Weekend advice for Crane's

[Rocktrout]

Hello. I have a friend who is visiting his parent's place up on the North Shore this weekend. He has never fished the salt, but wants to go out on Sunday. I have fished up at Plum Isl and Halibut, but never at Crane's. Anyone offer up any advice as to where to toss flies this weekend. Thanks a ton for any advice.

Cheers,
Adam

[MarkG]

With the high tide at approx. 10:30 Sunday morning, I'd fish the Steephill Beach section of Crane's from gray dawn to the top of the tide. Facing the beach Steephill is the stretch furthest to the right, and includes about 200 yards of a large boulder formation that shows at half-tide and extends out into about 12 feet of water. Great structure with associated rips and eddies to hold large stripers on the incoming this time of the year. Perfect location to drift flies, eels or live bait. Further up into Ipswich Bay is the mouth of the Ipswich River, as well as a number of sand bars that attract bait, birds and stripers and blues.

Additionally, there is a series of sand bars that run the length of Crane's that are likely spots. The entire area is likely to start exploding with activity as the migrating fish head out of the Merrimack, Parker , Rowley and Ipswich Rivers and all hit Emerson's Rocks ( on the Southern tip of Plum Island ) and the Crane's area before heading out to Halibut Point and beyond.

If you are on the water Sunday AM. I'll be flyfishing the area in a 22' MakoCC

[Rocktrout]

Thanks for the solid info and good luck in the boat you lucky b-tard!

[fleshfly]

from the backside, castleneck river, to all the way to mouth of the ipswich is all great fly water. I think Steep Hill from shore, with the fly, is better on tail of the drop, or the early stages of the incoming. Fish the "seem" of the rip. If I were you I would park your car at the gate, well before sunrise, and fish the incoming. Fishing will be better, less boat traffic, and the bay looks beatiful @ the sunrise.

[Rocktrout]

Thanks. I may check it out on Sat to get my bearings. Are any winds "bad" up there?