North Of Portland - 2021 Edition

[Roccus7]

Hate to hijack what's normally a thread started by @Crozzbow, but seeing that he seems to be on the DL list at least at this part of the season  I figure he'll will be fine with it. Hopefully he'll be back in his kayak and dragging his tube 'n worms very quickly.  But for the rest of us who don't fish in Northern Massachusetts, I mean Portland and south, here's a report thread focused on our part of the coastline.

 

Got out this AM for an interesting run of 8 fish from 20 - 24" in the river.  I haven't seen any bait at all, so I assumed that my best shot would be in a small mud cove where there are plenty of grass shrimp.  My hypothesis was correct in that all the fish had "dirty gums", proof that they were rooting in the mud for breakfast.  The other interesting thing, and the adjustments I made to deal with it, was the fish were doing their typical, early season thing of traveling in small packs.  Only 2 of the fish caught were the first attack of the cast on my popper.  The rest were after I had solid hits or hooked fish that were lost.  One landed fish was the fourth hooked fish on that cast.  It took "Joe Cockerish" spasms to get a hookup after the initial unsuccessful fish.  

 

Regardless, even though I was sorely tempted to sit home and have a second cup of coffee, it ended up being a most delightful morning.

Edited June 4, 2021 by Roccus7

[Nbourque]

Good way to start the season. 

[Crozzbow]

7 hours ago, Roccus7 said:

Hate to hijack what's normally a thread started by @Crozzbow, but seeing that he seems to be on the DL list at least at this part of the season  I figure he'll will be fine with it. Hopefully he'll be back in his kayak and dragging his tube 'n worms very quickly. 

Hey Roccus7

I don't have any problem with your hijacking of the North of Portland thread. In fact I was really hoping someone would keep that thread going while I continued battling my never ending medical issues.

BTW. I will get out there sooner or later as I am working hard to bring my yellow kayak back on line..

Crozzbow.

[7 Rivers]

20 mins ago, Crozzbow said:

Hey Roccus7

I don't have any problem with your hijacking of the North of Portland thread. In fact I was really hoping someone would keep that thread going while I continued battling my never ending medical issues.

BTW. I will get out there sooner or later as I am working hard to bring my yellow kayak back on line..

Crozzbow.

Hope all is well bud..

[TGIF Harpswell]

Struck out yesterday in my river, south of your river. Lots of small bait at the dock, and lots of big bait boiling on the incoming. Did four solid drifts casting 4 different flies into the boils but nothing. 
 

hoping the warm weekend helps, water was 47 degrees. We were swimming this time last year. 

[7 Rivers]

I just got off my lunch break, man, the big river between the Maine and NH has been blowing up every evening with fish. Terns, bomb diving, bait, stripers, just unreal...Out of my casting range tonight though.

[Roccus7]

Forgot to mention that my water temps this AM were 60°F...

Edited June 5, 2021 by Roccus7

[7 Rivers]

48 mins ago, Roccus7 said:

Forgot to mention that my water temps this AM were 60°F...

Wow, that went up quick, wait till this weekend is over..  Where were you getting  those readings?

[Roccus7]

12 hours ago, 7 Rivers said:

Wow, that went up quick, wait till this weekend is over..  Where were you getting  those readings?

At Head of Tide so the warmer rain runoff was there.  Today's temps at 57°F and the fish weren't as aggressive.  Coincidence or not?  Not sure...

[ill_postino]

First belated day of the season for me.  A couple of sub 20" fish and this feisty fellow — I forgot my measuring tape but guessing 24" or so.  Plus I had the pleasure of meeting @Roccus7 on the water!

[Roccus7]

Been working hard the past few days cobbling together a catch of stripers up on the mud flats. I fondly refer to these fish as having "Chit Eating Grins" since their gums are black due to their rooting around for worms in the mud.  

Well this morning while I was working hard to try to convince reluctant bass to grab a plug, I heard some "popping" behind me and lo and behold, a bass blitz started to develop. Lasted for 30 min and I was able to get 8 fish with a single 18" fish, with the rest from 21-26". Always a thrill to be surrounded by busting bass!!  Fish weren't too spooky until 2 seals showed up, breaking up the single, large school into multiple small pods.

 

As things began to slow down I saw @ill_postino paddling and called him over.  While we fished together, neither of us caught any fish.  I hate to call folks over just as things die down...

[ill_postino]

27 mins ago, Roccus7 said:

As things began to slow down I saw @ill_postino paddling and called him over.  While we fished together, neither of us caught any fish.  I hate to call folks over just as things die down...

 

No problem — thanks for the tip!   I eventually got a nice 25" bass drifting around the point where you left me. And a couple more eventually plus some follows and missed hits. But a frustrating morning over all — kept paddling frantically after distant, minimal signs of breaking bass always to have them disappear just before I rolled up.  (I love how easy it is to load & launch my little dept store kayak but if I keep having to chase fish back and forth across the harbor it'll soon be time to switch to the pedal 'yak . . .)

[TGIF Harpswell]

Had to work hard for them this weekend. Proud moment was when the little man hooked a chunker off the dock, after 3 years of casting and never connecting from there. Then, the princess found one off the rocks. Lots of big bait boiling, I say herring, but some are saying pogeys already. Seals have the feedbag on right now. Casted at boils for 3 drifts but nada. Water was in the low 50’s on the outgoing, flushing off a mudflat. 
 

 

 

[Roccus7]

A Baker's Dozen and a Stripah Suppah Tonight!!

 

Got 13 this am from 15 - 28", 9 20" or better, and the "Keepah" was invited to dinner this evening as the guest of honor.  Had the action to myself, fish feeding on 1-2" spearing.

 

All action on poppers within 1/4 mi of my house.   My boat's gas budget is going to be blown if this keeps up!  

 

 

Edited June 8, 2021 by Roccus7

[ill_postino]

2 hours ago, Roccus7 said:

Had the action to myself, fish feeding on 1-2" spearing.

 

 

I had an early meeting this morning that kept me off the water, which I knew pretty much guaranteed that I'd read about your keeper this afternoon!