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Archive for the ‘Striped Bass’ Category
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010
 Nice blue fish caught in Eastern Bay LOCATION: Virginia Lower Bay and Maryland Middle Bay
SPECIES: VA, Tarpon and Cobia MD, Spanish Macs, Blues and Striped Bass.
UPDATE: September 7, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: the first week of September has brought in hurricanes, cooler days, lots of bait, and active fishing patterns. Fish size range from the small to large, with the biggest fish caught near dark and over 30 inches long. bass this week over 30 inches. Many more blue fish and Spanish Macs are around during the day and as usual, the latest trips in the day are frequently rewarded with the best Striped Bass of the day.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 85 Degrees, Lower Bay 78 Degrees, Near Coastal 78.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Silver sides, Bunker, Crabs, and other species.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Mid bay Striped Bass and blues and Spanish Macs are eating small Clousers with flash easily. These imitate silver-sides.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: I am using standard 7 ½ foot or 9 foot tapered or non-tapered 20 to 30 for the Striped Bass and Blues. Add a little wire for the blues and Spanish or expect to lose flies. For Cobia use straight 80.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: Blues, Spanish and Striped Bass I’m using 9wt with large arbor reels. When prospecting for Cobia and Tarpon, 12 weight rods are the primary and the 10 weight the secondary. Always use large arbor reels.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Primary lines were full sink. Floating lines for the breaking fish work great as well.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Mid bay is still a moveable feast. Working birds is the best and only game in town for the blue fish. Be ready to cast the moment you are on them because the blues will scatter at speed you can scarcely believe once the bait breaks up. Unlike the striped bass, there are no straggler fish under the area that just moments before held hundreds of feeding blue fish.
COMMENTS: Strong winds are an element that we have to endure and need to work with. Pulling out of the worse areas and moving to calmer waters was working yesterday with lots of fish along this edge. The bait is pushed into shallower water and the predators follow right into the shallowest. This is great fun with a fly rod.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Weather is the producing the biggest changes and our days will be cooler. Pack a sweatshirt or light jacket to stay comfortable. Fishing is undoubtedly getting better as fall moves in.
Tags: Blue Fish and Spanish Macs on fly, captain russ wilkinson, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake
Posted in Blue Fish, Fall Fishing, Spanish Mackeral, Striped Bass, Summer Fishing | Comments Off
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
 FISHING CONDITIONS: Some of the best days I have seen this summer occurred this week. Blue fish running with the Striped Bass and now Spanish Mac in large numbers all in the same area of the middle bay. Many large blues and we caught a Spanish that was 24 inches long. Lower bay is still good for Cobia and I am setting up for a run at them next week.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 85 Degrees, Lower Bay 78 Degrees, Near Coastal 78.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker, Crabs, Silver sides and other species.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Mid bay Striped Bass and blues and Spanish Macs are eating small Clousers with flash easily. These imitate silver-sides.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: Upper bay use standard 7 ½ foot or 9 foot tapered or non-tapered 20 to 30 for the Striped Bass. Add a little wire for the blues and Spanish or expect to lose flies. For Cobia use straight 80.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 12 weight rods was the primary and the 10 weight was a secondary for prospecting for the Cobia. Rods must have large arbor reels. Blues, Spanish and Striped Bass I’m using 9wt with large arbor reels.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Primary lines were full sink. Floating lines for the breaking fish work great as well.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Cobia are often lurking at floating channel markers in the lower bay. I use both floating and sinking lines with large poppers or bait fish imitations. When located several passes will usually get one on fly then the work out begins. Pull away from the structure and get them out of the cable area under the marker. Expect to have a long fight with these large fish. For the Mid Bay breaking fish, just cast into the active areas and retrieve with a quick retrieve. Always hopeful for Spanish these fish will get you into your backing in a flash!
COMMENTS: I don’t know how long this activity might last but it is clearly the best of the season.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: A cooling trend is offering relief from the summer’s heat and high flood tides are providing good current for these fish.
