Fresh Pond Habs

[piemma]

Fresh Pond Habs

It was late September and the first Nor’ Easter of the Fall was bustling its way down the coast. Due to the conditions, I couldn’t get anyone to fish with me, so I went alone. My routine was to start in Narragansett at Black Point and work West.
I got to the parking lot on Ocean Road and the wind was really howling but Black Point could be hot, on the drop, if the wind was North East. There is so much structure to hold bait, the bass could find easy pickings.
I suited up: Grundon Top, Neoprene wader and belt and Korkers. I headed down the path which was always a spooky walk as there are no lights on the half mile walk to where I would climb the rocks down into the cove.
As the path reaches the shoreline you can see 100 yards in either direction and I didn’t like what I saw. Waves were crashing over the rocks everywhere. My secret spot to the North was under water. My “go to” spot to the South was getting hit with 10 foot waves and some even bigger. Nope, these were not the conditions to fish this spot, especially alone. I headed back to the truck trying to figure my next move. I hadn’t figured it being as rough as it was and had to think for a bit.

I knew The Point would be out of the question as would all the frontage on Ocean Road and everything on the East side. I could head down the coast to the Westerly area and at least be around the “corner”. Checked in at Galilee Channel and it was dropping fast. Too fast to fish except with maybe 5 oz bucktails. So off I went looking for that magical spot that will give up a “fat girl”.
I ducked into Charlestown and when to the back of the breachway. I knew it would be insane to go in front on the rocks. Took a half dozen cast and had a bump so maybe some fish also headed into the pond to escape the maelstrom out front. Six more cast and nothing happened so I packed up and headed West.
Quonny might be a good bet, especially at this time of year but it was always a dangerous spot and alone, with this weather, could be a recipe for disaster. I stopped at another go to spot but the tide wasn’t down quite enough yet and you can get your ass kicked at this place in the daytime with no wind. A bar consisting of round, slime covered rocks similar to bowling balls covered with grease. Tough wading and dangerous in these conditions.
Ok, I got it! Fresh Pond Rock! Fresh Pond Rock is a spot on East Beach before Quonny but after Charleston and Ninigret Pond. Named for a fresh water pond off the beach, it has hundreds of rocks that jut out from a sandy beach on both sides. There is a huge current here and I have seen it totally buried so not a rock is showing, to after a big storm, hundreds of big boulders jutting out 300 feet into the surf. It is a natural trap for bait and there is deep water off the tip of the rocks, so Stripers feel secure in their surroundings.
It is about 3:00 AM, 45 degrees and pouring rain. Just one of those nasty early morning that you question your sanity for being where you are. I was fishing a needlefish made by a well know manufacturer of fine plastic lures.
This was probably 90 or 91 so we were just coming out of the moratorium. Limit was 1, Bass, 36” or more. I hadn’t had a bump and was getting discouraged. Figured I had to wait it out as we were an hour from the bottom and false dawn was an hour and change away.
I got out of the water and went up to the big rock that has a natural seat on the back side of it. Head down, hood up and just miserable. Suddenly someone is standing in front of me. This guy has a Fu Manchu mustache and just looks at me and says:
“Well *&&^^, you gonna sit there feeling bad for yourself or are you gonna fish?” I said that I hadn’t had a bump in 2 hours. He grabs my rod and cuts off my needlefish and throws it up on the beach near the snow fence. I’m thinking I am in the presence of a madman.
He hands me a white needlefish with pink on the front and says:
“John Habs is my name and I’m making these needlefish. This is a prototype, and none have hit the market yet”.
So Habs and I get back in the surf and on my second cast I’m one! John hooks up almost at the same time. For the next 2 hours, right through dawn, we are hammering fish, some up to 20 pounds but most in the 12 to 15-pound range.
I had not seen fishing like this since the 70s and certainly not since the moratorium. Finally, the tide was dead low and the rain had let up. The bite magically died as it got light.
John and I talked for quite awhile and he gave me several more needlefish and a couple jointed, metal lip swimmers. I became a lure tester for John and sadly, I lost all the metal lip jointed plugs. I still have several of his prototype needlefish which I will never fish. Habs Sr. needlefish have become extremely collectable because of their fish catching ability. They swim right, they sink at the right rate of descent and they just drive Stripers crazy. He also made poppers and swimmers which I field tested for him. His Nite-in-Gale was especially deadly in a howling wind and heavy surf.
John and I became close friends and fished a lot together in the following years. We had many memorable nights from Watch Hill to the Cape. He use to be a fixture on the “Back Beaches” of the Outer Cape before the seals showed up and ruined the fishing. Nelsons Bait and Tackle in Provincetown couldn’t keep his Needlefish plugs in stock. They would sell out in a few hours after he delivered them.
The last time I saw John was at Home Depot in Greenville. I had just been diagnosed with cancer and had been operated on and had chemo the week before. John knew as only a few of my friends were privy to the fact. So I am struggling to put an exterior front door in my truck. Here comes Habs. What *&^%$ are you doing you stupid ((*&^!!! Get the **^% out of the way. John helped me get the door in the truck and then we went for coffee at D&D right up the road.

