Fly Fishing Clinic for women set for Oct. 19 in Wakefield, Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Chapter of Trout Unlimited in conjunction with the South Kingstown Land Trust will conduct a Fly Fishing Clinic for Women on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Kingstown Land Trust Barn at 17 Matunuck Beach Road in Wakefield.

Sheila Hassan of Cast90, an instructor with Fly Fishers International Master Casting, will lead the clinic. Key clinic instruction components include an overview of fly fishing rods, reels and lines; essential fly fishing knots and terminology; how to make a roll cast and basic cast; as well as false casting and shooting line.

The cost for the program, at $25, includes lunch. Register in advance by Oct. 16. The clinic is limited to twenty women. Register at https://secure.etransfer.com/RICTU/WomensClinic.cfm (cut and paste link) or email Susan Estabrook at [email protected] and please put “women’s clinic” in subject line.

Massachusetts and Rhode Island have been busy for the past couple of weeks stocking ponds with trout for fall fishing.

Stocking locations in Massachusetts are updated daily; visit Trout stocking report | Mass.gov for an interactive map. Click any point on the map for more information and don't forget your fishing license — buy online at MassFishHunt.

In Rhode Island, the Department of Environmental Management conducted fall trout stocking, in advance of the Columbus Day holiday weekend, in selected areas. Visit dem.ri.gov/fishing, or call (401) 789-0281 or (401) 539-0019 for additional information.

Striped bass, bluefish, bonito. “The striped bass bite is good off Watch Hill and Charleston beaches with a diminished bonito bite," said Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina in South Kingstown. "However, we had some reports of false albacore being caught off the West Wall of the Harbor of Refuge, but that bite faded quickly. Hope they come back stronger this fall.” “The bass bite is on in the Greenwich Bay area with anglers catching school bass and keepers right here in Apponaug Cove with larger fish still being caught off Newport,” said Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle in Warwick. Connor Swartz of Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay said: “We continue to have great top water action with a lot of bait still in the water on the Cape with a great striped bass bite from slot sized fish 28 to 31 inches and 38- to 40 pounds. So, fishing is pretty good. Anglers are also catching bonito in great abundance.” East End Eddie Doherty, expert Cape Cod Canal angler and author, reported: “Bait is still holding in the Canal. A healthy 39-inch bass exploded on "Slap Shot Scottie" Ewell’s green Left Hook, just one of many nice fish caught on the surface. Multicolored lures did the trick at various levels of the water column. Bruno DeSouza caught five bass, including a 33-inch fighter with an Al Gags wacky mack soft plastic paddle tail jig, on the west ebb tide." Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown reported: “Striped bass are now feeding on smaller baits, including silver sides and rain bait. There have been a mix of striped bass, blues, bonito, and an occasional Albie along the south shore of Rhode Island. Most fishing is structure dependent with an occasional open water beach blitz. In the coming weeks, we expect to see more of these open water blitzes. The best way to make sure you get into one is putting in your time or having good luck. The Breachway's are hot at night with some fish being caught in the morning and evening.” Expert kayak angler Tom Houde said: “I was part of the plastic navy out there Friday morning at Brenton Reef. Most fish were stripers, bluefish and some bonito around along with many short black sea bass. I took one slot fish home for seafood chowder.”

Fluke (summer flounder), black sea bass, scup and cod. The black sea bass bite is still good, (but) the summer flounder (fluke) bite has faded. “Keeper black sea bass being caught by anglers tautog fishing but if you want to target them, your best bet are the East Grounds, south of the Block Island Wind Farm and Sharks Ledge,” Cahill reported.

Tautog. “The blackfish bite has been good from boats and shore. Even with all the sand around the Charlestown Breachway, we are pleasantly surprised to see customers catching their fair share from the rocks,” said O'Donnell. “We have a good tautog bite in 25 to 30 feet of water off Charlestown and in the boulder field at Scarborough Beach, Narragansett," Cahill said. Olson reported: "The Bay is good, too, in lower water depths. Customers are catching keeper tautog south of Hope Island and at General Rock in North Kingstown.” I fished the General Rock, North Kingstown area Monday and caught two keeper tautog in about two hours of fishing time in 18 feet of water. I intentionally monitored the Revolution Wind cable installation barge and its safety vessels on channel 16; the vessels did not interfere with fishing, I did hear several hailing calls to vessels transiting the area asking them to pass work boats to port or starboard All were made in an orderly fashion with very cooperative mariners.

Tuna. “Tuna fishing continues to be good but spotty as it is hard for anglers to follow them with rough seas and wind, they are not getting out multiple times a week," Cahill said. "The bite was strong in the middle of last week at the Gully; however, that bite faded over the weekend."

Dave Monti holds a master captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business that focuses on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy and fisheries-related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to [email protected] or visitnoflukefishing.com.