FISHING CONDITIONS: The fish have separated into distinct schools by size and moved into areas specific to their size and preferred bait. Large fish have moved to the Western shore side of the bay into deep, strong current areas, with large bunker for bait. Smaller fish are in the tributaries feeding on smaller baits. Feeding takes place at different times so moving from area to area I have been able to stay on fish with a variety of sizes.
WATER TEMPERATURE: 58 Degrees
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker and small silversides/bay anchovies.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
- Large, heavy Clouser deep minnow pattern, Chartreuse and white
- Large bunker patterns and half and half’s
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. 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 all over the water column the best was still the full sinking line. Cast, let it sink and start a quick retrieve and you were going to have a fish on. For most of the day, the fly was the best choice, spinning was out-fished dramatically.
COMMENTS: Although the larger fish we were catching last week seem to have become scarcer, the schoolies are plentiful. The jumbos will be reappearing and the fishing will continue in this area easily until the end of November.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Fall fishing is in full swing with good, consistent days of catching fat, healthy fish. The weather forecast is for milder days than we have had and I expect the bigger fish to be back in closer waters. If not we can easily cross the bay for some heavy weight action.
