David Churbuck’s Reel-Time FLog

A few years ago someone vandalized the spillway of the dam at the headwaters of the Mashpee River — the stream that carries water out of Mashpee-Wakeby pond and which is also the main highway for the thriving herring population. That run, which crosses under Route 130 in Mashpee near the old Flume Restaurant, is one of the healthiest on the Cape.

Well, healthy until some irate homeowner, upset with the water lapping at his swingset and barbeque, took a chainsaw and cut down the boards that regulate the flow of water out of the pond. That happened several years ago. Now, according to the Cape Cod Times the residents are foaming once again, ticked off that all the spring rain erasing their beaches and putting pond water in their backyards.

Sigh. Herring or property — guess who will win this one?

Saturday morning I putt-putted into the fog off of Cotuit and saw a dozen people standing on the bar off of Loop Beach casting at the finning blues. Happy not to have to go far, I shut down in front of Sub Rock off of Sampson’s and was quickly onto a nice 8-lb. blue. Lots of mung in the water, and I was concerned about red tide stuff, but after three fish in the cooler I made my way home for a weekend in the flower beds. Used a home-made ten weight with a floater and an orange popper to do the deed.

Smoked the fish and vacuum-sealed them last night. Bluefish pate to follow.