Gone Fishin'

Fly fishermen Paul Beaulieu (left) and Sean Beaulieu were two of many who ignored the pelting rain Saturday night. Photo by Ben Scott

Rain does little to dampen tourney fishermen's spirits

By Nelson Sigelman - June 29, 2006

Most of the fly fishermen I know are pretty intrepid people. They are willing to brave swift currents, walk long distances, endure blood-draining insects and eat microwave sandwiches from convenience stores for dinner in pursuit of catching a fish.

So I was not surprised that the sheets of rain that fell Saturday night did little to deter fishermen in the 15th annual Martha's Vineyard Rod and Gun Club catch and release striped bass tournament. In fact, the final tally was a near record amount of 204 fishermen registered for the one-night tournament, despite gloomy fishing and weather.

Ed Lepore and I checked in fishermen Saturday afternoon walking into the Martha's Vineyard High School cafeteria. The entrants included two pairs of Dutchmen on a fishing vacation, a preacher from Amarillo, Texas, a judge and Robert Bell, an elderly fellow from Marion who is originally from Manchester, England. I liked his accent.

Dutchmen Theo Bakelar and Rene Sehr were presented with new hats during the awards ceremony. Photo courtesy of the dutch guys

It is not easy to officiate at a fishing tournament awards ceremony and as the unofficial master of ceremonies I was on the lookout for anything I could use for the awards ceremony the next morning. My vantage point provided me with plenty of fodder.

Not that it is hard to come up with items. Fishermen are always anxious to tell me any potentially embarrassing bits of news or information they think I might be able to use to further embarrass teammates.

Last year it was decided to hold the tournament, which runs from 7 pm to 2 am on a Saturday night, later in June because we thought the fishing and weather would be better. That did not turn out the way we hoped.

The reports coming on Friday for the fishing and weather were equally dismal. The bass fishing was slow all around the Island at a time of the year when it should be at its peak. Looking at my computer the weather report for Saturday was not good. In simple weather map terms the line designating what direction all of the bright colors representing varying degrees of torrential rain would flow bisected the Vineyard.

Dutch guy Ton Kalkman holds up a big striped bass, by European standards. Photo courtesy of the dutch guys

Lacking much competitive spirit, my partner Tom Robinson and I kicked off the first hour of the contest by ordering a cheese pizza at Giordano's and riding around in the rain until we settled on an up-Island fishing spot that proved to have no fish. Inside Menemsha Pond was not much better, although we did pick up a few. Thinking we would do better, we headed for Menemsha Beach.

When we arrived we found Pat Jenkinson and Mark Plante standing on the gas dock casting to small bass popping up in the harbor. That was not a good sign.

About 1 am at another location I swallowed a bug and Tom informed me that under the endangered species act I had committed a "take." I knew we had had enough.

The next morning fishermen gathered for breakfast in the high school cafeteria to swap stories, commiserate and await the awards ceremony. Listening to other fishermen talk about catching a lot of fish often generates jealousy, but listening to other fishermen talk about the same miserable night of fishing you had, that is the stuff of camaraderie. The shared experience provided a springboard for some fun.

I had prepared a script for my English friend based on a quick rewrite of William Shakespeare's St. Crispin's Day Speech delivered by King Henry before the Battle of Agincourt in Henry V, Act 4, Scene 3 of which I present a portion here.

Fishermen hold a rain dance. Photo by Ben Scott

Paul Fersen of Orvis played Westmoreland: O that we now had here but one ten thousand of those men on Martha's Vineyard that do not fish to-day!

That was Mr. Bell's cue. Playing King Henry V before 200 fishermen is not easy but he performed in the best British tradition.

