With Your Nerves in Tatters

After a month of silence, I have returned. "Where have you been?" the three of you who visit this blog regularly must be asking. About a day after the Croton disaster, I caught a bad cold--it seemed more like the flu--which incapacitated me the rest of the week. I then caught a minor ear infection, which nagged me for a couple of weeks. My bizarre sleep patterns and some bad weather also helped derail my fishing plans for June.

Today, I went fishing at Five Islands Park in New Rochelle. It's hard to believe that I haven't fished here since April 27. Time passes awful quickly.

I stocked up on supplies at Jack's and bought two dozen bloodworms and two fresh bunker. Once again, I bought more bait than I needed.

I got to the dock around 12 PM, about 90 minutes or so before high tide. The sun was out, and it wasn't too hot. There was a slight breeze. The dock often moved back and forth, perhaps due to the breeze and the water, which was unusually active.

I used three lines, two with bloodworms and one with bunker. Today, I also experimented with snelled Kahle hooks, which are shaped like this. Unfortunately, the ones I bought at Jack's had too much flourocarbon leader (at least three feet) attached to them. I was able to cast my lines with these hooks, but they're more suited for deeper water.

I had exactly one bite. When I reeled it in, the line snapped. I didn't have any other bites. I guess the fish were on vacation.

I packed up around 3:30, as the tide was going out.

I do have a few things to do before my next fishing trip: organize my tackle box, throw out stuff I don't need, clean and then respool one reel, and wash my fishing rags.

How Can I Escape This Irresistible Grasp?

Today, I went up to Five Islands Park in New Rochelle. The weather and my unusual sleeping patterns prevented me from going fishing last week as I originally planned.

I bought two dozen bloodworms at Jack's and four eels.

I got to the dock around 1:30, at high tide. It was sunny, warm, and the water was perfectly still.

I had bloodworms on two lines. I used an eel on the third. I had trouble picking up an eel in the bucket. Even with a rag, I couldn't get a good grip on it. I dumped some of the water in the bucket to make it easier, but one of the eels slipped out into the water. After some more struggling, I managed to grab one and attach it to the hook.

Once again, I remembered to seek St. Peter's intercession. Although I didn't catch any fish, he didn't disappoint.

I didn't have a single bite all day. I reeled in the lines and attached new bloodworms a couple of times. Since the eel continued to live, I didn't dump it for a fresh one.

I don't remember the exact time, but I reeled in the line with the eel to check it. It felt heavier than usual. Did I snag some garbage? When I pulled it out, I saw that I caught a crab. It didn't seem hook itself, but it got tangled in the line. It laid on its back on the dock. Its span measured 12 inches. Using my foot, I gently pushed it back into the water. (These things bite, you know.)

I stayed until 5 PM. I dumped the bloodworms and the two eels in the bucket in the water. I released the eel on the hook in the water, very much alive.

I wonder where the fish were. Did they stay away because of the heat or was Holy Thursday's triumph a fluke?

Although I'm glad I caught something, I found today's fishing experience unpleasant. Eels are slippery, and they smell bad. But I know I'll probably experiment with them on the Hudson River.

Ice Is Forming on the Tips of My Wings

Today, on this Holy Thursday, I went up to Five Islands Park in New Rochelle, where I failed to catch a single fish in four previous attempts. Although it's been a chilly Holy Week, it was a little warmer today. I left my jacket at home, which turned out to be a mistake. Why did go back to an area where I have had absolutely no luck? I was eager to try blood worms.

I got one frozen bunker and two dozen blood worms at Jack's. As I walked to area, I immediately picked up the strong wind. There were three teenagers on the dock, so I started fishing nearby in shallow water.

The sun was out. The tide was going out. It was quite windy. Certainly, these aren't the fishing conditions I look forward to.

The teens eventually left, and I moved to the dock. By 1:45 or so, I had three lines in the water, all with blood worms.

After one strong wind gust (which lead me to conclude that I wouldn't catch anything and going fishing today might have been a mistake), I asked St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, for help. He soon delivered.

I was sitting in my chair and catching up with my novenas for the day when I had action on one of my lines. I got up, reeled it in little, and noticed the line moving away from shore. I began to reel it in and felt something sizable on the line. I got it to the dock, reached down into the water, and carefully pulled out a big striped bass.

I was ecstatic! I finally caught something in Five Islands Park, and I caught something big today. The striper measured about 20 inches. I unhooked him, thanked St. Peter for his intercession, and released the fish back into the water.

Much later, I reeled in one line to check it. I noticed I had something, but it wasn't a fish. Was it garbage or perhaps a crab? It turned to be four or five mussel shells stuck together. A couple were empty, and the rest were closed. It took a little effort to pry my hook loose. I threw the shells back.

I eventually attached a piece of thawed-out bunker to one line and placed fresh bloodworms on the other two. Unfortunately, I didn't have anymore bites. The tide was going out. The wind got stronger. The temperature also dropped noticeably.

Thinking I had a great day fishing, I packed up my gear around 4:30. I dumped the bunker in the water. I don't know why, but I didn't dump the worms in the water, as I usually do. I was planning to throw them in the garbage. As I was leaving, I noticed two kids with fishing poles making theie way to the dock. I told them about the striper I caught. I also gave them the rest of my blood worms. They were grateful since they had only lures and no live bait.

