Took the ferry to Monomoy yesterday. Did nothing on the surf side in the morning, worked my way around to the flats by 11:00 am. Immediately got into stripers, starting with several schoolies, all landed quickly for release under the watchful eye of 3 grey seals that followed me for a good two hours.
As hard as the fishing has been out there, it was easy yesterday. I'd gotten into a routine over the past month, which is as follows. Mark spots fish. Mark cast to fish. Fish follows fly. Fish refuses same. Rotate through whole box of flies with same results.
Yesterday it was different. I spotted one nice fish, casted, he followed, then bang, my line running off fast, well into the backing. Landed a 31" fish, then repeated ten minutes later with a 38" fish (okay, sizes are relative, I was in waste deep water and only had my rod to first guide = 32" bench mark). Soon after that I hooked a fish that was obviously bigger. After a fight that got me well into my backing, my leader snapped in the middle of the 15 lb. section. Must have had a nick, because the 8 lb. fluorocarbon should have gone first. Oh, well.
The flies that worked were the char/white clouser and a char/white half and half of my own construction that is reverse tied so that the saddle hackle flare out. Tremendous puff when stripped. In truth, I think any bright weighted fly would have done it. Water was somewhat murky with lots of mung.
Keith Lincoln of Rip Ryder asked me to let everyone know he's not teaching this year, so he's running 6 days a week until the end of the season. $10.00 per head, call him at (508)945-5450 the night before for reservations.