Monday, September 27, 2010

Striperfest 2010 Flies



Just sent a bunch of flies to the Striperfest 2010 Raffle, hosted by Dan Blanton. Please check out Dan Blanton's website for more information on the event.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Iowa Wild Browns and Steam Engines




I spent the past three days in NE Iowa, fishing some of my favorite locations with Vladimir Vujic, a friend from Chicago. We found plenty of willing fish, and water conditions varied from fairly murky to crystal clear, depending on the stream. Vladimir and myself took trout on small streamers, nymphs and dries, and witnessed several sporadic BWO and midge hatches, caddis and terrestrial activity.

On the second day, while fishing an open pasture section, I was lucky to hook a nice male brown on a size 12 Klink, in riffles under the bridge. Vladimir had his camera ready, and was able to document the fight.

During the last day, the fishing was slower due to the bright skies, but we managed to hook and land some pretty wild fish.
On our way back, we stopped and met Amy's Dad at the steam engine show, which featured steam engines, cars and tractors from a bygone era!

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Nervous Water

Nervous Water from Vladan Milenkovic on Vimeo.


Amy took this short video clip while I was fishing in Winthrop in the dusk... The quality is not that great, but you can see the baitfish and striper activity.

Saturday, September 04, 2010

Great Expectations




I found my old haunts around Boston Harbor and further north just as enchanting as ever. The distance can sometimes do things like that to a fisherman. You anticipate every moment of the trip, reliving old memories about early Fall blitzes, spraying bait and brave pulls of a big striper. Old memories die hard!

My expectations turned into something else, perhaps more profound and somewhat disturbing. As expected, I did fish some fine looking water. I spent wonderful moments on and off the water with both old and new friends. However, stripers were not around, ready to play... at least not in any sizable numbers. I fished hard for three days, from Plum Island down to the Harbor, hitting many well known shore locations. The result was a single hookup. While fishing together, my old friend Eric Evans and Boston Harbor guide Dave Skok confirmed something I was reading about-that striper stocks are down. If something doesn't change, this great American gamefish might disappear again...

It is hard to predict the future and we don't know what it will bring. Even though I don't know what the solution is, I certainly hope for the brightest outcome!

Photo credits, top to bottom/left to right: Twilight in Boston Harbor (Vlad), Casting (Dave Skok), Sandy Point surf (Amy), Silversides in the Anisquam (Vlad), Estuary glow (Amy), Ron DiRito and his ceviche (Amy)