Striped Bass: Fishing The Reefs

Fishing the reefs for striped bass with a fly can a be challenging but rewarding methodof catching large fish. Reefs are underwater structure or humps in the sea floor that area home for many species of fish. When the incoming and outgoing tides flow over thesehumps a rip line is formed on the waters surface. Striped bass use reefs as cover tohold out of the strong current and to feed. They usually can be found in the smooth wateron the up-current side and edges of the reef with the larger fish holding deep. Whenschools of bait fish drift through stripers and other gamefish rise and attack these baitsright on the surface. These fish can be caught with a good cast and a fly that imitatestheir prey. When the fish aren’t showing a little more presentation is involved. If the reefis gentle setting up well above the rip and dead drifting a fly on a sink tip or sinking linecan be effective. When you can’t drift over the reef because of rocks or turbulent waterusing an anchor or the motor will hold the boat above the rip line. Swinging flies in frontof rips or rock piles can produce violent takes and big stripers. When the fish are deepercasting up current, mending and feeding line into the drift will get your fly down to wherethey are. Reading the water and being prepared to fish either high or low in the watercolumn is key to your success in catching striped bass on the reefs.