1st Striped Bass Caught on a Fly - and Then Some

The sun was coming over the horizon when my friend, Ben Legg, the first client I ever took out some 15 years ago, arrived at Sandy Point State Park. In the past, we had enjoyed many productive and fun trips together on his boat, a 26' Boston Whaler, which is now in FL.

Ben and his friend and fishing buddy, Paul Grimm, boarded my boat, and we started to cruise south on the western shore. We stayed well off the shore line as we stopped every now and then so I could use my binoculars to see if there were any working birds. We ran all the way south to G"83A" without locating any fish. No problem. After some more cruising we located some working birds and the skunk was off. When the current went slack we ate lunch and it wasn't long before catching started again.

This is the 1st striper Paul
 Ever Landed While Fly Fishing

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We weren't far south of the Bay Bridge when.... 

Ben Caught This Striper on Topwater

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The majority of fish were caught on an ebb current (outgoing tide)in the afternoon. There weren't many boats out in the after 1:00 pm yesterday. The most productive fly....

Sinking Clouser 3"

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Most Productive Technique

Short Striping (with sinking line)-Cast the fly out and count it down to the desired depth.  With a weighted fly and 350 grain sinking line it sinks approximately 1’ per second.  If the line gets tight during the countdown get additional line off the reel and in the water.  This allows the fly to sink close to where your cast landed.  To accomplish this put the rod tip just above the water and figure 8 the tip to let more line out.  Start stripping the line in 1-foot increments, swiftly, back toward the boat.

Tight Lines & Smooth Seas Always.