July 6, 2010

Saltwater Report
Connecticut TIDES • Rhode Island TIDES

Along with the arrival of loads of adult menhaden and big bluefish we have big bass dialed in off of Milford right now and this week continues a full attack on the cows that have grazed into our area. The interesting scenario unfolding is that this pattern is similar to the early 90's in that I am finding very big bass in less than 10 feet of water and also out on the wrecks. The usual spots are fishing OK but totally inconistent. Live bunker are the ticket for the big girls but the fly angler that can toss a 450 grain line can also get into some cows using large bunker patterns. I have been using modified versions of Pete Viviano's yak flies and they have produced fish over 20lbs. near rocky shorelines.

Now is the time to fish mid-tides near shoreline structure and slow tides near deep water wrecks if you are still trying to squeeze in that cow hunt!

My daughter and I had a blast catching wild brook trout like the one above right on our property. We followed the trickle of a stream to a larger stream and found dozens just like it....great to see these wild fish thriving in CT!

Freshwater Report - The caddis hatches are taking over for the earlier hendricksons and this is also a great hatch to bring some of the larger fish in the Housy and Farmington to the surface for your imitation. Many local streams have been stocked again as well so get out and enjoy!

Interested in Fly Casting instruction for fresh or salt water? Captain Chris Elser is a certified casting instructor and will be offering lessons and instruction throughout the winter months. Take advantage of one-on-one personalized instruction at any location that is convenient for you, even your own home! He has all the tackle and can also incorporate a lesson into a trip out on the Sound or inland lakes for trout and smallmouth bass.
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Captain Chris Elser has been writing the Western Long Island Sound fishing reports since April of 2006, you will surely get detailed information on fishing for Stripers, Bluefish, False Albacore and more! Pick up the new isue for the latest info!

Tight Lines!

Dan caught this 20 lb. Bass at mid-day in Stratford..

These 3 boys had the time of their life catching Gorilla blues near shore on a very sporty day of seas!

Captain Elser landed this fat Cow which took a small tube trolled close to shore tipped with a Gulp Imitation Sandworm! Did not want to kill the fish and did not get a weight - it will be fun guessing though as this fish was released to fight another day!

Above is a 15+ lb. bluefish taken on September 24, 2008 in skinny water deploying a Pete Viviano tied yak hair bunker imitation, this was an epic battle on a 10 wt. fly rod! It is game on for gator blues in the shallows right now!

I caught this beauty near Stratford mid day!

I caught this fat 27 inch bass on a deceiver on November 28, 2007 off of Stratford. Striper fishing lasted well into December, hopefully this year will be a repeat!

2007 will go down in history as one of the best years ever for the ever so tasty and feisty Bonito!

Rick took this fat 41 inch bass on June 13, 2009 while we were fishing off of Stratford.

Heather above with a 40+ pound striper taken the day after her brother landed the 50 pounder! She did land a bigger fish but I had to hold it up for her!

Heather with a 31 lb. 42 inch striper taken near Stratford, CT

CJ Elser, with a personal best 50+ pound striper taken at 7 p.m. July 17, 2008.



"The STUDENT becomes the TEACHER"
Joe Gianettino - above - with a nice Salmon River Steelhead taken from under the wings of his Master Tutor John Cardinale. Joe is no longer the student :-) Good times had by all - too many laughs!

CaptElser@CT-Fishing.com

 


July 2010 - Curt Gowdy, Jr., above, with a sweet 25+ lb. striper taken near mid day on July 6th. He also landed many 10+ lb. bluefish using grain lines and a 10 wt. fly rod...great fishing to end the day today Curt!

May 2010 - This was an epic day on the western LI Sound folks...we had 8 fish over 30lbs. in less than 3 hours live lining bunker in the Bridgeport area. The fish in the photo was by far not the largest but did not survive so I had a nice photo op before making dinner for 8 our of her fillets! The largest fish was 48 inches and well over 40lbs. and I did not see a fish under 30....VERY memorable for this neck of the woods my friends.

I had a great day catching up and fishing with good friend and fellow fly fishing addict, Patrick O'Donnell. Check out his website at WesternSoundFly.com We caught dozens of bass up to keeper size using large herring patterns and small clousers near the mouth of the river as well.

April 2010 - Pete V with a nice spring bass on one of his signature "Yak" herring patterns - check out his fly selection at FishFlyes!

2010 - A fat winter resident Housy bass!

October 2009 - Mark and Jared with their largest striper ever...45 inches and almost 37lbs! Caught within 50 feet of shore near Milford....sweeeeeet!

October 2009 - I got Dan into this zebra of a bass today, it was over 43 inches long and we fished very shallow water near the Milford area...nice fish Dan!

Another late September father and son team fish in the 30lb. range.

Check out this 30+ pound cow Mark caught during out charter near Milford with his dad on September 25, 2009!

This false albacore was 6 oz. from being a state record at just over 14lbs. and was caught on Sept. 29, 2009 near Milford, CT. It was my personal best fat albert!

Joe with a 38 inch bass!

A fat August Zebra on a choppy day last week! Taken on a live bunker off of Milford.

A little shy for the camera with a 40+ inch bass near Stratford taken on a bunker chunk!

Heather above with her July 17, 2009 personal best 52.5 inch striper taken on a red tube and gulp imitation sandworm trolled up on light tackle with a Lamiglas Tri-Flex conventional and Avet MXL reel!

My son CJ with a fat 44lb. striper taken on July 18, 2009...we had about 10 this size in less than 3 hours!

Chad took this one for the dinner table...sweet size for fillets!

May 14, 2009 - these young men took several keeper stripers to 32 inches in the Milford area...great action

Check out Chris above with this nice keeper striper from the Housatonic River. We had a great trip with his brothers and father yesterday catching many keepers on soft plastics and tubes. The charter was a birthday gift and it really turned out to be a happy birthday for him!

This fish was caught while on a professional video shoot on April 9, 2009 with Jeff Smith, we had a great day out there for sure.