Fly Fishing

Goshawker

Hello to all, and especially to the crew in Maine. I'm new to the forum, and just now moving to Maine. Have to say I'm impressed with what a great source of info and enthusiasm is here on fliesandfins!

I have only dabbled in fly fishing but want to dive in big-time now that I'll be living on the coast (Cape Elizabeth). I long to chase stripers around with a fly rod, and generally catching fish is more important to me than catching BIG fish, so I'll enjoy finding some active schoolies as much as anything. I'm just now doing the research to decide what I need in terms of equipment.

I look forward to enjoying more of your posts, and I hope I can meet up with some of you guys that are in Maine. I'd be happy to take anyone out hunting with hawks (I've been a falconer for 25 years--another debilitating passion Very Happy

) in exchange for having you show me a thing or two about fly fishing in salt water!
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jeremy · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 12:56 pm Post subject: cape elizabeth

well .. if your "longing to catch stripers" ... you are in luck .. if you are living in cape elizabeth .. walk in any direction util you hit water and throw a fly ... you will catch stripers...

here is the deal -- late april/early may .. fish will be in the estuaries .. may june july aug sept oct ... fish will be everywhere .. ocean/bays/estuaries .. as far as cape elizabeth ... you have some really good shots at some big stripers ... find any where you can throw a fly into the ocean .... use a 9 weight with intermediate line or full sink (up to 350 grain) .. throw big flies like big decievers, feather wings or pollock imitations ... be sure to strip the fly all the way back to the rocks .. as many times the big fish will take right at your feet ... august and sep .. you will be able to see lots of fish and bait on top .. look for birds and you will find the fish .... good luck .. welcome to maine ....

Goshawker · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: cape elizabeth

Thanks Jeremy. I appreciate the info and look forward to exploring the coast!

caynenfisher · Newbie Joined: Mar 22, 2007 Posts: 10

hi Goshawker,
Welcome to Maine, you're going to like it here... a lot. Especially if you like to flyfish. Jeremy is right, make sure if you're fishing off the Cape E shore you need a good sink rate line because it is very deep off those ledges. As for where to go, walk until your feet get wet and start casting! Although some spots are better than others, just look for moving water and a nice spot of foam and wave action as well.
Definately carry a spool of floating line in case you want to try out some tidal flats that are everywhere in the area. That can be some really fun fishing, wet-wading a little tidal river, sometimes sight-fishing to scrappy little schoolies. Sometimes some very good fish get up into that skinny water.
The early season will be lots of schoolies up in the rivers, with an occasional cow cruising with them, then nearer the end of summer some really good fish show up along the ledges chasing what we hope will be a great peanut bunker run... along with the schools of silversides.
Like I said, you won't have enough time to hit half the spots and tides you will have access to, and remember, when people ask me when the best time to fish is.... I tell them, " when you can "
Let us know how you do

Goshawker · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:32 am Post subject:

Hey Caynenfisher,

Thanks for the reply and encouraging words! I couldn't be more psyched up for it, and my arrival on or about May 1st will get me there for the season (I'm in Oregon at the moment finishing up at a job). I will be totally lost and bewildered but excited to be out there. Honestly, I have only done a tiny bit of fly fishing for trout in the past, and am very excited to delve into the salt water game. It's all new to me! Don't have to read too many of Jeremy's posts and watch the videos to get all fired up about it though!

Thanks again. I will certainly chime in if and when I actually reel in a striper--regardless of size, I will be thrilled.