|
Date: May 6, 2023 Body of Water: (Upper) Narragansett Bay - Rhode Island and Massachusetts Moon Phase: Full plus one day Boat: amybaby22 With: Alone Target: Striped Bass Time: 8 AM - 2 PM Conditions: Local High tide at about 10 AM (empirical); Clear and bright with light, alternating winds but mostly from the north; 50 - 70 degrees. Water temperatures 52 - 54 degrees (+/-). Striper Cup 2023 commenced, and I needed documentation of three stripers for the week! That would be an extremely difficult proposition for me from Maine waters at this point, so I did a day-trip to Rhode Island. I chose to launch from Haines State Park on the east side of the Providence River, and I emerged from the channel into Narragansett Bay at about 8 AM. I was hoping to encounter some bigger bass chasing large baits; not knowing where to start, I picked up the shipping channel and cruised south, looking for any sign of birds, bait or bass. I made it all the way to Bristol's Popasquash Point and Hog Island without a hint of such. I searched the boulder-strewn shoreline of Hog with a swim-bait for a bit without luck before pulling off into the deeper water off the southwest shoal extending from Hog. Some gulls and terns were acting funny; they weren't exactly diving on bait, but they were hanging in the area. A couple of boats were idling about, too, as if expecting something to erupt. I didn't see anything as I fan-casted the area with a small swim-bait. Something (likely a blue) nipped the paddle off my paddle-tail, but that was it. After 15 minutes of silence, I moved on. Still in search mode, I moved north and east into Mt. Hope Bay. I'd either find some bait and activity or I'd sneak into some of the backwaters on the north end. Several miles later, I was easing my way into the Kickamuit River at Bristol Narrows. At the very least, I figured these types of pinch points might create some current seams. As I arrived at about 10 AM, it appeared to be the top of the outgoing tide. When I saw a rocky, wind-blown point with current pushing past and 15 or more feet of water immediately adjacent, I decided I needed to make a few casts. The new 3-inch NLBN (No Live Bait Necessary) swim-bait got crunched on my second cast! I landed a spunky 17-incher, and I was on the board for 2023! Now, my new Minn-Kota Riptide trolling motor with Spot-Lock shined for the first time in the salt. I repositioned, anchored electronically, and continued to fish this feature efficiently and effectively. I landed three more stripers up to 25 inches; that's a pretty good fish for me this early in the year and always a very nice battle on light inshore tackle. My next stop was just a few hundred feet further into the pond. Again, a current seam was forming downstream of a prominent point, and deep water was nearby. This time, my first cast was eaten by a plump 22-incher. I quickly landed a couple of other fish here too. While most of the day's action had been with "low and slow" presentations, one of these attacked just under the surface as I quickly retrieved the lure at the end of the cast. I saw it all go down on the clear water. My gut reaction was "Blue!" but I was certainly not disappointed to land another striper. My next few moves were to various pinch points and current seams in the Cole, Lee and Barrington Rivers. The Cole and Lee (both across the line and in Massachusetts) produced a couple more fish, but I didn't stir anything at the junction of the Barrington and Warren Rivers back in Little Rhody. At this point, it was 2:30 or so and I was out of pinch points. I could either call it a good day or push my luck in my search for size further up the Providence River. With a long drive ahead, I chose to recognize my good fortune and started to head in. What do I have to say about this? I hated to forego any portion of my Maine trout season, but chasing stripers seemed to have more upside. Despite having grown up in Rhode Island, this was all totally new water for me (on my own/without a guide), and while I didn't find blitzing big bass or any big baits (the allure of which had drawn me away from Maine as well as the familiarity of Cape Cod's southern salt ponds), I confirmed some good things. Birds and bait mean bass, but so does current; and it doesn't have to be much to collect at least a few biting fish. These were my first self-guided Rhode Island stripers! They were simply not part of my youth, but I was glad to share their presence on such attractive water. It only took about 60 years! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Steve LachanceRI --> NH --> MI-->MA-->ME Archives
June 2024
Categories
All
|
Proudly powered by Weebly