Joined: May 15, 2003 Posts: 852 Location: Portland, Maine
Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject: Block Island Fishworks - Flies And Fins - Tournament
Hey - Hope you can make it! Let me know if you plan on coming. Fishing from foot? Bringing a boat? Getting a guide? All Tourney info can be found at www.bifishworks.com .. see the link on left of site for the "2006 inshore fishing tournament" ... Feel free to ask me any questions .. and I will help if I can .. I am familiar with the Rhode Island fishery in general (having grown up in Charlestown, Rhode Island) .. and will be happy to field questions about flies, gear you need, directions, tactics for fly fishing from foot for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Albies and Bonito .. I am not claiming to be an expert .. just saying I am willing to help make this a good trip for anyone who plans on coming ... so, come on .. grab a 7,8 or 9 weight and hop on the ferry! See you on the island!
Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:42 pm Post subject: Tournament
Count me in!!!!! I will invite a few friends and see if I can get people with transpotation to bring one or two friends. I might tow a boat down or maybe hire a guide for a day, in any event I'm there. It's a great cause and I would look forward to meeting as many flies and fins members as attend. This would be a great place to meet fishermen and could become an annual treck.
Joined: May 15, 2003 Posts: 852 Location: Portland, Maine
Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:45 pm Post subject: camp
gilly - campgrounds .. not sure ... i usually fish from sun up till sundown and ..then fish stripers at night ... sometimes i sleep .. sometimes not .. but a sleeping bag and small tent or no tent just sleeping bag .. usually works. if i am with my wife and need the comforts of home ... accomodations are relatively cheap and sometimes negotiable because it is the OFF season ... so, just like maine ... getting a motel/hotel in august is one thing .. september is another.
ferry - 30 bucks round trip from pt. judith rhode island on high speed ferry (20 minute ride) ... regular schedule... every 2 hours or so.
all links that you would need are here on the BI Fishworks site
http://www.bifishworks.com/Links&Info.htm
--- let me know if you need any other info ...
PS - 7,8,9,10 wt rods are fine (7 being a little on the light side .. but if its all ya got it will do) .. flies = white bunny flies, surf candy (3inches), ep bunker flies (olive and white or chart. and white) ... for bluefish .. bring big deceivers that you don't mind getting chewed up and some steel leader ...---> for striped bass .. clousers, decievers and grocery flies.
ALBIES AND BONITO: they should be in the harbors and on the beaches pretty thick by then ... especially the albies... first light is great.. but really all day is great too! and as long as the tide is moving in one direction or the other ... you will see them blowing up in the harbors, in the coast guard channel and on the beaches ... BE READY .. you gotta be ready to cast and get your fly into the fish when they are up ... i hooked an albie last year that was litterally 5 feet from my toes ... i could have thrown the fly to him with my hand .. point is .. just be ready and get the fly in the busting fish ..... and mark my words .. they will appear when you least expect it ... bring a stripping basket too .. not absolutely necessary .. but i like to use one ... leader .. straight 12 pound flurocarbon 6feet or so will do... pretty simple really ... the whole trick is being ready when they blow up on bait infront of you .. getting your fly in there and if one takes your fly ... HANG ON! cuz you are gonna see your backing for sure ... and ... lots of it!
Joined: May 15, 2003 Posts: 852 Location: Portland, Maine
Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:23 pm Post subject: fish-king
fish-king-7
no, unfortunately there is only caviar and lobster tales on the island ........ just kidding ... of course there is cheap eats and plenty of deli type shops, burger joints and such right at the harbor where the ferry comes in ...
Joined: May 15, 2003 Posts: 852 Location: Portland, Maine
Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:42 pm Post subject: ok .. so simple solution
ok so here is the simple solution ..
1. get to pt. judith rhode island for the ferry - here are directions to pt. judith ferry - http://www.blockislandferry.com/
2. take ferry to block island (schedules and fares) found here - http://www.blockislandferry.com/
3. get off ferry - take cab to chris' shop ... you could actually walk .. but tell any cab you want to go to Block Island fishworks on Ocean Avenue ... it will cust ya maybe 5 bucks .. keep in mind this is A TINY island .. when i say cab .... i am referring to island style cabs ... they will be waiting at the ferry upon every ferry arrival.