Today's success established my faith that this area can be good for fishing. I had been losing hope in it. We'll see what happens in the next few months.

Return of a Man Called Horse

I have returned.

Although it's still technically winter, it was warmer than normal today. So I decided to go fishing. I went to Jack's and stocked up on supplies. I was told they won't have any fresh bunker for at least two weeks. They were also sold out of blood worms. I bought a dozen sandworms and a dozen nightcrawlers.

I went up to Five Islands Park in New Rochelle. The clouds were out. There was no wind. It was pleasantly cool. The water was still. The tide was coming in. If you may recall, I live for fishing conditions such as these.

Once again, however, I struck out.

In fact, I didn't have a single bite. I had three lines in the water. I did my usual tricks. I reeled in the lines to draw attention to the bait. I recast the lines. I also changed the bait several times. But nothing.

I passed the time listening to my iPod and pacing back and forth on the dock like an expectant father. When fishing across the water in Hudson Park, I've caught a number of fish out of these same waters. So why do the fish seem to avoid the waters near Five Islands Park? I plan on consulting with the owner of Hudson Park Bait and Tackle for guidance.

Another idea is to fish elsewhere. As I've written before, I tend to get too complacent at times and keep trying the same areas over and over again rather than exploring new waters.

Around 3 PM, I gave up. I dumped the worms in the water and packed up.

Still, it was worth shaking off the winter rust.

Can You See Your Days Blighted By Darkness?

Today, I returned to Five Islands Park in New Rochelle. I was eager to try the area for the third straight time since conditions seemed perfect. It was a beautiful overcast day. The temperature was mild. There was no wind, and the water was still.

Unfortunately, I didn't catch anything.

I bought some clam bait at Jack's. I started fishing at 12:30, about an hour before high tide. I did manage one bite. Since the park closes at dusk, I stopped fishing at 4:45 PM.

Another fisherman, who was using a lure and fished in different spots, came over to talk to me. He said he didn't have any luck either. I guess there's no point coming back here until spring.

I would like to try the Hudson River in Riverdale a couple of times before shutting down for the winter.

And Everything Under the Sun

Today, I made my second trip to Five Islands Park in New Rochelle. Jack's didn't have any fresh bunker. Instead, I bought two cups of unfrozen clams.

I got to the dock around 10:45 AM, about 90 minutes or so before hide tide. It was a bright, sunny day with a slight breeze. The temperature was perfect. I used three poles.

Like last time, I didn't catch anything. But unlike last time, I did have a few bites.

I tried my usual tricks: reeling in the lines to draw attention to the bait, checking the bait and recasting the lines, and replacing the bait. I guess the fish weren't really hungry or already in hibernation.

I stayed until 5:15 or so. I passed the time listening to my pocket radio and smoking a cigar.

Still, it was a nice day, and the experience was quite pleasant.

I'm glad I went.

Lost in Thought and Lost in Time

After nearly three months of silence, I have returned. I wish I had more to report, but I don't. I've been getting my rest and slowly climbing out of the abyss. (But I still have a long way to go.)

Two days ago, I washed my fishing poles for the time in years. I also respooled them. Today, I decided to try Five Islands Park in New Rochelle for the first time. I purchased a parking sticker last August for 2008 from the City of New Rochelle Department of Parks and Recreation at City Hall. Five Islands Park is right across the sound from Hudson Park, where I fished several times and lost a big one back in April.

I explored the park yesterday and found a floating dock that stretches out over the water. A metal footbridge connects the dock to the land (one of the five islands). A great advantage is that since it's a floating dock, it rises and falls with the tide.

I missed high tide, which was about 8:45 AM. I took a drive to Jack's to pick up some bait. Whenever I went fishing this late in the past, the bait shops usually didn't have any fresh bunker. I got to Jack's at 11:15 or so. Big John, the owner of Jack's, told me they were expecting a shipment by noon. Since I preferred to use fresh bunker, I decided to wait. I just read the Wall Street Journal in my car. When the bait was finally delivered, I bought two fresh bunker.

I got to the dock and started fishing at 12:45. The tide was going out. The sun was out. It was cool and pleasant. There was a slight breeze. When I explored the area yesterday, the wind was blowing really hard. Today, I just brought two poles with me instead of my customary three.

I didn't get a single bite. I recast the lines several times. I replaced the bait perhaps twice. Nothing was biting. I saw some fishermen over in the parking lot at Hudson Park. They gave up and left around 1 PM.

I passed the time walking on the dock and listening to my radio. Around 2:30 or so, the wind started to pick up. I gave up at 3 PM.

Despite not catching anything, the experience was pleasant. I'm glad I went and got a chance to shake off some of the rust.

I really would like to catch one fish before shutting down for the winter. If the weather doesn't get too cold, I'm sure I'll come back a few times over the next few weeks, especially at high tide. In 1996 or 1997, I went fishing on a chilly November day at Mamaroneck Harbor and caught a decent-sized striper. So there's still hope that I might catch something this late into the fishing season.