NUMENON |
PONDERING CORE ESSENCE
NUMENON |
I recently invested some hard-earned cash in a professionally guided, local fly-fishing trip for striped bass. While I know my local waters pretty well, catch my share of bass, am an occasional but reasonably competent fly-fisher, and have developed enough techniques to generally keep my bites coming, I thought this would be an opportunity to learn and grow. For instance: What is this professional's general approach to tackling the day? No important decisions (port, departure time) were finalized until the night before and based on the most recent intelligence. In a single word; Simplicity! The deck was clean, a few rods were rigged, and we used just three flies all day. With a foundation of experience and confidence built over the years, we didn't need much else. This captain prefers the incoming tide for shallow-feeding bass! The bass can explore new feeding areas over the course of the tide before becoming too dispersed. Existing channels and gutters provide routes for both boat and bass, and ongoing observation will help fine tune locations and presentations. In this skinny water, it is of paramount importance to keep the boat's engine and hull quiet. Don't push a wake, minimize hull slap, avoid other boats and traffic, etc. The fish are there; what are they eating? We started with a larger herring fly based on the possible presence of blueback herrings and the opportunity for offering the bass a big meal, but when that didn't work and we couldn't see the tiny bait the bass and birds were eating, we made a couple of changes. Be in a position to start the strip right away! Keep in contact with the line right from the end of the cast and get that fly moving, as many of the hits will occur right away. I missed my first fish because of this, but fortunately converted on the retrieve from this same cast. This lesson was already burned into my memory. Keep the rod tip in the water during the retrieve to maximize energy transmittal to the fly and to avoid line slap on the water's surface. I suspect this helps with strike detection and hook sets, too. This is a team effort; he could see a lot more from his vantage point than I. It was my job to listen and execute. What is his philosophy with respect to finding fish? With a few decades of chasing the stripers in this manner under his belt, he was confident that the bass were there. By carefully and quietly positioning us and then letting the birds lead the way to especially active areas, we did our best to stay over hunting fish. We used any visual cue we could; wakes, ripples, and refusals all helped shape the next cast. How did he keep the bite going over the course of the entire tide? We stayed with active fish by moving frequently! Some stops earned only a few casts before we were moving again. The captain was constantly watching for fish reactions and evaluating from there. We didn't lose much time over unproductive water, or at least water without offering the real promise of success. Based on the fish's reaction, he made some basic fly changes. We started with a big attractor, scaled down to a smaller, more subtle baitfish, and then offered a snack of a shrimp fly. What adjustments did he make and to what specific factors? I am sure I am unaware of most of these. I was focused on my casting, line control and retrievals. But this was clearly a game of reacting to the moment. First of all, we delayed our anticipated starting time by a couple of hours to avoid the ebb and maximize the flood. The early fog helped us with our late start, too. When the first attractor fly didn't work, he was quick to downsize and modify the color to something a little more muted. When this fly enjoyed some immediate success that morphed into obvious refusals, he quickly went to a shrimp pattern, especially with the increasingly sunny conditions. We ended the day with some carefree smaller bass in deeper water. These were revealed by active birds, and we fine-tuned their feeding lanes by using water seams to target likely casting areas. What was new to me? All of this took place on "new" water to me, east of the Cousins Island causeway. I'm always on the other side of that bridge. I certainly have the range to go around Cousins and explore these waters, though. My Garmin mapping will keep me in enough water to float the boat and follow the fish. Virtually all of my fly-fishing has been self-taught, and so receiving professional guidance while doing so was a positive experience. He offered a few small adjustments on the cast and for line handling. I was generally able to respond immediately and could see the benefit, and these changes quickly stuck! I was better at the end of the trip than I was at the beginning! I've always used Clousers and poppers while fly-fishing for stripers, and the shrimp pattern/presentation was new to me. I was surprised at how aggressively I was working that shrimp. Perhaps most importantly, this experience helped me build some confidence in shallow water, especially during bright conditions. We actualized our success in this scenario, and seeing/doing is believing! Plus, the captain admitted out loud, this is how he