One of the browns from the Provo River
ARCHIVED 2004 FISHING REPORTS
November 27,
2004
I've returned from Park City, Utah having experienced my
first true fly fishing trip on streams for Brown, Rainbow, and Cutthroat
Trout. I was standing in the middle Provo River, only 20 minutes from the
house, trout fishing for my first time, with a 4 weight and size 22 dry
fly. Talk about a fish out of water... I was way out of my element,
but my guide Will Westrate was first rate and had me on a 15" cutthroat in
short time. 1X tippet and 22's? Will says the fish on the Provo
rarely eat anything larger than an 18 until summer months and even then they are
finicky. The blue ribbon waters of the Provo are all catch and release and
have public access points all over the place. This trout fishing thing is
all finesse and line management - and addicting. I highly recommend taking
a trip to Utah to fish the Provo or Green Rivers... I used Trout
Bum 2 for my info and guide service and was very happy. There are a
few others in the area but they all pretty much use the same guides - I would
recommend Will and plan on using him again. Recommended times are spring and
early fall unless you don't mind the crowds of summer. The fact is you can
fish year round. I'm headed back out in January for skiing and
fishing.
One of the browns from the Provo River
September
22, 2004
The 4th annual Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament held September
17-19, 2004 was a resounding success with almost 100 anglers participating
despite having to contend with the remnants of Hurricane Ivan with high seas and
winds. This threefold increase in participants from last year is due to the free
publicity provided by the Block Island Times, On the Water magazine and the New
England Fisherman magazine and the generosity of Block Island businesses and off
island marine related concerns with donations of food and prizes for the
contestants.
Our
Sunday barbecue featured pizzas from Aldo’s, homemade clam chowder from
Ballard’s, hot dog’s from Payne’s Dock, Hamburg’s from the Oar,
barbecued ribs from Dead Eye Dick’s, corn from Troy Milstead, beer and soda
from Budweiser and the Yellow Kittens, pies from Melanie Blane, fresh striper
prepared Hawaiian style by Matt King from Hula Charters and space and equipment
from Smuggler’s Cove.
Co
Sponsors:
Capt. Chris Willi, Block Island Fishworks, 466-5392
Charlie Gustafson, LineSider Fishing Charters, 401-439-5386
2004 WINNING FISH
Bass/ Beach / Spin -
Mark Cook, 20.8 lbs
Bass / Boat / Trolling - Capt. Matt King, 26.7lbs
Bass / Boat / Bait - Tom Ritchey, 26.9lbs
Bluefish / Beach / Spin - Jim Orsadi, 4.5lbs
Bluefish / Boat / Trolling - Dave Cheiffo, 9.9lbs
Bluefish / Boat / Bait - Kelly McCloskey, 8.3lbs
Tuna / Beach / Spin - Capt. Matt King, 8.4lb F. Albacore
Tuna / Boat / Spin - Jon Goodwin 7.8lb F. Albacore
Tuna / Beach /Spin - Clif Gustafson, 7.5lb Bonito
Flyfishing - Tom Kennedy, 6.5lb F. Albacore
September
13, 2004
The Albies and Bonito have appeared around the New Harbor area and have been
finicky. Small silverside and sand eel patterns are working on the
fly and the spin fisherman are taking them on metal lures like deadly dicks and
small soft plastics. The fluke fishing has slowed lately but the bass
fishing has picked back up. Large bluefish can be found on the south side
and at the North rip. Shore fishermen are reporting bass in the surf on
the East beaches. Bass by boat are consistently found on the south /
southwest sides as well as the ledge.
We have the 4th Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament this coming weekend - check out www.bifishworks.com for additional info. All proceeds benefit the National Childrens Cancer Society.
Can't say enough about the good fishing for all our captains and guides. The
bass fishing is superb from the boat and beach. Trolling tubes has given Captain
Matt King on the Hula Girl his first 50lber this season and several 45-48lbers.
He's limited out every trip and then doubled the fun with some nice fluke for
all his customers. Light tackle and fly fishing has been consistent on the West
side with two weeks of rolling bass in close off the coves. The Julia Ryan
landed dozens of fish all 30"-36" fish feeding on very large sandeels.
Large patterns have worked well on the fly - sandeels and bait patterns like a
Rays Angel. Massive amounts of bait have made its way into New Harbor and has
been camped out at the entrance to New Harbor for two weeks making for lots of
light tackle fun for the families fishing the channel. Blues are everywhere as
well - along with dogfish.... but the bass fishing is great. FV Rooster has had
a good summer with sea bass and fluking - pink rigs are the favorite right now.
