Sunday, November 30, 2008

Sleep


"I shall return."--General Douglas MacArthur (March 11, 1942)


It's that time of year. With winter fast approaching, it's too cold to fish, and local bait stores won't be carrying any fresh bunker or bloodworms until the spring. It's time for me to give up fishing and head into hibernation.

I'm glad I was able to salvage a little something from my annus horribilis and catch a few fish.

I am grateful for my religious faith. Among many things, it gives me hope: the belief (perhaps an assurance) in the possibility that no matter how bad things get or how bleak they appear to be, they can get better, obviously with prayer and effort, sooner or later. (Notice I didn't write will. I consider myself a realist and believe very strongly in Original Sin.) Indeed, hope is one of the things that has kept me going for the last several decades and keeps me going.

Anyway, Merry Christmas and see you next spring.

Friday, November 14, 2008

The Catch(es) of the Day

A striped bass:



A carp:

A perch:

Thank you, St. Peter.

I Knew the Moment Had Arrived

Today, I followed through on a pledge I recently made to try the Hudson River in Riverdale before shutting down for the winter. I picked up some bait at Jack's. Unlike the last few times, I made a choice that greatly affected the outcome of today's trip. In addition to clams, I also got a box of bloodworms.

I got to Riverdale around noon. I fished here only once before back in May with no luck. There were a lot of cars in the Metro-North parking lot, but I managed to find a spot. It cost me $3.25 to park for the day. (On weekends, parking is free.)

There were no people on the promenade. With the exception of a few commuters taking the train, the area was practically deserted. I used three poles (more on this later). I believe I started out using clams on two lines, and a blood worm on the third.

The weather was around 60 degrees. It was very overcast and foggy. It previously rained, and the area was still wet. The tide was going out.

Not too long ago, I prayed a novena to St. Peter, the patron saint of fisherman, asking to catch at least one fish before I closed down for the winter. Today and three fishing trips later, my prayer was answered.

Deciding to buy some bloodworms turned out to be the smartest thing I've done in a long time. I caught three fish--each a different species--and all with bloodworms. I did have a couple of bites with clams, but I seemed to have nonstop action with bloodworms.

The first fish I caught was a striped bass. It measured nine inches. I was so elated that I finally caught something this season and after so much personal disappointment. I thanked St. Peter for his intervention, and I threw it back.

The second fish came a short time time later. Judging by its barbels, the "whisker" near the mouth, I thought it was a catfish. But it wasn't. Instead, the fish belonged to the carp family. Although it was a foot long, it didn't weigh much. I threw it back.

My third fish was a perch. It was only seven inches. I also returned him to the river.

I came close to catching two other fish. One was either a carp or a catfish. But my line got tangled with another one of my lines, and it managed to get unhooked. The strength of the current created a problem, causing my lines to overlap. The next time I try this spot, I'll just bring two poles. I lost the second fish when my line snapped.

I ran out of bloodworms and had to rely on clams. The fish then seemed to lose interest. In the last few weeks, I no doubt overestimated the appeal of clams and underestimated the appeal of bloodworms. In recent years, I have shied away from bloodworms since they seemed to attract only perch and crabs, which successfully stripped them from the hook.

My success with bloodworms has tempted me to try them at least once at Five Islands Park in New Rochelle before closing down for the winter. Maybe the fish there would find the bloodworms more appetizing than clams.

Today, I also learned an important lesson: Never fish with only one type of bait.

Today's success (and the joy that came with it) was exactly what I needed. I haven't felt this good in a long time. I hope and pray that I can build on it and mark the beginning of a major turnaround in my professional, personal, and fishing life.

Monday, November 03, 2008

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.