Some History/Some thoughts on fish from the north!/Migration.

[Flaptail]

Actually catching Stripers through the ice is not that uncommon. In Joshua Atkins Nickerson's book "As I remember it" agbout growing up in Chatham at the turn of the century, he mentioned how his father and uncle would spear bass through the ice by drawing them up to the hole with lanterns in Pleasant Bay. On the Parker River up by Plum Island they would chop holes across the ice drop nets in and poison the river to catch bass for market in the winter.

Back in the 80's there were several taken through the ice in Follin's Pond in Yarmouth MA, one was near 30 pounds on a tilt for white perch.

Several years ago I went 22 months straight catching Stripers on the Cape just to see if it could be done and not only did I catch in Scorton and Old Harbor in Sandwich, I caught fish in Sesuit Harbor in Dennis Barnstable Harbor, Frostfish Creek in Chatham, Moonakis River in Waquoit, Blackfish Creek in Wellfleet and Upper Pleasant Bay at Barley Neck. The slowest month was March but February and January were actually good.

A mutual friend of Numbskull and mine tags bass. He tagged one last November in Quicks Hole on the Elizabeth Islands. He recently got the word that the fish ahd been recaptured in June just outside the Merrimac River entrance at Salisbury. That bass was heading North, no doubt in my mind.

There are resident populations in the Kennebec, Merrimac, Penobscot, Saco rivers to be sure but some fish do travel that far from the Chesapeake as well. It used to be said that the Hudson River fish never travelled beyond Long Island and Montauk. Well several years ago drifting eels in Barnstable we caught fish on the same night tagged in the Hudson and a couple tagged in the Chesapeake.

Fish do hold over. Some years they don't get the urge and if conditions are right they stay. I have talked to commercial shellfisherman in Barnstable Harbor who say they see them regurlarly in winter on the flats as the tide floods grubbing around where the clammers were working. Fish kills regfurlarly happen on Cape in mId winter when temps get too cold and fish get to far up creeks. In January 1995 we had several in Branstable Harbor, Scorton and Frostfish in Chatham. Duck hunters reported many in Barnstable and Pleasant Bay. I have caught bass with LaFleur in December at Old Harbor with three inches of snow on the ground and Stifftip and I caught them in Barnstable in a February snow with temps at 25 degrees and a stiff nortwest wind in our face while casting clouser minnows on flyrods on a flat.

They come and they go when they want to. The majority do go south from around here but if you know where to look you can always take a few.

[LINESIDES]

Flaptail, you saved me allot of writing. Thank You! You are right on. I glad I am not being viewed as a nut. When I get a moment, I will adlib more!
Later, L

[JohnR]

I glad I am not being viewed as a nut.
Later, L

Ahh, give us time, give us time - you'll be a nut before you know it

[Raven]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Ahh, give us time, give us time - you'll be a nut before you know it

you'll be a linesided NUT ....

[LINESIDES]

I am alergic to nuts! Thats why you dont see me hanging around John R.
Quote: Flaptail, In Joshua Atkins Nickerson's book "As I remember it" agbout growing up in Chatham at the turn of the century, he mentioned how his father and uncle would spear bass through the ice by drawing them up to the hole with lanterns in Pleasant Bay. On the Parker River up by Plum Island they would chop holes across the ice drop nets in and poison the river to catch bass for market in the winter.End quote.
I have not read the book, however I know a famely that did the same things in the early 1900. (Got em through the ice!)
I will let the dust settle for a while. ( A tid bit I found.)
Some or all of you may have seen this before. I just found it!
Quote: A striped bass tagged and released in the Saint John River, New Brunswick was recaptured 36 days later in Rhode Island, U.S.A., 805 km (503 mi) away! (22.4 km/day or 14 mi/day)
Later all, L













A striped bass tagged and released in the Saint John River, New Brunswick was recaptured 36 days later in Rhode Island, U.S.A., 805 km (503 mi) away! (22.4 km/day or 14 mi/day)

[tattoobob]

There was a guy (Indian) and I beleave he lived on a resivation in NS now he landed 3 50 plus pound striped bass at a dam up there.
He used to post on Stripersurf.com he had some picks in the pics forum

[tattoobob]

TONTO TONTO is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 58
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Yes sir caught the striper in the evening,and the trout in the mourning
I fish in the St.John River Fredericton New Brunswick,Canada

http://www.stripersurf.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6241

[ridler72]

For the past 10 years I noticed a growing population of Striped Bass in the fresh/brackish waters of the Metro Boston area. During this time the fish ladders are not functioning or poorly designed for the River Herring. Well, how will the Herring spawn? They let the Herring pile into the boat lockes, close it, and open the other side to the fresh allowing the Herring to swim and spawn up river. Along with the Herring are Bass of varied size. It's nice to fish in an area were you have a shot at LMB, SMB, and Striped Bass all in one outing. I have not witnessed a spawn yet around these river ways but I am sure it is possible.

[MikeTLive]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

... if you know where to look you can always take a few.

that says it all.