Advice selecting fly from kayak (advice casting form kayak II)

[averagejoe]

Got into a huge school of stripers from 7:30 till 11am. Fish swimming underneath me ranged from Micro schoolies to fish close to 4 feet-with most being in the 30-40 inch range. One or two gigantic fish in the mix. With no bait fish to be seen they seemed to be keyed on the clouds of lobster, shrimp frye that were coming off the rock piles in front of a beach on the North Shore. They kept doing the same 150 yard circle all morning. I threw every fly I had at them EP's peanuts, clousers, deceivers, all the ones I knew the names of. Caught one schoolie. Every half hour or so I would reluctantly go back to a tube and worm and troll by the area and catch some pretty big fish up to 38-39 inches. I would then go back to fly. And this pattern continued all morning. The water was clear and fish were at all levels-on the bottom, finning at top, it was ridiculous. I had no problem casting, I think I have that down- but I was big time confused. I paddled back to Manchester harbor and caught three 20 inch fish on the same fly I had been using back where the fish were. If anyone wants to know where I was I'll tell you, but some people get ****ed when I do, so PM me. Anyway fun morning but I'll take one 30 inch fish on fly to a dozen bigger fish on T&W.

[John Wade]

BIG flies sinking line? Not pokin fun, but as a new guy I bet your not doing that yet eh? I had to learn the hard way!

[averagejoe]

I figured I needed sinking line but only own intermediate line. Baby steps...I'll probably stick with intermedite through fall. Changing lines, leaders, reels, spools etc.. will come in time. As far as big fly that may have helped, I was thowing some decent size ones and I was throwing wild eyes, plugs etc..with spinning gear and couldn't buy a hit..

[mdrew9]

I would suggest the Ruge Lobster fly! It can be found on our pattern page.

[averagejoe]

Went back to same spot this am. No frye. No fish. Dam.

[Wes]

Big flies (8-12 inches) on a sinker or small unweighted sluggos on top would be my picks but doubt anything will match bait for enticing strikes.

Very tough to get fish to look at anything if they are focused on huge quantities of krill that we see here sometimes.

[averagejoe]

Nailed myself in the back of my arm today. Ouch.

No blitzes Beverly Harbor to Magnolia.

[Sean Juan]

Just another vote for Big and Low. Whenever there is a ton of bait I usually go with something that doesn't match the hatch.

Just figure a prefect imitation of the bait gives me like a 1 in a million chance of hooking up. Where a big fly will get some reaction from the stripers.

[Telliedog]

averagejoe

i have been in the same situtation several times before on the north shore and can probably guess where you were. last year i was so frustrated i came into first light anglers (when they were still in manchester) to try and buy a fly that works. their advice was that when the fish are slurping lobster fry it is darn near impossible to get them to take anything. some success might be had on lobster fry flies.

i know your frustration. seeing the fish makes you believe that you can catch them. not always the case. in the dog days of august when i have been catching nada, i have donned a mask and flippers to see what was below. low and behold, lots of fish swimming around but not eating (flies, at least).

try fry flies and be happy with what you have caught.