4. register for tourney at bi fishworks .. then ask the guys where coast guard station is .... chances are someone will be going there ... if not .. cab it ... for another couple bucks ... hitching rides in the back of pick ups is fine too .. i did it last week .. and you will be able to tell the fisherman from the non-fishermen ... but general rule of thumb .. if your cool .. people are cool to you..
5. FISH - once you show up at the coast guard house .. it will be very intuitive .. you will see plenty of fishermen and hopefullly albies blowing up in the harbor, off the wall and on the beaches ..
6. if your only staying for the day - fish till your hear is content .. then take the ferry back to pt. judith ... (bring a cell phone if you got one .. and get the cell of your cabbie .. that way you can call him to pick you and any of your group up .. also you can probably find people who want to split cabs etc..)
7. if your spending the night ... that is pretty self explanatory ... at this point .. the next day .. just fish
other options - if you don't want to cab or walk .. i often rent bikes or mopeds .. a good means of transportation to bomb around to different spots .. again .. up to you ...
thats the deal ..... the island can be as cheap or not cheap as you need it to be ..... and thats why this is a nice destination ... if your a college kid .. you can do it super cheap on a tight budget .... if your not a college kid and can afford it enjoy the island get a nice room/nice dinners/rent car/hire a guide etc.... if your not a college kid but need to conserve money you can still enjoy the island at this time of year and eat and sleep in moderately priced places and not necarilly live on a shoe string budget ... whatever ... bring the family if you have one .. the wife will love the shopping opportunities .. tons of stuff for kids to do ... send them on their way and FISH you can meet up with them throughout the day...
Joined: Dec 16, 2004 Posts: 170 Location: Syracuse, NY
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 11:48 am Post subject: Mnt Bikes?
Kranes and I were thinking about throwing the mountain bikes on the ferry and using them for transportation. I think it will work out well. Will they allow us to put them on the ferry?
Joined: May 15, 2003 Posts: 852 Location: Portland, Maine
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 12:42 pm Post subject: SWEET
SWEET - whippa and kranefly are comin! .... if you like steelhead .. you are gonna LOVE ALBIES ... make sure your backing knot is tied well... cuz your gonna see your backing and lots of it ...
OK -- GREAT IDEA .. just called block island ferry ... YES you can bring mtn. bike ... $5 additional fee ... (round trip) .. so (2.50 each way) ... for those of you who do not have mtn bikes of your own to bring .. you can also rent mountain bikes or even mopeds or even those little island buggies immediately when you get off the ferry ... or use cab ... really just personal preference ...
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 5:54 pm Post subject: Fishing Tourney
This sounds like a great way to spend a weekend. I like the fact the fishing is not limted to flyfishing only. This way my son the spin fisherman can participate.
I am planning on being there. Keep us informed of who signs up. Maybe people traveling from the same area would like to hook up and travel together, share motel room, gas expense etc.
Joined: Dec 16, 2004 Posts: 170 Location: Syracuse, NY
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:43 am Post subject:
It has been a little over a year since my last Albie. In my opinion that is way to long. As Curry would say "the tug is the drug" Looking forward to seeing everyone. This is going to be a blast!
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject: Yeah!
I think the wife and I are in! We will drive down Friday and with kayaks and "camp" out of the Black Ghost (truck). I look forward to both of us hooking into our first Albies!!!
Should be a good group of folks going...can't wait!
