<b>Bass</b> Heading Deep Sooner Than Usual

Bass are already beginning to move deeper with water temperatures in the lower 80s.

At 72.1 degrees, the average air temperature in March was 5.3 degrees higher than the long-term average for Lakeland.

That made March the eighth-warmest on record.

Fish behavior has been a month ahead of schedule in salt water, and bass are developing summer patterns sooner than usual.

Cool nights this week are a welcome respite, but those 90-degree-plus days will be back next week in all likelihood.

Bass are chasing shad in open water, schooling on Lake Toho and Lake Gibson.

The spring spawn is largely over with this year, compared to some years when April has produced exceptional bass, like a 16-pounder on Lake Kissimmee not that long ago.

Bass fishermen have been working outside grass lines more often for the biggest bites, and open-water structure and grass beds will soon be the preferred locations.

Combined with warming temperatures, water levels are lower than usual, with only a quarter of an inch of rain in Lakeland during the entire month of March.

That has also helped pull bigger bass out of shallow shoreline areas sooner, especially on the south Winter Haven chain where the level is 10 inches lower than a year ago.

Lake Kissimmee has dropped to under 50 feet above sea level, not far from the low-pool stage targeted for June 1.

The same trend is true on all Polk lakes, and it's likely that April and May will continue to be dry.

It's time for bass fishermen to dust off their electronics and think deeper.

Summertime is nearer than you might think.

LICENSE-FREE SATURDAY DRAWS LOT OF ANGLERS

A Florida resident freshwater fishing license costs $17, a bargain compared to some states.

But that is more than some people are willing to pay.

Ron Schelfo at Ron's Tackle Box in Lake Alfred said there were a surprising number of fishermen on the water on Saturday because it was a license-free day in Florida.

June 9 will also be a license-free day for freshwater fishing. June 2 and Sept. 1 are license-free days in salt water.

FOX 39TH IN OPEN

Kyle Fox of Lakeland finished 39th in the Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Norman at Charlotte, N.C., last week, leading Polk County fishermen in the tour's second of three tournaments.

Fox, an Elite Series pro, weighed in 18 pounds, 7 ounces the first two days. Only the top 12 qualified for Saturday's final round.

Tracy Adams of Wilkesboro, N.C., won the tournament with 45 pounds, 6 ounces.

Lakeland native Chris Lane placed 52nd with 17 pounds, 2 ounces. Lee Sisson of Winter Haven was 106th with 14 1/2 pounds, while Cecil Douberly of Lakeland was 147th with 12 pounds.

ELITES ON BULL SHOALS

Kyle Fox, along with brothers Chris and Bobby Lane, are competing in the Bassmaster Elite Series' third tournament of the season on Bull Shoals Lake at Mountain Home, Ark., April 19-22.

Chris Lane is 10th in points, while Bobby Lane is 34th and Fox is 40th.

BASS TOURNAMENTS

Keith Albritton anchored the winning stringer of 21.89 pounds with a 10.21-pounder Saturday to win the Camp Mack Open on the Kissimmee Chain. Bobby Wooten took second with 21.60 pounds. Matt Hinman placed third with 21.19 pounds, followed by Eric Conant with 20.58 pounds and Mike Bierfreund with 16.42 pounds.

Jay Malys produced an excellent stringer for the Harris Chain totaling 20.90 pounds, including a 6.60-pounder, on Saturday to win the Lakeland Junior Bassmasters tournament in his first event with the club. Harry Linsinbigler finished second behind Malys in the 15-18 age group with 13.80 pounds. Colten Grant had 7.30 pounds for third. In the 11-14 age group, Dalton Gorman took first with 13 pounds, followed by Mica Patel with 9 pounds and Roger Weigel with 7.10 pounds. Jackson Williams boated a 6.90-pounder for big-bass honors.

Bobby and Tomi Orth won the ABA Couples Florida tournament on Lake Walk-in-the-Water Saturday with 13.45 pounds including Bobby's 7.43-pounder. Paul Brussow and Anna Midzio placed second with 11.29 pounds.

Buford McCoy and Tom Yutzy won the Ron's Tackle Box evening tournament last Thursday on Lake Alfred with 12 3/4 pounds, and Yutzy's 5-pounder was tops. Dennis Bridges Jr. and Dennis Bridges Sr. finished second with 8 pounds, 11 ounces, while third went to Telly Smith and Trevor Fike with 8 pounds.

David Rizzo needed only 5.80 pounds to win the Bass Bandits tournament Saturday on Lake Walk-in-the-Water. Roy Woodhouse finished second with 5.65 pounds and the largest bass at 2.95 pounds, while third went to Danny Duchesne with 5.45 pounds.

[ Del Milligan's freshwater fishing column appears Thursdays in The Ledger. He can be reached at del.milligan@theledger.com or 863-802-7555. Milligan's blog, Central Florida Fishology, can be found at theledger.com home page. ]

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Opening day of <b>freshwater fishing</b> is Saturday

With the freshwater fishing season opening Saturday, April 14, the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM) reminds anglers that even on a warm day, water temperatures can hover in the low- to mid-50s.

According to a 2007 U.S. Coast Guard report, a boating accident is five times more likely to be fatal if the water is colder than 60 degrees. In addition, a 2010 report stated that eight out of 10 boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length. Coupling cold water with small, unstable vessels like canoes and kayaks places anglers in a very dangerous situation.

DEM said approximately 80,000 hatchery-raised brook, brown and rainbow trout with an average individual weight of 1.5 pounds have been stocked by division staff in more than 100 ponds and streams for opening day. A complete list of stocked ponds and other information of interest to anglers can be found on DEM’s website, www.dem.ri.gov.

