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Date: October 18, 2020 Body of Water: Great Pond and environs - Falmouth, Massachusetts Moon Phase: Waxing crescent; New + one day Tides: Low Tide at 7:18 AM; no problem launching from Green Pond; flooding tide throughout the session Boat: amybaby22 With: Alone Target: Striped Bass Time: 7:30 AM - 12:15 PM Conditions: Clear blue skies with high haze; 35 - 60 degrees F; Easterly wind building to 15 mph or more; water temperatures from 55 degrees (inside, early) to 59 degrees (Vineyard Sound) I chose to launch at Green Pond because I thought it would give me the best access to the greatest diversity of water. Given the calm forecast and the flooding tide, I thought that false albacore in Vineyard Sound might come into play for perhaps the last chance this season, while Green Pond and any of the other accessible salt ponds could provide shelter and a chance at finding stripers. As I edged out of Green Pond just at the start of flood tide, I was greeted by a mild easterly wind. I knew to be wary, though, of how this wind could build over the course of the morning (whether forecast or not). Plus, the current was sweeping to the east (against the wind), a formula for heaving seas. I decided against heading to the west (Nobska) for concern of a slow and tiresome return trip. Rather, I chose to head east, which would offer a smooth ride off the bat, as well as a return trip with the wind at my back. I scanned the horizon as I headed east, hoping to find some birds or sign of fish. When I reached the main outlet of Waquoit, there was still no overt sign of life, but a nice rip was forming to the southeast of the outlet. I decided to concentrate my initial efforts here. Maybe I could wait out the arrival of any albies. A couple of other boats posted positions and blind casted; I decided to troll stick baits and cover some water while searching and waiting. The rip was formed as the eastern current flow rode over the outlet's deposits in 8 or 10 feet of water, dropping off to 20 or more feet. I marked some bait and some fish, but in over an hour of effort, trolling both slowly into the 1.4 knot current and briskly with it, I didn't connect with any fish. Suspended weeds fouling my baits were a bit of a problem. Before I left this area, I vertically jigged over marks with a Hogy Squinnow jig. Nothing responded in 20 minutes or so of effort. I decided to look for some bass. As I entered Great Pond about two hours into the flood, the inlet was a washing machine of confused seas, and the initial set of channel markers was submerged by the rushing current. I worked myself into the pond, scanning for working birds or bait. When I got to the mid-lake "No Wake" marker, I noticed how clear the water was, with well over six feet of visibility. I loitered here for a bit, casting a popper and a swim-bait. As I decided to move to the east to fish a grass edge, I noticed some birds working, and as I approached, I could both see and hear bass crashing on bait in less than three feet of water. My initial casts with the Hogy Popper moved some fish, but they rejected this bait. I picked up my light rod with a white fluke rigged on a 1/8-ounce swim-bait hook, and the fish showed immediate interest. I missed a couple of taps on my initial casts as I found my cadence, but then a 30-plus-incher confidently crushed the bait with a cool, slashing shallow-water take. It had taken a couple of hours to find the right situation, or maybe it had found me. In the next 20 minutes or so, I enjoyed tricking three more fish into eating the fluke. All were in three feet of water or less, where they provided fiesty, visual fights in the clear water. All in all, two were in the low 20's, but two were solid "keepers" of 30 or 31 inches. By 10 AM, this activity was over. I worked farther up into Great Pond, and even into Perch Pond, without finding any more birds or bass. Approaching Noon, I thought I might find some fish inside Waquoit Bay at the end of the flood. However, when I reached Vineyard Sound, conditions were considerably rougher than I had left them earlier. I certainly could have worked my way to the Menauhant entrance to Waquoit, and then up the bay to other fishable spots of interest. But, I have been fighting the wind all season; and I was suddenly tired of doing so. I cut the day "short" and returned to Green Pond. I was "tricked" into investigating two groups of active gulls on my way in, but in both cases they seemed to be harassing each other and not chasing bait. I was done catching fish for the day. What do I have to say about this? If this proves to be the end of my striper season, I am pleased to have my 2020 striper pursuits conclude with such quality light-tackle fish in such an enjoyable setting. But if the weather and bait hold, perhaps I'll be able to chase them again over the next couple of weeks. One thing I noticed and filed away for future benefit, while the stripers ignored my popper, they did jump on a fellow kayak fisherman's dog-walking bait. I've pretty much had my Jumpin' Minnow tied on all season, but I'd replaced it with a Hogy epoxy jig in preparation for any albies I might encounter. No real harm this time, but it is always good to be able to provide some quick options for these fish, before they disappear for the moment, the day, or the season. Finally, what will it take for me to switch from stripers to trout? I guess I'll recognize it when it happens, but I hope it's not ambiguous. I neither want to give up too soon on the bass, nor chase them in folly. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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