Maine Striper Fishing Reports. Coastal Fly Angler

Maine Striper Fishing Reports July 6

2009-07-06T16:21:00.000-07:00

Angler: Lanier Woodrum with a nice bass caught on a Casco Bay mud flat in the endless northest winds and rain of June and early July 2009!!

If you where on the water today you know how outstanding the fishing and weather was,
every where we went we found lot's fish and tons of bait to keep them happy for a while.With all the bait the bass where not just jumping at the first thing you throw at them, we did well fishing a hollow pattern with a tiny droper of a craft-fur type baitfish pattern size 4-6 with 95% of fish eating the droper as well laid up tarpon bunnys striped slow on a floating line or any popper wakeing the water. Looking forward we have some bumpy weather for a day or two but otherwise it's looking good, with tons of fish and bait it really looking to be and outstanding July, the water is cleaning up quickly and we took advantage of the sun by running to some of the outer island beaches for some sight fishing, after a great incoming tide on the mud flats. The fish are spread out, mixed in are some big schools of small and big bluefish, so have some bite guard with you.

Open AM days for July is the 19 and 29 th PM call about tides.

Capt Eric Wallace
207-671-4330

June 26, 2009 Maine Striper Fishing Report,

2009-06-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

Let's hope the weathers worst is behind us, and we can get on with summer!!!! that said with all the big rain's ugly water and NE winds- the fish did not leave!!!! some moved to the outer islands some move away from the rivers, but they are here. For us we have seen and moved the most fish at the bottom of these big tides and just after the turn, Poling the mud flat yesterday we would come up on schools of laid up fish at slack tide in less then two feet of water, some fish would be wondering around feeding, our problem was getting a clean cast where the fish where we had lot's of floating weeds from some of the biggest tides of the year and the big wind from the past few days, So yes the fish and bait are around- work the bottom of the tides and be freaking stealthy as you can, and even if you line a fish strip like hell- sometimes they will turn and pounce on it. Look for some stable weather SW winds and average tides to really turn things back on !!!

Open Dates for July 2009
AM 14, ,19, 29 PM call for fishy tides
Capt Eric Wallace
207-671-4330

Maine Striper Fishing Report, June 19, 2009

2009-06-19T04:31:00.000-07:00

June 19 Striper fishing report, Maine's Casco Bay
After a couple just outstanding trips this week, the weather is looking to go to S@#t for a few days.If this past week is an indicator, we are really in for one hell of a striper fishing season in Maine this year,it's seems like every where we go we see fish, very full happy fish not always wanting to eat the first fly you throw at them, but they are here!!!! and you can work out a few fish in each area.

Cracking the no blitz code

We had some small tides this week, witch was good and bad, first off it aloud the flats to hold enough water to fish real good right through the peak sun, for some great sight fishing on wednesday,the down side was the fish stayed up for a shorter time during the lower light surface action. Most likly due to the small tides I'll take the good on that any-day.

The guys who are poling or working the flats real slow, guides and non guides are so stoked on how many fish they are seeing,but some are getting frustrated getting the fish the eat, well first off the fish are so dam full they are going to be a little more suspect of your offering. A few thing to try even thought there are some very large fish to target, drop your leader down to 10-12 lb, and really try to limit your boat noise, these fish have no reason to stay up on the flat they can go anywhere and find food right now, as well the water temps are good throughout the bay, so be freakin quite and stay away from other anglers no need to crowd each other this year, there lots fish from the Kennebec to the cape,

The Eat

White and pink Hollows in the sun have done well, so have Black in the post rain water, 5-7 inch long, even when there just ton's of food - standing out a little often get's it done, there's ton's of mac's blitzing on small bait and striper feeding on the same small bait, often leaving the mac's alone, small olive and white mush mouth style flies have pick up a few nice fish, and two of the largest fish I herd of the week, one from the beach and one from a flats skiff where both taken on olive crabs,so as stripers do - they eat it all,just give them the right presentation!!

If your looking to fish give a call, some good tides are open in July and Aug
Capt.Eric Wallace
207-671-4330

Maine Striper fishing reports

2009-06-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

Maine Stripers on a Casco Bay flat.

From Soggy weather blitzes to sunny weather sight fishing the last two week have just been a ton of fun for us here in Maine, I started my Maine striper fishing season sight fishing sand flats in late May? this is a first for me.I have scouted these flats the last 8 years from a poling platform and this year was the first I have seen them there this early!! when some cloudy weather killed the sun we started fishing Casco Bay, witch was already having very good reports from other Capt's and fishy locals.