Freshwater fishing licenses

You need a freshwater fishing license to fish in Rhode Island. According to DEM regulations, “A fishing license is required of any person 15 years of age or older wishing to catch or take fish in any freshwater stream or pond in the state.” Exceptions include blind persons, landowners and their family members fishing from their property. Residents over 65 can obtain a special permanent license for free. This year resident licenses are $18 and non-resident licenses are $35; a non-resident, three-day license is $16.

If you’re interested in fishing for trout, you’ll need a trout conservation stamp as well; that costs $5.50.

Freshwater fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased from city and town clerk offices, authorized agents such as bait and tackle shops and other retail stores that sell tackle. For a list of license vendors, visit the DEM website, where you may also purchase a license online.

Anglers to host fluke seminar

Yours truly will talk about what fluke experts have to say on summer flounder fishing tactics, gear and ideal fishing locations at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at the Warwick FOP Lounge, 95 Tanner Ave., Warwick. The event is free and open to all, although attendance is limited to 100 people on fist-come, first-served basis. Call 401/463-7532 for more information.

Bluefin tuna quota specs

Comments are due by Monday, April 16, on proposed 2012 quota specifications for the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. Go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov to view the proposed 2012 quota specifications. You may submit comments through April 16 at www.regulations.gov; by faxing Sarah McLaughlin at 978/281-9340; or by mailing her at: Sarah McLaughlin, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.

Saltwater fishing regs now official

Black sea bass, summer flounder and scup all have liberalized regulations for the 2012 season. In the case of summer flounder and scup, this is due to good stock status and under-harvest by the recreational fishery in 2011.

The black sea bass fishery, while currently constrained at a low quota level, was also under-harvested last year. All of the other important recreational species are meeting their current rebuilding targets or have a stable stock status, and therefore regulations will remain at status quo for 2012. No species is being restricted from its 2011 recreational harvest regulations.

All nonexempt fishers and spear-fishers must have a R.I. recreational saltwater license (or equivalent license or registration issued by another state or federal government) in order to fish legally in marine waters. Fishing licenses are required, but free, for Rhode Island residents over 65 and for active military personnel stationed in the state. For all others, the fee is $7 for residents and $10 for non-residents.

Visit www.saltwater.ri.gov for more information or to purchase and print a license online.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater fishing is heating up with bass being caught at many local ponds.

John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in East Providence said opening day Saturday promises to be a good one with area residents gearing up to fish Willett Avenue Pond and a host of others. “Bass fishing at Echo Lake, Barrington has been good,” said Mr. Littlefield.

“Customers are catching bass at Gorton Pond in Warwick and Worden Pond, Wakefield,” said Craig Castro of Erickson’s Bait & Tackle in Warwick.

Striped bass fishing is starting to heat up. Last week, Matthew Boliver reported catching his first half-dozen school bass off Middletown, and Mike Shepard caught his first school bass off Newport. Mr. Littlefield at Archie’s Bait & Tackle said customer Dave Paterson caught his first bass in the 14-16-inch range using light-colored plastic shad lures.

Blog reports from New Jersey related an excellent striped bass bite last week; let’s hope they’re coming our way. Reports of striped bass in Greenwich Bay have been spotty but consistent. “Anglers are catching striped bass in Greenwich Bay with soft plastics, but they are working for them,” said Mr. Castro or Erickson’s Bait & Tackle.

Capt. Dave Monti has been fishing and shellfishing on Narragansett Bay for more than 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. Your fishing photos in jpeg form, stories, comments and questions are welcome. Visit Capt. Dave’s No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.com or e-mail him at dmontifish@verizon.net.

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Time for everyone to head to the sea

A BUSY time for sea anglers – or at least it should be with the crabs peeling hard on the North Kent coast and the rays and smoothhounds arriving. Traditionally the spring and summer saw lots of sea anglers lay up their tackle until the return of autumn and winter or switch to freshwater angling.

But nowadays the spring can provide some of the best fishing for the larger species and more and more sea anglers are realising it.

From the beaches there are more thornback ray showing, especially from the Sandown/ Sandwich Bay region, and the best this week came from Deal pier for Deal angler Tim Fagg, fishing a competition.

Just showing are the first small smoothhound and these will increase in numbers and size in the coming months. The Admiralty pier at Dover is the prime spot for a big hound.

And then, of course, there are the mackerel.

Lots of anglers await their arrival with piers like the Admiralty, Folkestone and Samphire Hoe just starting to fill up with anglers of all kinds fishing feathers and lures for mackerel.

THE latest Folkestone Sea Angling beach rover competition was won by Dover angler Martin Jenkins who landed a mixture of dogfish, whiting and dabs from an undisclosed Shepway shore mark for 4.300kg.

He narrowly beat Folkestone's Martyn Reid with a similar catch of 4.250kg.

In third place was Lea Heaver of Folkestone with 3.060kg who won both of the pools for the biggest round and the biggest flat fish.

His best roundfish was a dogfish of 810grams and his best flatfish a flounder of 510grams.

The Folkestone SAA's next event is a pier competition fished from Folkestone pier on Thursday, April 26. Meet at the pier steps for the draw at 6.15pm.

Folkestone Veterans also fished from Folkestone pier in their latest event and the winner there was Pat Rumsey with a couple of dabs for 9oz.

Calm, clear conditions and a low tide did little to attract the fish to the pier wall.

