ALL NEW SMITH/ACTION OPTICS ANGLING SUNGLASSES HAVE ARRIVED!!

May 15th Class With Lou Tabory-Final Call!



BRING YOUR RODS & REELS IN FOR SERVICING TODAY!

Okay folks, I mentioned this last week in our video update, but the time is now! Get out and start fishing. Many of you have been waiting for a concrete reason to kick your 2010 fishing season off, so treat this report as your alarm clock! As we have been mentioning for over a month now, the fishing to both our east and west on rivers such as the Housey and Hudson has been better than good. However, those fisheries as they always eventually do at this time of year are beginning to slow. This past weekend was exactly what we were looking for. After almost a week of rain and colder temperatures, things broke wide open on Saturday with temps in the 70s, Sunday was a repeat with the mercury climbing even a bit more. The reports really started to flow in on Sunday afternoon with the fish of the weekend being taken off of Fairfield, weighing a whopping 23 lbs on the fly rod, before it was safely released. And why are we driving to Hempstead again?

Speaking of the west, Scott C. reported in on Sunday after spending Saturday afternoon fishing the Hempstead area where he threw the kitchen sink at them, sluggos, flies, Rapalas, umbrella rigs and everything in between with no luck. Only about six boats on a few schools of bunker with none having much success.

Fellow Westport Striped Bass Club member Jim C. was able to get some fresh bait locally and head downtown as well on Saturday evening. Loaded for bear they worked areas in and around Manhasset Bay with about 10 bass all on fresh chunks with the biggest fishing coming in at 12lbs. They reported back in that the water temps were about 55 degrees and in their estimation, they said they feel it is still about a week or so off before things light up.

Back inside Patrick G. continues to fish the far Western Sound hard from his yak, including all the way down to Jamaica Bay. Keep in mind that although you may have no desire or demand to fish areas like Manhasset, still take note, for what happens there is a sign of what will eventually come our way. Pat fished the back of the bay and caught 5 stripers during the incoming on the mudflats on flies and plugs up to 34 inches. The back of the bay is LOADED with bunker - probably the most he has seen in years…

At this time of year, as it is most of the season, we rely on an influx of bait to get the fish moving. This of course is directly correlated with the water temp, which is directly correlated to the air temperature. At the time of this report, the air temperatures are on our side and on the way up. Although there have been large schools of bunker in a majority of the estuaries and beyond for well over two weeks, we had yet to really see strong signs of the smaller baits that spring bass love. This would include alewives, silver sides and sand eels, as well as an assortment of small krill and crabs. On Saturday, this is exactly what shop customer and friend Josh F. found at the Mill Pond. A ton of grass shrimp and silver sides getting crashed in the broad daylight. He and partner had several stout fish just shy of keepers and a few keepers in the mix as well. Lures of choice were crocodile spoons! (see recent catches).

Also on Sunday, the SNBC held its annual flounder tourney. With some great weather, all the anglers brought to the rail some really nice fish, but none as nice as fellow Westport Striped Bass Club members Jimmy Izzo and Dick Ritter who took yet another first place finish in a local tourney. Congrats guys for a great showing.

Back up to the Housey Gaston “The Gear Crusher” Catta continues to get it done. Fishing the mouth he landed a fat striper that almost came in at keeper size on a deceiver…I can’t believe Gaston you did not break the rod! (see recent catches).

The Micinilio Brothers checked in last late on Sunday where they fished the river behind the shop trolling tubes and deep lip swimmers for 15 fish up rto 28 inches...

With all of this moisture as of late, the trout streams are holding up quite well. The Saugatuck TMA probably experiencing the most pressure continues to give up 20-24 inch fish almost daily. The hatches are changing however. Caddis emergers in size 12-16 seem to be in the sweet spot with an olive or green color. If you are feeling adventurous, try some of our flash back caddis emergers…you will be glad you did…

This weekend is looking okay with the chance of some rain, but not storms, so get geared up and get out there. Things are really starting to shape up for the better. There is a ton of bait now in the water which will continue to improve day by day. Stick with lures/flies that are predominantly white, for this is the color of the underside of most of our bait fish now, before the pigment in their flesh begins to spread out and they darken. Swim baits, buck tails tipped with small plastics and spoons will get the job done. For the bait guys/gals, sandworms rigged on buck tails and straight up no doubt will get you some fish! Last but not least, SLUGGOS. We like them rigged weightless and weed less at this time of year and are more than happy top show you how to rig them properly.

Flies should be sand eelish…surf candies, silver minnows, and clousers still tied sparse. We also just took delivery of some sweet sand eel patterns tied on a flat wing by Eric Peterson, so come on down and have a look and we can get you into the fish!!


2010 Lou Tabory/W.O. Fly Fishing Schools-SIGN UP TODAY!!

May 8th @ 6:00 A.M., Compo Beach, Westport, CT
May 15th @ 6:00 A.M., Compo Beach, Westport, CT
June 26th @ 6:00 A.M., Compo Beach, Westport, CT
July 17th @ 6:00 A.M., Compo Beach, Westport, CT
July 31st @ 6:00 A.M., Compo Beach, Westport, CT
August 7th @ 6:00 A.M., Compo Beach, Westport, CT

This intro/intermediate course will begin promptly at 6:00 A.M. in the water, in your waders. Lou and the crew from W.O. will work with you in learning the general casting stroke for fly fishing; teach you how to read the water to identify bait movement, current, structure and feeding fish patterns and lanes. You will have the opportunity to cast some additional rods with varying types of lines for saltwater fly fishing. After the fishing, we will return to the shop where Lou will go over several formal slide presentations, that will reiterate what was learned on the water, including gear selection, knot tying, fly presentation and much, much more! After lunch, we will have an extended Q&A and then finally return to the park to wrap things up with more hands on casting. The day will end at approximately 3:00 P.M. Cost is $150.00, which includes a light breakfast, full lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
Eric C. Johnson
Westport Outfitters, LLC
609 Riverside Ave.
Westport, CT
06880
www.westportoutfitters.com
www.allseasonsmarineworks.com
p-203.341.9490
f-203.341.9423
ejohnson@westportoutfitters.com
TAKE THE FAMILY FISHINGTM