Friday Fishing Tips – June 4, 2021 – Jeff Gross

by Jeff Gross, contributing writer

In a previous article the subject of checking your fishing line for abrasions was addressed. For you folks that are fortunate to catch small mouth bass in Rhode Island, and those who are catching them out of state like this writer, check the line often. Smallies are notorious for diving down in the rocks. Same goes for Stripers in salt water. My Dad lost many a Striper off Rocky Point and Warwick Light that went down and wrapped around rocks. Largemouth bass love to dive into brush or heavy weeds when hooked. Some species of pond weeds are like razor blades. All pictured fish tried their utmost to bury in the rocks or weeds resulting in the line needing to be snipped and retied to rid the abrasions.

Tip #1 – Get yourself a pair or two of toenail clippers, pictured. They are cheap ~ $2-3 at most stores that carry cosmetics. Toenail clippers are much easier to handle than fingernail clippers plus some pairs of toe clippers have rubber pads on the ends. Another benefit of the toe clippers is when you are teaching youngsters to fish, they can lend a hand by clipping the line tag. An added plus is you won’t be going to the dentist for a busted tooth from biting the line. One can buy the pricey box store fishing snips for $20, however the toe clippers do the same job for a tenth the cost. As it was found out in Maine last weekend bites can be sporadic. The snips were critical as the small and large mouth bass bites went ballistic between 6 pm and 7:05 pm. Yes, 7:05! Still can’t figure out how the fish can read a clock. The shorter line repair time means more lure in the water time!

Tip #2 – After very enjoyable and enlightening meetings with the RI DEM it was noted that retirees are needed to teach the young’uns the sport of fishing. Most if not all kids enjoy the sport, and that first catch is always a memorable one. If you are retired and would like to teach the kids, ask your grandchildren, nieces or nephews, or the neighbors’ kids, to join you and enjoy the art of fishing. Nothing is more gratifying than to hear the screech of excitement as a child brings in a fish. Hopefully the RIFGPA will be able to host its annual Children’s Fishing Derby post-pandemic in 2022.  There is often quite the clamor as multiple children reel in trout at that Derby.

See you next week!

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Jeffrey “Jeff” Gross spent 21 years as an Analytical Chemist at the USCG R&D Center in Groton, Connecticut, Woods Hole Laboratories, and Helix Technologies. Changing careers is a “great learning experience for everyone”, Jeff says, and I’m an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, a student of the sciences, and the world. The US holds too many wonders not to take a chance and explore them”.

Jeff is the Model Train and Railroad entrepreneur. Proud Golden Retriever owner. Ultra strong Second Amendment Advocate and Constitutionalist. “Determined seeker of the truth”. 

Jeff is a RIFGPA Legislative and Legal Officer, Freshwater Chairman, NRA Liaison.

His subjects include Outdoors, Second Amendment, Model Railroading, and Whimsical.

He can be reached at: [email protected]