captures all his big fish. This is a certainly a technique worth learning and pursuing. What am I now equipped to become better at? My casting is fine, but my ability to consistently control the line immediately needs help; lots of fish strike at the end of the cast. I was able to work on this throughout the trip and will continue to do so. I'll get better as my ability to pickup, haul and shoot quickly improves. Again, practice will help. I apparently had a few bites where I saw and felt nothing. I need to keep in contact with the line! This will be natural outcome of better line management, in general. This trip just opened up a lot of water for me on both sides of the Cousins Island bridge! And I know I don't need to be exploring them just during low-light hours, so I can explore them whenever I choose to do so. Finally, I can do so with confidence, because I know it isn't a Wild Goose Chase; I will probably find some willing bass along the way. They might be nice ones, too! Other thoughts and tid-bits We kibitzed over the course of the trip, especially when moving from spot to spot. I learned quite a bit over the course of the morning, including the following: That Memorial Day/weekend bite on Broad Cove is an annual event that offers only a brief window of opportunity. Perhaps for three or four days, the cove is on fire, but then it switches off and many of the the bass go elsewhere. Speaking of Broad Cove, those terns over super-shallow water are picking up stranded bait and aren't worth chasing. The Presumpscot River hosts an alewife run. This is early in the season and he favors a pinch of yellow in his flies when fishing here. Alternatively, the Royal River hosts blueback herring, later (mid-June). These fish are darker, at least in this muddy water. Brit herring may or may not be Atlantic herring, but they are important, small bait. Arriving in May and staying and growing for much of the season, these are matched with simple flies from two to four inches, perhaps featuring blue backs. There's never anything wrong with olive-over-white, anytime, anywhere. A shrimp worked hard and fast over deep water produces too, as exemplified by the last few fish of the day. FYI, I was previously aware of this guide service, and I've run across him on common waters several times. In fact, we shared a local multi-day blitz a few weeks ago. My interest in this endeavor was piqued by a video I ran across this winter. He was guiding "The New Fly Fisher" out of my back yard, and I recognized many of the waters they fished over the course of a few fall days. Moreover, since they mentioned the dates of filming, I know exactly how I was fishing and what fish I was catching at that same time! I could argue that I was just doing fine for myself, but his simultaneous approach in the video was so different that I knew I was in a position to learn something and broaden my horizons. That something might prove to be useful at some point!?! Here's the service I used on this very pleasant and informative day: www.coastalflyangler.com. Captain Wallace was a pleasure to fish with and I definitely look forward to doing so again. A more detailed account of the day's specifics is located at www.numenonfunfishing.com/numenonfunfishing (June 27, 2023 entry.) Did I learn and will I grow? You bet! Oh, and so what do the pros know? They know they can do it! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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It was quite a day-trip from Maine, and I put a lot of miles on the skiff, too, but I recently targeted, chased and caught my first striped bass of 2023. Upper Narragansett Bay treated me well enough, and I saw a lot of Rhode Island like I'd never seen it before. I encountered no real issues, and even caught some drag pullers! And these were my first-ever self-guided Rhode Island striped bass! When I didn't find what I expected (open water bass busting on big baits), I went to back to basics, and relied on moving water to concentrate any present bass. This worked in multiple locations and validated my approaches on some new water. The skiff was awesome! I covered a record number of miles in a day while staying comfortable and dry, and when I chose my location, I used the new trolling motor's "Spot-Lock" feature to effectively and efficiently hold me in place. The season has started auspiciously, and I know there are plenty of good things ahead. Let's go find out! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways On January 8, 2002, I offered my modest 2022 Goals and Daydreams. It's all about fishing and as such, inconsequential in the bigger scheme of things, but you can find them at (link) if of interest. At year's end, here's my assessment for my modest 2022 fishing endeavors. 1. 