Striped Bass Fly Fishing Video
Last week, I had the best saltwater Striper fly fishing trips of my life. Any salt water fly fisherman on the east coast knows that big bait means big fish. I got a call from my friend Mike ofConnecticut Fishing Charters. Mike said, “Dude, get down here the Herring are in and big fish are on them.” I needed no more convincing, big fish and lots of them was good enough for me. So, I hopped in the car and made a dash to Connecticut. I had not seen Mike since our amazing Bluefin Tuna trip last year, so I showed up at his house and we shot the breeze while getting our gear and flies ready for an evening fly fishing session. Mike and I are very much alike when it comes to fly fishing. We like to find the fish, the bigger fish and we get amped up when we do. So, Mike brought me out to his honey hole and we started to drift in 3 feet of water. We immediately started hooking up with a bunch of small schoolies and I thought to myself, “Great, I drove all the way down from Maine for some rats on the flats. I could have stayed home and done this.” We do get big fish in Maine, but typically Connecticut and Rhode Island and Massachusetts get the runs of bigger fish before we do. So, I was hoping to catch a run of bigger fish; not the pesty schoolies that are already invading my home waters. That’s when Mike said, “Ok, the tide is starting to move let’s put on some bigger flies.” So, he gave me a giant EP type Herring pattern. It weighed a ton and had a giant hook. I thought to myself, “Now, I’m interested.” I made a few casts and Mike told me to strip the fly back fast and try to get as much action out of the fly as possible. So, that’s what I did and that’s when I saw a 35-40 inch Striper follow my fly to the boat. Then, Mike was hooked up to a good fish. Then, we had doubles. It was amazing. We were catching fish one after the other all in the 30-40 inch range until the sun went down. Some of the fish were so powerful and ripped off tons of line and backing. We went out in the morning and the fishing was good, but not as good as the night before. I drove back to Maine a satisfied fisherman. It’s not every day that bigger stripers can be caught one after the other like that. But, when the Herring are in and the tides and moon and weather is right; it can be magical. Thanks, Mike, for a great trip and inviting me along. It is always a pleasure to fly fish with someone who is as passionate about finding fish as I am.
A truly inspiring video, all those fish were huge! Time to tie up some Clousers and hit the water. I haven’t heard of them being up here in any numbers yet but won’t be long.
clousers? … try foot long featherwings or big pollock or herring patterns and find the herring or alewives or shad .. that’s where the big fish will be … but, you are right .. they will be hear any day now … got some spots up your way that will be perfect for the spey rods … let’s go.
These fish that you posted, are so big they are falling off the page!
Congrats on such great fish
Good tune J-bone…Those fish are large. You sure are making your way around NE. Good work
Great stuff Jeremy! That’s one fish I’ve never tangled with but hope to mix it up with some day. Them some big stripes….very nice.
Giants! When you get a phone call like that you have to drop everything and go, glad you did. That tune ripped as hard as those fish.
Great stuff bro. Capt. Mike definitely looks like a master of his craft. Big bluefin last August and now big heavy striper action. Can’t beat that.
That’s what I call FISHING!!
Congrats for those realy big fish.
Wow jeremy , very nice fish. These stripers look a lot like our european Seabass. ( only these don’t grow that big unfortunatly..)
Hope to catch a striper one day…my biggest european Seabass untill now is 61 cm..
Cornelis van Leeuwen,
BASS-ADDICT
The Netherlands.
Great Video. I see the winte has given you the time to brainstorm on new filming ideas. I will be in VA. in the next month. Are the stripers back? Fishing the Pierre Marquette MI. this weekend. Hope we have some good hatches and a good fishtale to share.
We’ve had some pretty good striper fishing down here in CT. Fishing from the shore seems to be moving up the coast. Being out in a boat is a plus.
Let me know when you drive right by again Jeremy. You could hit the Farmington on the way home. 🙂
nice vid jeremy… those are pigs also.. i have to get out to the east coast soon..
Way to go Jeremy ! Great video of some awsome fish,see you on the water, Drew
ya man .. you and linesides would have loved it … but, those fish are moving up this way .. you know the deal. You got soem nice ones on the Cape, right? So, who knows .. maybe we can get out and find them here in Maine .. That was fun last year with me, you and linesides … hopefully a bit less fog .. if we do it again ..
yah .. the stripers are definately back .. things seem a bit behind this year and the migration seems to be a week or 2 late .. but, things seem to be moving into full swing now .. good luck with the trout on the pierre marquette … i am sure you will get some nice hatches .. perfect time of year, right?
flyaddict … i certainly will do .. i only fished the farmington once … and i was kinda hacking around because i did not really know the river all to well … but i do remember seeing some amazing hatches and feeding activity and some big brown trout …… would love to get down there for a day sometime and have you show me around … what is the best time of year?
You got it! I’m starting my vacation tomorrow, Heading up to Rockwood for a week,Things are running high but there is fish to be caught no doubt. I’m staying at Rockwood Cottages Downtown if you are around or want to fish, look for my Jeep Im up there till Thur .And maybe G.L.S next who knows
Peace DREW
the stripers have made it in to moosehead! Wow! … just kidding:) .. lucky you .. you are gonna have a killer time! i will keep an eye out for your jeep if i am up that way ..
Cool video looks like you guys had a good time. As ursual Im very jealous…
This time of year is the best. Last night I was fishing drys and emergers. Vitreus, Sulphurs, March browns, Olives, tons of caddis. Afternoons can be a blast with terrestrials.