Joined: May 15, 2003 Posts: 852 Location: Portland, Maine
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:46 pm Post subject: short list so far
ok ... so, just to kind keep a short list of who from fliesandfins.com is coming ... here is what i got so far ... (keep in mind many of these people only know each other virtually .. so if you are thinking of coming .. but feel as though all these people know each other .. that is not the case ... so, whether you are an old member, new member or just a frequent visitor and thinking of coming out to the island .. you are more than welcome and i am sure you will fit right in. so, if your not on this list and thinking of coming ... post a reply and say "i am in." ... i am getting 50 fliesandfins.com hats made for fishermen who come to the tourney via fliesandfins.com ... So, I know its not much .. but if you come to the tourney via fliesandfins.com ... you also get a free fliesandfins.com hat .... so just make sure you are on the list .. i will update the list regularly as the between now and sept 14th ... thanks.
THE LIST OF fliesandfins.com ANGLERS AS OF 8/30
jeremy
waterwhippa
kranefly
joey + friend(s) (joey let me know who)
boz + wife
greg
patm + patrick
jesse
chris r
fisherboy
pete-d
that's a short list off the top of my head ... let me know if i missed you .. or if you have yet to mention that you are going to make it. thanks.
Joined: May 17, 2005 Posts: 92 Location: Medway, Massachusetts
Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:18 am Post subject:
Yeah I'm going. Just have to get the details all worked out. But it is definitely a trip I want to make. And the tournament is for a great cause as well. Looking forward to meeting everyone out there.
Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:04 am Post subject: This is looking Great!!!!
Judging from the resposes on this board and the number of phone calls I've had this event should be a Blast for flies and fins Watchers and members. Regardless of when you started fly fishing or your level of expertise this will be a great adventure and a chance to mix with members at all different levels of their sport. If your still on the fence, get off and get your line in!
Joined: May 17, 2005 Posts: 92 Location: Medway, Massachusetts
Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:49 pm Post subject:
Has anyone found a decent hotel/motel over towards the coast gaurd station yet? I found one place over that way but the rates were similar to rates you'd find in Boston. 270 a night or so. Seems like most of the accomodations are over near the old harbor.
Just wanted to welcome everyone coming to the tourny on Block Island... Me and a buddy started this low key chill tourny to celebrate the end of the summer and the beginning of the best fishing month on BI. Accomodations may can be found easily by going directly to the BI Chamber of Commerce website - off season rates should apply but it is also the 'wedding season' so be for warned. Good cheap eats can be found at 'Rebecca's' right on Water Street - they have breakfast and lunch. Three Sisters is also good. We do have a grocery store and deli as well. If you are arriving Saturday shoot me an email and let me know. It would be nice to see a good number of fly guys (or gals) show up.
Joined: May 17, 2005 Posts: 92 Location: Medway, Massachusetts
Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:41 pm Post subject:
Well since no one has mentioned it I'll go ahead. So where is the Flies and Fins after hours gathering going to be? I certainly can't be the only one that is known to tip a glass or two after a good day or bad day of fishing.
Joined: May 15, 2003 Posts: 852 Location: Portland, Maine
Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:16 am Post subject: ok - here is the deal
i am probably the worste planner on earth .. especially when it comes to fishing, because i usually follow the fishes plans ... so i like to be where the fish are .. but to this day, they have yet to tell me in advance .. .. but i will try my best .. and aim at keeping things SIMPLE! here goes it.
1. GET TO THE ISLAND - if you are coming - get to the island. some are coming thur night .. others fri night and other sat morning on the 7:30 ferry.
2. NOT STAYING OVER - well then come sat and leave sat .. or come sun and leave sun ...
3. STAYING OVER - check the lists of hotel/motels on the island .. negotiating price is definately an option ... i personally recommend the NATIONAL or the NARRAGENSET .. and i will most likely be staying at the National (its right in town .. directly across from the ferry .. coffee shops around .. eating within walking distance .. i have stayed there before and it is ideal for those reasons .. AND prices are negotiable based on your ability to negotiate i guess .. keep in mind that THIS IS the off season on the island .. so most joints would rather get a body in a bed rather than have so many beds empty ...)
