COWHUNTER GIVES UP SECRET SPOT - ULTIMATE BURN -- DON'T TELL!

[Fish_Eye]

John, you’re so right about the need to protect access. It’s like loosing your favorite rod overboard when you drive up to a spot you use to fish for years and find there’s no room for you.

Believe me I’m not immune to it either. One July 4th I pulled up to a spot I’ve been diving for 34 years, only to find that there was no parking; the limited parking area was filled to the brim with mostly out of state cars and they had even spilled out onto the shoulder of the road. I was furious and sped off to my second spot down the road. I was starting to put my wet suit on when I saw a cop go by. I jumped in my truck and chased down the patrol car. I flashed my lights and pulled it over (it felt good being the one doing the pulling over for a change). The officer got out and walked over to my truck -- SHE was a Latino officer in a pretty Waspy town – boy things HAD changed a little over the years. I pleaded my case to her and explained that with the holiday and all, there was a spill over of parking onto the side of the road and I was wondering if I parked there would I get a ticket? She explained that she would normally let it go, but that as soon as she got a call complaining about the situation, she was duty bound to ticket the vehicles. Then she got a call from the station and asked me to wait a second. When she returned she said, “That was the old woman that always calls and I’m surprised she hasn’t called already. Now I have to ticket.” I resorted to asking her if there were any reasonable, perhaps younger people that lived near the water's edge that I could talk to about getting access. She gave me the name of a family down the road; I thanked her and in 10 seconds I was knocking on the door. I explained the circumstances, my long involvement with fishing, diving, and filming in the area, and quickly got access that put me right on the edge of the water. Obviously I treasure that privilege and never abuse it. I’ve been lucky enough to be granted that same kind of access to a number of other highly trafficked “spots.”

The planet is getting smaller. There are way too many people on it now and it’s only getting worse. There are more people in the sport and they’ll continue to be growth in surf and boat fishing until we mismanage the fish into non-existence (that’s another story for another time).

What can we do? We live in an information age where you no longer have to befriend some old sharpie and then wait a few years before he trusts you enough to show you where to go. The info is out there. It’s in OLD magazines, not just new articles. Spots are divulged in OLD posts and it only takes a few minutes of searching to pull up the skinny on hot places to fish. And there will be new books, stories, where-to articles, and even TV shows blowing the lid of so called secret spots. What can we do?

First, let’s remember that learning a new spot is like learning where a bank safe is located. The safe might be loaded with cash, but you need the right combination to get at the booty. Going to that spot at the most productive time of day or night is “14 to the right.” Knowing what tide to work is like “two turns and 6 to the left.” Knowing what lure or fly to use is like “25 to the right.” Knowing how to present that fly or lure is like “three spins to the left, stop at 5 and bingo the safe is open!” However, if you fish that same spot in February vs. October you might find the vault is empty. Those that come and are looking for instant gratification will probably get skunked and never return. However, some youngblood might put it all together and start catching fish. He or she might turn out to be your next best fishing buddy. Isn't that how you've met some of your best fishing companions in the past?

Second, people don’t protect things they don’t care about. Nobody has done more to protect and save ducks than “Ducks Unlimited” -- and they kill em’. With more people in the sport, we should use our numbers and our collective voices to keep access open and to ADD NEW ACCESS…remember, we pay a lot of excise tax on all the expensive gear we buy. But, it’s the squeaky gear that gets the grease. RISAA, has an access committee. Get involved with the process; don’t just grumble about some new illegal barricade at a right of way. Work within the system to get these areas re-opened, then police the area and keep it clean, organize a clean up effort, talk to offenders.

Your final option is to walk from house to house asking, “Do you like to eat fresh fish?” You might be surprised at how often that will work. Just make sure you have a clean pair of waders on when you approach the landowners and keep bassmaster in the truck

Mike

[Fish_Eye]

Thanks for the continued interest in "Stripers Gone Wild." I'm in the process of finishing it and hope to add another chapter on a secret spot I call Cuttyhunk. This will mean that this epic DVD will have taken five years to produce and it should cause the meltowdown of DVD players from coast to coast. I promise you that this is the most informative and most entertaining fishing production you have ever seen. I hope to get it in the stores in November. At the same time I'll be starting the re-introduction of the old videotape titles as new and improved digitally remastered DVDs with lots of additional footage.

I'm also putting together a new show for the upcoming Winter show season, so make it a point to visit me in Worcester or perhaps the MSBA show -- call me on that one Patrick!