250 Stripers for the season. (1/2) I struggled with numbers for much of the season, but quality prevailed over quantity with over 30 "keepers" (between 28 and 35 inches) and a pair of over-slot fish measuring 36 inches. For me, that's a lot of nice fish! But once again, I missed out on catching a truly large striper. Perhaps I am too committed to daylight fishing, and perhaps the stock numbers really are down. Still, I am looking forward to 2023. I've been watching the same year-class of fish grow over the last few years, and next year they will be high-slot sized and bigger. These fish offer great sport on my favored light tackle. With some additional good fortune, there will be a recruitment of smaller fish to provide action and secure the future. At season's end, I'd landed 203 stripers, a bit short of my stated goal. But I am not going to complain; the abundance of "keepers" easily offset my somewhat arbitrary numeric goal. And, I barely fished on Cape Cod, where high landings and quick catch rates are common for me. Let's face it, I was just a couple of sessions of hot schoolie fishing away from landing 250, and I'll gladly forgo those fish in exchange for quality. I'll consider this goal to be one-half accomplished, and I'll carry this goal over to 2023. It's a realistic reach for me, and it frames a fun, year-long quest, whether I get there or not. 2. Catch my biggest ever striper (1/2) While I had no encounters with confirmed big fish (well, I did lose a couple of very strong fish to a lobster pot along Peaks Island, and there was that single gargantuan crash on a live pogy at Clapboard...), I landed plenty of very nice stripers, with two taping out at a confirmed 36 inches. I didn't achieve the explicitly stated goal, but I certainly exceeded my overall expectations for the season with consistent action from very nice fish. And these 36-inchers represented the largest stripers ever landed on amybaby22, so I made progress of a sort. What do I have to do if I really want to catch a big, local striper (let's say 40 inches or larger)? Do I need to simply Fish More, or do I need to Fish Different? Should I be casting plugs and Hogy's along the rocks? Should I rely more on live bunkers? Reports from friends and social media do indicate a lot of big fish locally; regardless of presentation, these were generally caught at night. I placed my faith in macks as bait, and I didn't explore too many other presentations as the clock ran out on my season. Perhaps next season I will deviate from this plan and Go Big in certain ways or under certain circumstances. And recall, I did land friend DV's mid-day June hog for him with a well-timed, firm lip grasp. I was taking a break from painting the porch while he was worm fishing from the float. It's the biggest striper I've ever touched! I'll say this; the tide was right, even if it was the middle of a bright day! Congrats, D! I'll consider this goal to be one-half accomplished, and of course I will carry it over to 2023. 3. Catch a false albacore! (0) For much of the season, the question was "Will I even try?" It's so difficult to leave Maine in the late summer and fall; it's such a seductive place. Still, I shared a Cape Cod Weekend with A, and that gave me portions of two September mornings for my 2022 shore-based Albie Effort. The first day was cursed with wind and sun and offered just a shot or two, but the second was gray and fishy. The bass and albies were active, but they sure were finicky. Despite their obvious presence, all my presentations were ignored (even by the bass). That happens, but with my limited attempts, this obliterated my entire Albie season. In the future, should I heed my own advice and Go Early? The first funny fish of the year are reportedly a bit more reckless when you find them. With a boat and less windy weather, given some time I could probably generate a few productive shots in late August or early September. Or, in a season such as this year, Go Late?!? Cape Cod fish were still biting into November 2022. Or, thinking outside the box, Go Elsewhere? The albies are brutes in the Carolinas in November, and these same Little Tunny are considered to be pesky bait fish in Florida... I could simply find another way to target these fast tunoids. Probably, the real cure for my fever would be to Go Often! I'll try to remember that, while also remembering to add the following to my repertoire with confidence; more Egg/fly (and/or Egg/bucktail?) and burning a 3-inch Al Gags Whip-it! The former appeals, while I witnessed the effectiveness of that latter when a single angler (out of a dozen or more anglers) caught all the albies for the Woods Hole pier for the day. I fell short here in 2022; no credit given. But I look forward to physically holding an Albie in 2023. 4. Catch a 4-pound "bass" (green, brown or sea-) (0) Did I EVEN TRY? NO! Trailer problems and my inability to pull the trigger on any solution kept Numenon off the water for the entire season. And I don't really know what I'll do next year. But someday, I'll have a stable casting platform under my feet, precisely controlled with an electric motor. Then, I will start bass fishing again! I fell embarrassingly short here; absolutely no credit earned. At least I have all the upside of future explorations in this arena to look forward to. 5. Catch a 20-inch trout! (1) I am simply going to declare my late April Mousam Lake Brown to be "Close enough!" I ran into decent numbers of trout during my Spring and late Fall efforts, just no bigger ones. These shoulder-of-the-season efforts enhanced my overall experience