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Striped Bass

A few weeks ago, Linesidesonthefly gave me one of his big Pollock Flies. These flies take a long time to tie and if I wanted to buy one, they run $20. I tried to refuse his offering, but he insisted. "Seriously dude, take it to Rhode Island with you. I just want to see a picture of a big Striper with my fly in his mouth." So, I really wanted to make that happen and I knew I had to be careful. The same environments that warrant using a fly of this size also make it easy to lose them. In my opinion, big flies are best fished off the ledges or in the fast raging currents of the tidal rivers. Both of these environments are intimidating by nature and they have a way of making a "big" fly look small. Also, jagged rocks and crashing surf and ledges and big huge eddies and all sorts of other environmental factors can easily swallow up a few flies in no time. So, I used this fly in select locations and with great care. This evening, I had the perfect spot to try. I stepped up on the ledge and looked down at big raging tidal river below me. There was one little piece of pocket water creating a back eddie and it looked like the perfect ambush holding spot for a nice fish. I carefully stripped the

right amount of line into my stripping basket, looked behind me for trees and put the fly where it needed to be. The fly hit the water and Fisherboy and I watched as I twitched it in the white water. It looked so good, even I wanted to eat it. It looked just like a wounded or disorientated baitfish. As if in slow motion, the big Striper appeared from nowhere and hammered the fly. I set the hook, he was not happy and I said hello to my backing. This was only the beginning. I had to basically scale my way down a huge, nasty, slippery and sharp rock wall. Somehow, Fisherboy did the same behind me while shooting video. We were both on level ground safely and we were both shocked that this fish was actually on one of our fly rods. The fish was still into the backing and there was allot of distance between us. Then, the variable pulls of the fish changed to a steady pull. I could feel a change of energy in the fly rod and it was not good energy. I was hung up on something. This was not good. I thought to myself, "maybe the fish will get me untangled." A few seconds passed and nothing was happening. Then I thought, "Oh man, he must have spit the hook and now I am hung up on a ledge." But, I was not going to quit. I was determined to try to free my line from whatever obstacle it was on, and hope for the best. It has happened before, why not this time. So many times I have thought I have lost a fish to a hang-up, then the line comes free and the fish is still on. So, I worked downstream trying all sorts of rod angles to budge my line or fly from this heart breaking obstruction. Then, I felt it slip. But, the pressure of the fish was still there. The fish and I both realized that the game was still on and he took more line. Finally after a great battle, we landed the fish, took some pics and let him go. To date, this is the best Striper I have ever caught on the fly. So, Linesidesonthefly, here is the picture you asked for. I will forever remember this fish and the fly that tricked him. Next time I see you, I will give you the fly back.