Sid Aslin fished Montauk last week and sent us his report:
Montauk fishing report for October 24. I fished alone as I decided to go too late to find anybody else that could go. I have fished Montauk a lot this season and 3 weeks ago I was fortunate to catch and release a “lunker”. A local guy named Gil and I often talk about what is working on the water for us so as I entered the lodge to buy my tag he said “hello big fish guy” because he saw the fish and witnessed my excitement when I got him to the net. I fished down there once after the big flood and was expecting big holes again, but he told me that the sand was doing its job of filling in the holes, but I was a little skeptical. He also warned me that there were a lot of fisherman on the water and he had gotten pushed out of a few of his best holes and again since it was a Wednesday in the fall I was skeptical. I got my tag and started fishing and found out that he was right on both! I do not understand how it happens, but where there were several big holes where I could not wade last time those holes are gone! If you have been afraid to fish there after the flood do not let that stop you! No lunkers on this trip and fishing was not that great, but did get some to the net on my now “go to fly” size 8 black wooly buggger with a bead just letting it drift. I was hoping for some dry fly fishing, but saw no fish hit anything off the surface all day. Most of the crowd left early and from about 3 pm until the horn went off I had the park to myself! FYI since I am the laziest member of F A T C let me share my Montauk tip. Take 72 out of Rolla and then you come into the park a little differently than coming through Licking. Going this way right before the park there is a big hill and you will avoid the hill by taking a left on a gravel road. If you take that road you will go by the new grain bin that the park has for their fish food and it will allow you to see the river in the fly area from your car. The hatchery workers told me that with that grain bin now they can buy fish food a little less expensive than buying it by the bag.