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Date: May 7, 2021 Body of Water: Waquoit Bay - Falmouth/Mashpee, Massachusetts Moon Phase: New Moon minus four days; waning crescent Tides: High at 10:06 AM Boat: amybaby22 With: Alone Target: Striped Bass Time: 8 AM - 2:30 PM Conditions: About 50 - 60 degrees; full sun; steady easterly winds (10-12 mph); water was clear, slightly green and 52 - 58 degrees F. (Woods Hole temperatures recorded at 51 degrees, +/-) Hoping to find my first stripers of the season, I chose to take the day off work. When I arrived at an empty ramp lot, I was okay, since this particular ramp can suffer from overcrowded and dysfunctional conditions. On the other hand, I now suspected that I was in for some tough fishing conditions. Surely, if the stripers were abundantly available, others would be in pursuit, even on a weekday. Still, I was encouraged by the slightly elevated water temperature at the ramp; almost 54 degrees F, even after a cool night and with a rising tide. But I saw no signs of birds, bait or life, and when I graphed my favored downriver deep hole, I revealed nothing. After a few casts with a small Keitech-style swimbait over this deeper holding water, my attention wandered to the nearby, sun-soaked shallows. My second or third cast onto the flat resulted in several bass showing themselves and following the lure intently, but none seemed inclined to strike before they peeled off. So, I now knew there were some fish around, but they might be difficult to get to bite in the "cold" water. I saw several other groups of fish (from singles to a herd of what I suspected to be bluefish) in waters less than four or five feet deep. I think they were drawn in by the sun, but wary of the shallow, bright conditions in such clear water. Other than a couple of lethargic, dime-sized crabs, I saw no signs of bait as I prospected this wide spot in the river at the head of Waquoit Bay. I mostly threw my 3.8-inch swimbait, but I also incorporated a small popper, a Rapala Twitching Mullet, and a Husky Jerk minnow bait to keep everybody honest. I had one slight touch on the swimbait in about six feet of water, but did not hook up. Otherwise, the only "contacts" I had were paralyzing follows on the swimmer and a couple of disinterested passes on the mullet. Still, it was nice to know there were some stripers available, and I thought the action might pick up if the waters warmed in the day's sun. I expanded my search areas, trolled to Menauhant outlet, and prospected the deeper, incoming water there at the height of the tide. I couldn't get anything to bite, and as I had approached Menauhant, I had seen fewer fish. So, I relocated to the head of the Bay, hoping to find something sunning itself on the flats outside Caleb Pond or in the deeper waters nearby. When I noticed a surf fisherman here, I veered off towards the mouth of the Quashnet River. I found the warmest water of the day, so far, here at 57 degrees. I started seeing more bass, but they also would not bite! The beautiful day, the bright sun, the clear water and a visibly pronounced bottom/color change reminded me of smallmouth fishing in Northern Michigan. I picked up a line of obvious bottom transition and started following it to the north. This led me directly to a group of cruising schoolies, which immediately ignored my lures and dispersed to nearby deeper waters. Encouraged by the presence of my targeted quarry, I casted the swimbait blindly into six or eight feet of water and retrieved the lure as slowly as possible while still maintaining contact with it. Thunk! Fish on! But after a brief, surging run and head shake, my line went slack; the hook was thrown. That had felt like a nice fish! I was disappointed at the loss, but still, after 4.5 hours of fishing, I'd made my first real contact with a striper! Just a cast or two later, I swung on a slight "tick" and the rod loaded; soon, Striper No. 1 of 2021 (all 16 inches of it!) was in the boat! I'd avoided a skunk, broken the ice, and had accomplished my primary goal for the day! The 2021 Fishing Season had officially begun! I caught two more stripers in the next half hour or so. Each was 15 or 16 inches, and each fell to the same 3.8-inch swimbait on a 1/8-ounce jighead. Each strike came during blind casts into this "deeper" water, all on a painfully slow retrieve. My secondary goal of the day (three photographed stripers for Week One of the 2021 Striper Cup) was now in the can! I missed a couple of strikes, too. I decided to try my original spots in the sun-warmed water. I'd left fish to find fish, and I paid the price. I saw a couple, but once again, I could not get them to bite. I pulled the plug, was off the water at 2:30 PM, and home just after 5 PM! What do I have to say about this? I'd struggled with the idea of taking the day off, when I knew the fishing might be marginal. I could save the time for some better, more productive day. Still, it was a beautiful day, any stripers caught would be my earliest salties ever, and I needed a break. Once I'd had the thought, the deed was virtually done. While the fishing was a grind, I really was served well by my Michigan smallmouth experience. I knew the rewards were there, if I could execute well and keep grinding. In fact, I might be at my best under such conditions; I am focused and present. Three tiny stripers are nothing to write home about; but working hard to make something positive happen, might be. The day's catch wasn't the real benefit of the day; I'd learned some new spots and presentations, had started the success part of my saltwater season earlier than ever, and had both relaxed but also challenged myself and focused on matters of importance to me. It had been a good day! This was my first trip really using the new Shimano Vanford 4000, and I was impressed. Light, smooth, and with good line lay and an infinitely adjustable drag, it's certainly a pleasure to fish with. If this reel holds up to the salt, it will definitely be a favorite of mine. It's now paired with a suiting new arrow in my quiver, a St. Croix Saltwater Avid in medium power. I picked this up, (barely) used at Portland's The Tackle Shop, the day after this trip. This is finer equipment than I am used to, but I look forward to long use and many fish with this combo. Here's to 2021's Striper Season! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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