Tags: Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake
Posted in Big Game, Exotic Species, Striped Bass, Summer Fishing, Virginia Fishing Reports | Comments Off
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
LOCATION: Eastern Bay, Lower Chesapeake Bay
SPECIES: Striped Bass, Blue fish, Atlantic Croaker, Cow Nosed Ray (Raja Bonasus)
UPDATE: July 20, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: Very Good! Start early or end late seems to be the best game in the Eastern Bay area. Mid-
 Dad still outfishes the kids! day between the boat traffic and angler pressure the fishing just isn’t up to par. Other areas are reporting better results and one trip to the lower middle bay revealed fish stacked up at one of my favorite locations. Most of the action has been on small flys imitating Silversides and even flys that have been beaten up terribly are producing smashing results. Blue fish are still in the party in a big way and losing a few flys is normal. I’m still not ready to add wire and possibly spoil the great bite we are getting. For the many people that love poppers as much as I do, they are getting reaction bites that are unbelievable. Stripped fast the biggest fish of the day are on top water! Smaller tributaries are fishing poorly. Some trips are still plagued with slow fishing.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 83 Degrees, Lower Bay (CBBT) 78 Degrees, Near Coastal 77.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Silversides, Spot, Bunker, Crabs, and Perch.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Smaller Clouser style minnows (1 ½ inch) in various dark and white colors are working at times better than half and half’s. Having a little flash tied in seems critical as it matches the body of silversides. When you find breaking fish, poppers or gurglers are working well on top water fish. These work at dusk and dawn in shallow water too.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 20 to 30 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot non-tapered.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 weight with large arbor reel
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Full sink line in the fastest sink rate for waters around 6 to 12 feet and full float in skinny or if you happen to see fish on the surface or when fishing at dawn and dusk.
BEST TECHNIQUES: This time of year looking for birds is the best game in town. Birds help us locate the actively feeding schools of Striped Bass and we can quickly determine the preferred bait, the size and coloring so we can select the best fly or lure to use once the frenzy is over. Sometimes you just find fish without birds. Either way fishing the breaking fish is great fun. Incoming and outgoing tides are working but current speed is important.
COMMENTS: Larger fish (24 inches and up) are present in the schools and still caught regularly. Keep a lookout when other fish area being pulled in and if another angler is on board they should be casting at your fly caught fish to pick up followers. This can be a nice bait and switch method to find better fish.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: It’s warming up to be a great summer. Weekday trips are better for fishing with less boat traffic and starting either early or late in the day and fishing for four hours in twilight conditions can be a very nice alternative to mid day sun.
Tags: Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake
Posted in Maryland Fishing Reports, Striped Bass, Summer Fishing, Virginia Fishing Reports | Comments Off
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
LOCATION: Eastern Bay, Lower Chesapeake Bay
SPECIES: Striped Bass, Blue fish, Atlantic Croaker, Cow Nosed Ray (Raja Bonasus), Tarpon, Shark
UPDATE: July 13, 2010
 One of many caught that trip FISHING CONDITIONS: Very Good in Mid Bay! Some trips are still plagued with slow fishing. It seems to just turn off, and you can’t get the fish to bite. But for most the action has been outstanding. We are getting more blue fish every trip and many are good sized (18 inches). Some trips have been almost overwhelming with the sheer number and quality of the fish being caught. Last night we went well over 200 fish with many over 18 inches. This is summer fishing at its best! For the many people that love poppers as much as I do, they are getting reaction bites that are unbelievable. Stripped fast the biggest fish of the day are on top water! LOWER BAY, you better bring your own fish. Weekends are super crowded in all the popular areas and no one is catching. My trip for Tarpon and sharks netted a skunk although we saw one decent sized shark and four Tarpon. Just couldn’t make the connection.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 81 Degrees, Lower Bay (CBBT) 78 Degrees, Near Coastal 77.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Silversides, Spot, Bunker, Crabs, and Perch.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Large (four inch) half and half’s, blue and white is still working best although all white and chartreuse and all white are good choices as well. Having a bunker style pattern is essential if you want to have a larger fish look at your offering. Smaller Clouser style minnows (1 ½ inch) in various dark and white colors are working at times better than half and half’s. Having a little flash tied in seems critical as it matches the body of silversides. When you find breaking fish, poppers or gurglers are working well on top water fish. These work at dusk and dawn in shallow water too.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 20 to 30 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot non-tapered.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 weight with large arbor reel
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Full sink line in the fastest sink rate for waters around 6 to 12 feet and full float in skinny or if you happen to see fish on the surface or when fishing at dawn and dusk.
BEST TECHNIQUES: This time of year looking for birds is the best game in town. Birds help us locate the actively feeding schools of Striped Bass and we can quickly determine the preferred bait, the size and coloring so we can select the best fly or lure to use once the frenzy is over. Fishing after the breaking fish is slow but effective if you drift in the same area or similar area where current is strong. Incoming and outgoing tides are working but current speed is important.