this year. This may be overly generous (I didn't measure this fish), but it was a nice enough fish and I am giving myself this one. 6. Successfully fish new water (1) With my "recent" relocation to Maine, just about every trip forces me to expand in this area. Certainly, I am confronted with this for every ice-fishing trip, but I especially enjoyed Little Sebago Lake and a beautiful pickerel. I also explored and revisited a variety of new trout ponds including Trickey, Megunticook, Mousam, Worthley, Crystal and Middle Range. These were variously generous, but all offered quality experiences and I caught enough trout. Meanwhile in the salt, I expanded my range in Casco Bay, adding Sturdivant and Basket Islands to my local Milk Runs. I explored and caught good numbers of fish seasonally in Broad Cove. I also worked hard while increasing my understanding and success by expanding my range in previously known areas such as College and Clapboard Islands. However, the clear find of season for me was the Hussey Sound shoreline of Peaks Island. Initially drawn here by some white water under otherwise tough conditions, I immediately found a productive eddy and some nice fish, and they were present every time I went back. I kept expanding my stretch of shoreline while learning the nuances of newfound, productive spots. It was all live bait fishing (mackerel), but there's certainly potential for lures or flies in the future. I look forward to sharing this productive and scenic stretch with others, even if it's with bait under floats. My week in Florida was all new-to-me water. Whether I can claim success here is debatable, but pretty much everything I tried worked to a certain extent and I enjoyed some good experiences and pleasant times. Details for this trip are available at (www.numenonfunfishing.com/numenonfunfishing/florida-2022-middle-keys), but note beforehand that I landed only small fish, and all the big ones got away. I think these successful explorations were the most satisfying aspect of the season, and I earned full credit towards this goal! 7. Successfully implement a new technique (1) New Hampshire cusk fishing with simple baited traps set for overnight soaks was a fun, new and satisfying experience, even if it's a super old technique. I also added the long wand to my arsenal from amybaby22 and caught some nice stripers to 28 inches on flies in clear, shallow water. And while using short sections of lead-core line with small spoons for trout isn't entirely new to me either, downsizing to super-light tackle is! All of these "new" approaches turned out to be productive in their own times. Perhaps the most significant "new" approach that I implemented was shoulder-hooking my macks and carefully tending a single, hand-held rod when swimming them. Last year I had fallen into the habit of running two lines from rod holders at once. In 2022, my conversion rate from strikes to landed stripers sky-rocketed! I had a lot fewer frustrating tangles, too. Florida fly-fishing brought a half dozen barracudas to hand, and a live-lined pinfish was inhaled by a probable shark. While I didn't incorporate anything "cutting-edge" new or glamorous, I am still claiming complete success in this category. 8. Somebody new in the boat (1) I put my daughter's friend, D, on his first fish ever, even if they were just mackerel. My good friend from graduate school, Dr. C, with whom I had not fished in 13 years or so, joined me for an extended weekend during the toughest stretch of the season and caught several very nice fish on a variety of presentations. To celebrate, we harvested one 32-inch striper and shared a meal. It was good, but I have to admit, I still prefer steak or chicken! But the treat of the year was sharing a few hours with my niece and her young twins. We saw seals, porpoises, and lots of mackerel! They did great, we all had a good time, and I was proud to share my little skiff with them. I hope they want to join me again in 2023, and beyond! Finally, I'll mention an afternoon session with K and her new husband, A. It was A's first fishing experience, and he got hooked quickly. His action was fast and furious behind a chum bag and he kept me in a steady supply of bait (pinfish and blue runners) while sorting through juvenile snappers and trying to land the elusive needlefish. This was a truly satisfying experience as I got to experience the simple joy of fishing through another set of eyes. I claim full, satisfying credit towards this goal! 9. Fishing Travel - Maine (1) Pretty much everywhere I go still represents travel, because everything local is still pretty new to me. Whether ice fishing or just poking around for trout on the shoulders of striper season, simply being out there looking for some fish applied to fulfillment of this goal. A and I stole a couple of days to day-visit some more distant destinations in the Moosehead and Rangeley Lakes regions. Both have plenty of potential for when I get Numenon's situation figured out. I wish I had more time! But meanwhile, I'll take a point for everything that I learned this year. 10. Fishing Travel - Elsewhere (1) A and I shared a long winter weekend in New Hampshire. Our