Posted: Sun 07/18/10 9:52 pm Post subject: Striped Bass: Really Need Some Help?
Hey guys,
Im looking for some much needed striper help. So here's my scenario: I'm a native resident of Scarborough Maine, I used to fish for stripers when I was young but never anything serious. A couple years ago I discovered fly fishing and now am totally in love, I've been fishing freshwater for a bunch of species, but lately I've been really interested in the the saltwater fishing that's been literally sitting in my backyard. Gear wise ive got an eight weight rod, intermediate line, and a few flies like clousers and decievers. I started out fishing from the Scarborough jetty then I tried a few spots along the Scarborough river marsh during both incoming and outgoing tides. So far I've gotten skunked. I would love to hook into one of these fish and am trying to make it my summer goal but it seems like this species is much harder than I thought. So any advise or help is greatly appreciated. And hopefully I can figure this fish out. Thanks again
My Striper fishing is limited to a visit to Rhode Island but I got to fish with Jeremy who showed me a lot about fishing for Stripers and helped me catch my first one.
One of my first Stripers.
Since I am going to try for Stripers again this fall I follow some of the Striper fishing forums to see what is going on.
From what I understand right now fishing at night seems to be doing the trick.
I did some night fishing in Rhode Island on the beach and at a pond and was pretty amazed that fish where so close in the surf.
At the mouth of the pond you could just hear the fish popping bait. I fished then with black clousers and did pretty well.
Striper chasing bait in the wave.
I fished relatively safe places = sandy beach.
The rocks are a dangerous place and I would not fish there in the pitch black of night. It is not worth it to get killed for a fish.
I also found out that Stripers can be very picky, we fished a spot where there where a lot of Stripers feeding but we could not hook up to any.
When we changed the fly for a big pattern we suddenly hooked up, maybe something you might try.
Flies made from EP fibers can be tied pretty big and are easy to cast.
Good spot
Schoolie Striper
When I visited Rhode Island fishing on the beach was only good in a few spots. My best spot was at a rocky point where baitfish would mill around in the shallow sections of the rocks.
Once the tide came in the Stripers would enter the shallows and hunt for the baitfish.
Marcel, great shots! I love the shot of "Striper chasing bait in wave." Not an easy shot to get, for a number of reasons.
flyinredneck, I have been having some great luck in Maine with the striped bass this season. I don't know if what I do is "right" or "wrong" in terms of the exact terminology and all that stuff .. I just try to find fish and catch them. I have been finding fish on the sand, where good populations of sand eels are. The marshes and the rivers, for me, tend to produce better results in the spring when the ocean water temps are really cold. Now, the air and water temps are very warm, as you know. So, I have been fishing exclusively in the ocean and bays. The incoming tides are really nice and I like to fish early in the morning or evening and on days where the wind is low. The fish seem to be active during these times and you can see them better during these times. Rather than blind casting get to the beach and drive or walk to different access points. At each spot or during your walking down the beaches (ps. where you live and the respective beaches are fishing well) get the best vantage points possible and look for life. Many times you will see terns with the fish (the little seagulls that do a lot of squeeking.) When you spot a group of terns (anywhere from 2 - 100) look very closely under those birds. Often the fish are pushing the bait up to the surface and that's why the terns are there in the first place. You will see fins, rolling fish or depending on the structure and volume of water being pushed around .. "busting" fish. Once you locate some fish, notice the way and manner in which they are moving. They tend to be pattern orientated creatures from one tide to the next, baring and significant change in the volume of bait, clarity of water etc... Those changes are typically brought on by changes in wind directions and storms. Basically, if a big wind comes up for a day or two - it scatter the bait a little. So, try not to get stuck to any one "spot." You may find a hot spot and do really well for a couple days ... and the weather/wind may change and turn that hot spot, cold. The bait/fish may or may not return there .. but go find the bait/fish. Chances are it they didn't go too far and that's how one hot spot turns into multiple hot spots. Your rod/reel and fly setup is perfect. I like clousers in the sand and deceiver type patterns off the ledges. Speaking of ledges, that's where you can go and chuck some big monster grocery flies or deceivers and really tie into some nice fish too ... but, the ledges game (until the fall) is often less visual in terms of seeing the fish on top. Two lights or any of the ledges around that area are a great bet to try.
Hope this helps. Go get 'em! Have fun. Look for other fly fishers, there are plenty out there in your neck of the woods. Put in the time, meet some people, don't be afraid to ask questions .. and .. before you know it, things will start to click and you'll get your fish! Good luck! Hope you find some!
Posted: Mon 07/19/10 7:10 pm Post subject: Salt help
Have no fear flyfishin' -
I think the 2 earlier posts really did a clean up job for you. I would echo the concept of not having one "spot" when targeting stripers - instead, I'd spend more time walking, looking and listening. Keep in mind too that the spot you talk about sounds like a great early spring-May spot. I think you'd improve your chances by heading out to deeper/stronger tidal current locations.
If I was fishing the marsh area you described - I would always make sure to have some Snake flies and Sliders, Gurglers etc. that I could drag along the bank edge - typically I like doing this at low-light in dusk.
As water temps keep fish hunkered, I would find some rocky shoreline, or any shoreline with an edge within an edge i.e. a bar, a rock outcrop etc. I would fish that right before sundown - through the hour after the sun is down. Slowly working the fly.
Clousers and Decievers are always a good bet - but don't be afraid to tie on Shrimp, Crabs or baby Flounder flies. As bait disperses throughout the doldrums - bass are still picking through rocky bottoms looking for that kind of food.
All in all, if you've got your game face on which I'm sure your do - I'd say concentrate around the hour after the sun goes down - and the hour before the sun comes up. If your feeling good - put on a headlamp and fish from 2 a.m. to sun up. All things being equal - estuary/marsh fishing can be great in the middle of the night in the summer, but that's a spot you should hit hard early May next year. Set your eyes on the strong evening tides - I like both an incoming at night - or an outgoing in the morning. Keep in mind - stripers are notorious for coming into shallow waters in the dark - factor in a strong incoming tide which pushes bait on structure/shallows - keep a snake fly right on surface level, moving SUPER SLOW - and I think you'll get a take.
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