Second was Mick Howland of Folkestone with 8oz and that was a small herring and a dab. Third was Alan Rickards of Folkestone with 7oz.

OTHER local club competitions included the latest Seabrook Sea Anglers Association event which was round two of the Victory Cup fished at Sandgate and Seabrook beaches.

Winner was John Smith of Ashford with seven whiting and dabs for 2.45lb. Graham Branigan was runner up with 2.10lb and Dorian Partridge third with 1.95lb.

FREELANCE shore catches have included a number of plaice from various beach marks around Shepway.

Dorian Partridge and Steve Harvey of the Seabrook Anglers Association fished at Dengemarsh landed plaice and a bonus bass for Dorian.

In the boats there are rays for the region's charter boats fishing the Goodwin Sands and with the warming water bass from the inshore wrecks are expected anytime.

FOLKESTONE Fly Fishing Club has its first champion of 2012.

Ian Watts teamed up with England national squad member Sean Brooks to win this year's Bewl Pro-Am competition.

The pair caught 11 rainbow trout from the bank for a match-winning total of 25lb.

This is a great start to the competition season for Ian who reached both the European and England finals in 2011.

SEA angling competitions coming up include the first of the Dover Sea Angling Association Saturday Series events being fished from the Admiralty pier on Saturday, April 14.

The event has been switched to the Admiralty pier because of the loss of the ferry boat for the breakwater which is still an ongoing subject.

Book in at the patrolman's hut is at 1pm. Contact Saul Page on 07971 172427 for more details.

Contact Alan Yates on 01303 250017, 07790 132656 or e-mail alankyates@aol.com.

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<b>Fishing</b> Forecast: Week of April 12-18

The Pilot's Sunday fishing feature, Off the Hook, tells the tales (fact, not fiction) of Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina anglers. So pass along your ideas. Send pictures and thoughts to Pilot outdoors writer Lee Tolliver at lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com, or call him at (757) 222-5844.

By Lee Tolliver
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 12, 2012

Today marks the return of The Pilot's Fishing Forecast. As many anglers already know, the waters of coastal Virginia and northeastern North Carolina form one of the best fishing areas on the planet. In these waters, there are a multitude of year-long opportunities.

While the area's reputation rides mostly on its saltwater fisheries, there also are many outstanding freshwater lakes and rivers to fish.

Our waters also offer the chance to catch true trophies in a variety of species.

This time of year, we usually start things off by talking about largemouth bass - America's most revered species. Because the bass can be found throughout the continental United States, anglers spend more hours targeting this fish than any other.

Locally, largemouth can be found in water supply lakes, private ponds, neighborhood water retention ponds and throughout an expansive span of tidal rivers and creeks.

Because of the mild winter and early arrival of spring, there have been many reports of fish already guarding shoreline spawning areas.

This is the time of year when the species can be at its most vulnerable, as it feeds in preparation for the spawn.

Shallow-running crankbaits, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits all are good choices this time of year to find fish roaming shorelines in search of mates and food.

Topwater lures - both slow-moving and fast - worked around shoreline cover also will produce.

Be sure to have a second rod rigged with a soft plastic bait to toss in the direction of a missed strike.

Where fish are found on or around their beds, big creature baits cast softly around cover also will produce.

FORECAST

Hampton Roads

While school-sized striper have kept anglers busy for the past few weeks, growing attention is being paid to an earlier-than-usual flounder bite along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the Baltimore Channel, around Buoy 36 A and in the Back River near Poquoson. Many keeper-sized flatties also are being caught along Ocean View and inside Lynnhaven Inlet.

Still, the top producing area this time of year is the third island curve of the CBBT.

Tautog action has been outstanding recently, with catches coming from the CBBT tubes and pilings all the way out to the Triangle Wrecks. Many fish are topping 10 pounds, like the new state record 24-pound, 3-ounce giant caught recently by Ken Neill of Seaford. There is little reason to think this fishery won't continue to be strong, at least until waters get too warm.

Speckled trout are the other strong possibility, with the waters of the Elizabeth River and around the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel being two of the best locations. Rudee Inlet also has been producing, but the big news there has been the number of gray trout up to 5 pounds that have been caught. Many anglers, out of respect for the species' limited numbers the past few years, are choosing to release grays.

Croaker are starting to bite around Ocean View and the mouth of Little Creek Inlet. Look for a few hardheads around the CBBT and over many old oyster beds.

Anglers working offshore can expect good action from tilefish, grouper and rosefish. They might even find a few yellowfin and bluefin tuna.

Eastern Shore

What else is there to say except flounder? This is the time when droves of anglers head to Chincoteague and Wachapreague for the first runs of these tasty flatfish. And because of the mild winter, action appears to be ahead of schedule. Many fish - some topping 5 pounds - already have been encountered in backwater sloughs, especially around Wachapreague and Oyster. And things are simply going to get better as Virginia's new 16.5-inch size limit will permit anglers to find more keepable fish than in years past.

Big red drum also are starting to show along barrier-island sandbars, signaling that anglers can expect some outstanding early spring action. Fisherman's Island has been an early hot spot.

Tautog also are being found around coastal wrecks and artificial reefs up and down the Peninsula, with better action coming from deeper waters.

Outer Banks

Bluewater action has been off to an early start this year.

Out of Hatteras Inlet, there has been an outstanding run of wahoo to go with scattered tuna and dolphin. A few billfish can be expected.

Out of Oregon Inlet, yellowfin have provided most of the action so far.

Inshore anglers working the coast are starting to find incredible sight-casting opportunities for big red drum from south of Ocracoke north to the state line.

