How early?

[prohjac]

Ok, I am wondering when you guys think the season will start(saltwater that is). Anyone care to share some early season memories? My best one is down on the cape. I was spending a weekend at a bed and breakfast with my girlfriend. I had to bring the rod along just in case. As we parked to go for a sunset walk I heard a few splashed in the water. I grabed the rod a blue popper and was onto small schoolies! I don't think the girlfriend was happy that our walk was delayed!

[jl]

April 12th, Cotuit inlet(as always)!

[bdowning]

How 'bout RI? End of first week in April at either the West Wall, Narrow River, or Sachuest would be among my top early season picks for fresh migrants. The ultra diehards who live a lot closer to these places than I do will be catching schoolies in late March, although I'm not certain they aren't holdovers. What the hell...a bass is a bass!

Right around the first week in April, I'd also try way up in Narragansett/Mt. Hope/Buzzards Bay estuaries where the water is warmer. I'd do the same thing one week later on the Cape south side. If you can get near a herring run, so much the better.

None of this action is too far away, calendar-wise. Say goodbye to cabin fever soon!

-bd




<img src="http://world.std.com/~bdowning/fishing_lg_wte.gif">

[rolands]

Cotuit can be very dangerous in april and with the black flies and the Hells Angels convention that week--well I'd try some where else.(;);
roland---

[Bob Parsons]

Flies-deet and face screen

Hell's angels -use the bike with the dual rod holders.

It's the cotuit bay rd brownies and their annual april over 60 skinny dip that keeps me away.

[rolands]

Did I forget to mension the ever increasing mung problem. I heard that someone caught a fish there last year( probably a sea robbin)

[Ray]

JL

Where in Cotuit do you fish? I have not fished that area before, but want to. Is there a good shore spot to throw a fly? I don't know the area well at all, but want to fish as early as possible this year.

Thanks,

Ray

[rolands]

now that the cat is out of the mung--most of the inner bay requires a boat but I believe there is acess to the mouth of the bay by foot but I've never been there.
rolands

[Bob Parsons]

Not the best source of info for shore fishing in Cotuit since I use a boat.
Off of Loop beach fishing the Cotuit channel before boat traffic
There is also a sand bar at the beach that would let you walk out aways (before/after the beach season, as am/pm);

There is a jettie on the Channel out of West Bay where I see a number of shore bound anglers.

To the east of there maybe 1/2 mile it is quite shallow and I've seen people hike quite far out.

[CMP]

I also heard of a massive chemical spill in Prince Cove. Bas prospects for ANY fish, let alone spring stripers...

CMP

[jl]

all good spots; but what you really want to do is paddle over to the otherside of the inlet and work the island side. the rip really gets moving along the island side and along the oceanfront of the island there are some large boulders all by their lonesome just aching to give cover to some lined ones. as for tossing a fly, i'd wade from the mainland side off of loop beach. hit the dropping with 2 hours to go and you can wade way, way, way out.
from the "believe it or not" category: last year, first week in May, we hit decent blues in a northeast wind at that very spot.
one other thing, the cat's been outta' the bag a lot longer than i can remember. when your shoulder starts to hurt, hit the kettle ho for a frosty brew and darts.