Looking back on the year in review, part two
Coastal access and characters made for a big 2021 Fish Wrap Review. Previously printed words are in italics and as always, thank you for reading Fish Wrap and happy holidays to you all.
Coastal Access
In November, the Special Legislative Commission to
Study and Provide Recommendations on the Issues Relating to Lateral Access Along the Rhode Island Shoreline listened to more than three hours of people’s personal stories, concerns and encouragements about shrinking public shoreline access. They spoke of being blocked, mostly by new transplants who thought little of those who walked before them.
While many were incensed by the gall of those so adamantly opposed to walkers, anglers and, well, according to our Constitution, we don’t need a reason or purpose to walk the beach. Provided we are on “the beach”, we should never have to even acknowledge a statement like, “This is private property.”
Public Access H5469 was introduced as a direct result of landowners attempting to stop people from “trespassing on ‘their’ beach. It’s difficult now to determine high tide lines, especially given that “hoax” of global warming and rising sea levels so new property owners can stake out obnoxious KEEP OUT signs to prevent the common person from doing precisely what they want to do with their new money second home. H5469 should go a long way to reminding people with waterfront property that the beach is shared by all of us, at least below the weed line, which can stink as badly as some of the arguments against public access.
Over at Narragansett’s Sprague Bridge: In the cleanup spot this week, pun intended, possibly the best dressed trash crew ever waded the lower shores of Narragansett’s Narrow River on a recent cold April weekend. Members of the Rhody Fly Rodders and RISAA supported the Narrow River Preservation Association. Members ascended the dirt path down the edges of a pretty estuary, after risking their lives trying to cross a busy Boston Neck Road where vehicle speed often outweighs driver courtesy. Carrying bright orange five gallon buckets, their small angler army worked both shores to clean up what has washed up or just been callously tossed away.
Characters
Jose Agustin Vinas-Vasquez launched at an Ocean State Kayak Fishing event for the first time, only to win the day. “This is my first time in the kayak,” said the tournament’s real star. Standing proudly alongside his blue 13’5” Feel Free, Jose spoke about being new to kayak fishing with a sense of purpose and genuine confidence. There was something about the way he said hello, announcing his virgin voyage into pea soup fog, clearly, thoroughly excited about his chances.
Fish were hard to find. At 33”, the winning bass exploded on a Shimano Coltsniper Splash Walk topwater lure in 9’ of water. The 29”second place fish also fell for a top water plug cast from newcomer Jose’s kayak. This will not be the last successful fishing story we tell of Jose Vinas-Vasquez.
One shining moment for sure was meeting Frank and Joyce Daignault. Frank is a legend in the outdoors writing world and his wife Joyce has helped him achieve such notoriety. Frank Daignault started writing about fishing in 1969. With Joyce working the red pen, he built a reputation as a world-class fisherman and outdoors writer. That growing notoriety drew attendance at fishing shows with large crowds waiting in long, weaving lines to buy his books like The Trophy Striper, Eastern Tides, Twenty Years On The Cape and Fly Fishing The Striper Surf.
One night, Frank tied the striper fly fishing world record at 43 pounds. He sold the bass in the morning and went back to work fishing that night. Not surprisingly, Frank begins most sentences with “she,” announcing respect seasoned with true affection. Meeting them was a wonderful highlight of 2021.
We met then lost Clover, one of the prettiest American Field dogs you might ever see. Properly named Colonials Four Leaf Clover, she was an AKC black Labrador, a loving companion of Bruce Leduc and a memorable hunting dog. Clover joined Bruce for visits to his Dad’s nursing home, quickly bringing smiles to Bruce’s father’s face but then the nurse would come in and out went Clover, out to visit other residents who needed a pet, a smile and wave as she wagged her tail room to room.
Farewell Clover. You were a sweet, smart, pretty and much loved companion who retrieved with the best of your breed. I was blessed to see you work, never resting, straining to run and return, looking up at Bruce with your happy face, feathers hanging from your mouth, asking with your eyes why it was taking so long to drop more birds. “They are so much a part of your life and then all at once, it’s gone. She went out on top of her game.”
We met Captain Jack Sprengel, casting a Shimano Current Sniper SplashWalk lure. “Patience isn’t a luxury I usually have,” he said and that’s precisely why he’s always moving, adjusting, looking to understand what’s changed in ten minutes and where fish are or might be. Basic boat decisions are smart and quick and if you didn’t catch his drift when he made one, he’ll take that rod out of your hand to do what needs to be done for that moment. Arrogance is a far distant cousin from confidence. He hooked up on his first cast.
We met Jon Vender Werff, who studied and snorkeled the Beaver River to identify brook trout populations and habitat. “Brook trout are an American icon,” he said. “A hundred years from now, someone will be able to catch a brook trout. That’s what fuels me every day.” In Richmond, he found catchable sized fish, over six inches, tallied numbers and dropped pins to secure GPS locations. Remarkably, he saw potential for sea-run brookies, although he was not able to document their presence.