Anglers looking for drum should keep a close eye out for the first run of cobia.

Bluefish also are becoming more abundant and the first Spanish mackerel have shown.

Look to the sounds for speckled trout and puppy drum.

Pier and Surf

The biggest news on this horizon is the continued closure of fishable beaches along the Outer Banks from Bodie Island spit south to Ocracoke. That's not great news, especially since more and more big red drum are being encountered by nighttime anglers working around Cape Point.

Anglers still wanting to venture to the islands can expect small shark, skate, blow toads, sea mullet, a few croaker and some small flounder. Some speckled trout and red drum will be caught in the inlets.

Along Virginia's beaches, some red drum will be found as schools of fish move north. Anglers working several piers are starting to catch some croaker, sea mullet and small founder.

Freshwater

While largemouth bass are going to be the most sought-after species, there are plenty of other offerings.

Most notable is a continued run of large blue catfish in many tidal systems, especially the James, Chickahominy and Northwest - the latter of which has produced several of its biggest-ever blues.

Lakes, ponds and streams also are yielding good numbers of crappie, white perch, yellow perch and increasing numbers of bluegill and shellcracker.

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com

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Trout <b>Fishing</b> Season Opens Saturday

‹ Back to Article Embed | Share      Bill Ralph of Riverside shows off the trout he hooked Saturday at Brickyard Pond in Barrington.

Saturday is the first day of trout and freshwater fishing season. Expect Brickyard Pond in Barrington to swarm with trout fishermen.

The pond is always stocked by the Department of Environmental Management. Make sure you follow safety precautions because the water temperature is still very cold, according to a story in the Barrington Times. 

Brickyard Pond is one of 100 ponds and streams across Rhode Island that will see lots of fishing action. See a Patch story on last year’s opening day. It should get you in the mood if you fish.

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Agency Secretaries Come Together to Improve Fish Habitat Nation Wide

Alexandria, VA – The sportfishing industry applauds the Secretaries of Interior, Agriculture and Commerce who signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote interagency collaboration on the implementation of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP), a science-based partnership that seeks to protect, restore and enhance fish habitat on a range-wide scale. The agreement will streamline agency efforts and ensure that federal resources are employed in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
The NFHAP was established in 2006 in response to the declining condition of waterways and fish habitat across the country. Through 18 Fish Habitat Partnerships, federal, state, tribal, local and private interests collaborate to conserve and restore fish habitat. This non-regulatory initiative is the most comprehensive effort ever attempted to voluntarily conserve freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats nationwide.
“The recreational fishing community is committed to the conservation and improvement of our waterways and it is gratifying to see the Administration strengthen its commitment to the NFHAP as well,” said Gordon Robertson, American Sportfishing Association vice president. “Our aquatic resources play a large role in the quality of our lives. Healthy waterways and robust fish populations are vital to the well-being of our society and sustainable fisheries, providing recreation, clean water, food and more."
“This is a big step for our federal partners, who see the value of our strategic approach to conserving fish habitat,” said Kelly Hepler, chair of the National Fish Habitat Board who is also with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. “Our coordination and involvement with federal agencies has really grown since 2006 and I think today marks a significant day in recognizing that.”
“The NFHAP not only conserves our waterways and fishery resources, it fuels a great economic engine,” said Robertson. “Recreational fishing has a $125 billion impact on our nation’s economy. The economic, social and conservation benefits of recreational fishing would not be possible without the commitment made by programs like NFHAP to ensure our nation’s waterways are clean, healthy and abundant with fish. Over the years, NFHAP has proven that a small federal investment will benefit all Americans and the resources that we depend on for livelihood and leisure.”
Between 2006 and 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided $12 million to support 257 on-the-ground conservation projects in 42 states, leveraging $30 million in partner match, to address the priorities of the Fish Habitat Partnerships. This investment in turn creates jobs and provides economic benefits as results of healthier waterways and increased recreational fishing activity. Investment in the NFHAP since 2006 has generated nearly $1 billion in value and supported over 20,000 jobs. That is a return of over $20 for every dollar spent and one job supported by every $2,400 invested.
“Our next step is to have Members of Congress get on board with this important initiative,” said Robertson. “The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act (S.1201), introduced by Sen. Lieberman (I-Conn.), will formally authorize and establish a funding source for the NFHAP, providing much needed support for aquatic habitat restoration and conservation across the U.S. Together with the support of the Administration and Congress, we can expand upon the tremendous strides already made by NFHAP in restoring our nation’s waterways.”

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Marc Folco: Now&#39;s the time to catch a whooper largemouth <b>bass</b>

Fishing and lots of things in the wild world are heating up earlier than usual because of the mild winter and unseasonably warm spring. Three weeks ago, I opened my shed and found a baby cottontail, which had already left the nest and was old enough to be on its own. The magnolia in my dad's yard has bloomed and the blossoms are already dropping their petals. The grass needs mowing. Already?

Birds began mating and nesting early and wild turkeys started their spring mating rampage a couple of weeks ago, moving into their breeding areas with the toms strutting, fanning and gobbling in hopes of winning breeding rites with hens. It's in such full swing, it might be all over even before the spring turkey hunting season begins on April 30.

I could be wrong, but I also think the largemouth bass spawn, which traditionally occurs in June, will be early this year, by a month. Bass are biting and they're leaving deeper water and seem to be staging closer to shore, where they'll soon be preparing to make their nests and spawn. On Sunday evening, Farell Plank and I put the canoe in at Leonard's Pond in Rochester to fish for just a couple of hours. Within that time, we went through a dozen shiners and caught half as many stocky largemouths up to five pounds. They were hungry and on the bite.

