LOCATION: Mid Bay
SPECIES: Striped Bass
UPDATE: October 19, 2009
FISHING CONDITIONS: After four days of strong winds, this afternoon finally calmed down enough to allow me to get back on the water. I had canceled today’s booking because of the forecast but at noon I slipped the boat into the water on the Choptank River side of the Peninsula I call home. I searched the tributary first and wasn’t too surprised to discover no real action. It was an incoming tide so that doesn’t produce in this area. I barely reached the mouth of the tributary when I was greeted by birds crashing on the bait. I kept watching the sonar for fish marks and soon found some at a drop off along the entrance to the tributary in 22 feet of water. The first Striped Bass measured a sweet 18 inches. The second was a rewarding 22 inches. The third was over 26 and the fourth went a handsome 30 inches. Throughout the afternoon I continued to catch nice fish and one behemoth broke the leader (it undoubtedly had a nick in the leader). I would swear this fish was at least 36 inches and perhaps larger. Another nice thing today was how fat and healthy these fish were. The smallest fish was able to put a significant bend in the rod.
WATER TEMPERATURE: 58 Degrees
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker and silversides.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
- Large, heavy Clouser deep minnow pattern, Chartreuse and white worked today
- Large bunker patterns and half and half’s will also attract the bigger fish. Use these when current and wind are not driving the boat too fast.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: most commonly I use short (7 1/2 foot) tapered leaders in 16 to 20 pound strength. For spinning I use straight non tapered sections of fluorocarbon leader material in 25 to 30 pound test which is holding up well with the blue fish. I use 9 to 12 foot tapered leaders for smaller flys fished in shallow water.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: with the exception of when I am targeting big game species I always provide the same basic outfit. 9 foot 9 weight Tip Flex Rod, paired with a light weight large arbor reel.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: I use two types when fly fishing on the Bay. I use multi-tip fly line with interchangeable tips in floating, intermediate, slow sink and fast sink. These allow quick change opportunity and coupled with the 15 foot length allows even the fast sinking tip to be “picked up” off the water easily. The most common fly line I use is the full, fast sink line in 9 wt line size to allow me to fish the entire water column even in the deepest of areas.
SPINNING REEL OUTFIT: I have selected short, six foot to seven foot, medium fast action rod with 2500 F1 series Shimano Stradic reel. This will be spooled with braided line of either 14 lb test for lighter lure applications or 25 to 30 pound test for heavier. Jigging would work well as would many common lures at least 3 to 4 inches.
BEST TECHNIQUES: With the fish feeding near the bottom today, I was using a full sinking line. I cast the heavy fly as far as I could and let it sink, feeding additional line into the water until I had 80 feet of line in the water. This was cast at an angle to the boats drift angle to allow it to sink with no pressure on the line. As the fly line comes to right angles to the boat’s drift, start a rapid retrieve not letting the fly hesitate.
COMMENTS: Today, with no clients on board, I landed over 35 fish. The smallest was over 18 inches.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Weather is looking good, warm, nice days with southerly breezes. Fishing prospects continue to improve every day. Tight lines!
