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 Christmas Stripers: It's The Thought That Counts
Posted by jeremy on December 25, 2006
(1946 reads)
It was a couple days before Christmas and I decided to take a few casts into the salt for some sea run Brown Trout. I saw some wakes on the flat I was working and approached them with great care. These were definately some nice sized trout working on some small bait. I cast my sand eel pattern at a working fish and started to strip with a two handed retrieve. A beautiful trout was tracking my fly. This was the moment I had been waiting for and I thought for sure that a beautiful sea run Brown Trout would take my offerings. He followed the fly forever, analyzing every piece of it and then decided to refuse it. The wake dissapeared and I was heart broken. I thought to myself, "Oh Well, no Christmas fish this year." Then from out of nowhere this little, actually tiny, Striped Bass decided to take the sand eel. I would love to write about an epic battle along a rocky shoreline and a long battle of wills
between me and a giant Striper. But, as you can see from the photo, this little Striper barely put a bend in my rod. But, ya know what? For all that this Striper lacked, it actually holds a personal record for me. It is the only Striped Bass that I have ever caught in Maine this late in the season. I don't know about other Maine salt water fly fisherman, but it is not too often that I catch Striped Bass in late December. In fact, never. So, although a nice shiny sea run Brown Trout would have been a great Christmas fish. I am certainly happy with this little stocking stuffer and for the record that it holds. Actually, this fish might hold another record. It might very well be the smallest Striped Bass I have ever caught. So, if the magic of Christmas is in the eyes of the beholder, than this is a great Christmas fish. Worthy of breaking not just one but two of my personal records! So, thank you little guy, as they say, "It's the thought that counts."
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Re: Christmas Stripers: It's The Thought That Counts
by SeaRunBill on December 25, 2006 | | Great story and even greater picture....wink... keeping track of personal records is even greater when they include the little guy's too. Even though he is small he fought like crazy trying to drag a 5 wt line and leader around..... Even though he was only 5 ounces he still fought with the heart of a 50 pounder. So jeremy my Christmas whish to you is that the two of you meet again in twenty years and I hope to be there to take the picture of the personal record standing in the very spot we became friends...... ALL THE BEST AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.....SRB |
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Re: Christmas Stripers: It's The Thought That Counts
by AvidDavid on December 26, 2006 | That's a beautiful little fish. I know that you are just trying to make me jealous. I'm still in the "zippo" catagory for 2006. 2007 has to be better.
Cheers,
Dave |
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Re: Christmas Stripers: It's The Thought That Counts
by Shaq on December 26, 2006 http://www.theanglersnet.com | | Hey Jeremy, what a gift that fish is. Your lucky that pesky sea trout didn't get to your striper first. Of course poking fun of a successful day may anger the fish gods for 2007...Just a word of caution...haha |
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Re: Christmas Stripers: It's The Thought That Counts
by NiC on December 26, 2006 http://www.fly-only.dk | Thats the way it is... X-mas fish are always cool... no matter the size.
I went out as well but did not get any, while my friend got plenty.. Thats the way it is at x-mas time fishing saltwater. |
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Re: Christmas Stripers: It's The Thought That Counts
by Jesse on December 26, 2006 | Jeremy... what an accomplishment! You more than likely landed the last 2006 striper in ME, possibly New England!!! You just closed out the 2006 striper season... lmao...that's awesome!
Right now I got the steelhead bug, going into NH lake run mode as of 1 JAN... but I must admit.... The tuna are already on my mind, and as you know.... well.... tuna =s insanity. I just picked up a 14-15wt. class reel today and have been doing some tying. Even if I never get a chance to use it I can always look at it and dream... lol...like I'm about to do via your tuna footage!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Re: Christmas Stripers: It's The Thought That Counts
by MarshallD on December 26, 2006 http://www.flyanglersguide.com | jer,
Even the small guys are so pretty and to catch them when and where you don't think they'll be is so cool. These young Stripers will actually winter over in Maine's Rivers and estuaries. There's lots of his little brothers right up in Waterville all winter....ask Thib. and Mike. So...."what an accomplishment! You more than likely landed the last 2006 striper in ME, possibly New England!!!"....well that comment, however congratulatory, is at most an exclaimation point. Next time you're in the mood to visit FFOin Fairfield, remember to bring your 6-weight and call Thib for the killer patterns!
See you when you come down!
Marsh |
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Re: Christmas Stripers: It's The Thought That Counts
by gilly09 on December 29, 2006 | | and you thought I was pulling your leg when I told you Nov 9th is the latest I've caught them ;) |
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