if I feel so inclined. My philosophy is to pack exactly what I think I will need, and fish those plugs completely. I really believe that if you limit the plugs you bring out on a given night, but cover the bases, your success will be greater. It makes me fish the limited supply of plugs more thoroughly through the water to be sure that there are not any fish around if I am not catching. As far as colors, I base that on the current moon / weather stage. Sure there have been nights wher I wished I had brought some certain random plug, but that experience has occurred less and less often as I have truly stuck to the plan over the years. Sure there is the yellow/red plugs on Cutty and neon green on Block theories, but I have never personally caught on either of those colors on either island. I simply stick to what I know and make the island adapt to me. :usd:

Or HO some plugs from your buddies:hee:

bump, it's that time again

Black and silver popper at first light. darters yellow or shallow swimmers day light with a flashy side if sunny
and eels at night

bump
 

not sure if anyone had any more to add to this one...

I will from my last trip
Eelskin Junior

:jump1:

thx bluefishercat