Boston
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And So It Goes...

Can it be that the end of another season is at hand?

With the wet and windy weather of the week, the word is out that the bass are migrating like crazy. There's still a pretty good opportunity to get some fish, but for the most part, we know how this story ends. The fish are headed out and pretty soon the only thing left around here will be a few straggler and winter over schoolies. Hardly enough to make it worth getting out of bed in the morning.

Of course, there's still the chance for a last hurrah. Some of my best days fishing have been around Plymouth at this time of year. Obviously, the bass have two choices as they move out. They can take the long way around, out along Stellwagen Bank, then down the outer beaches, or they can go through the canal. If they're headed to the canal, Plymouth is a great place to intercept them. Maryann's Rocks provides a natural choke point that the fish must pass.

Last year was a season where the big bass seemed to take option one, staying offshore feeding on the abundant herring population at places like Davis Bank, well off Chatham, before relocating to more southerly climes. If the early migration reports are correct, it seems like canal is going to be fairly hot.

So the fish aren't completely gone yet. If you're a die hard who's not ready to give up, there's still some hope for you. Generally at this time of year the information on the Reel-Talk BBS picks up to a frantic pace. Check it out and if your still fishing, don't forget to leave a report to let everyone know how your doing.

I'd like to thank all of our sponsors for helping us bring you another great season. It's been great working with them. Also, a special report to the readers who've taken time to send in reports and to post on the BBS. We've had a lot of great tips from readers this season.

Keep an eye out, in the next couple of weeks I'll be posting a calender with upcoming events. Fly tying seminars, shows, etc.

Don't forget to send me your own reports, and until next season...

Tight Lines!

Mark Cahill

Boston Metro Regions

Boston Harbor

At Old Salt Outfitters in Hingham, Brian O'Neill reports that the weather's been a big problem for the fishing. "With the combination of strong winds and bad tides there haven't been many folks out fishing and even less talking about it. I've had reports that the Weir River is still fishing well and one of my clients claims it stays strong well into November."

Capt. Wayne Frieden of Reel Dream Charters in Scituate reports:

Well, I was hoping my last trip of the season would end in a bang. Instead, it was more like a whimper! The schools have been thinning out for the past few weeks and I think last weekend's noreaster helped with the migratory push. On Monday afternoon, we fished an incoming tide with a strong northeasterly wind to make fly fishing a challenge. Bill Saltonstall and his friend, Adam, caught and released only a handful of small schoolies off Deer Island near the anchorage. Saw a small group of birds and that was it! I did mark many fish in the channel at the #5 can and # 8 can near the main harbor entrance but the fish wouldn't bite. At least, Bill got to break in his new Diamondback Saltwater fly rod.

So, I will head south to Plymouth Bay this weekend and Rhode Island shore over the next few weeks. As always, the fishing should be good unless the weather turns bad. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the folks who fished with me this year and for making it a truly great season! Look for me again on the FishWire next year and we'll see you on the water.

Until next spring...

Capt. Wayne Frieden, Reel Dream Charters (781-545-6263)

Plymouth & South Shore

Capt. John Hayes Jr. of On Call Charters reports that:

High winds and dangerously rough seas on the Bay most of last week. Awesome fishing however can still be had on smaller waters in the Rivers and up inside the harbors at night. Friday through Monday were much too windy to cast a fly .

Plastics like Bass-Assassin and Slug-Go produced double digits each night. Don't be afraid to experiment with larger baits like 6" shad jigs. The bass are feeding voraciously at night now.

Big and numerous bass still hold on the P-Town side. Aggressive anglers (30 Kn. wind and 4-6"seas ) did well. This is not for the weak stomached !

The forecast for the upcoming week is better. We will be exploring our favorite fall rockpiles and shores. We plan to fish through the end of the month. We have some open dates left.

The first videotape footage and Grady-White promo video were released this week. As we mentioned in June, local footage from Boston to Duxbury will be featured.

North Shore, Cape Ann & Merrimack River

At River's Edge Trading in Beverly, Rick Southgate reports that there hasn't been much to report on the saltwater front. "Let me tell you what I do know. A few guys have been hooking up with small bluefin tuna offshore. The Essex River and the Ipswich River have both offered some shad fishing lately. There are still schoolie bass hanging around and I would expect some bigger fish, but with the weather, no one has really been able to get to them. If the weather calms down, try the rivers and the oceanfront along Cape Ann.

Charles Crue of Channel Edge Charters in Newburyport pulled his boat last week and headed down to Cape Cod for a little R & R.

At First Light Anglers in Manchester-by-the-sea, Capt. Nat Moody reports that they've switched their emphasis to fishing out of Watch Hill, RI, where they've been having some great trips. Locally, the fishing is still strong, although the weather has been a problem. There are still big bass running along the oceanfront beaches and into the rivers with the tides. Use a fly that will imitate the 4-5" herring that are around, or something to mimic the silversides that remain in the area.