Sadly, John died in September of 2007. John Jr. took over the business for a period of time but stopped a few years ago. I still miss John Sr. and think of him every time I fish the surf with a Habs Sr. needlefish.
Rest in peace my friend. You were the best.

[pbadad]

Paulie this story gave me goosebumps. Didnt know John personally but spoke with john at RISSA that year. Gave me advice I use and tell others on fishing needles. I'll never forget getting off the Cutty water taxi and hearing news John passed. May he RIP.
Thank you Paul for sharing .
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[JohnR]

Miss Johnny, the various escapades, big smile, and hilarious talk.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by pbadad

Paulie this story gave me goosebumps. Didnt know John personally but spoke with john at RISSA that year. Gave me advice I use and tell others on fishing needles. I'll never forget getting off the Cutty water taxi and hearing news John passed. May he RIP.
Thank you Paul for sharing .
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Thank you for the compliment. John was a special friend to me.

[spence]

I’ll never forget the time I went to that fishing club meeting in Newport. I had just started surfcasting and didn’t know many people. Habs comes in late, takes a seat in the back and immediately rips a loud fart.

[DZ]

John driving around Provincetown with a sticker of a 12-inch needlefish on his buggy that said:

"GET A HAB ON!"

Damn he was good.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by spence

I’ll never forget the time I went to that fishing club meeting in Newport. I had just started surfcasting and didn’t know many people. Habs comes in late, takes a seat in the back and immediately rips a loud fart.

His big thing was farting loudly!

[piemma]

Originally Posted by DZ

John driving around Provincetown with a sticker of a 12-inch needlefish on his buggy that said:

"GET A HAB ON!"

Damn he was good.

Just the best Dennis. One of a kind and a true character that was larger than life.

[redlite]

Originally Posted by DZ

John driving around Provincetown with a sticker of a 12-inch needlefish on his buggy that said:

"GET A HAB ON!"

Damn he was good.

John used to say to me all the time Mike I don't understand why I always have a line of trucks following me...... well geee John it says "Habs" across your explorer. They either think u know where the fish are or they want your plugs.
My partner and I used to have this wierd obsession of blurting out "HABS" when we got delirious out there.
Still have a few of his prototypes he gave me back then too.
Good dude to run into.
Some day will be all of us
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[tattoobob]

I miss Habs, great guy always made time to chat

One year on my birthday we were on the cape for the October holiday and stopped at Nelsons and John's truck was outside we went in and he was dropping off some needles we walked out together and he calls me over to his Explorer and hands me a hat and a needle eel color and says happy birthday

Charlie C was also there we stayed in the parking lot in the mist for over an hour

[spence]

Originally Posted by tattoobob

I miss Habs, great guy always made time to chat

One year on my birthday we were on the cape for the October holiday and stopped at Nelsons and John's truck was outside we went in and he was dropping off some needles we walked out together and he calls me over to his Explorer and hands me a hat and a needle eel color and says happy birthday

Charlie C was also there we stayed in the parking lot in the mist for over an hour

When I mentioned I just had a boy 19 years ago he sent me a kids sized Habs hat.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by tattoobob

I miss Habs, great guy always made time to chat

One year on my birthday we were on the cape for the October holiday and stopped at Nelsons and John's truck was outside we went in and he was dropping off some needles we walked out together and he calls me over to his Explorer and hands me a hat and a needle eel color and says happy birthday

Charlie C was also there we stayed in the parking lot in the mist for over an hour

Originally Posted by spence

When I mentioned I just had a boy 19 years ago he sent me a kids sized Habs hat.

Originally Posted by redlite

John used to say to me all the time Mike I don't understand why I always have a line of trucks following me...... well geee John it says "Habs" across your explorer. They either think u know where the fish are or they want your plugs.
My partner and I used to have this wierd obsession of blurting out "HABS" when we got delirious out there.
Still have a few of his prototypes he gave me back then too.
Good dude to run into.
Some day will be all of us
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

He was just the best. I was driving on Rt37 taking the exit to Post road when I got the call. My wife was with me and I started crying. She understood as she knew Habs and how close we were.