The air is still. The Eastern sky is showing the first sign of light. There is a chill in the air and there is skim ice around the hull of the Cross Island ferry. April 1st is next week. The schoolie bass are occasionally showing signs of life - and we have ice! What's wrong with this picture? Don't fret. Fishing is going to happen soon.

As I look out the ferry window at the many hot bass spots East and West of the Thames River I get a good feeling. The water no longer has that cold and alarming look. It now looks friendlier and alluring. The tide is coming in. The water's motion over Harkness and Bartlett reefs is moving perfectly, waiting for the bass to return. It's only a matter of a few weeks and those bass will be pulling and you will be pumping. The bass will win some. Some you will win. What new and exciting memories of lost and landed fish are you going to experience. History tells us we are going to experience all the emotions - from highs to lows. That's why our sport is called fishing, not catching. No matter the outcome, the experience will be enjoyable. Get away from the hectic day to day routine and enjoy a day on the water with Capt. Dixon.

One of my favorite areas to fish is the surrounding area of Plum Island. As the ferry approaches Orient Pt. off the bow, in the distance Plum Island is to port of the vessel. The sluiceway is to the islands East, the Gut to the West. I couldn't guess how many bass, blues and false albacore I have caught in this area - let's just leave it at lots! I can recall many, many fond memories.

I have a great day ahead. I get to drive down (West) the North Fork of Long Island, then onto (East) the South Fork to Montauk, then back across Shelter Island before catching the evening ferry from Orient Pt. back to New London. Much of the time will be spent looking at the water or talking fishing as I visit the many tackle shops and marinas that sell our Big Eye polarized sunglasses. You can see our great line of sunglasses by logging onto www.centerlineoptics.com. Link to Big Eye and you can then look at the many great sunglasses that others are looking through when they are catching fish. With Big Eyes you'll see the Big Fish!

When you go to Martha's Vineyard you must fish the surrounding waters for bass, blues ,bonita and false albacore. Larry's tackle shop in Edgartown across from Grand Union should be your first stop. Steve owns the shop. He has fished the surrounding waters for years and knows them like the back of his hand. Whether you fly fish, spin cast, or troll he has your supplies. To book a guide - he does that too. If you are really lucky you'll be able to hire Steve.

I was with Steve on Friday setting up his store with our Big Eye polarized sunglass program. Steve was hard at work getting the store ready for the arrival of the first bass around mid April.

Woods Hole, the departure point for the ferry to Martha's Vineyard, is a fascinating area of shoals, islands and narrow passages in which the currant ebbs and flows with tremendous force. It is also a great area for striped bass in season. On Friday the rips were not full of bass, they were full of eider ducks staging before they head "North" for the breeding season. For the first fifteen minutes out of port the ferry was putting up raft after raft of eiders. For an old duck hunter like me it was a sight to behold.

Back at my home waters of the Connecticut River things remain quiet. We may set record low temperatures (mid teens) tonight so there is not much fishing going on. Don't worry, the calendar is in our favor. Within a month the schoolies will be on the river and the fishing will have begun and it won't stop for six months or so. Contact me and join in on the fun.

Experienced angler, waterfowler, sunglass salesman and senior citizen are a few things I am. A savy techno wiz is something I am not so any suggestions to improve and expand my internet presence would be greatfully appreciated. In fact I will send a free pair of Big Eye Sunglasses (bigeyeeyewear.com) to the first 10 people responding! What's the catch? You have to convince me that you do not know me or know one of my very few "friends".

This is the time of year when much, if not all, my time is spent on the road selling CenterLine Optics/Big Eye sunglasses. Thoughts about fishing are never very far away, particularly when business takes me to places like Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, Block Island, Eastern Long Island or the Jersey shore. Hey someone has to do the "tough" work. When I do have a free moment I am tying flies - particularly those needed for spring bass in the CT River. As the water temp approaches 50, gurglers become my favorite. When the bass are after surface flies, nothing is better. A big bass making a "giant" hole in the water, smashing at a gurgler is the ultimate bass thrill. Big clausers, 4 - 7", on a sinking line are also very effective flies on big spring CT River bass. I always seem to end the season with only a couple left in my box so I am making these as well.

At this moment I am in the air flying from Hyannis to Nantucket looking down on Monomy and Great Point reflecting that it will only be a few weeks before the bass I am talking about will be taking my fishing emotions from elation to extreme frustration.

Welcome

Those that know me will not believe I am a "blogger". Being computer illiterate I can't believe this is happening, but thanks to my wife who is willing to type my chicken scratch into the computer, Capt. Dixon the blogger is now a reality!My Monday night fly tying with the boys is well underway. The days are longer, the sun is warmer and there are schoolies in Hamburg Cove - for the hardy. If the sun is out, the tide is right and you re in the right spot you'll catch fish. Better fishing is still a few weeks away but the urge to fish is starting to be felt by many. My 15' Gruman is on the trailer and ready to go. By early April I'll have the 20' Aquasport ready to go. By April 20 +/- schoolies will begin to filter in south of the railroad bridge. Good times are just a click away.I asked myself why do I want to do this? I have lots of answers. You figure out which is the right one because I can't. Maybe it's to be famous, hear myself talk, drum up business, see if I can really become a part of the techno world, bring attention to BIG EYE sunglasses, keep a diary of fishing activities, see if any one really reads this, entertain myself.......stay tuned - there will be more.Dixon