Northeast Angling shot a show last week out of BI with Bill Brown and the
Billfisher - they landed a Thresher that went 480. Look for the show this fall.
Storm Petrel landed his first Tuna on the 7th and has been successful 20-40
miles SSE of the Island. Its July folks and the fishing's good!
June
21, 2004
Bass are stacked everywhere but not all of
them are hungry. All our charter captains are reporting big fish, most
taken on a tube and worm but it wasn't easy. Hula Girl had several 30#
class fish this past week. Beach fishing has been great on the West side
and in the cut at New Harbor. North light at dusk is holding stripers and
blues. Blues are plentiful and on the surface for great topwater
action. Word is that Young Neil had at least three fish over
50lbs - one a 60+, in the same day... the guy is good. The day
fishing is picking up with fish off the East beaches.
June10,
2004
Plenty of fish around for
the surfcasters, fly fishermen, and from the boat. Stripers up to 30# have
been caught all week casting big bombers and needlefish from the West
Side. The inner ponds and Channel still have plenty of fish for the light
tackle fans. 31" striper taken on a black eel fly tonite at the North
Rip. Yozuri's and Sluggos' are steady producers. Lots of schoolies
early in the week with 30+ fish nights for several guys, mostly from the West
beaches. Bottom fishing has rocked the past two days. A 21", 5lb 2oz
bass was taken on the Hula Girl today. History seems to be repeating
itself once again with good fishing in June!
May
30, 2004
Finally a spectacular Memorial
Day weekend on Block Island, first weekend in 11 years it didn't rain!
High winds kept some of the small boats in but those that did make it out did
very well with fluke and sea bass. Capt Matt King on the Hula Girl and
Eric Gustafson on Rooster had several keepers with Rooster winning the weekend
duel with a 22.5" fluke and a sea bass that pushed 5 lbs. Fly
fishing has remained decent in the Great Salt Pond. Night fishing on the
moving tide drifting small baitfish or shrimp patterns in current has
worked. Several deep holes have appeared in the Channel and require a
sinking line with 4-6" sand eel flies to be successful. No report
from the surfcasters yet... more to follow soon.
MAY
20, 2004
This was the first week of successful
fishing for Block Island. Several fish from up to 32" have been
caught mostly at night on an outgoing tide in the Great Salt Pond. Bomber
A-Salts in black have taken most. I had the first bass on the fly Tuesday
night with a small siliskin baitfish pattern. Bait is plentiful in the
harbors but big numbers of bass have yet to show - but this should be short
lived as the water temp is up. Ground fishing on the West side is good -
Cow Cove, Charleston Beach, and Old Harbor Point have produced a few fish as
well. Needless to say we are all happy to have fish here since they have
been 'over there' for the past month. Expect weekly reports through
October. Drop us a line of you need more info!
MARCH
22, 2004
Enough already with the cold! We had a nice winter at the shows with the
best being Marlboro, MA and Providence, RI. I will be placing our season
orders soon. Anyone interested in Albright rods and reels, Temple Fork
Outfitter rods (Left Kreh Series), Aquaskinz, or Gilmore reels should email me
by the Middle of April for 'preseason' deals. If there is anything else
you need for fly fishing, tying, or surf casting drop us a line and we will see
what we can do for you. Stock up on your flies, Sandy Point leaders,
plugs, etc... before crunch time!
We anticipate an early start (but who doesn't) this year - bookings are started and choice times are going fast. Capt. Greg Snow will add this 20 Seacraft to the fly fishing fleet this season; Capt. Todd Keister and his 28 Albin are getting ready for the bass and blues; Capt. Matt King returns from Hawaii in April and will have his Shamrock 23 'Hula Girl' ready by May; Capt. Eric Gustafson has his 36 Stanley 'Rooster' are ready and will be offering spring and fall specials that include 4days, 3 nights accommodation, and two fishing trips (including fly fishing) for $1200 (4 person occupancy) - email us for details... Capt. Mitch on the Sakarak will be our Point Judith rep once again - Mitch is already filling up as well; Capt Steve on the Storm Petrel is back in Old Harbor and will handle the offshore needs... WHO'S ITCHIN TO GO FISHIN?? Opening day for trout isn't to far off!