Striped Bass

So, the stripers have arrived in Maine. And, this weekend marks our annual pilgrimage to Rhode Island. Yup, as soon as the Stripers show up in Maine, we leave. Typically, the first push of fish brings thousands upon tens of thousands of stripers into our marshes and harbors and onto our saltwater flats. But, they are small. The smaller fish always show up first and then a few weeks later the bigger fish arrive. So, we try to time it right. Typically, things are a couple weeks ahead of Maine in Rhode Island and every spring around this time we find ourselves on the Rhode Island flats pursuing the larger spring run fish. So, I gotta change my mindset. I gotta switch gears from little flies and fine tippet and get in the saltwater mode. For me, switching gears, refers to much more than just getting out the 9 weight, stripping basket and a bunch of clousers. Switching gears means a total shift in fly fishing. The guys I typically fly fish with here in Maine are … let’s say … a little salty. They laugh at freshwater fly fisherman, sometimes right in their faces, and would never be caught dead fishing for trout and other such “baitfish”. These guys don’t hide the fact that all they care about is lots of fish and big fish. They are all amazing fly fisherman and they were fly fishing here in Maine long before it was the cool thing to do. Mike, the kind of leader of our salt water pack, can cast a fly line further and smoother than anyone I know. But, he only uses the fly rod as a tool and when its practical. Anytime we are on the flats he is fishing with the fly rod, but when we move to the ledges or go out to the vineyard for Albies or on boats for Giant Blue Fin Tuna he will use whatever fishing gear gets the job done. They all laugh at me because I fish strictly with the fly rod, whether I am on a boat, on the ledges, on the beach or on the the flats. They constantly raz me and refer to me as a “Trout Fag”. No trout, regardless of size gets any admiration from these guys. However, I must say, when I show them pictures of Steelhead they do look with a little bit of curiousity. One of these years, it is my goal to get these salty Mainers to leave Maine and come steelheading with me. I owe much of my saltwater fly fishing experience and knowledge to these guys. We have spent countless hours in the salt water fly fishing for Stripers, Blue Fish, Blue Fin Tuna, Albies and Bonito. We fish from boats, off the ledges, on the flats and from the beach and regardless of where we are fishing it is always a blast and a refreshing break from the more refined characteristics of freshwater fly fishing. With these guys, whining is not allowed. 12 hours on the water, hundreds of fish, cold and wind. If you even mention that you are cold, tired, sore etc.., you tagged for life as a whiner. If you even mention that your wife or girlfriend wants you home, you’re sure to be coined a “Sally”. In fact, no mentioning of wives or girlfriends is allowed. You gotta be able to take a ton of jokes directed at you and learn to dish them out. Nothing is sacred, except for maybe jokes about a persons mother. But, if its 2 am. on Marathas Vineyard and the Albies have been on the bite and the beer is flowing … even mother jokes become fair game. I spent many years commercial fishing. Out at sea, long lining for Swordfish, Mako Shark and Tuna. Dragging for Codfish and Scallops. Gillnetting in Alaska for Salmon. Sometimes 30 days at a time fishing 100+ miles off-shore. So, for me, fly fishing with these guys is allot fun because it is a real as it gets and it keeps me connected to my roots. More than that, we always have so many laughs and a great time and usually catch lots of fish and big fish. Man, this fish-tale took a different turn from where I intended it to go. So, the nice thing about where I live in Portland, Maine is that I am literally walking distance to the Salt Water. I can sometimes smell the fish if the wind is right. What is nice about that is the fact that Saltwater Fly Fishing is something I can do all spring and summer at the drop of a hat. It is very common to go out for a few casts at lunchtime or after work, and in doing so, I always see many of the same faces and lots of new ones. So, the other afternoon on my way home from a meeting, I stopped by a marsh to see if there were any fish and to see if the rumors were true. It wasn’t long before I hooked my first Striped Bass of 2006 and just as I did, I head someone yell, “Hey, are you Jeremy?” As I brought the tiny striper in, I said, “Yeah.” He said, “I’m Linesidesonthefly.” Funny how Flies And Fins has changed the way I refer to people. I actually find myself not using or not even knowing someone’s real name and refer to them by their screen name. So, Linesidesonthefly and I bounced around the marshes and caught a bunch of small stripers. I told him I was going to Rhode Island this weekend and he graciously gave me a sweet Pollock fly and a Squid Fly that he tied. I was very appreciative because I know that those flies take some time to tie. He said, “Dude, good luck down there. Take a picture of a Big Fish with one of those flies in his mouth.” I said, “Will do.” I invited Linesidesonthefly to come to Rhode Island with us, as he would fit right in with any salty crew. But, it was too short of notice for him. I am sure we will cross paths again online and on the salt water. Nice meeting you Linesidesonthefly, good luck in Maine this weekend. Hope you find a few bigger fish mixed in with the rats. They should be here any day. I will do my best to put those flies infront of some big fish and if I get one, I will certainly take a photo with one of your flies in his mouth. I put up a link to last years spring Rhode Island Trip. As you will see, we got into some nice fish. I think we caught 450 stripers between 5 or 6 of us and everyone got fish over 30 inches. Hopefully, this year will be better.