What surprised us was how ripe with eggs the females were. So full and bloated that it would be impossible for them to hold any more, never mind keep growing with roe for another two months. One particular fish looked like it was about to burst open and the outline of the two lines of roe were evident along its belly. We found fish just a short ways from shore, along weed beds and against deep undercut banks with overhanging trees. One shady cove was also full of big yellow perch and crappie.

Bass often bite heavily before the spawn, and will readily eat big, live shiners along with a myriad of lures. I'm not a purist, therefore I enjoy using live bait and the action associated with such a presentation. To fish big shiners, a 6½-foot medium-heavy action rod with good backbone and a reel loaded with about 15-pound test is a typical rig, though some go heavier with the line.

Simply tie a stout, sharp, single hook on the end of the line. The hook size depends on the size of the bait, but about a 3/0 or 4/0 is standard for large size shiners, but go larger with bigger pike-size or native shiners, and go smaller with medium-size baits. Put a float (bobber) about three feet up the line, hook the shiner ahead of the dorsal fin, then toss it near likely-looking cover and let the shiner do its thing. Some prefer to hook the shiner behind the dorsal fin, but bass like to swallow the bait headfirst, so I like to hook the bait up front, which results in more hookups.

Often a bass will chase a shiner clear out of the water resulting in a big, exciting surface boil. When a bass takes the bait, I usually let it run a few seconds before engaging the reel and setting the hook, but if it's near trees or heavy cover and the fish is headed for it, I set it sooner before the fish gets the line tangled around roots, branches and such.

Another method is to troll or drift shiners. For this, you can do it with or without a float. Hook the shiner through the lips, flip it behind the boat, let some line out and troll or drift very slowly, snaking it along undercut banks, over submerged weed beds, around rocks, and in front of weed lines. A weedless hook is better if you're going to be covering some weedy areas. You can usually tell when a bass is after the bait because the shiner will get antsy and you'll feel it through the rod and line.

If you're using a baitcasting reel, leave the reel in free-spool with just enough spool tension to stop the shiner from taking line, but allows a bass to grab it, run and take line without feeling resistance which would cause it to spit out the bait. If you're using a spinning reel, keep the bail open and hold the line with your forefinger, then release it when the fish eats your bait so it can take line before you flip the bail and rear back on the rod to set the hook. Those "baitrunner" type spinning reels are ideal.

Once the spawn begins they usually only hit out of being annoyed or to protect the nest. Pre-spawn is the time of year when the large females are at their heaviest, sometimes a pound or more than their usual weight because of the eggs, therefore it's the best time to catch a trophy. There are mixed emotions on keeping heavy pre-spawn or spawning females. Some release them so that the fish can spawn and the population will flourish, with those offspring carrying on the genes to grow big, like their mother.

Others, like myself, figure if you catch a trophy fish, there's nothing wrong with taking it home and having it mounted to preserve the memory and enjoy its beauty for many years. It's an old fish, will die soon and has already made its contribution to the gene pool over many years. It's not going to hurt the population. Bass are prolific, their populations are self-sustaining and there are many others to take its place. If you were deer hunting, would you pass up a monster 12-point buck? Like hunting, being selective in the fish you take home is conservation, the wise use of renewable natural resources, as opposed to preservation, which means you leave things as they are, unaltered and disturb nothing. I believe in conservationism.

In Massachusetts, a largemouth bass must be at least seven pounds to be considered a trophy and qualify for a bronze pin in the adult division of the Sportfishing Awards Program. In the junior division, the minimum weight for trophy status and a bronze pin is four pounds. The state record is 15½ pounds, a 37-year old record that has held since 1975. The fish was reportedly caught through the ice at Sampson's Pond in Carver.

MassWildlife has a "best bets for bass" list and most of the ponds are in our Southeast District, which typically produce the biggest bass in the state. The list is based on waters that have turned out trophy largemouths over a10-year period of the Sportsfishing Awards Program records. They are: Agawam River, Glen Charlie Pond and Dick's Pond — Wareham; Sampson's Pond — Carver; John's Pond and Mashpee/Wakeby Pond — Mashpee; Long Pond — Plymouth; Long Pond — Lakeville; Snipatuit Pond, Mary's Pond and Leonard's Pond — Rochester; New Bedford Reservoir (Lake Street) — Acushnet; Lake Noquochoke — Dartmouth; Wachusett Reservoir; Quabbin Reservoir; and Webster Lake — Webster.

The largemouth bass remains the most sought-after species in freshwater and now's the time to catch a whopper.

The Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) opened the Quabbin Reservoir for the spring fishing season yesterday. In addition to shore fishing, all three boat launch sites in the reservoir — Gate 8 in Belchertown, Gate 31 in New Salem and Gate 43 in Hardwick — are now in full operation. During the season, which runs through Oct. 13, the launch areas will be open at 6 a.m. seven days a week.

Quabbin Season Parking Passes, which include parking and launching fees, are available for purchase at all three boat launch areas. Passes are $50 for the year or $25 for seniors over 62 with proof of age. Passes are also $25 for handicapped individuals with handicapped placards. The vehicle and trailer parking fee without the season pass is $8 per day.

All private boats launched on the reservoir must meet boat specification regulations and have an intact Quabbin Boat Seal which affixes the boat to the trailer. Boat owners who do not have a seal can make a boat inspection and decontamination appointment through the Quabbin Visitor Center.

