The Catch(es) of the Day

My first perch of the day:

I caught these two perches by hand, after losing them in the rocks below:

A striper:

Thank you, St. Jude and St. Peter.

I Do Believe It's Working, Good

On Thursday (May 28), I went fishing in Riverdale. (I know it's been a few days, so my recollections may not be as fresh.)

After buying two dozen bloodworms, I got there around 2:15. I made a couple of changes. First, I fished in the first viewing area on the promenade instead of my usual last. Second, I brought three rods with me instead of two. The second time I fished in Riverdale, I got two lines tangled. This time, I figured that if I carefully cast them, I would avoid getting them tangled.

It was cool and extremely cloudy. There was also a lot of fog, which got thicker as the day went on. The one good thing about fishing on a weekday, especially when the weather is bad, is that there is no else around.

I had a couple of hits early on, but I didn't catch anything. I read a little more of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. (Did I ever mention that I'm a slow reader?) I listened to my iPod. I said my novenas and a rosary. (Yes, St. Jude and St. Peter delivered once again.)

After about two hours, I caught a perch. It was nine inches long. I threw it back.

Bringing a third pole turned out to be a smart move. I didn't get my lines tangled. A short time later, a second fish got itself hooked. I reeled it in and brought to some rocks below. The fish then got unhooked and disappeared into the rocks. To me, catching a fish means gaining power over it--keeping it or releasing it. I carefully climbed down on the rocks to see if I could get it, but I didn't see it.

I lost a second fish in those same rocks. My line just snapped, and the fish fell off. It wasn't that big. Determined to get it, I climbed back down. The seaweed on the some of the rocks, which are covered by the water when the tide comes in, makes them slippery.

I managed to fish the fish, a small perch. I also found the other fish, a tiny perch. I put them on the viewing area and climbed back up. Since they were small, I didn't bother measuring them. After taking their picture, I returned them to the river. With a little effort, I managed to double the number of fish I caught today.

Yes, I caught one more fish, a striper. This one measured 11 inches, but didn't weigh back. Unfortunately, it swallowed the hook, and I couldn't get it out. So I threw it back with the hook stuck down its throat.

I don't remember when exactly, but the fog moved on the river from both the north and south. On the south side, the George Washington Bridge disappeared behind the thick fog. I also brought my binoculars to see what was on the New Jersey side of the Hudson. The Jersey side looks like a big wall. You can see some rocky areas as well as trees. Perhaps 45 degrees on my right side, I saw what I thought was a dock with boats. I also spotted what looked like a path, but I didn't see any cars.

I left around 6:30 or so even though I still had plenty of bait. The tide got low, and I didn't expect any more fish.

As always, I'm glad I caught something, but I found myself asking, "Where were the big fish today?"

There Is No Pain, You Are Receding

Today, I tried Kensico again. I returned to an area not far from the dam, where I fished several times before with some luck.

I wanted to do try something different today. Instead of sawbellies, I thought I'd try bloodworms instead with my larger poles with heavier test line. In the early days, meaning 1996, I did catch a couple of fish that way.

I picked up just a dozen bloodworms at Jack's. (Wade's doesn't carry bloodworms.) I got to the rock around 2:15 and had two lines in the water with bloodworms.

The weather was overcast and quite cool. There was little wind, and the water was still.

Going in, I honestly didn't expect to catch anything or even stay long.

I met my expectations. I didn't have a single bite. At one point, I tried to reel in one of the two bloodworms, but it got stuck. I pulled and pulled, but it wouldn't budge. I just didn't feel like cutting the line, especially after respooling it recently. So I just put my rod down with a hope that a fish might free the line for me.

I opted not to listen to my iPod. Instead, I read more of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I enjoyed the sounds such as the wind blowing through the leaves. At one point, I heard knocking. I could tell it came high up, off the ground. It must have been a woodpecker. I named him "Woody," after a childhood favorite.

I eventually tried the line that got stuck. I was able to reel it in. How did it get loose? Did a fish help me out, or was it something else?

With my third pole, I tried a lure, a spoon with green tails. I don't know the exact name, or how it got into my tackle box. Although I was able to cast it far, I had no luck with it. All too often, I buy things I never or rarely use or really need.