COMMENTS: Larger fish (24 inches and up) are present in the schools and getting to be a regular catch. Keep a lookout when other fish area being pulled in and if another angler is on board they should be casting at your fly caught fish to pick up followers. This can be a nice bait and switch method to find better fish.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: It’s warming up to be a great summer. Weekday trips are better for fishing with less boat traffic and starting either early or late in the day and fishing for four hours in twilight conditions can be a very nice alternative to mid day sun.
Tags: Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake
Posted in Big Game, Exotic Species, Maryland Fishing Reports, Striped Bass, Summer Fishing, Virginia Fishing Reports | Comments Off
Monday, July 5th, 2010
LOCATION: Eastern Bay, Lower Chesapeake Bay
SPECIES: Striped Bass, Atlantic Croaker, Cow Nosed Ray (Raja Bonasus), (blues in middle bay around the Patuxent River)
UPDATE: July 5, 2010
 Caught this fish feeding on Spot FISHING CONDITIONS: Little has changed this week on the middle bay. Still lots of schoolie size fish (under 18 inches) and larger fish hanging out without the excitement of top water and birds diving. But what motivates you? Some anglers just can’t stay interested if they don’t catch a fish every other cast or can’t see the fish breaking so we look for the bird bonanza for them. Those are sometimes fleeting but what fun they can be! Others can see the fish on sonar and work and work for the occasional bite by a really large, nice fish. These fish can be found around structure, usually in shadow lines of the structure. They are also in groups feeding on bait in the very bottom of the water column. I always try to locate these fish in shallower water so the fly can be sunken all the way to these fish and retrieved along the bottom where these fish are feeding on spot and sometimes bunker.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 79 Degrees, Lower Bay (CBBT) 78 Degrees, Near Coastal 77.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker, Herring, perch, spot, and now silver sides.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Large (four inch) half and half’s, blue and white is still working best although all white and chartreuse and white
 Bunker pattern fly are good choices as well. Having a bunker style pattern is essential if you want to have a larger fish look at your offering. Smaller Clouser style minnows (1 ½ inch) in various dark and white colors are working at times better than half and half’s. Having a little flash tied in seems critical. When you find breaking fish, poppers or gurglers are working well on top water fish. These work at dusk and dawn in shallow water too.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 20 to 30 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot non-tapered.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 weight with large arbor reel
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Full sink line in the fastest sink rate for waters around 6 to 12 feet and full float in skinny or if you happen to see fish on the surface or when fishing at dawn and dusk.
BEST TECHNIQUES: This time of year looking for birds is the best game in town. Birds help us locate the actively feeding schools of Striped Bass and we can quickly determine the preferred bait, the size and coloring so we can select the best fly or lure to use once the frenzy is over. Fishing after the breaking fish is slow but effective if you drift in the same area or similar area where current is strong. Incoming and outgoing tides are working but current speed is important.
COMMENTS: Larger fish (24 inches and up) are present but difficult to catch. Keep a lookout when other fish area being pulled in and if another angler is on board they should be casting at your fly caught fish to pick up followers. This can be a nice bait and switch method to find better fish.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: It’s warming up to be a great summer. Weekday trips are better for fishing with less boat traffic and starting either early or late in the day and fishing for four hours in twilight conditions can be a very nice alternative to mid day sun.
Tags: Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake
Posted in Maryland Fishing Reports, Striped Bass, Summer Fishing, Virginia Fishing Reports | Comments Off
Monday, June 21st, 2010
LOCATION: Eastern Bay, Lower Chesapeake Bay
SPECIES: Striped Bass, Atlantic Croaker, Cow Nosed Ray (Raja Bonasus), (no blues in upper bay yet)
UPDATE: June 21, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: Another week with hot and humid just reinforces that summer is here. Finally we are seeing the birds over bait that is being chased to the surface by Striped Bass. The first and best I’ve seen this season and this was fish in the near 18 inch slot. Quick hook up’s and lots of hot action for over an hour at a favorite hot spot in the mid-bay.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 76.5 Degrees, Lower Bay (CBBT) 75.7 Degrees, Near Coastal 76.1.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker, Herring, perch, spot, and more.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Large (four inch) half and half’s, blue and white is still working best although all white and chartreuse and white are good choices as well. Smaller Clouser style minnows (1 ½ inch) in various dark and white colors are working at times better than half and half’s. Having a little flash tied in seems critical. When you find breaking fish, poppers or gurglers are working well on top water fish. These work at dusk and dawn in shallow water too.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 20 to 30 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot non-tapered.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 weight with large arbor reel
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Full sink line in the fastest sink rate for waters around 6 to 12 feet and full float in skinny or if you happen to see fish on the surface or when fishing at dawn and dusk.
