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View Full Version : 6/12-14: Sand eels out East


Tuna
06-15-2003, 10:19 AM
Despite less than exciting weather forecasts, decided I needed a few days off.

Thursday morning was beautiful - low wind, cloudy and foggy. Got some small bass and a few blues in 3 mile harbor, then took off for North Haven shore.

I got about 6 minutes of sun, enough to scare a few bass and see the small sand eels DanD had told me the blues were spitting up last Friday. They weren't all over the flats, but they were there in enough big pods to make things look alive.

When the sun disappeared, I got a few bass casting structure on the shore.

Then the wind died, and I started being able to see the bottom again.

Hooked a nice bass I saw near the boat but I had lazily left a knot in my leader and when I struck the fish, it was taking off and oops, broke at the knot.

I got shots at a number of other good sized bass, but at best turned them. Very light rain came and went (just light enough to cool me off) and until the afternoon the wind stayed so calm I was able to see bottom.

Wind came up a bit and the sun tried to peak through, but the visibility got bad, called it a day after about 6 hours on the water.

Friday the forecast was not as good, so I took small bass and a few blues in 3 mile harbor and called it a day. My first hookup seemed like a much better fish, but I lost it before I ever saw it.

Saturday, I fished with DanD. We alternated catching small bass in 3 mile harbor before 9 am, drifting into a bit of competition with each other. By the time we left, I was up on him, although he had taken the largest fish of the morning at the entrance to the harbor.

We took off for North Haven, starting near the Ferry. Inside of the feeding blues, we saw bass surface in about 6 feet of water and proceeded to take a good number of small bass while waiting for the sun. At this point, Dan was up 3 on me.

When the sun did show past midday, the winds were light and when we found the bass on the flats they were a bit spooky despite pods of sand eels here and there. We each had a number of fish turn, each got a few hits, but I managed the only sight casted bass, just under 25 inches, the best of my 3 days and compensation for having Dan beat me on total bass for the day. Between the two of us, we had landed 30 bass, a good day even if only a few were over 20 inches.

I was 50-50 on fishing today (Sunday), thinking I should attend to those nonfishing errands I tend to blow off during fishable months, but woke up to a fair amount of sun and was headed in the direction of fishing. The winds didn't look ideal (I'm ridiculously picky about a good day on the North Haven flats - don't want East in the wind [or it will pull me to shore], don't want light and variable or I won't drift well and the fish will be skitish), but ah the sun!

However, as I started to get ready, I found my get up and go had done got up and went, so I opted for those pesky errands.

The waters this year seem particularly alive. I'm seeing tons of crabs, now good amounts of bait, skates and blowfish on the flats, blues in a near constant feed at the Ferry, bass of various sizes in decent numbers. Good sights all!

Albiemanmike
06-15-2003, 11:49 AM
Tuna,
I have been following your reports the last week or so and I am intrigued to say the least. I have been in touch with Dollarshort from this site and another site and I am going to try and make a run over your way this Tuesday. I hope that you wouldn't mind a CT. guy coming over to share in your fun? I have the general area mapped out and I would be coming over from the CT. River mouth via my Triton CC. I flyfish and lately I have had a drought of good flyfishing opportunities in my neck of the woods, I have been catching alot of nice fish but all of them have been on deep reefs and it has been difficult to get to these fish even with a sinking line weighted fly combo. Even though it has been frustrating I have taken some nice 30-34" fish on the wand and some bigger fish on the light tackle stuff throwing jigs and rubber. I am not a crazy flats type guy, I have fished Monomoy and Gardiners alot I just like to see the fish in their own backyard so to speak. It is exciting to see the fish and get them to take your fly but I just like being on the flats and seeing the fish swimming around me. Are you possibly going to be out on Tuesday in your area/s? If so what type of boat are fishing from? My boat is white and I have a Honda 130 hanging on the back. I am trying to find someone to join me but so far no takers so I may be solo as usual. Hope that I can meet up with you and chat a bit, don't need any info or spots as I like to hunt and peck around to find the best spots, Dollarshort gave a few tips on spots to begin at and I will go from there. If you wouldn't mind sharing a little fly info, what fly seems to be working for you? I would think that any of the old stand-by's would suffice? Maybe some sandeel patterns as you said you did see some recently. And maybe some darker colored clousers....olive, brown? Are you using a clear int. line in these spots or floater? Also have you tried a surface presentation yet? If so was it productive? I know up on the Cape when I used to go that when they were in that picky mode that a surface presented lure/fly worked quickly usually elicited vicious responses. Anyway I enjoy reading your reports very informative and comprehensive not many guy's take the time to tell the whole story like yourself, it is appreciated and helpful as well as enjoyable reading.

Tightlines,
Mike Mayo

Tuna
06-16-2003, 08:45 AM
Albiemanmike - see PM for a little more detail.

Unfortunately, I gotta work all week, but good luck Tuesday.

I use a clear intermediate on the flats. I've used color ones with probably as much luck, but the clear one looks cool.

I use intermediate lines to help sink the fly to the bottom. Even in 2 feet and less of water, with clousers best chance is to get to where they are, and they are generally on the bottom.

I don't tie anymore, favorite current fly is Chris Windram's Deep Sparking Sand Eel. It is forward weighted like a clouser and looks a lot like it when retrieved.

Small clousers are great too. I don't change up as much as I should, generally stick to chartreuse or light brown. The sparse clousers the guides use for albies in NC would probably be better than the clousers I use, but generally its getting size, color and presentation right that counts.

I used to use big half and halfs. They scare fish the way I get them to hit the water, but they took a lot a flats bass in the past.

I've tried crease flies on the flats a few times with success.

Haven't used many other surface flies on the flats.

When the bass are picky, a lot of the local guides switch to bonefish flies. I haven't tried it much.

I have used, with success, sand eel flies (ones not weighted like my current favorite). But generally I am looking for something to try to get the fly to the bottom quickly (before the bass cruises UNDER my fly without seeing it).

Good luck Tuesday, my PM had info on how to recobnize me if we run into each other later in the year.

Albiemanmike
06-16-2003, 09:00 AM
Tuna,
Thanks again for sharing your info with me I do appreciate it very much. I am disappointed that you cannot make it out there tomorrow but I will let you know how I make out if I do actually get over there. I am still planning to make it over there tomorrow and unless the weather doesn't cooperate I will be there. I sent you a reply PM, I will keep my eye out for you when I am out on the water.

Tightlines,
Mike Mayo