Lots of breakers and much frustration

[ictalurus]

Yesterday evening, I hit a wadeable spot where I slayed the 18-22" stripers and some blues last year on several occasions with a Chugbug. This time I was armed with my new 9wt and a bunch of flies (thanks to Capt. Tom Hughes for the equipment advice and golfinjoe24 for the sweet flies). The current prediction was exactly the same as on a banner day last year. This year, there were jumbo peanut sized menhaden and silversides all around, and big blues and the occasional striper were laying into them. I threw everything I had at them, poppers, weighted and unweighted deceivers, clousers, and half and halfs, and I only had two little strikes. Fish were even breaking behind me between me and the shore. A couple times, there were big blow-ups where my fly was, but the fish didn't hit it. This went on from 5-7pm and was infuriating. :censored:

I was using a floating line with a 9ft leader. Previously, I've caught fish here using a 6ft or less mono leader, so I don't think the fish were leader-shy. Should I have used a sinking line? The water was only 4ft deep or less.

Was I not retrieving fast enough? Do you guys use two-handed retrieves? I was generally doing 6-12 inch strips, sometimes pausing, sometimes as continuously as I could.

Any suggestions would be appreciated because I want to go back and kick some fish butt.

[Salmo trutta]

Maybe there was just too much bait around. Sounds like a gold mine of a spot. Try getting there earlier or staying later. You should do well. Sounds like a great time and it's what keeps us on our toes and craving to go back. Once the bait thins out some, the fish should get more aggresive. Night time maybe, first light maybe. I want to go.

[golfinjoe24]

Where were you Bill? The end of the island?
In places like that I love using my Intermediate line with a good steady retrieve. It will stay up but if I want to get it lower, all I have to do is slow down or stop and it will sink.

[ghrousseau]

Yesterday evening, I hit a wadeable spot where I slayed the 18-22" stripers and some blues last year on several occasions with a Chugbug. This time I was armed with my new 9wt and a bunch of flies (thanks to Capt. Tom Hughes for the equipment advice and golfinjoe24 for the sweet flies). The current prediction was exactly the same as on a banner day last year. This year, there were jumbo peanut sized menhaden and silversides all around, and big blues and the occasional striper were laying into them. I threw everything I had at them, poppers, weighted and unweighted deceivers, clousers, and half and halfs, and I only had two little strikes. Fish were even breaking behind me between me and the shore. A couple times, there were big blow-ups where my fly was, but the fish didn't hit it. This went on from 5-7pm and was infuriating. :censored:

I was using a floating line with a 9ft leader. Previously, I've caught fish here using a 6ft or less mono leader, so I don't think the fish were leader-shy. Should I have used a sinking line? The water was only 4ft deep or less.

Was I not retrieving fast enough? Do you guys use two-handed retrieves? I was generally doing 6-12 inch strips, sometimes pausing, sometimes as continuously as I could.

Any suggestions would be appreciated because I want to go back and kick some fish butt.


When the bait is small silversides I have been using a 2 1/2 sparse flashaboo clouser with white lead eyes. I tie them with polar flash material. The other fly that has worked well for me on the small bait is Steve Farrar's sili skin fly(Atlantic Saltwater Flyrodders), which is easy to tie and has great natural movement. Also, sometimes a dead drift will mimic a stunned fish which is an easy mark. As for line, I have been fishing the Cortland clear camo intermediate on my 8wt for just about everything. I also fish a Rio clear intermediate on my 9wt when possible. Leaders are just 4 ft of 20lb floro most of the time. Also, try a crease fly as well. I make some that look like peanut bunker and sometimes the small stripers want to just annihilate them.

Good luck.

[golfinjoe24]

As for line, I have been fishing the Cortland clear camo intermediate on my 8wt for just about everything.
Good luck.

How do you like the Cortland line? I have been using the SA Mastery Striped bass intermediate and love it but wanted to try the Cortland clear camo. Im thinking about getting some of it for my 9wt in the next month. Hows it cast?

[ictalurus]

Salmo--give me a holler if you have an evening to kill in St. Mary's county. I was there until almost dark, and nothing changed. On the plus side, I might actually cast better if I can't see my line because I pay more attention to how the rod loads.

Joey--it's a super-secret location. :D I can't take credit for finding it, but it's a bit south of Solomons. We can hit it one day after class. The end of Solomons hasn't produced for me as well as it did last year. Last year I was catching stripers and blues up to 20", lots of 10 and 11" white perch, and a 17" puppy drum. This year, I've only scared up a couple small perch, blues, and stripers, and they were all very few and far between. Anyway, I guess I'll have to pick up an intermediate line, too.

gh--thanks for the advice. I didn't think about just drifting. I had a crease fly but was running out of light to tie it on by. I'll definitely give it a shot next time, and I'll try tying up some sparse clousers in menhaden and silverside colors.

[golfinjoe24]

Okay, haha.
Solomons never really did anything for me this year like last either. A few blues a month or two ago in the AM when I was making the run back from Cove Point.

I used to wade around Calvert cliffs and that area last year and loved it. Im guessing you were wearing your waders now. Haha
Its bloody chilly out today.