BEST TECHNIQUES: This time of year looking for birds is the best game in town. Birds help us locate the actively feeding schools of Striped Bass and we can quickly determine the preferred bait, the size and coloring so we can select the best fly or lure to use once the frenzy is over. Fishing after the breaking fish is slow but effective if you drift in the same area or similar area where current is strong. Incoming and outgoing tides are working but current speed is important.
COMMENTS: Larger fish (24 inches and up) are present but difficult to catch. Keep a lookout when other fish area being pulled in and if another angler is on board they should be casting at your fly caught fish to pick up followers. This can be a nice bait and switch method to find better fish. Lower Bay was disappointing on a trip this week with no signs of anything but bait.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: It’s warming up to be a great summer. Pick your interest (schoolies or larger residents) and plan a trip accordingly. Weekend traffic on the water is high and weekdays are better for fishing if you can get out. Late day trips for four hours ending near dark can be a very nice alternative on both weekends and weekdays.
Tags: Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake
Posted in Striped Bass, Summer Fishing | Comments Off
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
LOCATION: Chesapeake Bay, Eastern Bay
SPECIES: Striped Bass, Atlantic Croaker, Black Drum (no blues in upper bay yet)
UPDATE: June 1, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: The official start to summer began this weekend and the fish dutifully performed with some top water activity. Always glad to see the birds diving to eat the bait being driven to the surface by feeding Striped Bass. Better quality fish are still available along channel edges and at points with good drop-offs. Some quality fish can be picked up in shallow water in the darker hours at dawn or dusk.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 75+ Degrees, Lower Bay (CBBT) 70 Degrees, Near Coastal 68.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker, Herring, perch, spot, and more.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Large (four inch) half and half’s, blue and white is still working best although all white is a good choice as well. Some reaction to other popular colors as well such as white on chartreuse. Gurglers or poppers have become a go to fly for top water fish. The gurgler is working real well with these first top water fish.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 20 to 30 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot non-tapered.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 weight with large arbor reel
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Full sink line in the fastest sink rate for waters around 6 to 12 feet and full float in skinny or if you happen to see fish on the surface.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Get in front of the breaking fish and drift quietly. The fish will stay with you if you don’t run engines and make loud noise. After the obvious fish pass look at your boat electronics and discover that more fish are just below you. These fish will continue to hit splashy baits or flys on sinking line. Also for better quality fish, go to points with deep drop offs during the day and fish deep. Real quality fish are still schooled up at these locations.
COMMENTS: Black drum are in the local water near St. Michaels and with enough patience you can hook up. Our local Atlantic Croaker (white drum) are here now and can be caught in the same areas and with the same technique.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: It’s warming up to be a great summer. Pick your interest (schoolies or larger residents) and plan a trip accordingly. Weekend traffic on the water is high and weekdays are better for fishing if you can get out. Late day trips for four hours ending near dark can be a very nice alternative on both weekends and weekdays.
Posted in Maryland Fishing Reports, Striped Bass, Summer Fishing | Comments Off
Monday, May 17th, 2010
LOCATION: Chesapeake Bay, middle
SPECIES: Striped Bass
UPDATE: May 17, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: Despite the numbers of great Striped Bass still out there, in May we also have worms. New moon phase in May and a hatch might just happen like this weekend when you are out to catch some Striped Bass. This seems to have been the trouble on Sunday. We drifted over the nicest school of Striped Bass ever and what happened? We caught only a few fish. Tried every fly imaginable and only one had any consistent results, a smallish Clouser on a 1/0 hook. There are still many Trophy size Striped Bass running around as you can see in the picture. Several trips this week in the Rivers near St. Michaels have netted some real nice fish although nothing larger than 36 inches. Water clarity is still excellent.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 60+ Degrees, Lower Bay (CBBT) 60 Degrees, Near Coastal 56. Not much change.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker, Herring, perch, shad, and a host of other bait including MAY WORMS
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Large (four inch) half and half’s, blue and white is still working. Some reaction to other popular colors as well such as white on white and white on chartreuse.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 20 to 30 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot non-tapered.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 weight with large arbor reel
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Full sink line in the fastest sink rate for waters around 6 to 12 feet and full float in skinny or if you happen to see fish on the surface.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Drifts over the hot areas that are holding fish. Cast up current if necessary to get your fly down. Once you feel the fish hit the fly do a solid strip strike. Continue to use debarbed hooks to make release easier during this period. Because we are using debarbed hooks a second strip strike is advisable, being careful not to mistakenly grab the backing when it is moving.
