Derby

[rphud]

Anybody heading over to fish the Vinyard for the derby?

[waterworker]

Yes sir......Start to finish!

[rphud]

Lucky!!! I am hearing rumblings at work that may seriously impact my fishing life for the rest of the year. Currently scheduled to be on island 9/23-26 and 10/3-6, but will be looking to sneak back for some other weekends.

[waterworker]

sounds good...I'll be around!http://www.flyaddict.com/gallery/data/504/thumbs/IMG_4551.jpg (http://www.flyaddict.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2065)

[Adam Taylor]

have at it boys...looking forward to reports...

[rphud]

bump. response seems light to me. Maybe we should tell some stories of past Derbies to get things going.

[waterworker]

http://www.flyaddict.com/gallery/data/504/thumbs/IMG_4917_2.jpg (http://www.flyaddict.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2082)Just waiting.....be there on the 9th and can't wait!http://www.flyaddict.com/gallery/data/503/thumbs/IMG_4440.jpg (http://www.flyaddict.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2083)

[rphud]

If things go as planned, I will fish with Lev this time out.

Will post my last year stories a bit later.

Still not much happening with this. A bit suprised I am.

[rphud]

Ok, first time at the Derby and I am staying with guys that do it every year. In other words, I am along for the ride. Most are complaining how slow it is and the board seems a bit "slim" by other years standards. My observation is (again, being the complete novice) no shore caught bones on the board and this is the third week. Seems strange to me, but I get filled in on the details that they may be around the first week and then back for the last week. Towards the end of the week somebody puts one on the board and buzz is going strong all over the island. The guy I am staying with tells us "this guy only fishes XXXX". So the plan is fish all night for striped ones and then go to "XXXX" to look for a repeat of the bones mid morning or so. All goes according to plan except the guys that have been there for a couple of weeks already are dead and need to crash in bed. I just can't, I had to give it a go and drive myself out. Stop to talk to guys coming off the beach ad get a few tidbits. Talk to some on the beach and get the full scoop, bones on the beach mid morning the day before and one caught with others dropped for about one hour. Scope out the water and there are just tons of little bait all along the wash. No preditors though, so after a while of watching I head father up the beach in the car. As I get out of the car I call in to the other guys back at the house to give them the scoop since there was still time to if the fish where on the same tide based schedule to get there and meet the fish. As I am coming over the dunes I see the birds and the fish a ways down the beach. After all night on the rocks I am not about to run and gun, but there is nobody else around and I just take my time and gear up and start walking down the beach. Eventually I can see that these are not bass or blues. When I get there I cast a chartreuse mushy and get followers but no takers and the action stops. These were bones! Time to think, and the decision is right pattern, wrong color. Sun is really high and bright so I go to the same Mushy in blue, and the fish come back. Fish on and running. I clear the line and just as I get to the reel, this thing slams on the brakes and runs right at me. Never had a bone on before, only albies, so this catches me completely by suprise and I drop it. Still fish here, so I just cast again and repeat the hook up. This time ready to crank if the fish turns. Fish runs and just as I start to put some reel pressure on, nothing. Bit through the tippet loop, and the fish are gone for good this time. Lessons learned (get bite guards and do not crush the barbs for these) I head to Coops for bite guards and new mushies without the barbs crushed. Short retelling with the guy at the counter and he says "Ouch, that had to hurt". How much did it hurt, just let me say the Derby ended with no fly rod shore caught bones. Ouch. So, back again this year! Bob H.

[rphud]

That's my story, and I am stickin to it.

[waterworker]

I'll bet your heart was pounding that day.I'd of been a little weak kneed and probably had to sit a minute and relive that one.......Im ready! WW

[rphud]

It was one of those moments. I had to force myself out of the panic mode. Just slow down and breath deep. Luckily the fish gave me a break and some time to think and then came back. A whole bunch of lessons learned in very little time. It's great when a plan comes together. Even better when you execute and put the fish on the beach,

[waterworker]

.....and that's how it all starts.....derby fever!!You've got the disease and they have the cure.Just a ferry ride away!

[The Fisherman]

Way to go, Bob. :-)

[rphud]

Just "a" ferry ride away. Sounds so simple. Unfortunately it may be a few ferry rides both ways with the car the way this year is shaping up. Plus the gas from central CT and back. Starting to add up a bit. Must be fun this Derby fever.

[waterworker]

Just "a" ferry ride away. Sounds so simple. Must be fun this Derby fever.It's my favorite thing to do at my favorite place to be.It's a sickness.I've got a temperature of about 102 right now and I'm breaking out in a cold sweat.Couple more days and I'll be singing sweet songs! Shewww!

[rphud]

Sounding like the H1N1 strain of Fish Pox! Makes you delusional, like thinking you can slam from the shore with a silly stick. Yes....delusional indeed. Fun trying though. Have it at man!!!

[waterworker]

Sounding like the H1N1 strain of Fish Pox! Makes you delusional, like thinking you can slam from the shore with a silly stick. Yes....delusional indeed. Fun trying though. Have it at man!!!

That was great.....and right on!Packed and ready.See you out there! WW

[waterworker]

Fished menemsha jetty.Had a few shots at albies but no takes.Couple taken from the Lob. side.Saw a guy take a bonito yesterday menemsha side.There there ...hour or so up to top of the tide.One more day and it's time to get serious. WW

[rphud]

Or is it one more day and the bones go into hiding?

Just got blown out of the water at work. Number one customer in town the entire week I was going to be on island. Maybe the weekends and Fridays now, but Fridays will be iffy at best. Sucks big time.

[waterworker]

[QUOTE=rphud;43223]Or is it one more day and the bones go into hiding?

Ahhhhhh....don't say that....lalalalalalalalalalalal...didn't hear that ....lalalalalalala.......LOL.....probably right! WW

[waterworker]

Fished hard today.....saw nothing.....caught nodda......couple coctails because a friiend from Kansas gets here tomorrow and he is a fishing machine.No breaks.......no sleep.....just fishing......so it begins......WW

[Adam Taylor]

Keep us updates. I am living vicariously through your posts this year.

Darn kids, darn job...darn responsibilities...

GOOD LUCK.