destination, Newfound Lake, was not exactly new to us, but our cusk experience certainly was. It was a little bit like Christmas as I approached each hole after a long night's soak and wondered what I might find. Other destinations included Cape Cod for a weekend; Yosemite National Park, which was an absolutely awesome experience, albeit offering very tough fishing conditions; and the Florida Keys, from which I just returned. Wind and weather were the challenge there, but I still put together some good experiences, even if I did lose all the big fish I hooked. With licenses from five states, I'll have to admit that these travels gave me just enough of a taste of something different to scratch this itch. *** So, my Preliminary Total of 7/10 rates as a firm PASS for the season! Some points were obviously stronger than others, but this was a solid and satisfying effort with corresponding results. I've no real complaints for my 2022 fishing season. I have a lot to build from, and areas in which to look forward to improvement. That's a powerful combination of circumstances; one that is worth appreciation and celebration! Specific Thoughts from the Season Despite limitations on my time, I was on the water as much a feasible and I tried to make the most of it. The season did lack diversity of effort; with the exception of my week in Florida, I really only targeted trout and stripers. Whether it was the pressure of limited time and trying to squeeze the most out of it, or just the arrival of some overdue seasoning with age and finally getting a bit smarter, here are some worthwhile themes that emerged from 2022. Simplicity and Flexibility This is something I noticed long ago, even if it took me quite a while to fully appreciate; the most prolific fishermen I've been exposed to have a consistently simple approach to their craft. Pro Guides: they keep their systems simple! I thought it was because they were gearing towards their customers' abilities and familiarity, but it's actually about efficiencies and faith in what they know produces results. Guides I have fished with have consistently relied heavily on their local expertise while avoiding anything too complicated in their presentations:
This is certainly overly simplified, but it's a good start to just about any new situation. One has to key in on specifically important details, maintain boat control, and to know what to do with the gear and presentation. But with things simplified, a lack of distractions and a committed focus on a proven approach, full of confidence and with faith in one's experience... good things are likely to happen. But the counterbalance to simplicity is flexibility. If the current approach is not working, something has to change! With the clock ticking and available time the most valuable, non-renewable commodity, knowing when to change things up is the other key to consistent success. The change might be a small tweak, a grand reconstruction, or something in-between, but I think the combination of not losing time to simple waste while efficiently using productive windows when they open is a powerful approach. With Dr. C aboard, I couldn't help but think that our weekend's quest was just our current version of Optimal Foraging. We had to keep our intake of fish at or above the average rate afforded by the local environment. And if that was too low to keep us going, we had to change and/or move! Being in tune with the local environment allowed us to have established an expected catch rate; and when our results threatened to fall below expectations, it was time to make a change. Believe me, we did, several times over the weekend, and all ended well, despite the tough, mid-summer conditions. Plans vs. Planning How does one cultivate flexibility? I am thinking about some aspect of fishing all the time, whether it is reviewing my experiences and considering alternative approaches, preparing and fine-tuning equipment, or actively targeting a specific quarry/equipment/time/location. This all can be categorized as "Planning", and I always have a "Plan" in mind when I approach the water. That "Plan" is my best starting guide to success under the given circumstances. But per above, an important aspect of success is reacting to conditions and changing accordingly, and in a timely fashion, too! Having Planned, one has to be willing to scrap the current Plan. Rarely have I correctly anticipated the full path for the day. But having planned thoroughly, I've been able to scrap or tweak initial plans, recognize available options, make better decisions, and ultimately create better outings. Of course, these outings then inform my plans for future sessions. Executing Smart This is certainly related, because decisions should rely on the best use of available information. The better the info, and the better the utilization of that information, the better the likely outcome. A couple of changes I made this season that turned out to be "smart" were simply fishing one rod in hand (efficiently) vs. deploying two baits in holders and trying to maximize my offerings; and maximizing my bite:landing ratio by shoulder-hooking my live macks. While these were prompted by periodic