The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will hold their annual youth fishing camp June 28-30, 2022. Funding for the three day camp is provided in part by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The camp will be held at Rocky Point State Park, Warwick for fifty children seven to twelve years old.
Richard Reich, RISAA camp director and board member, said, “Fishing teaches us patience and how to take care of the environment, but most of all it appeals to our sense of adventure and is a whole lot of fun.”
The camp aims to provide children with as much fishing time as possible, yet teach them about the environment and fishing basics. Reich said, “We learned early on that the children love to fish so we optimized fishing time from shore, on private vessels and one day we plan to travel to Pt. Judith to fish on a party boat.”
Topics covered over the three-day camp include fish identification, conservation, use of spinning and conventional gear and tackle, basic marine biology, how and why to use different baits and lures, boating safety, casting form shore and fishing from private boats as well as a party/charter boat.
The camp is free and space is limited to fifty campers. For fishing camp details and the sign up form visit https://risaa.org/2022-fishing-camp-for-youth/. You can email Richard Reich, camp director, with questions at reich@risaa.org or call the RISAA office at 401-826-2121.
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM), announced its annual Cinder Worm Workshop. This is the program’s 13th year and will include two weekday evening classes in fly tying instruction and one weekend evening of fly fishing. The program is free to registrants. Space is limited to 40 students.
The program is for all skill levels. Introduction to practical rigging and casting instruction will be covered for those needing assistance. Fly fishers will then fish the coves of Grassy Point area of Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.
The program is open to any adult or accompanied children over the age of 10. There will also be an opportunity for kayak fishing - limited to experienced kayakers who have their own vessel. Proper safety equipment is required plus lights for navigation.
All fly tying materials will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring their own tools and equipment, but all necessary fly tying tools and equipment will be loaned to registrants upon request.
The Fly Tying classes will be held Monday, May 2 and May 9. 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center, Charlestown, RI. The Fly Fishing portion of the program will take place Saturday, May 14, 4 p.m. until dark at Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, Charlestown, RI.
For information contact Dave Pollack at Dpollipo@gmail.com.
Freshwater trout fishing has been the big story the past two weeks with ponds being stocked a second time in Rhode Island by the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) prior to school vacation week. In Massachusetts MassWildlife socked ponds too and held six trout-stocking events that the public could attend to learn about fresh water ecosystems and dump some buckets of fish into local waterways. Conner Glynn of The Tackle Box, Warwick, RI said, “Trout fishing has been very good for customers fishing socked ponds with PowerBait working well for these newly released fish. The largemouth bass bite has been excellent too at Gorton Pond and Little Pond in Warwick.” “Willet Avenue Pond in Riverside has had twenty or so anglers fishing there since the restocking. All seen to be doing very well there,” said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence said, “Fishing at ponds restocked was outstanding this week.” For licensing and stocking information in Rhode Island visit www.dem.ri.gov/programs/fish-wildlife/freshwater-fisheries/index.php. For information on regulations, licenses and an interactive map on Massachusetts stocked waterways visit Freshwater fishing regulations | Mass.gov.
“Tautog fishing improved this week with keepers to 25 inches being caught both in the lower Narragansett Bay and in the Providence River at India Point Park (a hot spot),” said Henault of Ocean State Tackle. Jeff Sullivan an associate at Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren, said, “The Bay warmed up this weekend and fish were being caught. Things were sketchy last week but opened up nicely and will only get better as the water warms.” “Some keepers were taken at the Day Marker at Rumstick Point with a slow bite at Ohio Ledge and at the Spindle,” said John Littlefield from Archie’s Bait & Tackle. “For the past week or two the bite has been very good at India Point Park, Providence,” said Conner Glynn of the Tackle Box. “Fish are taking worms and green crabs both.”
The tautog limit in Rhode Island now until May 31 is three fish/person/day, however, only one of the fish can be 21 inches or larger and there is a private angler limit of 10 fish per boat. Greg Vespe, RISAA executive director, said, “Most of the Bay has reached 49 degrees or warmer so the tog bite is beginning to spread throughout the Bay … jigs seem to be working better than rigs as the fish remain shallow.” Vespe fished the Crafty One Customs tautog tournament this weekend with RISAA member Dave Dube.
Striped bass. “The spring striped bass run has started. Anglers are catching fish along the coastal shore and with a 27-inch fish taken at the Charlestown Breachway,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait. East End Eddie Doherty of Mattapoisett, MA who fished the Cape Cod Canal for the first time this season last Wednesday, said, “The first cast of the new season is always accompanied by some belly butterflies with anticipation and excitement building to a happy crescendo as the lure finally sails through the chilly salt air … There were no fish last week, but I was just excited to be there and if I caught a fish, especially this early in the season, it would only have been a bonus.” “Striped bass fishing in the Bay is yielding school bass with an occasional keeper.” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle. The striped bass regulation is the same as last year, one fish per angler per day from 28 to less than 35 inches.
Squid fishing was good this weekend in Newport, at the Sakonnet and on the Cape Cod at Falmouth and Maratha’s vineyard.” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle. The squid are quite large with 12 to 13-inch tubes”.
Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verison.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com.
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