4. TRANSPORTATION - here are your option - CAB is 13 bucks or so each way from ferry terminal to coast guard station. they will be lined up when you get off ferry . if you got a couple people ..well thats reasonable. get the cell of your caby so you can call him/her when you need transportation to and from coast guard station or wherever. MTN BIKE - 20 bucks for full day and you can rent for full weeend and not have to return it every night and morning etc.. pick it up when you get there - drop it off when you go home - i did this last time and it is an easy ride from ferry/national to coast guard station (but keep things light so your not carrying a bunch of stuff... just your rod and back pack) .. MOPED - not sure of price - but both mtn bikes and mopeds will be available immediately after getting off ferry .. BRING YOUR OWN CAR - i think whip and kranes are doing this you can find pricing and ferry reservation options on the block island ferry website ... BRING YOUR BOAT - (self explanatory) - RENT A CAR - not sure of price - but it is an option too. see relative links on bi fishworks site ..
5. TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION - If you are participating in the tournament ... block island fishworks IS ON THE WAY to where you will want to fish ... YOU WILL HAVE TO PASS IT ANYWAY.. so .. get off ferry ... take cab/bike/car or moped to the BI FISHWORKS FLY SHOP ... register and get some flies, meet the guys or whatever .. and then go to the fishing grounds.
6. FISHING GROUNDS - as noted the ferry will come into "old harbor" .. you will want to stop by the bi fishworks fly shop on your way to the fishing grounds and get registered for the tournament ... then make your way to the "coat guard station" in "new harbor" ... obviously, the guys at bi fishworks will tell you how to get there .. and its really just a mile or so from their shop ... here is the deal ... albies and bonito PRIME TIME is FIRST LIGHT .... you want to be on the inside of the channel at the coast guard station at first light ... you won't be the only one there .. believe me .. but it is a beach and there is plenty of room all the way from the tip of the breakwall all the way going into the channel .... the albies/bonito move so fast .. that there really and truly is not 1 best spot ... by nature the fish pop up here and then there and then over there .. so, much like marthas vineyard or whatever .. if you are somewhere on the shoreline .. the will at some point pop up by you ... so give others room and find your own spot and BE READY for when the fish do pop up by you .. AND IF YOU SEE the fish poppoing up eeven NOT around you ... start blind casting because the fish are around and if your fly is in the water .. many albies are caught blind casting .. you will want to cast out and retrieve with short strips .. keeping the fly moving at a good clip either very close to surface and no less than mid water column ... ... this spot on the inside of the channel can and will hold up all day and the rule of thumb is this .. "as long as water is moving the albies/bonito can show" .. so the only real downtime is slack tide .. also .. if things slow down on the inside of the channel walk out towards the break wall and there is a beach on the ocean side of the break wall ... that is ideal fishing for a a good 2 miles down the beach .... same rules apply ... look for fish busting and albies/bonito are very recognizable they sprey water and they are very fast ... and fortunately .. many time they are RIGHT ON THE BEACH! ... look for pods of bait resting right on the shoreline .. if you see sandeels, bunker or silversides.. be ready .. because something is gonna find it and tear it up ... and it will happen fast ... again, chasing the fish is up to you .. clearly if they are 30 yards away .. RUN and get your fly in there .. but if they are 100 yards away .. WAIT .. and they will most likely pop up next to you in a minute or so .. but those are choices you make .. now, lets say that the albies/bonito fishing is slow .. then fish for stripers and bluefish .. the stripers will be in more rocky areas ... but same exact stomping grounds ... ask the guys as bi fishworks .. chris and greg snow will be happy to point you in the right direction ... they want you to catch fish! but just be honest .. and say "hey the albies/bonito don't seem to be around .. where can i fish for stripers and how should i do it." the nice part is this .... even if the ocean is a mess because of a storm or what not .. the SALT POND is protected and holds all species of fish ... again, consult with bi fishworks for recommendations on where and how in the salt pond ... but the bottom line is this .. regardless of the weather (exluding 50 mile per hour winds or something ridiculous like that) ... if the ferry is running .. fish can be caught. after all, it is fishing, and though we all pray for ideal conditions .. that is seldom the case .. so adjust your game plan accordingly ... basically - awesome weather and tons of albies/bonito blowing up all around the island .. well that is what we dream of .. but cold/rain and high seas means the elements might not be so great .. but the fishing could be even better ... ya never know .. but again. the nice part is this .. the salt pond on block island provides a safe haven from the elements and it holds amazing fish ... so regardless of what the weather might bring .. fish can always be caught.