scarcity of bait relative to other seasons, these changes certainly produced better overall results. But there are other, less tangible ways to be smart. By simply accepting each session for what it has to offer and not forcing my expectations (dreams?) onto the conditions, I've been able to relax, enjoy myself, and appreciate each day. Occasionally, I may specifically choose to force my desires onto the conditions. I may elect to restrict myself to fly fishing, or perhaps top-water or vertical jigging presentations when other options might be more productive. But it's my choice after all, and I guarantee you I am learning when I force these restrictions upon my time. I may be giving up a few fish, but I am enjoying the moment while also cultivating future flexibility. I was once deeply into the perfect execution of a planned technique for a specific target (jigging walleye, offshore steelhead, precision trolling, etc.) I would make it work or just about die trying to do so in the allotted timeframe! Now, you're more likely to find me enjoying what's in front of me with a simplified approach for the conditions at hand... and constantly reacting and changing. Has this come about because of my increased time on salt water? After all, the salt environment has a certain, frantic urgency, and the quarry a greater sense of forgiveness in less-than-perfect presentation. Or, has this change for the better simply come with experience? *** My weekly commute allows for more than ample time to consume podcasts. My tastes for these have grown from news, true crime and comedy, to now include discussions of fishing. Fishermen talking about fishing can be tough to listen to, in all honesty, but a couple have found their way into my rotation. These particularly include Rhode Island's Saltwater Edge and Cape Cod's On the Water. I've been developing my thoughts here for a long while, but am pleased to say that these interwoven themes are not only strong, but commonly shared! They seem to be re-iterated in some form in each conversation. They must be valuable! P.S. Do I get an extra point for having NOT fallen overboard all season? I've been told that's a mandatory goal for every season. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways With the scheduled removal of the landing float for the season, I was forced to conclude the saltwater boating season. I pulled amybaby22 from the water on Monday, October 10, 2022. But, I made the most of my last weekend on Casco Bay! I fished earnestly and with intent on each day, and I executed pretty well. I landed 16 striped bass to 30 inches on 19 hookups, bringing my season's total to 203 stripers landed. While I didn't catch a truly large striped bass (by local measure and experience, let's say 40 inches), I sure caught a lot of really nice ones, including two 36-inchers and more "keepers" above 28 inches than I've probably handled in the rest of my life. I didn't encounter any real issues while out on the water this year, so I'd have to say my season was a success! Of course, my season is not necessarily over; I can always hit the beaches (near or far) and follow the annual run down the coast in pursuit of either big fish or numbers. I expect that amybaby22 will hit the sweet water in pursuit of trout before winter arrives, too, so there's still plenty of opportunity for good things to happen. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways It took a little longer than I had expected, but I recently landed my 1500th documented striper. It's not exactly Hall of Fame material like 3000 career base hits, but... Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways Yes, this is a gratuitous exercise. I recently found some older pictures of memorable catches. I've reclaimed them here, where they might be found again. In aproximate chronological order, these extend from Spring of 2013 or 2014 through Summer, 2020. Not much else to say about these; I've had a lot of fun. A new season will arrive soon, and I hope to add to the memories. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways Happy New Year! In no particular order, may I offer my modest 2022 Goals and Daydreams: 1. 250 Stripers for the season 2. Catch my biggest ever striper 3. Catch a false albacore! 4. Catch a 4-pound "bass" (green, brown or sea-) 5. Catch a 20-inch trout! 6. Successfully fish new water 7. Successfully implement a new technique 8. Somebody new in the boat 9. Fishing Travel - Maine 10. Fishing Travel - Elsewhere *** 250 Stripers for the season This is my revised benchmark for a season of chasing stripers. Given enough time on the water, it's doable. Plus, if I've landed 250 stripers, I have certainly experienced many more strikes, splashes, follows and misses. I'll probably have enjoyed considerable by-catch along the way. And, I know I'll have had a lot of fun! Catch my biggest ever striper This is a standing goal for every trip and every season. If I catch it while actually hunting big fish, something I hope to do more of in 2022, that will be even more satisfying. Catch a false albacore! There's no magic to this; it's a matter of patience and opportunity. But, I will gladly accept a little good