Plugs for Cutty in the fall (II revisited)

[tattoobob]

Ross, I put alot of needles (all sizes), Spooks, swimmers and tins, slug-gos, teasers, Worm Potion
All plugs are 2 tone because of the bright moon. Eels and a couple of Eelbobs.

[Redsoxticket]

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.

[Flaptail]

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.

[Slipknot]

Is this one a little bit better Krispy?

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

[numbskull]

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.

[Slipknot]

I love that last line George

[chris L]

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 .