COMMENTS: Big fish are still around; don’t give up on a goal to slam one this Spring. Lots of patience and good casting can bring home the big one.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: With the fish and the bait I’m seeing in the area, once this worm hatch is over, expect to see bird action and breaking fish at least occasionally.
Posted in Maryland Fishing Reports, Spring Fishing, Striped Bass, Technical, Virginia Fishing Reports | Comments Off
Monday, May 10th, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: Where have the warm spring days gone? No matter, my concerns were that the warming trend would continue unchecked and the good Spring fishing that we have been enjoying would crash. There are still many Trophy size Striped Bass running around and can still be caught on Fly’s if you are the lucky one to put it in front of one. Several trips this week in the tributary waters near St. Michaels have netted some real nice fish although nothing huge. One 48 inch fish swam right under the boat and past a fly line (without stopping) and we all got real excited. Water clarity was amazing until Saturday and then the winds began to blow. My next trip (Tuesday) should be calm and hopefully the water clarity we enjoyed will be back to some extent. This clarity is only a fleeting thing, the next warm water blast and I expect the algae blooms to begin and visibility will suffer. 
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 60+ Degrees, Lower Bay (CBBT) 60 Degrees, Near Coastal 56
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker, Herring, perch, shad, and a host of other bait
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Large (four inch) half and half’s, blue and white is still working. Some reaction to other popular colors as well such as white on white and white on chartreuse.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 20 to 30 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot non-tapered.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 weight with large arbor reel
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Full sink line in the fastest sink rate for waters around 6 to 12 feet and full float in skinny or if you happen to see fish on the surface.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Drifts over the hot areas that are holding fish. Cast up current if necessary to get your fly down. Once you feel the fish hit the fly do a solid strip strike. Continue to use debarbed hooks to make release easier during this period. Because we are using debarbed hooks a second strip strike is advisable, being careful not to mistakenly grab the backing when it is moving.
COMMENTS: Big fish are still around; don’t give up on a goal to slam one this Spring. Last year’s pattern of big fish in tribs hasn’t played out yet and my expectations are very high that we will still see some hot action over the next few weeks.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: With the fish and the bait I’m seeing in the area, expect to see bird action and breaking fish on most trips. This is spectacular when the big fish area up on top and not to be missed.
Posted in Maryland Fishing Reports, Spring Fishing, Striped Bass | Comments Off
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
LOCATION: Chesapeake Bay, upper and middle
SPECIES: Striped Bass
UPDATE: May 5, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: I have finished fishing the Susquehanna Flats for this season. Finished up with some fish up to 24 inches on the 30th of April none on the 1st of May and moved fishing down to the middle bay, close to St. Michaels. Big trophy size fish (those over 25 inches) are scattered all over the region. My guiding in this area places us at points and strong areas of current, hoping that the fish in the area are schooled up and working over some bait fish and we can place a fly in front of one of the big ones. We are catching every day, but with barometer and wind changes the fishing I can report on is slow. When we consider the opportunity to slam a really big fish, it’s still worth the trip.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 60+ Degrees, Lower Bay (CBBT) 60 Degrees, Near Coastal 56
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker, Herring, perch, shad, and a host of other bait
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Large (four inch) half and half’s, blue and white is still working. The top producer this week is a bunker fly in Chartreuse and white, they have to be looking for the white perch that are common up here on the flats. I am fishing poppers when on the flats looking for the cows, too much grass to use anything else.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 20 to 30 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 weight with large arbor reel
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Full sink line in the fastest sink rate for waters around 6 to 12 feet and full float in skinny.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Drifts over the hot areas that are holding fish. Cast up current if necessary to get your fly down. Once you feel the fish hit the fly do a solid strip strike. Continue to use debarbed hooks to make release easier during this period. Because we are using debarbed hooks a second strip strike is advisable, being careful not to mistakenly grab the backing when it is moving.
COMMENTS: Weather is playing its role in this spring fishing. At least the temperatures are usually warm.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: With the fish and the bait I’m seeing in the area, expect to see bird action and breaking fish on most trips. This is spectacular when the big fish area up on top and not to be missed.
Posted in Maryland Fishing Reports, Spring Fishing, Striped Bass | Comments Off
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