The Fish Wrap Writer Blog
For more than 20 years, we have been learning from and writing about outdoorsmen and women who fish, hunt, hike, pause, and sometimes just look around. Fish Wrap has been published over 480 times. Here you will find articles, interviews, reports, laughs, a few stretched truths (that’s true), and an unfortunate number of obituaries from good folks we have lost.
Please search, enjoy, and let me know if you know someone who we should meet.
Cloudy skies over cloudy water
Clouds on the horizon and a few big ones in the mirror mean fishing can be fickle but a few aces know where they feed. Ralph Craft has a few spots open for his Tog Tourney and CRMC wants to send you some mail to keep aware of how they are, we hope, protecting our shorelines.
2021 RI ‘Tog Classic
Do you like to party? Do you love fishing for tautog? Do you enjoy supporting local community charities? Do you dig food trucks, fishing, prizes, raffles, talking about fishing, live music, bragging about fishing or gesturing to show how big your blackfish was...
August Maintenance Is Not Routine
August fishermen sometimes need to be reminded that maintenance is critical after a long summer of use but also for our personal routines, which we can fall in or out of and then, when we least expect it, end up upside down.
River Rules and Ruler Rules
The Beaver River in Richmond, Rhode Island has new state regulations to help protect native brook trout populations. No more hatchery raised trout will be allowed in the river system and hopefully native brookies will thrive, reminding anglers just how magical it can be to hike in deep for fish in shallow streams. Then we'll visit Randy Degrace to hear about his almost state record black sea bass.
Big River Protects Brook Trout
Rhode Island's Trout Unlimited chapter has partnered with RIDEM, EA Engineering and other environmental agencies to investigate the Big River Management Area to see if it's dark, shrouded reaches might support populations of wild, native brook trout, the state's only native charr. Biologist Corey Pelletier electrofishing small winding streams and rivers to discover and catalog life, because, in a world of questions, answers all begin with data.
Phil Capaldi’s Fish Report
South County's Phil Capaldi knows the salt well so this week, he provides a new fish report so that I can go north to find smallmouth bass and lose my cell phone signal. Phil talks fluke and stripers with some solid advice on lures to catch them both. Go Phil!
No Going Around the Block
These are good days to be on the water. We have boat loads of options, locations and friends looking to share gas bills to find stripers, bluefish and mighty tuna. You just might want to be careful where you dip your toes around Narragansett as white and thresher sharks are patrolling in close. Really close.
Improving CRMC’s Public Awareness
When government doesn't engage the very people who might be impacted by their tax funded actions, there will be opposition and just maybe, anarchy. Rhode Island's Coastal Resources Management Council has invited even more scrutiny by softballing aquaculture applications literally under people's noses, without ever letting them know of the impacts. That's pure bull and the curtain has been called.
Block Island Fishing, Fresh & Salt
Block Island is hosting a saltwater fishing tournament while islanders are quietly catching and releasing some seriously big largemouth bass. There is plenty of strong fishing in and around the island if you have patience and know how to play by the rules.
Farewell Colonials Four Leaf Clover
Clover was Brude Leduc's beloved black Labrador retriever. She hunted with Bruce through rain, snow and wind, ever poised to swim through icy waters or dive through heavy brush to bring back the birds. We remember Clover this week as she has left us far too quickly. Bruce Leduc's Labrador, Clover, was a special dog who loved to retrieve, swim hunt and rest by his side. Farewell Colonials Four Leaf Clover.
Fish Fat, Flat & Weak
Come on! It's time to find those flat, fat, weak and striped fish as summer takes hold and we go back to being normal, whatever that means for fishermen and women...And how avout those squeteague? They're back!
How To Find Stripers & Friends with OSKF
Randy Degrace lead the Ocean State Kayak Fishing group through thick fog to find stripers and new friends for their 2nd Anuual tournament. By the afternoon, it was a bluebird day with fish caught and released then generous prizes and raffles. OSKF made this a perfect day on The Bay and Jose Agustin Vinas-Vasquez's first day in a kayak was the star of the show.
Sprengel Splash Walks Stripers
Captain Jack Sprengel of East Coast Charters is finding and catching giant striped bass with the new Shimano Coltsniper Splash Walk top water lure. From the deck of his Everglades 325, he will put you on fish in Narragansett Bay or take you offshore for a dream tip. Fish Wrap has the whole story this week.
Stripers Forever Seeks Moratorium
Stripers Forever has worked for years to protect the striped bass fishery and the species itself. Given revelations of population decline and overfishing, coupled with regulators reacting at a snails pace to real time observations, the conservation groups wants action now. Read more in-depth coverage in this week's Fish Wrap.
Cast & Blast in RI
Rhode Island has lots to offer to outdoorsmen and women so on the heels of summer, it's time to cast and blast. Stripers, bluefish and fluke are on the beaches while shooting sporting clays is always in season.
Protecting Beaver River Brookies
Teaming up to protect Beaver River brook trout There is convincing evidence that Rhode Island Trout Unlimited President, Glenn Place, doesn’t sleep. He tirelessly manages his Tom’s Markets, generously shares recipes and dishes, prioritizes family time always,...
Thayer Creates Finest Fishing Lures
Matt Thayer is carving, turning, painting “Yeah, I eat, sleep and breath fishing,” Matt Thayer said. That’s not unusual in our part of the world, where we enjoy easy access to fresh and salt waters but Matt’s equally immersed in the sport and business. He’s a...
RI’s Rec. Saltwater Fishing License Report
John Lake is more than happy to share numbers from last 2020's Saltwater Recreational Fishing License Program, in fact, he's really happy to do it. After John, we'll meet some Trout Unlimited volunteers who are, once again, cleaning up other people's trash.
Clean Shores and Coltsnipers
While some wait for stripers to show in Rhode Island, the Rhody Fly Rodders and RISAA are cleaning rivers and beaches. And we get to see the brand new Shimano Colt Sniper lure that will definitely catch stripers.
Herring hit a dam wall
Each spring, river herring migrate to rivers and ponds of their birth and for hundreds of years, they have been pushed back by dams and ancient impoundments. Volunteers move them around some but nature's clock is ticking. Offshore, wind farm turbines are being constructed quickly so we show you a virtual tour of navigating through one hundred proposed turbines east of Block Island.