Pulled from the storm

A storm like the one we had a week and a half ago can change fishing a lot. Some species, like summer flounder (fluke), may leave the area totally. Yet other species just won’t bite. They may not bite because the water is dirty with sand that irritates the gills of fish, so they stop moving around and feeding, or they simply cannot see your bait in murky, cloudy water. 

Storms can also create fishing opportunities, with bait being pushed up against downwind shores along with reefs, clam and mussel beds that get torn up with broken shells, providing a feeding ground for many of the fish we target. 

A storm this time of year often provides a cleansing and transition time for anglers suggesting it is time to target fall species like tautog, migrating striped bass, surface feeding bluefish, bonito and false albacore.

Ryan Collins of “My Fishing Cape Cod” said, “During the storm last weekend I had one of the best days of surfcasting I’ve had all season long, fishing northeast-facing beaches on the Cape. Members inside our forum also reported some amazing catches.”

Fly fishing classes for adults

The Aquatic Resource Education Program of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will hold their annual adult “Introduction to Saltwater Fly Fishing Workshop” on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Narrow River, Narragansett, at the Sprague Bridge parking area. Volunteer instructors start at 8 a.m.

Learn fly casting, knots, fly choice and more from some of the area’s best fly instructors. Instruction takes place on land in the morning; then you get to test your newly learned skills fishing in Narrow River in the afternoon.

I took this introductory session three years ago and learned how to fly fish, and then caught fish on a fly rod that afternoon. No fish guaranteed, but this is a program worth considering.

Equipment will be provided, including fly rods, flies and reels. The cost of the program is $30/person, which includes a box lunch. Families with youth 12 and older are welcome. Participants should bring their own chest waders.

Expert fly-fishing guide Ed Lombardo will lead volunteer instructors from fly fishing clubs throughout the region.

To register, email Kimberly Sullivan at Kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov or call her at 401.539.0037.

Freshwater ponds stocked for fall

Massachusetts and Rhode Island have been engaged in fall trout stocking programs. Massachusetts stocked more than 70,000 trout in area waterways, and this fall Rhode Island will stock 25 waterways with rainbow and brook trout from Oct. 2 to 8.

This past Friday, Oct. 2, the Blackstone River in Cumberland and Lincoln, Meadow Brook Pond in Richmond, and Olney Pond in Lincoln Woods State Park were stocked. And in North Attleboro, Mass., Whiting Pond and Falls Pond were stocked Tuesday, Sept. 29, with a host of other waterways stocked in Massachusetts too.

Regular stocking updates will be available on DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) Facebook Page and www.dem.ri.gov/troutwaters. In Massachusettsl, for trout stocking updates and an interactive map visit Mass Wildlife at Trout stocking report | Mass.gov .

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass, bluefish, bonito, false albacore: Ryan Collins of “My Fishing Cape Cod” said, “AJ Coots of Red Top Sporting Goods reported fish in the Cape Cod Canal, including bonito and even sea bass feeding on top.”

“During and after the storm last week the fishing exploded, with the storm pushing bait, striped bass and bluefish all the way up the Providence and Seekonk rivers. Customers were catching large striped bass all the way to Festival Pier in Pawtucket across from the soccer stadium. The bonito and false albacore bite was good too in the mid-east passage area of Narragansett Bay, including Poppasquash Point, Bristol,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence.

Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, Warwick, said, “Anglers were catching striped bass to 52” right here in Apponaug Cove, Warwick.  Large striped bass feeding on peanut bunker and larger Atlantic menhaden too were caught in the Bay as well.”

Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “The storm made for some tough conditions, but the surf fishing was actually very good throughout it. Some nice striped bass were landed from shore, and the guys who were willing to deal with the weather were rewarded. Sometimes it didn’t matter how far you could cast; it just depended on how you presented the lure, as the fish were down a bit deeper.  The bonito and albie reports have been a little slower over the past few days. The storm seems to have pushed some of the albies around, but I would expect the false albacore to return as things settle back down.”

Black sea bass

The Frances Fleet party boat out of Pt. Judith reports, “Seems like the September storm pushed the small sea bass out and the keepers are back on the menu. Full boat limit Thursday on black gold (back sea bass).”

Tautog

Tautog fishing has been good. “Customers are catching some nice tautog. The water has cooled down a bit and anglers are hooking up at Hope Island and off Patience Island in the Bay. Some larger fish are being taken off Newport out in front,” said Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle.

Freshwater

Freshwater fishing for both trout and largemouth bass has been good. Waterways in Rhode Island and Massachusetts are being stocked with trout.

Dave Monti holds a master captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net  or visit www.noflukefishing.com .