As I was standing on the rock and looking at the water, I asked myself, "Where are the fish?" I was hoping to see a fish jump out of the water, but I didn't see any. I also didn't see a single rowboat. I reminded myself that I keep trying Kensico because there is always a chance I might catch something.

I gave early, before 5 PM. We'll see what the rest of the week brings.

The Catch(es) of the Day

A striper:

A perch:

Thank you, St. Peter and St. Jude.

That'll Keep You Going For the Show

Yesterday (Sunday), I went to Riverdale, a spot that has been quite good to me.

I began the trip, as I usually do, by picking up bait at Jack's. Much to my horror, Big John told me they were out of bloodworms. I just bought a couple of fresh bunker. Before going fishing, I was determined to find some bloodworms. I stopped at Island Bait and Tackle, another shop on City Island. Fortunately, they had bloodworms. I also noticed that they sell "large" bloodworms. They didn't have any of those, so I just bought two dozen "regular" ones.

I got to Riverdale around 3:15, about 75 minutes before high tide. Someone left his open, unpaid Verizon DSL bill on the seat. (Today, I resealed the envelope with a note telling the man that he shouldn't leave important bills in public places and dropped it into a mailbox.)

I used two poles, the ones I respooled last time. I used a bloodworm on one and fresh bunker on the other.

When I got there, it was very overcast and windy. The water was raging. I didn't let that deter me since I remember catching a couple of big catfish in Dobbs Ferry when a strong wind stirred up the river. It also started to rain a little, but it eventually stopped and dried out. My problem was the cold. I left my jacket at home, which I regretted. It was in the 50s, but it felt more like the late 40s.

I didn't have any bites. I checked the bloodworm line and saw that I lost the bait a couple of times. Did a fish or crab slip it off or did the impact of hitting the water dislodge them? Who knows.

The first fish I caught was striper. It didn't weigh much and measured almost 11 inches. I threw it back.

I eventually switched my second line to a bloodworm. I had a number of bites, but the fish never managed to hook themselves. I often replaced the bait that was gnawed away or completely removed.

Later in the day, I was determined to keep a piece of fresh bunker on a line for an extended period. But I had no hits with it. After losing the bunker when I recast the line, I permanently switched to bloodworms. Since I usually get two dozen, they don't go fast.

As usual, I listened to my iPod. I also began reading Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979, 1985 paperback edition), which I've had on my shelf since the mid-1980s.

I caught only one more fish. This one was a perch, heavier than the striper I caught earlier, but about 11 inches.

Although I was grateful, as always, at catching something, I still felt disappointed. Why didn't I catch more fish or something bigger? Maybe I should use different hooks and experiment with different baits.

I left around 8 PM.

Running Over the Same Old Ground

Today, I made my return to Hudson Park in New Rochelle for the first time in over a year. If you recall, the last time I was here I lost a large striper.

I picked up two dozen bloodworms and one fresh bunker from Jack's. I got to Hudson Park around 4:30 at high tide. It was sunny and warm, but with no wind. I chose Hudson Park because of its convenience. I was feeling a little under the weather with a couple of pains, and I didn't feel like carrying my fishing gear over a distance.

I began the day by respooling two of my poles with 17-pound test. By 5 PM, I had my lines in the water, two with bloodworms and one with a piece of fresh bunker.

I didn't get a single bite all day. I said my prayer. I changed bait. I reeled in the lines a little to draw attention to the bait. I recast the lines. Nothing worked.

What's funny is that there were fish jumping out of the water. One fisherman, using a bunker sinker (a sinker with several hooks), caught a few bunker.

I passed the time by reading the Wall Street Journal and listening to my iPod. In the evening, I smoked a very good cigar.

I gave up around 7:10.

I hope to try Riverdale on Sunday and maybe a new location during the week.

One Slip

This is the very spot where I slipped and broke my ankle nearly 13 years ago, laying me out for six weeks. Little did I know that, that slip (and another serious injury four years earlier) would have long-term consequences for my health.

The Price of a Few Hundred Ordinary Lives

Yesterday (Monday), I finally made it to Kensico for the first time in two years. I brought my two smaller poles I use for trout and bucket with the aerator.

