Thanks again to Kalil Boghdan who drew a standing room only crowd at our February meeting. His presentation about stirper fishing in the Essex, Parker, Merrimack and Ipswich estuaries was very informative and made everyone in the room long to be in the salt casting to a boil with birds above. His extensive knowledge and attention to detail certainly showed why he was named Orvis' 2012 Endorsed Guide of the year. You can read more about his award here. Kalil has also been featured in The Angling Report and on the NOAA Fisheries Service webste. Have a look and read what makes Kalil such a great guide. You can also find out more his Downriver Charters Guide Service at his website www.downrivercharters.com.

Capt. Kalil’s presentation will focus on fishing the Essex River/Crane Beach and the Ipswich Bay waters, and he will provide a guide’s perspective on the decline of schoolie striped bass.

Capt. Kalil Boghdan is an ORVIS Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide and has been named the Orvis Endorsed Fly-Fishing Guide of the Year for 2012 for the United States. He is a US Coast Guard licensed captain with over twenty five years experience on the Essex River and the waters of Crane Beach and Plum Island Sound.  He earned a Ph.D. in biology and is a retired educator where he served as a high school science teacher and department chairman, and as a middle school principal.  He is thoroughly versed in the behavior of striped bass and bluefish as well as the natural history and ecology of the area. Conservation of our natural resources is very important to Kalil. He is currently a member of several conservation and wildlife associations and serves or has served on their board of directors.  Kalil is a past president of the Massachusetts Wildlife Federation. Most notably for us Kalil is a very active member of the Nor'East TU Chapter. His web site is www.downrivercharters.com
 
Monday February 4, 2013
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation)(Bring Your Own Beverage)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.
   

As a follow-up to Rick Southgate's great presentation on Striped Bass I'm posting two YouTube Videos of a presentation done my Martha Mathers that covers some of the work that she and Kristen Ferry did during Kristen thesis research. This was posted as part of a Mass Audubon outreach program. I can't find Kristen's thesis on-line or her contact info at the Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries. If anyone knows how to contact her please let us know.

Just a quick note to remind everyone that our April meeting will be held this Monday, April 4th at the Ipswich River Watershed Association.
Meeting Details:
Monday April 4
6 pm Dinner
7 pm Meeting: Rick Southgate's Striped Bass Presentation
Ipswich River Watershed Association 143 County Road, Ipswich, MA
*Public Welcome*

Doors open for dinner at 6 pm (with a $5 donation). This month Mike O’Neill will be serving up his world-renowned corned beef and cabbage. (Yes our timing is a bit off, but given the fact that it’s April 1st and snowing, nothing seems to be going by calendar dates.)
Meeting begins at 7 pm. This month we are pleased to host Rick Southgate’s presentation:
Estuary Fly Fishing for Striped Bass: Times, Tides, Baitfish, Flies and Methods
Rick lives in Essex and has been fly fishing the north side of Cape Ann for over thirty years. For six years he ran a charter service focusing on the Essex River, Plum Island Sound and the beachfronts. Rick also worked with Mass Marine Fisheries and UMass on a 3-year study of the striped bass diet in the Essex River.

This presentation will cover:
* Understanding estuarine systems and how striped bass move and feed within them.
* The prey; when it arrives, how it moves and how best to imitate it.
* Favorite flies and how to tie and fish them.
* Fishing from boat, shore access and wading the flats.
Hope to see you there!