Maine: My First Striped Bass On The Fly

About a year ago my husband entered as contest on Flies and Fins to win an Orvis Zero Gravity Rod and Mach Reel. He promised that if he won he would give the gear to his wife, and he reluctantly did. A few days later I was the surprised and ecstatic owner of a brand new saltwater fly rod and reel. I had been fly fishing fresh waters in Maine for a few years but had never been saltwater fly fishing so I could hardly wait to give it a go.After a long Maine winter, Spring finally came and I got out on the water to test my skill and new fly fishing gear for fishing Stripers on a local beach. Being used to freshwater angling, I realized that this was a whole new game. After a couple of cast attempts with a 260 grain sink tip line, I came to realize this was not about the smooth casts and delicate presentations of freshwater fly fishing. It was about getting the line out there and stripping it in before the fly sank to the sand.Since I was fishing from the shore, it was quite a challenge for me to cast far enough to even stand a chance of catching my first Striper. I realized the importance of making a good double haul to get this cumbersome weighted line to deliver to where the fish were feeding. After a few bad casts and a couple of better ones, I finally got the fly far enough and sure enough I hooked up. I called for back up to help me land what, in my mind was quite possibly the biggest Striper anyone has ever caught in Maine. Later I came to find out that there are bigger fish swimming around the coast of Maine, but at that point it was a big victory for me. I had caught my first Striped Bass.

9 Comments

jeremy on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

Emilia – glad to see the rod and reel got put to good use … and it was used to catch your first striper! i hope the rod, reel and you see many more memorable fish in 2007 and beyond … good luck …
waterwhippa on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

Way to go! nice way to christen the Zero G. I hope 2007 holds some more salt water outings for you. I think you are ready for the Blues and hard-tails now! Boz, you are a true gentleman, I think I would have given my girlfriend my old set up. Nice work!
NiC on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

Nice to see yet another girl flyfishing. Respect for your man that he gave you the new gear.
Good luck in the future with the saltwater fishing.

Nice fish btw.
greg on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

Great video, the pink line surprised me, I’m going to get some. Congrats. on your first striper and hope you continue fly fishing. You should be thinking Bahamas and Bone fish now.
AvidDavid on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

Emilia:

I am sooo jealous! I, too, am the beneficiary of a flies and fins contest, having received a Mach Reel for participation on Flies and Fins South. I spent much of this summer attempting to convert from freshwater nymphing to catching stripers. (perhaps you followed the thread in the salt water forum in which several hard core Striper gurus [mostly from Maine] tried to impart knowledge to me that may help me next summer).

I am really excited that you were successful on your first attempt. “First fish” represent so much to all of us: success, outsmarting the finned creature, getting everything together all at the same time (cast, fly, stripping, fish present). But I believe that it is especially glorious during such a major transition from the subtleties of trout fishing in streams to the different subtleties of catching stripers in the salt. My recent endeavors parallel your’s remarkably (except that you caught a striper!)

I hope that I do not appear too sexist in my excitement that you, a woman, posted this fishtale. I am particularly pleased that women are more overtly participating on this site. I believe that the thrill that I seek in my fishing endeavors (All too often it is only the possibility of the thrill that brings me back) is shared by most of us here. My thrills do not require the largest fish or the fastest fish, rather the accomplishment of succeeding, fulfilling my anticipation of finding, hooking and bringing the fish to hand. I believe that you captured this same thrill in your fishtale and video.

I encourage you to continue to help this site become more gender neutral, because, I believe that we all have so much in common! Congratulations and thanks for sharing your joy with us!

Dave
Boz on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

Nice fish tale babe, and good work on your first Striper! I was just thinking about the first time I took you out by Portland Head Light when the waves were pounding the ledges hard, that was insane. We had tons of fun chasing them all summer together. Next year we’ll have to chase Blues and Albies!!!
Boz on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

Whip,
I don’t know if I’m a gentleman, but I do keep my word. My wife did deserve the new rig, and when I’m good (on occasion) she lets me borrrow the reel 🙂

(Original contest post)

“However, the past eight years of knowing my “now” wife, she has happily accepted all of my factory second flies, the reel that works fine if you keep tightening the screw on the drag control every so often, the rods I’d fished for two seasons then give to her, you know, Hand me downs.
(Those here with many siblings know this too well.)
Despite all of this she still loves me, and can cast this crap gear better than most of my buddies, and myself on most given days.

I’d love to have the new Orvis Zero Gravity rod and Mach reel to give my wife for Christmas. If anyone deserves it, its her, and she’s never fly-fished the salt!

She’d be so happy to go Striper fishing for her first time equiped with only the best gear!

I can picture her “gloating” smile now.”
kennebecfly on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

Great story and video! Watching it has me longing for spring and Congrats on the set up. Nothing like haveing the right gear for the job.
Emilia on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

Yeah, right gear is essential. That’s why I need to get a boat for this season 🙂

Maine: My First Striped Bass On The Fly

9 Comments

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