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Date: May 30, 2022 Body of Water: Casco Bay - Falmouth, Maine Moon Phase: New Moon Boat: Shore fishing from Landing float and then amybaby22 With: Alone Target: Striped Bass Time: 4:20 AM - 7:20 AM; and 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM Conditions: Low tide at 6:03 AM; Quadrants II and III for the shore session and then flood tide continuing through the remainder. Clear; generally flat calm; 55 - 70 degrees. Water was clear but green; water temperatures 58 +/- Every so often the current at the float flows from left to right. This is unusual and rarely bodes well for the fishing. Still, as I watched my float on its first drift with a bit of dismay and assessed the situation, it disappeared. I wound tight to a sporty striper in the 20-inch class. Things were off to a good start for this highly anticipated tide. I started with only a single rod in use as I watched the float intensely. Over the last couple of seasons this strategy has resulted in more fish landed and fewer gut-hookings. Sometimes the bass take the worm very delicately, and being quick to wind down on these fish leads to more action and fewer stolen worms. I am hooking these bass before they've taken enough line from the bait-runner reels to announce their presence. The extra attention has paid off. About 15 minutes into the session, my lighted float wobbled slightly before being pulled slowly just beneath the water's surface. You never really know what might be eating the worm, and this time I was surprised by a lengthy and fast run past the first line of moorings when I came tight. I finally brought a stubborn and lean 32-inch striper to hand; it was still before sunrise, but my morning was already made. The bite never got fast and furious, but it was relatively steady. There was an expected lull at the turn of the tide and as the day brightened with sunrise, but the bites piled up and by 7 AM I had landed 10 bass, all on the suspended float and blood-worm. I missed a few chances, too, including my first break-off of the season (15-pound fluoro does chafe). I noticed groups of bass following hooked fish for the first time this season; they are still arriving. The fish were very respectable, too, as several were in the 25-26 inch range in addition to the 32. While none were "micro bass", a few were in the 20-inch range and so several year classes were represented. Regardless, the fish available so far this year are nice, high-quality fish; let's hope there are enough behind this class to keep things rolling in the future! The ninth bass of the morning was my first of the season to be hooked deeply. Circle hooks work! The previous 20 had all been hooked in the outer regions of their maw and easily released with minimal damage. After a short break, I set out in amybaby22. Skies were high and clear, the water was flat calm. I simply hoped to convert my remaining few worms into bass action and to stretch my fly line. I ended up donating the remaining worms over the course of the morning to short-striking bass along the Falmouth shoreline. I was surprised to encounter fly-fishing guides on my first two selected spots for fly-casting. One was posted inside Mussel Cove with the rising tide, the other worked the rocks close to Prince Point. I simply worked around these boats and set up at the end of the Prince Point reef. I rode the current along the southern face of this, casting my tan/white Clouser to the edges of submerged weeds. I was mostly enjoying the simple, process of casting when I noticed several bass appearing from under the weeds and following my fly. I hastened my retrieve and a bass visibly pounced! This 25-incher set the new standard for fly-caught fish on amybaby22, and it was cool to witness the strike and fight in the clear water. And this wasn't a fluke, either. After my best cast of the day to the edge of some weedy cover, a boil indicated a take and I came tight again. Unfortunately, I broke this fish off (I was aware of a wind knot in my leader but chose to think it was still heavy enough/strong enough to withstand my schoolies bass). I re-tied with a home-made olive/white Clouser and scored another 25-incher on a fast retrieve along another weed edge. My casting is getting better, but my line management if pretty terrible. Oh well, if my practice sessions can still yield some nice action (especially during fairly brutal conditions), I'll keep practicing! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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