luck, too. If I stumble into good fishing for other species along the way, I am fine with that. I am seriously considering a change to my timing/calendar in this pursuit to help hedge my luck. Catch a 4-pound "bass" (green, brown or sea-) I've had to revise this goal to account for reality; time is limited, and I have no local edge. Still, a 4-pounder for any of these, while not necessarily a true trophy, is a really nice, day-capping fish. I'd like to think that I might chase freshwater bass on some quality water this season, but if I am unable to do so, the idea of landing a trophy Cape Cod sea bass (on purpose) is an appealing alternative. Catch a 20-inch trout! Whether caught through the ice, from the sea, casting or trolling, any 20-inch trout is a beautiful, worthy goal. Successfully fish new water Kaizen! The pursuit of continuous improvement and growth in my collective fishing endeavors is one reason why I like it so much. A quality experience on unfamiliar water pulls it all together and validates the effort; but it also unlocks unknown potential for the future. This positive feedback loop can be a powerful agent of beneficial change. I know I'll build on previous seasons, while staging myself for success in future seasons. Successfully implement a new technique This is always a worthwhile goal for the same arguments as presented above. Plus, it might involve fun new stuff or shiney new things, for which I am sometimes a bit of a sucker. In many ways it offers a chance to practice my model of Anticipation! Participation! and Elaboration! repeatedly, so whatever success I might encounter, I can enjoy it many times over. Plus, keeping flexible on the water can open one's eyes to potential opportunities, and sometimes these even get actualized into tangible success! Somebody new in the boat For many reasons, too much of my New England fishing has been solitary. I enjoy the freedom and flexibility of this, and I likely fish best alone, but I miss my Michigan friends and hosting others on my boat(s). It's always nice to share a good experience, and it can be a nice reminder to see familiar things through new eyes. Plus, I've got a bunch of possibilities here, it's really just a matter of execution. Fishing Travel - Maine My new home state offers unique and diverse opportunities. The Royal River is almost at my doorstep and might have fishable sea-run browns. Landlocked salmon and brook trout should be readily available, and up to true trophy size if I put in the effort and miles. Trophy trout, togue and bass are here too; I just have to carve out the time and keep trying! Fishing Travel - Elsewhere We're already talking about a Winter trip to Florida; New Jersey in the spring or fall sounds good; and maybe I should try a trip to the Connecticut River or Little Rhody. Of course, there will likely be some Cape Cod activity, but I am thinking about something beyond the familiar. Let's see how the year pans out along these lines... *** Of course, I continue to reserve the right to amend or append; I always have a number of ideas rattling around in the back of my subconscious. Regardless, here's to an Excellent 2022! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways Back on January 1 (which seems like several lifetimes ago), I offered my modest Fishing Goals for 2021. You can find them at www.numenonfunfishing.com/numenon-home/2021-fishing-goals. So, How'd I do? (First, please accept my apologies for the rampant font issues within this post!) 1. 200 Stripers for the season. In short, I crushed it. I ended up with 284 stripers landed, from three states. I missed a few along the way, too! While my best fish typically came aboard the Maritime skiff, the numbers from shore added up to just about half of my fish landed. My biggest striper of the year came from shore, too, so I have to keep plugging away, regardless of the platform. 2. Share a fresh fish meal with Uncle M This certainly could have happened, and probably should have. But pandemic visitation protocols, logistical preparation, and coordination all interfered with this. When my brief time on Cape Cod in the Spring ran out, I had to look to the Fall Run. But with just a single Woods Hole session and three hours together, this didn't materialize. I did, however, catch a pile of legal keepers this year, so it could have happened. Plus, we both prefer steak or chicken to fish, so maybe it's time to drop this idea. 3. Catch my biggest ever striper. Nope. But, did I encounter a qualifying fish? Perhaps; I sighted a single trophy in Duxbury. That bass got beaten to my bait by a quicker blue. I lost a very nice fish to seals by Clapboard Island. And I vividly recall a couple of isolated, exceptionally violent topwater, bait-stealing smashes. My largest striper was 33 inches or so, my biggest in several seasons. That's got to be big enough for 2021! Still, some truly large fish were caught in Maine this year, and perhaps I should spend more time with big(ger) fish tactics and settings. 4. Catch a false albacore! I failed in my single, short, late-September attempt at Woods Hole. I think I need to execute a late-August/early-September trip next year to change my luck. Of course, it could be difficult to leave Maine at that time of the season... 