My first task was to find Wade's Bait and Tackle, which moved again. It went from North White Plains to Valhalla and now Hawthorne. I stopped at the Kensico Dam Plaza to study my roadmap. After driving for about 10 minutes (up Columbus Avenue and then left on West Stevens Avenue), I found Wade's, which is right next to the Gate of Heaven Cemetery and maybe a block or two from the Mt. Pleasant Metro North Station. (I also discovered that Wade's is right off the Taconic State Parkway.)

The man there said they were out of sawbellies, but had shiners. I bought a dozen of them. I also bought three new lures. The man said the trout were biting and advised me to fish one shiner with a bobber and one off the bottom.

I decided to return to a rock, off Rye Bridge, which I haven't tried in over ten years. That rock is very significant in my personal history. It's where I broke my ankle in August 1996. I did return to the rock maybe a couple of times afterward when I was healed up, but I don't think I've been back since the 1990s. I guess I got used to other spots at Kensico.

The only change I noticed is that a sunken tree on the right side of the rock was no longer there. Everything else looked the same.

I also brought along the long pole I usually use for New Rochelle and the Hudson River. I wanted to use it for lures.

I started fishing around 4:30. The sun was out, and the water was still. Using the small poles with egg sinkers, I could never get a good cast. With the bobber, I got the line only a few feet off shore. I also forgot that one of my poles has a defect. Whenever I cast the line out, it always got caught on a slight nick on my reel, which caused my line to drop. I should either replace the reel or find a way to fix the nick before using it next time. I lost a few shiners when casting the line. I didn't have a single bite.

With the long pole, I tried numerous casts with a Krocodile. But I didn't have any luck. In fact, I got my line tangled. Now I probably have to respool it.

I gave up at 6:30, earlier than I planned. I dumped the rest of the shiners in the water.

The day was frustrating. I never had much luck with trout. So why does Kensico keep luring me? It's a nice drive up, and the area is very beautiful. I also have hope that I'll catch something big here someday.

The Only Catch of the Day

This is the only fish, a 10-inch striper, but, as always, I'm glad I caught something.

Thank you, St. Peter and St. Jude.

Outside the Rain Fell Dark and Slow

Yesterday (Friday), I went to Riverdale for some late afternoon fishing. I bought two dozen bloodworms at Jack's. (I decided to skip the eels this time.)

I got to the Metro-North station around 4:20. I managed to find a parking spot near the entrance, which I interpreted as a good sign. I paid the weekday, $3.25 parking fee.

The promenade was deserted. Like I did the last few times, I set up shop in the last viewing area. By 4:30, I had my two lines in the water.

The weather was cool and occasionally breezy. Since I expected rain, I dressed for it. The skies were dark gray, but it rained only a little. At times, there was a layer of foggy mist on top of the water, which I thought was quite beautiful. I started fishing as the tide was going out.

Whenever I go fishing and a slight rain falls, I'm always reminded of that afternoon I spent in a boat on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. in May 1997. If you recall, I mentioned that experience in my very first post. Back then, I had just passed the comprehensive exam to earn my Master's Degree. Although I did the best academic work of my life, graduate school was often brutal, and I was relieved that I made it to the finish line. That day on the Potomac, I caught a few perch and a large catfish, which increased my already-celebratory mood.

With that Potomac memory in mind, I was in a great mood in Riverdale. Once again, I remembered to seek St. Peter's intercession. And once again, he didn't disappoint.

I admit that I expected to catch a lot of fish. Instead, I caught only one small striped bass, which measured 10 inches. I did have a number of bites on both poles, but only one fish managed to hook itself.

When I usually attach a bloodworm to the hook, it usually spurts a little blood. In turn, the blood attracts the fish. Most of the worms I used didn't shed any blood. I wonder if Jack's gave me some nightcrawlers by mistake.

I passed the time by smoking a cigar and listening to my iPod. I enjoyed Pink Floyd, Lita Ford, the Temptations, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, among others.

I gave up slightly after 8 PM. It got dark, and the tide was low. Although I caught only one fish, I felt really good today, and I'm glad I went.

I was planning to try Kensico and even got my gear ready. But the Web site for Wade's Bait and Tackle said that they would be out of sawbellies for a couple of days.

We'll see what the week brings.