Compleat Angler Friends, we have have a special edition of this week's fishing report, authored by our very own Pat Huban of Albatross Fly Fishing. Pat has been on the hunt for striped bass nonstop since April, and has some unique insights into how this season is shaping up.
With this report I’m giving you all a bit of a recap for the first block of my charter season:
The consensus on the fishing locally this Spring and early Summer really depends on who you ask. If you spent your time on the deep-water reefs using a variety of fishing methods (conventional, troll, live bait, spin and fly) you likely experienced some incredible fishing.
The availability of trophy quality fish in condensed locations was, at times, as good as it gets. Ultimately, for those focused-on fly fishing, these deep-water locations can be a challenge. We either need to wait for surface activity and throw that perfect cast, utilize a hookless popper on a spin rod to create a bait and switch scenario, or dredge sink lines over the course of multiple hours to connect with that trophy Striper. It goes without saying that a boat is a requirement here.
My program focuses more on the Norwalk Islands the shallow water locations surrounding them. The story here, was very different. Throughout the spring, myself and my clients had to work very hard to create opportunities for those shallow water shots. Those willing to put in the time, were often rewarded with a personal best Striped Bass on fly. Bigger fish in shallower water are much more challenging then schoolie class fish, or larger fish in open water.
Striped Bass are slow growing animals and a 20lb Striped Bass is typically around 10 years old. Nothing survives in the ocean for 10 years by being stupid. The most alarming observation is the lack of smaller class fish, this is supported by the current Striped Bass recruitment studies which indicate poor spawns for the past several years. My takeaway from this Spring is that saltwater fly fishing is fraught with infinite variables. Was the shallow water activity slower due to the declining recruitment, or a random combination of hundreds of other factors like water temp, ambient weather, baitfish spawning patterns, commercial menhaden harvest, or even run off from our ever increasingly developed area? I’m truly not sure, but the thing that keeps me up most at night is the poor recruitment.
Hopefully, we receive news of a better spawn when the data comes out in the fall – until then, here’s what’s happening now. It’s not news that the Striped Bass fishing tends to slow a bit in the hotter weeks of summer but just because the heat is upon us, doesn’t mean you can’t get out there and find some fish with your fly rod. Focus on the early morning and evening hours. As the temperatures rise Striped Bass will become more active in the cooler parts of the day.
Be observant to the bait in front of you, is it larger Menhaden, or smaller critters like silversides or sand eels? Choose your fly accordingly. Cover water – if you’re wading, check multiple spots, if it doesn’t look promising, move on. Same strategy by boat – those low light hours are critical and the more water you cover the better chance you have. Try an incoming tide, this can bring some cooler water into shallow areas. Deeper water continues to produce, pay attention to the tides, the fish there are becoming more active during very specific parts of the tide cycle. What seems void of life may come alive for an hour or two at the right time. Continue to think larger flies, sink lines, or bait and switch. A 10 or 11 weight is the right tool for open water. Bluefish are around, but they are unpredictable fish.
On calm days, if you have access to a boat, covering water and looking for finning blues can be quite a treat. Also, try some other species, Scup, Tog, and Fluke will all take a properly presented fly. This will likely be the approach for the rest of the summer in Fairfield County until things shift in the fall. If you’re traveling to other areas of New England, a similar story is developing, lots of large fish, not so many small ones. Be prepared for that and make sure your expectations are aligned as well, as I said before, these bigger class fish can be difficult on fly.
I’ll wrap this up with a quote by the legendary Florida Keys and Everglades guide Steve Huff - “It doesn’t take a cooler full of snapper to have a great day. You just need that one defining moment where a fish yanks on your string.” So get outside, explore, see what you can find. If you’re interested in booking a charter with me, check out my website at www.albatrossflyfishing.com.