6. WHAT FLIES TO USE: ok here is the simple solution ... if you tie or buy .. here is what i recommend ... ps .. i recommend bringing a stripping basket
a. EPOXY SURF CANDY- ALBIES AND BONITO - type baitfish patterns (olive/whit, chartruese white, brown and white) - here is a good one for example purposes - basically these flies are meant to represent (sand eels, silver sides, anchovies and basic skinny type profile baitfish .... which are VERY common) here is an example of a good one to either buy or replicate:
http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=716F&dir_id=1236&group_id=1267&cat_id=5454&subcat_id=6527
b. MUSH MOUTH MINNOW TYPES - ALBIES AND BONITO - again a very productive baitfish pattern - here is the general concept and a good one to buy or tie:
http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=46C8&dir_id=1236&group_id=1267&cat_id=5454&subcat_id=6527
c. BUNNY FLIES - ALBIES AND BONITO - a standard for albies and bonito -- this or some variation of this -- http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=80EA&dir_id=1236&group_id=1267&cat_id=5454&subcat_id=6525
d. DECEIVERS - BLUEFISH + STRIPERS in rocky areas or any areas for that matter .. but NOT fished on the bottom like a clouser would be .. + albies/bonito - just an all around effective fly -- can't go wrong really - http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=0826&dir_id=1236&group_id=1267&cat_id=5454&subcat_id=6527
e. CLOUSERS - STRIPERS .. best fished on the sandy bottoms .. best fished with sinking or intermediate line and let it sink and fly should be stripped in slowly across bottom .. .. tried and true can't go wrong especially if fish are NOT showing .. olive and white, brown and white and BLACK ..
http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=12A8&dir_id=1236&group_id=1267&cat_id=5454&subcat_id=6525
f. BUNKER FLIES : the famous ep type minnow -- an all around awesome fly .. works for everything .. if the bonito and albies are on the bunker .. you will want one of these .. green and white. olive and white, brown and white is all good ... here is a variation to buy or tie...
http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=63E2&dir_id=1236&group_id=1267&cat_id=5454&subcat_id=6525
g. GUIDE OPTION: you have a great shot on foot and that is what makes fly fishing the island for albeis/bonito/strieprs and blues so much fun ... let me tell you what .. hooking and albie/bonito from foot is a mind blowing experience ... but lets say you really want to go the distance and go after what block island is famous for .. 30-40 pound striped bass .. and they are fairly common on the sw ledge .. or you want to go after bonito/albies from boat or bluefish or whatever ... check in with chris and greg snow at BI FISHWORKS .. just give them a call to find prices or whatever .. i am not exactly sure .. but if you have a couple guys or you really want to get the striper of a lifetime .. this may be an option you are interested in pursuing ..
h. AFTER HOURS MEETING PLACE: ok - for the sake of simplicity .. lets call the bar/restaurant at the National Hotel the home base for after hours ... even if you can't afford to eat there .. eat somewhere else and come for a drink of beer, soda or even water ... whatever ... but i would put it this way .. during the day ... plan on FISHING .. if peoples cross paths and they bump into each other .. great .. if not .. as the saying goes ... "SHUT UP AND FISH!" .. then after the sun sets ... the restaurant/bar area at the Natioanal Hotel (directly across from ferry terminal) will be the official fliesandfins.com stomping grounds ... i have a hard enough time keeping track of myself .. so all i know, is thats where i will be ... my plan is this .. fish like mad from sun up till sundown ... stay at the national .. after sunset eat and drink at the national restaurant/bar area ... see ya on the island .....
Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject: reservations
Should you require a room I would call now for a reservation. I just made a reservation for a single and I believe I got the last at that hotel for those days, but call and any hotel will give you
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.. but i will try my best .. and aim at keeping things SIMPLE! here goes it.