Well like I expected things are just totally different. What a difference a few days makes. Now 25,000 cfs., temp 65 degrees,turbidity 11. And the fish made the changes. I fished hard today. The waters north just didn't hold fish in the lanes they did and I needed a change of venue. Well the herring were non- existent, at least not on the edges. I only had two early small fish to show for it.
I jumped downriver across the state Capital and thought I could poke and pick at fish out side of the debris fields that formed during the big water. I made my way down the wall, the one
where you need to be an ibex to scale it , alright maybe it's not that bad, and looked for a place where I could cross the moat and get out to the main river.
I "walked the plank" and found some good water that I thought might hold some fish. The problem was either there were still to many trees in the water or I had no shot with a decent backcast.
I made tons of casts to the above softer water behind the trees but found no one home. I really had confidence with each good cast I laid in there. Quick casts and quick retrieves.
In addition to all the flotsam that came downriver I found several watercraft that did as well. Someone's nice Old Town got wedged in under the log jam above. But what made me do a double take as I climbed around the minefield of downed trees and branches was the below.
I thought, wow, how did that get there like that until I realized that someone had a boat tied off to a tree. Last week I saw this vessel amongst the trees and I guess someone fished it out and made it river worthy? I hope they don't plan on launching that anywhere in any kind of current as I don't think those oars will get the job done trying to get upriver and back over to their "marina". I hope these aren't kids doing kid things, like we all did growing up, because that river isn't very forgiving.
I made my out to a favorite point that I have fished in the past and had a fish or two. But now it's covered in trees and will take another 100 year flood to push it all downriver.
It's nice because on the other side there's a nice sweep of moving water with soft water on both sides. It's tough to present a fly there but the agony of the game is what keeps me in.
On my way out I found one of those holes in the debris field. You really have to watch because you can have both feet go through and you can find yourself unable to get yourself out. On bigger water underneath can be deep holes so it can get dicey if you're not careful.
I finished up the day with one for the tank. I'm stating to feel like I need a little salty air in my nose and it will be nice to hit the beach. I would go with low expectations as most Monmouth
County surf anglers are waiting for the arrival of the Chesapeake and Delaware fish making their post-spawn trip up north to New England for the summer. Hopefully I'll time them right and meet them in the Vineyard in a few weeks.