Kayak Bassing in CT with my son

KayakFisherman

Angler
Author
Made a couple of trips north to catch some stripers in the Housatonic again. My buddy and I struggled just to catch. Only rats for us and not many. Interestingly - to make this a fishing report - last weekend on the Housey everyone who used soft white plastics seemed to suffer a sub-par day. I'm being conservative when I say that; it sucked for a lot of us... except one guy I watched pick up a bunch of (albiet small) bass on the troll with a thin red tube - about the farthest thing from a small white grub that you could imagine. He was bailing them. I stocked two for today's follow-up trip a week later and it produces nothing for me. Still learning Housey.
Last weekend conditions were nice and we caught very little. My 14-year-old son's been jonesing for a bent rod too, so I loaded an extra (sit-in) kayak and committed to taking him "rain or shine." He's pretty fearless about the conditions when he's on the water with me, so I knew he'd be OK there. It was "rain," not shine, and a lot of it. Torrential rains and a stiff 15mph wind followed us across the Sound from LI. To his credit, he never complained once and he fished his heart out under those conditions for over 4 hours. He did everything right. They just weren't biting for us. I caught two tiny stripers, each about 18 inches. He got comfortable with my rig very quickly and probably would have stayed longer if not for the fact that we were both looking forward to a hot meal and a visit to Bass Pro Shops (right next to the ferry) on the way back.

It's not always about whether or not you caught a fish.
 

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Great report ! ..... and you are 100% right. It's not about the fishing and catching fish ! Sounds like one of those trips you will always remember.
 
Eric mastering the tube takes time and dedication. I stopped using everything but, for two years just to learn and try to perfect it. At one point everything comes together. "You" are the retrieve. Your fish finder and sandworms become you best friends. Even with the slightest taps you learn to either slow or speed up to trigger the strike. Never do I hold the rod or set a hook. Mirage drive does all that.
In the end is it all that? "Yes it is" IMO.
 
Ever any luck with Gulp sandworms on the tube ?
I have found that the Gulp sandworms work best with a live one added. I did bag a surprise 4-pound fluke at night on one, and managed to trick a few bass, but live always out-caught by a huge margin.
 
Same for trolling a tube with a Gulp sandworm from a yak ?
I'm not a troller, but I'm thinking yes. If I was fishing a yak I'd be using light tackle, tide direct to a regular freshwater largemouth hook and cast it out and let it sit as you drift. Then every few minutes do the same. I treat it exactly as I do when largemouth fishing.
 
Same for trolling a tube with a Gulp sandworm from a yak ?

There are times we all know when the bite is on and you can do no wrong. You can tip it with anything and it works. Those times are few. You'll get the same results from a gulp mullet as you will the gulp sandworm. I tried them many times on the left rod while the right was tipped with sandworm. The left would become a "Dead Stick".
I look at it this way. The tube is an attractant, color and texture matters. However what triggers the bite is the sandworm and it doesn't need much. I use only an inch or so to cover the hook. I've had thirty pound bass tapping it where you'd swear it was porgy, slow up to let it fall a tad and speed up to watch the rod bend around. The bass must think WTF is this. They check it out, bump it, and hammer it when they get the smell or taste. This is common.
These two colors cover most bases. 15" and "soft"surgical tubing (it makes a noticeable difference). Bendable wire within to hold form.
 

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