In addition to private boat launching facilities, boat rentals are available on a first come-first serve basis at all three boat launch areas. The cost for a boat and motor is $40 per day with a $6 per vehicle parking fee. The reservoir is home to 27 species of fish, including lake trout, salmon, smallmouth bass and white perch. For more information, visit the DCR web site at mass.gov/dcr/waterSupply/watershed/quabfish or call the Quabbin Visitor Center at 413- 323-7221.

West Marine's free boating seminar on Saturday from 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. at its Berdon Plaza location in Fairhaven will feature a fishing show on topwater tactics and trolling techniques for stripers and blues. Call 508-992-8484 to reserve your seat. You can also sign up for the store's free striped bass and bluefish derby, which begins on May 1 and runs through Sept. 3.

Marc Folco is the outdoor writer for The Standard-Times. Contact him at openseason1988@aol.com

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<b>Fishing</b> Derby Will Open Season at Cass Pond Saturday

‹ Back to Article Embed | Share      No derby is complete without the help of 90 year old retired city worker " Sudsy " Southerland.

The 2012 Woonsocket Fishing Derby will kick off this year's trout and general freshwater fishing season at 6 a.m. on Saturday, drawing young anglers from across the area.

About 80,000 hatchery-raised brook, brown, and rainbow trout with an average individual weight of one and a half pounds are being stocked by Division staff in more than 100 ponds and streams for opening day.

Sponsored by Woonsocket Lodge of Elks #850 and the Woonsocket Parks and Recreation Department, the derby is open to boys and girls 12 and under. Last year, about 175 people showed up to kick off the season during the derby.

“Getting out at the crack of dawn on opening day is a time-honored tradition in Rhode Island,” noted DEM Director Janet Coit.  “This is a great opportunity for anglers of all ages to grab their fishing poles and experience the delight of catching the first trout of the season.”

The DEM warns that anglers should make an extra effort to take personal safety precautions, such as not standing too close to the shoreline and being aware of their surroundings, so that they can enjoy a safe 'opening day' fishing experience. Boaters are also being urged to take appropriate safety precautions, particularly those who fish from canoes on lakes, ponds and rivers with dams. Even though the air temperatures are rising, water temperatures are still low and situations can quickly turn dangerous.

Cass Pond will be open for children-only during the first two days of the fishing season - Saturday and Sunday.

A 2012 fishing license is required for anglers 15 years of age and older wishing to catch fish. A Trout Conservation Stamp is also required of anyone wishing to keep or possess a trout or to fish in a catch-and-release or 'fly-fishing only' area. 

Fishing licenses and the Trout Conservation Stamp ($5.50) can be obtained at any city or town clerk's office or authorized agent such as bait and tackle shops and Benny’s.  A current list of license vendors is available on the DEM website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on “Hunting, Fishing, Boating Licenses” from the top left of the homepage, and scrolling down to “Hunting/Fishing Agents.”

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Sturgeon <b>fishing</b> focus of April 25 program

Milt Gudgell, a boat captain with Pacific Salmon Charters in Ilwaco, will be the guest speaker at the April 25 meeting of the Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He has been guiding since 1985 and has more than 40 years of fishing experience.

Gudgell will give a presentation on up-to-date fishing techniques, locations and the best gear to use when fishing for sturgeon. The Columbia River white sturgeon, often described as a living dinosaur, is the largest freshwater fish in North America.

Gudgell will also talk about fishing requirements based on recent legislation and the complexity of developing and following management plans for the lower-river sturgeon fishery amid concerns of a diminishing resource.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at North Olympia Fire Station, 5046 Boston Harbor Road N.E., Olympia.

Compiled by Jeffrey P. Mayor, jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

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Sunshine State is an angler&#39;s paradise

Florida bills itself as the Fishing Capital of the World.

Drop a line into the water almost anywhere in the Sunshine State — with 7,700 lakes, 10,550 rivers and 2,276 miles of shoreline — and it won’t take long to agree.

Florida is renowned for its freshwater monster largemouth and exotic peacock bass. For the New England light tackle fisherman, Florida can be an angler’s paradise.

“Florida has larger bass and other fish than in New England,” fishing writer, TV personality and guide Jim Porter said in a classic understatement. “We live in a semitropical environment, which allows the fish to feed and grow year-round.”

Porter would know. He’s caught and released more than 110 bass weighing 10 pounds or more in his 23 years in Florida.

Porter has developed what he calls “The Four Great Truths of Fishing.”

Catching fish is easy — finding them is the hard part.

Dry lures catch darn few fish.

The harder you fish, it seems the luckier you get.

And finally, be safe. The scariest critter New England anglers are likely to encounter along our shores is a normally harmless snake. Not so in the Sunshine State’s wildlife-packed fishing holes.“First, don’t let small kids get near vegetated bank shorelines,” he said. “Gators like to lay in wait there. Also, summers are very hot — come from November to April, if possible.”

Regardless of the well-documented heat and sometimes crushing humidity, the fish are lively throughout the year and across the state.

Northern Florida

The 310- mile-long St. Johns River is Florida’s longest inland waterway, flowing lazily north — in and around Jacksonville. The headwaters of the St. Johns begin in the swamps just south of Melbourne and can range from 150 feet to more than three miles wide over various flood plains. It winds through natural lakes, including Lake George, which contains enough salt in it to allow Atlantic stingrays, mullet, blue crab and striped bass to thrive. Yet the salinity is low enough where the renowned Florida largemouth bass lurk in the relatively shallow waters near where fresh springs empty into the lake.

