5-10: Ditch Explodes!

[bdowning]

Yep, legal fish are now in solid in some Canal locations. Started in the early AM at the Herring Circus, several hours B4 low slack. Fish started hitting live herring almost immediately. Saw 8-10 keepers in my immediate vicinity, from 32-44 inches. I had six runs, some nice ones, and bungled every one of them. I guess that's called shaking out the winter rust.

Met up with John "ThunderRod" Silva and friend Mike in the west end for a micro rat-clave. They too were hitting and missing.

We took a break and re-convened later at other spots, just as the heavens opened with a deluge and a hard easterly began to blow. Severe lightning forced the wussies ;-) (John and myself) to head for the hills at least once. Crazy Mike kept right on fishing, which is a good thing because the bite turned right on again at high slack. As the storm simmered down, we all tied into more than a few just-under new style keeper fish, many on dead herring. The Rustoleum was finally penetrating and all was right with the world.

Soaked and sated, we parted ways. I decided to check the South Cape area just to see what was happening. Predictably, it was very choppy. People were fishing, but the easterlies had really blown everything out. When they calm down, hold onto your rods!

-bd

Note: Although I have no direct evidence, it appears that blues are already showing in the Canal. One guy in the morning claimed a bluefish catch and ThunderRod had a leader get cut in half in mid-drift. Doubt that was caused by a striper.


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[J Powers]

That's great news Mr. Downing. Now I've got to shuffle my appointments around for tomorrow. Thanks for reporting. My last few trips to the Ditch last week were dismal.

[bdowning]

So were mine. It's really only come alive in the last few days.

Tight lines,

-bd


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[Thunder Rod]

What a blast! It seemed like someone had a fish on a stringer everywhere we went. I personally saw a 42" hauled in on the West end.

Our tally on Wed was eleven Bass, 26" - 29" fish on Wed. (within the lightning zone);

A little slower Thursday......... Out of live bait, A friend and I hit the same spot with fresh herring on ice, same time, but I only managed to land one at
29 - 30". Released it of course, just to be sure, but saw guys on the point walk off with fish that were just as close. I just don't keep close fish, though
I probably deserve one the way I've been landing 29.75" bass so far this year. ;-) I've already landed my share this May and am quite happy with the decent early season start. The latest bass was the best fight I've had so far in 2000, though admittedly, I might have had more line out and more current to deal with than yesterday. Might as well mention too that there were quite a few pick ups with quick drops as well, small bass no doubt. Today, the deepest
standing guy in waders out on the point did best, but also hooked some of
those smaller fish which we were missing. No big deal, just a bit slower
today. I don't think live vs dead herring cost us much more than a split
second of hold time. (even got a couple hits on cut herring);

See you Sat (I hope) Bill......

[JimK]

Were you fishing the fresh dead herring whole or cut?

[Thunder Rod]

Both. We were far enough from the hoards of live bait going up the run that we still got hits on the cut bait.

However, we fished them mostly whole. I went to cutting the bait as a way to try to cut down on the short drops at that particular time as it seemed that some smaller fish may had moved in. (in place of those 29" fish that the guys on the point kept walking off with...) All the fish I've landed this year have been on whole herring, dead or alive.

Back to live bait today. (that is if me and BDowning can get far eough away from the weekend crowds);

Good Luck.