For your viewing pleasure here are some shots of the best striper surf on the planet.

Here is where I caught bass up to 59"

I've seen and videotaped dozens of COWS swimming around the massive boulders. I've also fished here and caught nothing. I've also been diving here when I couldn't find anything but stones -- no fish, no bait, just complete desolation. You're typical HOT SPOT!

[spence]

Originally Posted by Fish_Eye

I hope to get it in the stores in November.

Hmmm....I seem to remember...

I’ll be selling the DVD through a number of Striped-Bass.com sponsors and it should be ready before the end of January. - Mike Laptew Jan 1, 2004

-spence

[GBOUTDOORS]

Mike is that Nov. 2005? I think I can see some of Slipknots foot prints on the shore in that picture. He was carrying that big plug bag and must have weighed 500# as he walked the shore leaving prints in the rocks for ever as a sign that he had passed this way.

[Slipknot]

Size 14

[NIB]

GB I remember that Pic Slip an I where talkin bout that the other day.The Cromangan Surfcaster.

Hey Mike do U always talk in Parables.U woulda made a nice apostle.
I just give Nebe a plug an he gave me the combination.
An I'll never have that recipe again.

[Fish_Eye]

spence,

I know this project was suppose to be finished a long time ago, but as a great artist once said, "Art is never finished!" However, enough is enough and now I'm doing the balancing act of removing some footage to make room for even better shots gathered over the last year. All this while balancing a Mom-in-law that's been very sick and doing a lots of work for Crocodile Bay Lodge in Costa Rica. Keep the faith!

Nebe,

I know not of what you speak.

Here's a little more spot burning on Cuttyhunk.

Everywhere you turn on Cuttyhunk you see promising water; you can't help but dream of trophy fish coming out of the waves and inhaling your plug.

The Fishing Club seen from accross the cove.


A view of Nashaweena Island just before sunset


From the bluffs you get a great view of Martha's Vineyard and Gay Head Light.


There's amazing wildlife and bird watching on the island. It's not just a fishing destination, it's a sanctuary away from the curse of modern technology: cell phones, text messages, voice mail, computers, airplains, trains, cars, deadlines.............


A church with a striped bass on the steeple is my kind of church.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Fish_Eye

spence,

I know this project was suppose to be finished a long time ago, but as a great artist once said, "Art is never finished!"

Don't worry, I'm from Iowa...we're a very patient people

-spence

[Rockport24]

Hi Mike! didn't realize you were on this board. I have "Stripers in Paradise" and love it. Although I would like to see more surfcasting footage, will this new one have more? I understand it may be tough, especially with these spot burning battles going on. Awesome pictures by the way!

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by NIB

I just give Nebe a plug an he gave me the combination.
An I'll never have that recipe again.

nib you gave me more than a plug. And for that i returned the favor. The combination changes every month, but the numbers are all the same.

Keep it those #'s to yourself and the contents will always be there for you.

**Steve baldwin made that striped bass weather vane on top of that chruch. He was a great friend of my gramps.

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Nebe

nib you gave me more than a plug. And for that i returned the favor. The combination changes every month, but the numbers are all the same.

Keep it those #'s to yourself and the contents will always be there for you.

**Steve baldwin made that striped bass weather vane on top of that chruch. He was a great friend of my gramps.

I hear ya buddy...I already forgot the numbers...
One of the Balwin brothers is a friend of ur gramps.???

[NIB]

Come on slip post ur pic.the art of travelin lite.

[Fish_Eye]

I call this shot "Stairway to Heaven," because it leads you from the back deck of the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club where this stone laden beach was once home to the old "Home Stand" fishing stand.



Here's a look at the rocks that supported the iron legs and wooden planks where the pioneers of surfishing and past American Presidents once fished.


The Gay Head Light on the Aquinnah Cliffs can seen in the distance.


Iron Mike once took a 60 near this spot.

Don't expect me to put an "X" on the exact rock...besides, I moved it

[fishweewee]

Mike

I think the next DVD you should shoot is "Rhody Charter Captains Behaving Badly."

p.s. Costa Rica give wee wee big fishing stiffy.

[Bassman18]

Originally Posted by fishweewee

I think the next DVD you should shoot is "Rhody Charter Captains Behaving Badly."

all day and no hookup

[kippy]

Great pictures Mike!

[The Iceman 6]

Getting back to the Race, yeah I think I've heard of that place, was there last week as a matter of fact, pretty common knowledge....

Great Pic's Mike....Great work Cowhunter...

Ice