Blair’s Jungle Den (1820 Ormands Jungle Den Road in Astor, Fla.) is located right on the river, three and a half miles from Lake George. Informal and relaxed with the feel of a fishing camp, this motel is made for anglers. The Jungle Den isn’t for those seeking spa treatments or concierge-level amenities. This is a fisherman’s home base. Book a room at Blair’s Jungle Den and you get housekeeping, nearby laundry service and a TV — but, most important, boat ramp access.

Rates range from $49 to $69 a night for single rooms; efficiencies are $84 to $109 a night. (To book, call 386-749-2264 or go to blairs jungleden.com.)

The St. Johns River is so well-known for its fantastic largemouth fishing that it’s been dubbed “Florida’s Bass Factory,” but the stretch between Lake Harney and Lake Monroe also brings huge numbers of American shad, prompting those who know these waters to tempt the fish with spoons and small jigs from December through March.

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Fish Report April 11

Freshwater: April is proving to be a great month for freshwater fishing. Warm air temperature are heating up the water early this year and the fish have taken notice. Lake Wimico has had great bass and shellcracker reports with most anglers using spinnerbaits and crankbaits. The catfish bite has slowed, but is still worth the time if the water is rising.

Inshore/Piers: Last week it was reported a giant school of pompano had passéd by the Cape and everyone was catching pompano down that way. A few days later, they evidently passed our local piers and everyone who could throw a jig caught pompano. Last Sunday it was reported huge numbers of pompano were being caught at Henderson Beach between here and Destin. Luckily all the pompano in the area weren’t swept away when this school came through, but it left the ones that simply don’t want to bite.

Spanish mackerel are still in the bay and in the Gulf and it looks like they will be all summer. The sheepshead are still biting like gangbusters at the jetties using live shrimp or dead, it doesn’t matter. Tarpon are starting to show up even though it is a month early. St. Joe Bay is back to normal with good flounder and trout reports coming in daily.

Most anglers are using live shrimp and LYs. Blacks Island and Eagle Harbor seem to be the hot spots for inshore fishing. Large schools of redfish have been on the move at Town’s Beach and close to Presnells Channel.

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Eric Sharp: A <b>fishing</b> paradise

B AY CITY -- This past week has been a perfect illustration of why it's so great to be a Michigan angler in spring.

In six days, I've caught suckers on a piece of sponge, trout on a dry fly, walleyes on jigs, bluegills on waxworms, carp on corn and even a largemouth bass that took one of the bluegill lures.

I had been looking forward to the first carp-fishing session on the Saginaw River, where I had heard that the warm weather had triggered a great bite in March. But on this April day, the air temperature was 20-25 degrees lower.

Andy Sprinkle of White Lake, an American carper who has become an expert in English bank-fishing techniques, was going to give it a try along with Megan Thompson of Waterford, and they let me tag along.

They barely had set up their long European rods, bait-feeder reels, bank sticks and electronic bite alarms before catching a carp and a catfish, and it looked like it was going to be gangbusters. But when I arrived 3 hours later, they hadn't added another fish.

"It's hard to believe," Sprinkle said. "We haven't had another bite, not even from a perch or goby on a rod we baited with worms. Not even a freshwater drum (sheepshead), and this river is full of them.

"And we're not seeing anything moving. Normally you see carp thrashing and splashing all over, and we saw some when we first got here. But we haven't seen any more for hours."

Sprinkle was fishing a few miles downriver from the I-75 bridge on a broad stretch of river that normally is productive. But another hour passed before one of the bite alarms began screeching that a carp had taken a bait and was making a run.

Thompson grabbed the rod and soon landed a 9-pounder. That was followed a few minutes later by another carp and then a catfish in a flurry of activity that saw six carp from 5 to 15 pounds landed in 30 minutes.

At one point, we had a tripleheader going -- with all three of us fighting carp, but then the bite fell off as rapidly as it had begun.

"I just don't think there are that many fish here today," Sprinkle said. "And we aren't seeing the big (Saginaw) Bay carp yet. You can tell by the color that these are resident river fish. The bay fish are a lot paler, and they're usually bigger, too. But two or three weeks from now, the river will be full of them."

When I left, Thompson and Sprinkle had caught and released 11 carp, three catfish and a drum in 8 hours -- slow for the Saginaw but a lot of fun.

Catching bluegills: The bluegills were caught at a lake that shall remain nameless because it's too small to withstand much fishing pressure, especially if people decide to catch-and-keep.

I walked slowly along the shoreline and scanned the shallows with binoculars, because bluegills are extremely sensitive to vibrations on shore, or in a boat for that matter. The sun was bright and at a perfect angle to spot fish, but the shallows were barren.

So I rigged up a light 6-foot spinning rod with an acorn-size float 4 feet above a No. 10 hook baited with Berkley Gulp Alive artificial waxworms. The float was slipped onto the 4-pound monofilament main line just above a 4-foot, 4-pound fluorocarbon leader.

Lakes in spring often are at their clearest, and fluorocarbon helps bring more strikes in those conditions. And the artificial waxworms (when I can find them) last on the hook much longer than the real thing and come in several colors, although on this day I used natural white.

I casted to a spot where I knew the water was 7-8 feet deep. When the bobber didn't move in a couple of minutes, I reeled in and slid the float another 2 feet up the line. This time the bait was about 6 feet deep, and it was less than 30 seconds before something took the bobber down hard, a good indication that the fish (or at least those in a feeding mood) were hanging out near the bottom rather than suspending in midwater.

