Monomoy

[Wrights]

Guys--or girls--I'm newly addicted to this striper fly-fishing business. Itching to try Monomoy but don't have a clue as to how to get there and what to do once--if--I can figure that one out. Any advice out there on timing/tactics/flies, etc? What's the most important thing I need to know?
Thanks.

[David Churbuck]

Check out Reel-Time Guide Randy Jones' site. He has a wealth of info from tactics to safety at http://www.yankeeangler.com/rsjFlatsFishing.html

using Reel-Time's search function will turn up more info than you'll ever be able to digest.

dc

[Ray]

Guys--or girls--I'm newly addicted to this striper fly-fishing business. Itching to try Monomoy but don't have a clue as to how to get there and what to do once--if--I can figure that one out. Any advice out there on timing/tactics/flies, etc? What's the most important thing I need to know?
Thanks.


Come June / July I'd be happy to show you around.

[Wrights]

Thanks Ray. That sounds like the perfect answer to me. I live in northern
VT so it's a bit of a hike, but regardless of distance and gas prices I am ready to go on a moment's notice most of the time. Work occasionally interferes with my fun. Is there any decent fishing to be had on the island in May? I'm headed down for a few days in the middle of the month with a group of guys from MA/NH. Look forward to taking you up on your offer in June/July.
Steve

[ba$$hole]

Take Rt. 6 to the Chatham/Harwich exit (exit 11 I believe). Off the exit make a left. Follow a couple of miles to the very end at Rt. 28; make a left. Follow straight through downtown Chatham. Go straight through the rotary. When you come to the end, make a right. Follow past the beach and lighthouse. Bear right at the fork (should see signs for Monomoy NWR and/or Rip Ryder ferry). Don't take the first right after the lighthouse! Follow straight to the Monomoy NWR. You will then make a left to go to the visitor's center parking lot. Rip Ryder ferry will take you to S. Beach or Monomoy Island for $10 & $15 respectively (if memory serves me correctly). You should actually park on the causeway before entering the NWR so as not to fill up the parking spaces for people using the visitor's center. You can either walk up to the visitor's center or wait for the Rip Ryder shuttle van. Best bet would be to fish there starting mid-June through July for best conditions. It gets crowded enough, but always a place to go to find some solitude. S. Beach gives you access to the ocean beach side as well. N. Monomoy usually heats up later than S. Beach. Bring a decent assortment of flies; sparse flies have served me well in the Clouser fashion. Ferry leaves around 7am and last ride in is either 4 or 5pm. Be careful of rising tides when fishing N. Monomoy island. Fog is no joke either and comes up extremely quick; carry a compass or GPS (set waymarks to get you back to shore if using a GPS). Move slow and keep your eyes open; don't focus on the surface glare; make the effort to see through the surface (sounds stupid, but you sometimes get hypnotized by it only to notice a bass too late to cast to). Cast at anything that looks like it's moving. Sometimes posting up along weed beds and depressions works well. Move slowly on the flats and give other anglers a very wide berth! Bring water and maybe a light snack. Usually in mid-July, I'll wade wet, but green-head flies can be viscious in the summer. Carry bug spray and definitely lather up with some sun block. Weeds can sometimes be a problem in the summer. Be careful about weather; not a place to be during a thunder storm holding a 9' lighting rod.

[Markymark]

It's much nicer during the week,...Mon. -Thurs., Just take your time and wait for them to come to you,try not to move around in the water too much(disturbance).Trust me,I learned the hard way.....and your heart will start pounding once you see them come at you in water 2ft. or less! DAMN!! Can't wait any longer!

[Wrights]

BH, Markymark,
Thanks for your helpful responses. Just what I needed--other than some big fish.
Wrights