5. Catch a 6-pound "bass" (green, brown or sea-). Ugh... I didn't even try. I do need to integrate myself in some way into Maine bass fishing. The cold-water pre-spawn period might provide my most feasible window into this local fishery. 6. Catch a 20-inch trout! Yes! a beautiful brown from Cape Cod fulfilled this desire. A nice rainbow (19 inches) from Maine's Upper Range Pond capped off my fall freshwater efforts. I miss the Great Lakes trout and salmon, but fish like these, on light tackle and in uncrowded settings, still provide a lot of satisfaction. 7. Successfully fish new water. In certain ways, this was the defining aspect of my 2021 season. From my early Spring Cape Cod explorations through the end of my season in New Jersey's surf, much of my time was spent in new-to-me water. Sometimes I was on a new body of water; and sometimes I was simply stretching my boundaries on more familiar waters. I found a lot of new spots, and I caught my share of fish along the way; all without any real problems on the water. That sounds like success to me! 8. Successfully implement a new technique I did nothing radically different, but I did incorporate many variations on existing themes. Presenting a popper to stripers with the fly rod and swimming a Danny in November's New Jersey surf both qualify, and I hope to incorporate such experiences into future seasons. But I also deployed tiny spoons on very light lead-core setups for inland trout, I slow-trolled mackerel for many miles, I stemmed the tide in Vineyard Sound, and I presented a tube-and-worm on braided line in very shallow water. Finding fish on any local Maine fishery was also new-to-me, and I know I'll be confronted with the need to continue and expand such efforts in all future seasons. 9. Somebody new in the boat Again, I'll have to incorporate variations on themes, but I did lead M to her first striper aboard amybaby22. It was quick and easy, too! What a pic! That was a seasonal highlight. M was "there' , too, via live-stream for one of the last Maritime keepers of the season! 10. Launch Numenon. YES! After a couple of faltering attempts in which maintenance issues were revealed, I finally got her back afloat for a few freshwater sessions. She's aged mightily in the last couple of years, for which I feel badly, but she's certainly worth more to me than anybody else... so I guess we're stuck with each other. Informally Append as invoked on January 1 I hung my mounted walleye and brown trout in my new Maine home office and realized that any right-facing 30-incher (bass, blue, togue... whatever!) would be a cool addition. I caught that fish several times over this season, but all were released. I'll probably just save the money for other, more sensible purposes, but I'll keep half an eye out for the right combination of fish, meaning of experience, aesthetics and opportunity. By my estimation, I had a 60% achievement rate for my stated 2021 Fishing Goals. That's satisfying enough while still providing legitimate challenge. At least with fishing, I'll hereby declare 2021 to have been a success. Now, it's time to start dreaming about 2022! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways I am too tired to write; I've got a lot going on! But, I do want to celebrate this fishing season. Here's a picture from each month of 2021 (so far; I may choose to update for November and December if anything noteworthy happens). It was difficult to choose a single "best" picture to represent a given month. I tried to balance the quality of the fish, picture composition and sharpness of the memory invoked. Others might have chosen differently. Oh, well. And, it's obvious to me that too many of my pictures look too similar, and that I need to get more people out there! It was a good season; while I didn't catch any truly large fish, I did catch piles of quality fish. Much of my time was spent on new-to-me water or learning new spots and techniques. I was outside a lot, and I had many encounters with wild creatures beyond fish; seals, eagles, dolphins, coyotes, foxes and more. Thank goodness for my ability to do so; and for those who support these efforts! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways From my new home waters in Falmouth Foreside, Maine down to new water in Duxbury, Massachusetts, I enjoyed my four-day weekend! In addition to Labor Day, I'd long ago scheduled myself to be "off" on Tuesday, with my mind on catching some more stripers! Each day treated me well and had its highlights. I encountered good numbers of fish with a variety of techniques, and scored my biggest striper and bluefish of the season. I caught my largest ever fly-rod striper, and enjoyed beautiful scenery and affable company. What else could I ask for? Of course, the details for each day are available (or soon will be!) under the "NumenonFunFishing" tab, above. Enjoy! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways |
Steve LachanceVia Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Michigan and now, back to New England! Archives
June 2024
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