8/25 Haba--Dog days are howling/Dusted off the flyrod

[Slappy]

Launched the yak just after high last night. I haven't been out for a couple weeks because of vacation, but hopes were high because the bite had been so good earlier this month. There were a lot of boats when I was paddling out, but they all left before I got out. I guess they didn't want to fish in the dark!?

The bite started off as a pick but after a couple hours of dark, it got going. Not wide open, but a fish every couple casts, more than half the fish were legal. There was some bait around and the stripers were doing the occasional boil--just one splash here and there. Fish were in very shallow, most came in 3' to 6' and I was even getting them where the water wasn't really moving. It feels like september already.

Since it was dark and there was nobody around I broke out the fly rod and managed to get a cast past the end of the yak (ok, it took a few tries). This was my first time in the salt with the fly rod for stripers (the influence of you reel-timers). I got my first fly-rod legal; I have caught many legals on the fly, but never using a fly rod.

[LeonR]

I'm glad to hear you are out again and now catching on a fly-rod, you will see if you combine the two plastics and fly you are going to have a great time.
What fly were you using?
Man I have to find time and join you out there one night - if I could get away from work that would be great.

[Slappy]

Leon, My flies generally fall into 2 categories: "wad of krystal flash" or "a few feathers on a hook" occasionally one will be a clouser.

Last night I used a white one about 7" very thin profile. I would have preferred a much larger profile to get the bigger fish. On the plastics, every fish on the 9" or 10" was legal, when I used a 6" I caught shorts. I need to learn to tie some big profile flies, then I would have to learn to cast them :eek: .

I will be out there this weekend--get out in the dark!

[LeonR]

I don't generally like to cast very bulky flies but if you look at the two long ones on the right they are not to bad, the first false cast is bad but then they expell almost all the water and cast nicely after that.
They look good inthe water too.
<edit> Hang on I have to make the file smaller it wont load

[detra]

My last couple of trips out, the fishing has been on and off like a switch. Granted, family/work/weather considerations have conspired force eve/morning trips, but are you guys experiencing a consistent bite? We seem to hit fish for about 30 min then it quits, we then move and find fish again, only to have it quit again. Doesn't seem to matter whether we are trolling or drifting.

[Slappy]

Detra,
I found the bite to be inconsistent until late July. The night bite has really been going good. Not wide open, but a very consistent bite and I am catching more fish per trip than any other month. Since I have been using the kayak, I drift a spot until conditions change and the bite shuts off, but moving to a new spot usually produces a new pod of fish. Seems like the short/legal ratio varies a lot, even in spots that are not far apart.

The other August difference is that I have caught more legal than short fish.

[TeeB]

Slappy - Where do you put in? I typically put in off Squantum, but it can be a long paddle to the harbor islands and other fishy spots.
Are you fishing the inner harbor or more outside like the Faun Bar? I'd love to find some other options for launching. Any recommendations?

[ruge13]

My last couple of trips out, the fishing has been on and off like a switch. Granted, family/work/weather considerations have conspired force eve/morning trips, but are you guys experiencing a consistent bite? We seem to hit fish for about 30 min then it quits, we then move and find fish again, only to have it quit again. Doesn't seem to matter whether we are trolling or drifting.
None what so ever, at least not for me on the fly. I haven't really used a spin rod much though. I haven't raised a fish after dark all month. It's been all low light for me. Sunset or Sunrise has been decent, but all over the place. Never the same area twice. I have really had to work to cover water trying to find fish. Ton of bait, just no fish. I have been staying on the surface with creasy flies, sliders, snakes, gurglers, and poppers. In areas where I know what the bottom looks like and there are visable signs of bait on top. Still no fish where I usually can find them. Its been so bad if I get one rat for 2 hours it was a good day. I guess its good that its forcing me to completly change my tactics from hit one spot, stay on it for 3 hours, hit another the next day or later that day. Now I hit one for a bunch of casts, then move on if I don't like what I see.

Also been trying to get under bait schools in deeper water, water over 10ft. hasn't worked for me either. Tried a wide range of flies. Large to small, colors you name it.

Its been so bad I have been going to Nahant here and there for greener pastures. Not working...water temps are still in a good range, nice and cold.

Trollers have been picking away at fish, decent fish here and thre too, with the tube n worm. Just nothing for me on the fly.

[detra]

In years past I've considered myself the tube-n-worm master. So much so that it got and is...boring. This year, all the usual spots haven't been producing and I've done better casting sluggo's and flies. But still, no consistent bite despite what I would consider perfect conditions, i.e. bait, water temp, moving water, etc. Fish are there and gone. Maybe I just need to get out more, hopefully the fall fishing will pick up. Though, I will be missing most of september due to vacations.

[Slappy]

It seems like the fish are concentrated in areas. When I drift, as soon as I leave the structure I am fishing--nothing, no scattered fish. Some days I have anchored up next to the structure so I wouldn't drift off it. Staying on a spot where I am picking at them has kept me in the area long enough to be there when they go on the feed.

Ruge, is your dark fishing right after sunset? Seems like it really gets going 2-3 hours after the sun goes down. I read one theory that bass take a long time to adjust their eyes from light to dark and that is why the early night is often slow. I don't know about the theory, but it seems that right after dark is often a slow time.

TeeB check your PM.

[detra]

Maybe I should just fish with slappy.

[Slappy]

Funny thing--I rarely see anyone fishing when I am(#$119)

A day without sunshine is like...night!

[ruge13]

Ruge, is your dark fishing right after sunset? Varies. Most of the time its after sunet and before sunrise. Ocasionally I will head out late and into morning hours, but usually then I am only finding fish in deeper water lit areas where normally its shallower water and dark areas with little disturbance. Never had such a bad run in previous years. Its just this year.

Having said that this morning was great, despite the wind.

Funny thing--I rarely see anyone fishing when I am(#$119) Maybe they don't want to be seen...

[Slappy]

Maybe they don't want to be seen...

Could it be that my Eau de Baitshop aftershave is driving them away?