No Fluke

Fly fishing the cinder worm hatch

Posted

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Aquatic Resource Education Program, announced its annual Cinder Worm Workshop last week. This is the program’s eleventh year and it will include two weekday evening classes in fly tying instruction and one weekend evening of fly fishing. The program is free to registrants.

The course syllabus includes practical rigging and fly casting instruction for the novice on the day of fishing. Introduction to practical rigging and casting instruction will be covered for those that need additional assistance.  Fly fishers will then fish the coves of Grassy Point area of Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge. “We don’t guarantee the weather or the fish,” said USFWS volunteer organizer Dave Pollack, “but past experiences have shown that this is prime time for the worm mating season.”

The program is open to any adult or accompanied child over the age of 10, regardless of skill level. There's a 40 person maximum so register early. Instruction and guidance will be provided by some of the area’s most proficient and knowledgeable worm hatch fishermen. Also this year is the opportunity for kayak fishing, limited to experienced kayakers who have their own vessel. Proper safety equipment is required plus lights for navigation. 

All fly tying materials will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring their own tools and equipment, but all necessary fly tying tools and equipment will be loaned to registrants upon request. Saltwater fly fishing equipment, including rods, reel, lines and leaders, will be loaned to registrants who do not have their own gear and tackle.
The fly tying classes will be held Tuesday, May 5 and May 12, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center, Charlestown. The Fly Fishing portion of the program will take place Saturday, May 16, 4 p.m. until dark at Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, Charlestown.

Capt. Ray Stachelek and Dave Pollack, fly fishing experts and USFWS volunteers will facilitate the program.  To sign-up as an instructor contact Dave Pollack at dpollipo@cox.net or Capt. Ray Stachelek at castaflycharters@cox.net. Program registration contact person to be announced, contact DEM at www.dem.ri.gov.

Saltwater fishing license annual report

On Monday at the RI Marine Fisheries Council meeting the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) released the RI Saltwater Recreational Fishing License Program annual report. The report provides an overview of the license program including the number of licenses purchased and funds raised, how funds were spent in 2019 and the plans and initiatives planned for 2020.

The purpose of the saltwater license program as defined by state law is to provide a source of state funding for programs and activities that benefit marine recreational fishing interests in Rhode Island. If Rhode Island did not have such a program, anglers (like all coastal state anglers) would have to register with the National Marine Fisheries Service. A Rhode Island state resident license is $7, the federal registration fee is $29.

Highlights of this year’s report include the second highest totals since the program started in 2011 with 48,737 licenses issued in Rhode Island in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 and gross revenue of $324,817. It is important to note that state funds are spent with a three to one federal government match through US Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration Program funds. For example if DEM has budgeted $250,000 in spending, this 25 percent  state of RI share would garner $750,000 in federal funds for a total RI budget of $1,000,000.

2020 funds will be spend on enhanced recreational fishing data collection to improve overall precision of catch estimates and the construction of a Quonochontaug boat ramp. Funds are also allocated to maintain existing ramps and public fishing areas, continue DEM recreational fishing staff support, fish stock assessment support on important finfish, and a RI managed fishing access survey program. The RI managed survey effort has shown outstanding results compared to federal contractors that conducted the surveys in the past. Public education, information and outreach programs are being supported in 2020 including the publication of the RI Saltwater Fishing Magazine and its waterproof minimum size and catch limit regulation insert.

The RI Marine Fisheries Council is expected to approve the report this week recognizing that the program is in compliance with the original law’s intent. Visit www.dem.ri.gov for a complete copy of the annual report.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater fishing will be picking up as weather improves. The trout season in Rhode Island has ended, however, anglers are catching largemouth bass. The trout season opens again in Rhode Island on Opening Day, Saturday, April 11.

Saltwater fishing has been slow as high winds and rough seas continue to plague party boats the fish for cod this time of year. However, Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “Last Monday did see better results leaving at our normal 5 a.m. time. It seems like the open bottom bite has really thinned out and the fish have moved back to structure. We anchored on wrecks and rock piles and found decent results. Hat’s off to Madison Sexton, a Bourne High School student and her father Capt. Paul Sexton. When fishing on her father’s boat Madison caught a 2.5 pound scup that won the 2019 Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries. 

Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. He is a RISAA board member, a member of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association, the American Saltwater Guides Association and the RI Marine Fisheries Council. Forward fishing news and photos to Capt. Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com and his blog at www.noflukefishing.blogspot.com.                                   

Dave Monti

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.