It was a fat male bluegill about 9 inches long, still wearing drab, prespawn colors. A month from now, this fish will make a nest in 2 or 3 feet of water and parade back and forth in front of it in an outfit of lemon yellow, powder blue and strawberry red that would be envied by a 17th-Century French duke.

The male gill coat of many colors is designed to wow the females and persuade them to lay eggs in the 2-foot depression he fans out of the bottom.

At that time, the gills also will be suckers for popping bugs and foam spiders cast near the nest with a fly rod, or small jigs ( 1/32 ounce) cast just beyond the nest with a spinning rod and worked back toward it.

On this day, I tried switching out the bare hook and waxworm for a small ice-fishing jig with a tiny, fluttering spoon attached at the eye, also tipped with a waxworm.

But while that combination has sometimes worked well, this day it was a lot less effective than the waxworm on a plain hook, another indication these fish were still eyeing the bait cautiously before biting.

Contact Eric Sharp: 313-222-2511 or esharp@freepress.com . Order his book "Fishing Michigan" for $15.95 at www.freep.com/bookstore or by calling 800-245-5082.

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<b>Fishing</b> report

Fishing options

The Thames, Connecticut and other large coastal rivers and their coves are open to fishing year-round, which provides options for early season striper and white perch anglers.

Trout Management Areas on some rivers are open year-round for catch-and-release fishing, so hard-core trout fishermen can fish year-round.

In freshwater lakes not stocked with trout, bass, panfish, pickerel, pike and bullheads also can be caught throughout the year.

Anglers older than 16 must have a 2012 fishing license in their possession.

Eric Covino had a good day for school stripers on the lower Thames recently. Bass are feeding on silver sides and up in the streams where there are alewives, a major forage fish for the larger stripers.

Thames River

Stripers are active in the Thames, with larger fish chasing herring around areas where these fish migrate to spawn. Bear in mind that it is illegal to catch or possess herring, even for bait, so anglers are relegated to casting soft plastics and plugs that look like these 10-to-12-inch, silvery forage fish.

The best fishing for larger fish will be at the base of Uncas Leap and below the Greenville Dam. But stripers up into the mid-30-inch range are being caught in and around the major coves and flats on both sides of the river from Norwich to the Interstate 95 bridge.

Horton Cove, Trading Cove and Poquetanuck Cove all hold some bass this time of year, with the best fishing generally taking place around the top of the incoming and high tide. 

These coves may also harbor schools of white perch that can be fun to catch and are good on the table. White perch are close relatives to striped bass, though they do not grow nearly as large.

Most white perch are a pound or less lighter than stripers, which often grow to 40 pounds or more if given enough time.

It takes at least 18 to 20 years to grow a large striped bass. I aged a 70-pound fish by reading its scales years ago and it was at least 28 years old, give or take a year or two.

Long-lived species need protection throughout their lives in order for the population to mature and reach its full potential, which is one reason for not killing every minimum-sized 28-inch keeper striper. Throw some back so you may catch them again when they are 48 inches long.

Fishing options

The Thames, Connecticut and other large coastal rivers and their coves are open to fishing year-round, which provides options for early season striper and white perch anglers.

Trout Management Areas on some rivers are open year-round for catch-and-release fishing, so hard-core trout fishermen can fish year-round.

In freshwater lakes not stocked with trout, bass, panfish, pickerel, pike and bullheads also can be caught throughout the year.

Anglers older than 16 must have a 2012 fishing license in their possession.

Eric Covino had a good day for school stripers on the lower Thames recently. Bass are feeding on silver sides and up in the streams where there are alewives, a major forage fish for the larger stripers.

Thames River

Stripers are active in the Thames, with larger fish chasing herring around areas where these fish migrate to spawn. Bear in mind that it is illegal to catch or possess herring, even for bait, so anglers are relegated to casting soft plastics and plugs that look like these 10-to-12-inch, silvery forage fish.

The best fishing for larger fish will be at the base of Uncas Leap and below the Greenville Dam. But stripers up into the mid-30-inch range are being caught in and around the major coves and flats on both sides of the river from Norwich to the Interstate 95 bridge.

Horton Cove, Trading Cove and Poquetanuck Cove all hold some bass this time of year, with the best fishing generally taking place around the top of the incoming and high tide. 

These coves may also harbor schools of white perch that can be fun to catch and are good on the table. White perch are close relatives to striped bass, though they do not grow nearly as large.

Most white perch are a pound or less lighter than stripers, which often grow to 40 pounds or more if given enough time.

It takes at least 18 to 20 years to grow a large striped bass. I aged a 70-pound fish by reading its scales years ago and it was at least 28 years old, give or take a year or two.

Long-lived species need protection throughout their lives in order for the population to mature and reach its full potential, which is one reason for not killing every minimum-sized 28-inch keeper striper. Throw some back so you may catch them again when they are 48 inches long.

Don’t overlook small, shallow ponds

Fishing will improve rapidly as water temperatures warm, especially in some of the region’s shallow, bog-type ponds such as Bog Meadows in Norwich, Babcock Pond outside of Colchester on Route 16 or the Beaver Dam Management area in Chaplin.

Shallow, hard-to-reach and often stump-and-weed-filled lakes are challenging to fish, but most hold large populations of bass, perch, pickerel, calicos and sunfish that are willing and eager to do battle this time of year.

Bring a variety of lures and artificials. My favorite for the small stuff I like to bring home for supper is a tiny chartreuse jig head baited with an inch-long piece of night crawler, with or without some sort of plastic teaser as a tail. It’s a panfish killer that often hooks bass, trout and other larger game species.

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More to Come Soon

More to Come Soon!