On The Water

ON THE WATER

Another season is upon us….the season most of us eagerly anticipate. It’s the start of the warmer weather that brings us together again. Something about the mutual swatting of black flies binds us! While we maintain friendships over the winter through calls, e-mails and occasional visits, it’s summer that adds the depth to build those relationships. Summer also allows the activities that we crave during the winter.

Managed to do a little ice fishing this winter, capping the season with a nice small mouth the last weekend in March. But I was already looking ahead to longer daylight and balmy temperatures, which are the keys to boating, fishing and swimming. Last summer was my first crack at Portland stripers and I’ll be repeating it this year. We’ll most likely go with Captain Ben Garfield again as he is a terrific guide and guy. I’m also holding out the possibility of plying the waters in my own boat. The percentage of success is lower but the rewards are higher! There’s something about exploring new areas that’s particularly special. We’ll also be making several drifts with the canoes and kayaks on the Androscoggin River. We generally go between Shelburne, NH and Bethel but may add some sections below Rumford if time allows. The Ellis and Webb rivers are also possible. Those “new” sections are touted to be good drift water with potential for big browns and small mouths. I’ve shore-fished the confluence of the Webb and Androscoggin and if the rest of the river holds a few spots that’s good…we’re all set! Anna and I tried the Twin Bridge-to-Center Bridge run in Turner last year. It’s the laziest current we hit but fun anyway. There are also schools of hungry smallies near the put-in and diversions up the Nezinscott and smaller side channels to add flavor. The Smith’s, the King’s and Shapiro’s (?) will try to join us on one of our adventures. Let me know if you’d like to join in…the more the merrier!

Rick with Bonefish, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas

While drifting and stripers are on the agenda, Tripp is still the #1 destination. The bass fishing is still good and the added stockings of trout only add to the value. Started this season May 8^th and 9^th with good results. Duplicated last year’s trout catches using spinners by the boat ramp, south and west shore but got hits in other areas as well. Caught 5 fat Brown trout (thank you IF & W !) and almost one of the big brood Salmon. She followed and nipped the Panther Martin twice right by the boat but not aggressive enough for a hook set. Tried a few more casts and changed lures but she lost interest. This was right in front of the King’s camp. I’m still holding out hope that someone will catch a holdover brown or salmon sometime. If you’re the lucky angler, please contact the IF & W.

They have a vested interest in our lake’s success and will continue to stock salmonoids, especially if there is holdover potential. Also caught 8 Small mouths on spinners after they refused Rapala’s. Saw evidence of early Small mouth spawning bed preparation but nobody was home. The next few weeks should be very productive with the water warming enough to induce the large mouths to join them in the shallows.

Anna and I took two trips to the Bahamas after we winterized the camp. The first was to Green Turtle Cay in the Abaco chain last November. The prime fishing goal was to boat a bonefish. I’ve had four annual trips to Florida with the same goal, all resulting in “bonefish failure.” While we’ve had a blast catching Sailfish, redfish, snook, jacks, etc., the bonefish dance card remained unfilled. Green Turtle was hopefully the antidote.

We chartered Ronny Sawyer, a reputable local guide. Anticipation was high that we were about to scratch a lifelong itch. Ronny picked us up on time and we had a brief chat about tactics and gear while we motored out the channel to the open bay. He had been out two days earlier and his clients got two bonefish on the full-day trip. That dampened my spirits somewhat. I was hoping he’d had a solid outing, which would increase our odds.

Anna Lyon proudly display Bonefish, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas

Two fish could easily be zero! Upon clearing the last channel marker, we sped to our first spot in his 18-foot Hell’s Bay flats boat. We only ran about four minutes when slowed and banked left. Anna and I scouted the water trying to figure out what prompted the sudden move. Ronny just pointed…we squinted…finally he said in his unimposing manner “see that grayer water? That’s a school of bonefish.” WOW!

Rick lands his Bonefish! Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas

The gray water was actually silt (aka mud) being suspended by bonefish nosing the bottom. When they‘re in an area of burrowed shrimp and crabs, the bones tilt down and shove their noses into the sand and forcefully blow out, sending the shellfish scurrying. Most get quickly picked up by the bonefish. The idea for the angler is to cast a bait or lure close to the working fish without being too close to spook it. “Mudding” fish are actually the easiest to catch because the water is roiled, offering the fish some protection and if there are several in an area, they feed competitively. The deck seemed stacked in our favor! Ronny could spot the fish easily from his vantage point on the poling platform and aided in directing my focus.

It only took a few casts, playing the wind, waves and fish movements to get a crab in the ‘zone.” The pickup felt much like a bass picking up a plastic worm; then the bonefish attempted to crush the crab’s shell followed by a turn in direction. It was then that I set the hook on my first bone!! A drag-screaming run of about 75 yards ensued. The fish stopped, turned and started another run. Thoughts were racing through my mind…all of the previous thwarted bonefish trips, all the prep to get to this location, etc., were soon to be less important…soon to be overridden by reaching the goal of boating a bonefish. Then suddenly…the line went slack! Hoping the fish had turned and was coming at me, I quickly reeled, expecting to feel the fish’s weight once again…but all there was to reel in was line. The end of the line was straight, not the telltale curl of a poorly tied knot so the bone must have clipped a piece of coral and broken the line! So close, but …! Not only did the fish get away, but the fight scattered the school.

We headed for a new location. No sightings. Another location…nothing. Two hours passed…no fish spotted…no casts made. Uh-oh…Florida again! We returned to the original area to find that the school has re-formed. The setup was the same as previously described but happily the result was different. Cast, hook up, a couple of 20 mile per hour runs (they don’t call them torpedoes for nothing!), a brief struggle near the boat and ultimately landing the fish for the much-awaited pictures. Luck was on our side for the rest of the day as we caught six bonefish with Anna boating two! We rented our own boat for three days and managed to catch three more without a guide as we explored Munjack Cay, Crab Cay and Cocoa Bay.

Bonefish fever struck again on our trip to the Grand Bahamas in late February. Got cheap flights though AirTran and stayed in an inexpensive beach lodge, only thirty minutes east of Freeport. Basically “Bahamas on a budget !” Food was great, people were friendly, an eight-mile beach almost to ourselves. Not known for a great time of year to catch bonefish, we managed to catch six that week. See me for details if you’re interested!

If you have any fishing news, track me down and I’ll add it to my next column. Call 998-8036, stop by the camp or find me on the lake. I’ll either be in my Maxum or my new/used 16’ Sylvan with a 75-hp Merc. Hope to have the Sylvan wet by Memorial Day. I’ll probably be selling my Maxum, so if you’re in the market give me a buzz.

We saw some eagles last year and during the winter but no sightings this spring. If you see any and can locate the nest, please take a picture and note the location or let me know. Phoebe Hardesty is compiling eagle info for our Watershed Plan.

Looking forward to a good season and finding “new spots.” Even though Tripp is our “home lake,” it changes enough to offer opportunities to learn. New weed patches develop while favorite spots can morph. New logs and fallen branches create fresh structure, luring bass to their offer of sanctuary. On the days when the fish don’t want to cooperate, spend some of that day searching for new spots. They’ll eventually prove invaluable. See you on the water!