"What's he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin; If we are mark'd to shrivel up like prunes, we are enough to do our country loss; and if to live, the fewer men, the greater share of honour ... This day is call'd the Catch and Release tournament. He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd, and rouse him at the name of Catch and Release. He that shall live this day, and see old age, will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, and say 'To-morrow is Catch and Release.' Then will he strip his sleeve and show his bug bites, and say 'These bites I had on Catch and Release day.' Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, but he'll remember, with advantages, what feats he did that day. Then shall our names, familiar in his mouth as household words - Coop the King, Mark and Patrick, Danny and Matt, Ren and Ton - be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Catch and Release shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered - We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that gets soaked with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition; Make him a member of the gentry in Chilmark, even if he is a commoner from Oak Bluffs. And gentlemen in Martha's Vineyard now-a-bed Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fished with us upon Catch and Release day.

The culture went over well with the fishermen. Robert got quite an ovation and later he told me he was quite honored to have won the part. I did not dare tell him I had almost given it to a guy from Poland who also had a good accent.

The four visiting Dutchmen were called up to participate in a pop quiz. To their credit, none knew the name of the Jolie-Pitt baby. Rene Sehr correctly guessed the name of a Dutch skater, winning a Stars and Stripes top hat with instructions that he have his photo taken in front of the Iranian or North Korean embassy in Amsterdam in order to claim his prize at next year's tournament.

The prizes, including two one-gallon jugs of pure maple syrup donated by a Vermonter who makes his own, fly reels, rods and a variety of other gear, were handed out at random. One man, who won a kid's fly fishing outfit, promptly handed it to Ashley Plante, Mark's daughter who was helping out with the raffle, and told her to go fishing with her dad.

The catch and release tournament is unique in a variety of ways. It is a competitive event that barely honors the competitors for their achievements; It gives away several thousand dollars worth of prizes to people who are generally surprised to win anything; The main contributor, Orvis, asks for nothing; and the organizing takes place every year with a few conversations and telephone calls.

To quote a line from the wonderful movie, Shakespeare in Love, "I don't know how it happens, it just does."

Arnold Spofford Award for the most fish caught and released using one fly: 1.Team Caddyshack (Mac Haskell, Charlie Finnerty), 11 team average (22 fish); 2. Team Catch-um-up and Release (Ed Lepore, Jim Lepore), 9 (18 fish); 3. Team Striped Shad (Chuck Furimsky, Harry Schoel, Theo Bakelar), 7.6 (23 fish); 4.Team Acorn Nuts (Tom Robinson, Nelson Sigelman), 4 (8 fish).

Roberto Germani Award for the most striped bass caught and released: Team Flytech (Josh Sullivan, Jake Sullivan, Lee Beals, Dave Seale, Rick Marshall, Kevin Allen), 15.83 (95 fish); Team Rained on Again (John Kollett, Roger St. Germain, Dick Perry), 12 (36 fish); Team Bond (Joe Cordeiro, Rich Cordeiro), 10 (20 fish); Team Simeone (Bob Simeone, Matt Simeone), 9.5 (19).

Sonny and Joey Beaulieu Award for the largest striped bass caught and released: 1. Jake Sullivan, 36 inches long, 19 inches around, 55 inches total; 2. Rick Harvey, 27 plus 19, 46 inches total; 3. Dick Perry, 29 plus 16, 45 inches total.

Bonito are possible

Last week, I wrote about a fellow who said he caught a bonito off Menemsha jetty. I admit I was a bit skeptical but other more experienced fishermen tell me it is quite possible to catch a bonito in June.

Karsten Larsen, a Menemsha commercial fisherman and "cricker," called and said he has picked up early bonito trolling. Karsten said it is not far fetched for this time of the year and he is as good an authority as anyone regarding what can be caught this time of the year in the waters off Menemsha.

Norton Point Beach open but closed to through traffic

The middle section of Norton Point Beach, the two-mile barrier beach that connects Katama to Chappaquiddick, was closed Friday to over-sand vehicle traffic to protect approximately 30 newly hatched tern chicks and several piping plovers.

The beach is open for about a mile and a half on the Katama end and about a quarter mile on the Chappy end but is closed to through traffic, said Dave Belcher, The Trustees of Reservations superintendent.