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Fishing Report Week of August 7th-13th

Before the report this week, we want to make you all aware that we are now stocking live eels and shiners…so for those of you that participate in drifting these favorite striper candy, come on down! Also, we just received a new shipment of Bill Hurley Sand Eels...you want them, we got them, but they won’t last long…

Lastly, we booked one more date for this fall with Lou Tabory on October 24th, be sure to read all the details following the report and call/email the shop to reserve today. Cooler water temps, fall breezes and big stripers on the long rods! Sign up today!

WOUNDED WARRIOR FISHING EVENT-AUGUST 29th-BOATS AND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. EMAIL ERIC FOR DETAILS! ejohnson@westportoutfitters.com

Well boys and girls, it’s on. The invasion of the blues that some of us look forward to more than others here in the Western Sound has begun. From Larchmont to Milford, we have been getting reports of some monster chompers up to 13 lbs being taken on fresh bunker, jigs, as well as top water plugs and flies. For flies, stick with clousers since they will no doubt be pummeled by these vicious creatures. In fact, the other night, I was catching blues simply on one of Bill Hurley’s jig heads after it was stripped clean of the sand eel that it was designed for. With that, we have also seen large schools of snappers as well, so for the kids, take this opportunity before they are back in school to get them out fishing. Although as we mentioned last week, these feisty fish are small, they will grow on average about 1 inch per week. Any kastmaster type lure will work or stick with just the snapper popper that can double as a rig for frozen spearing if they are being finicky.

When you come up on these schools of fish, take your time and come with a keen eye, although we personally have not seen any, we are still hearing rumblings of some bone and albie sightings on the other side, so it may make sense to have a spinning or fly rod aside and ready to go with some fluorocarbon tippet. For this upcoming fall season, we have just brought in some new lures that no doubt will out fish a needlefish and a deadly dick combined when the bones and albies show up. Come and have a look at the new SEA ROCK JIGS!

Kicking off the weekend right was Steve Eliot and once again this is a story that everyone should take note of. We have really been emphasizing the need to get out early if you want to catch fish, particularly bass. Regardless of tactic, fly, bait, trolling, you need to make it happen early in August, plain and simple. Heeding this advice, Steve and crew left the basin at 4:30 A.M. loaded for bear. Between about 5:30 and 8:00 trolling tubes on some local structure they had had 7 bass, 3 keepers with one of them that measured 37" and 20 lbs on the boga grip! Nice going guys (see recent catches).

Friday night, John A. reported in that there were some big bass almost porpoiseing on peanut bunker just outside of Southport Harbor in the 20 lb class range. No rod on the boat, but he literally said the fish were nearly bumping into the boat.

Saturday our own Captain Chris was out on a charter with a full load, along with some young anglers and as usual, he did not let them down. They had one bass well over 34 inches and about 6 blues near Frost Point that were taken on top water plugs pushing the 11 lb range.

Sunday with threatening weather, the overcast skies held many on shore, but those who ventured out, did okay. Dan was into smaller schools of blues off of Kensie Point that were crashing little snappers (yes, these fish will eat their own) and even did mange a nice 26 inch bass from down below. Keep in mind; now that the blues have the bait corralled up, there are no doubt bass below these schools of blues so try and get something down deep to entice a strike. Work heavier kastmasters, Sea Rock Jigs or some heavier jig heads on soft plastics. As a last attempt if you are like Cody, cast straight up to really get your lure past them quickly….

Cory C. from ASMW has been fishing a little deeper water earlier this week and reports in that 11B has been hot on the ebb tide but dead on the flood. Some really big blues in the 10-15lb range have been on top early in the morning and when tide slows.

Tuesday night our own Pat O’Donnell was working the beaches off of Southport and landed a nice 34 inch bass on the fly rod fishing a small black deceiver. Despite the warm weather, its catches like these that give shore anglers hope during these dog days of summer. In addition to being at the right place at the right time, there is also one other variable, time in, the more you are out, the more your chances will increase.

Also Tuesday night a tubing excursion for Cody and friends was abruptly interrupted by some large schools of bunker being crashed by some 8-10lb blues, having very little tackle on board, they made do and snagged up a few and had 6 fish to the boat in the 8-10 lb range.

NEW NORWALK ISLAND CHARTS ARE IN!

This weekend is looking decent again, as the current front pushes through and this sauna like weather returns. Despite the heat, there is plenty of bait around. Silver sides, peanut bunker, snappers and even some errant small schools of sand eels are still being spotted locally. As we mentioned a few weeks back, try some Montauk Mike’s peanut bunker tins. With all of this surface bait in our area, the top water fishing should really start to pick up gain as well. Ron Di Costanza from Lordship Lures once again has given us exclusive access to his new Peanut Bunker plugs that should be here on Friday. If you know how well we have all done with his sand eel imitations, these should be the next best thing, but they won’t be here long! It is often this time of year when we also hear of curses to all of the blues around and although at times, I would have to agree, but pound for pound, there is not a better fighting fish out there. If you are completely disgruntled, this is a great time of the year to try your hand at fly fishing. Although catching a few 6-8 lb blues on light tackle may get boring after awhile, you could do it all day on a 9 WT fly rod!

FRESHWATER REPORT
Our own Kurt D. has really been putting his time in the Farmington with Derrick Kirkpatrick. The flows have been about 500 CFS and dropping. They worked areas near the back side of the Drive in Pool and Central Riffle for two beautiful wild browns that were up to 21 inches on ISOs. Kurt took an 18 inch wild brown on a tan caddis puppa size 18. If you are looking for an outing on the Farmington, let one of these experts be your guide, call the shop for details!(see recent catches)

I myself was trout fishing up in Litchfield this past week as well with some great action, but I am sure you have already heard the story….

ONE MORE DATE WITH LOU TABORY-October 24, 2009-CALL NOW TO RESERVE!

October 24th, 2009 @ 6:00 A.M.-Compo Beach, Westport, CT
This intro/intermediate course will begin promptly at 6:00 A.M. in the water, in your waders. Lou and the crew from W.O. will work with you in learning the general casting stroke for fly fishing; teach you how to read the water to identify bait movement, current, structure and feeding fish patterns and lanes. You will have the opportunity to cast some additional rods with varying types of lines for saltwater fly fishing. After the fishing, we will return to the shop where Lou will go over several formal slide presentations, that will reiterate what was learned on the water, including gear selection, knot tying, fly presentation and much, much more! After lunch, we will have an extended Q&A and then finally return to the park to wrap things up with more hands on casting. The day will end at approximately 3:00 P.M. Cost is $150.00, which includes a light breakfast, full lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

See below for important upcoming fly fishing schools and other shop events.

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WESTPORTOUTFITTERS.TV
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