My first guide day on Casco Bay was June 3 and in our first hour we land over ten slot size fish, it turned off quickly after the sun pop out mid morning. The Bay has really continue to fish very well, there is a ton of big bait in the rivers, the alewife run was good ,now the Blue Back Herring have poured into the rivers as well, Mackerels are blitzing all over the place on the small atlantic herring juvies-and swarms of sand eels are drifting in as well,water temp is 57 and warming into the lower 60 's on the flats,pretty much perfect conditions and just a ton better than the last few years, Fish size is a mixed bag I had Crosby Bean of Hardy rods and reels out on Thurs, within fifty feet and 5 cast we landed a 9 inch striper and a 34 this was 15th fish over 30 landed this year on flies so far on my boat and the reports from Capt John Ford of Portland Guide Service he is seeing similar fish sizes as well, we are excited to have so many big fish around but really excited to see the little guys for the first time in a few season in any numbers. Some other reports from the area has the kennebec coming alive, Peter Fallon of Maine Stripers, reports having some good fishing when the weather was stable and is looking forward to a good season on the Kennebec as some beach angler have already caught fish off of Popham.

The Portland Area south has plenty of fish, I have a passion for Stand up Paddle surfing and not only do I use it for surfing but also for scouting and chasing tailing fish while i'm in the Keys in the winter, Well I just got off the water at Higgins beach there was tons of Micro Bait and we had bass all over under neath us. It should be a good one!!!!!!

Capt Eric Wallace

207-671-4330

www.coastalflyangler.com

Maine - Cape Cod - FL Keys

Maine Striper Fishing Reports

2009-06-05T18:05:00.000-07:00

Well-Wow thing are off to a great start here in Maine!!! the fish are showing and we are having a great early season for us,
Ive been doing trips in Maine and Mass from May 21 on and it's just getting better by the day!!! so get out there and look forward to an much better season the last year. I'm keeping this report short, I helped with the flyfishing film tour in Portland last night and had a trip this Morning. A few emails came in today, looking for June dates- I have the 13 of June open then the next open date is July 11 th. drop a line if your looking to fish I can hook you up with some great guides or fish an evening half day if the tides are right.

Also check out the comments on last week Blog from anglers fishing the New Meadows

Capt.Eric Wallace
207-671-4330

Maine Striper Fishing Reports, June 1, 2009

2009-05-31T16:04:00.001-07:00

Water Temps
Buzzard Bay 56--Mass Bay--53---Casco Bay--53-- Kennebec--47

Open Dates Call 207-671-4330

Things are starting to move along in southern Maine,, area’s in Casco Bay are holding fish, but the best fishing in Maine this past week was on the Piscataqua where reports of 25-30 inch stripers surface feeding on the small juvi herring, On the sunny days I've done 4 trips on the sand flats, yes sight fishing in May in Maine ? lovin it !!! a week ago we where seeing lot's of fish on the incoming tides on the sand flats, Casco Bay had reports of a few fish caught, now the sand flats are showing fewer fish but we did get some shots at a few very large bass in the skinny on saturday, mean while anglers in Casco Bay are starting to picking up more fish, some nice fish in the Saco also the shad fishing has been hot at times!! Looking forward I'm hoping for a big push of fish in the next few days we have the bait and the water temps.

Maine Striper Fishing Reports 2009

2009-05-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

Cathy Beck casting to skinny water Stripers on Maine's Casco Bay

Stripers are Here
Many of you have asked me to drop a line when something good is happening on the water, well here it is. Yes, Cape Cod and Rhode Island are fishing well, but the real story is the Merrimack River to the estuaries near Portland, Maine! After a few scouting runs, I was willing to fish one of my repeat anglers and after what we experienced he's coming back for more the first week of June. Give me a call if you want to get out there, (207) 671-4330.

We started on an incoming tide but the fish were on the move and even with a quick cast and a good angle they just ripped past. No leans or love on the incoming. After the tide turned it got bright around 11am and we saw some pushes along the banks and in the deeper channels. I poled up-current in about 3 feet of water on a sandy bottom so my angler could cast into the deeper channels. Then we started to see fish right under us on the sand flat in the sun in Maine in May! I was in heaven! We worked on these fish about and hour or so, bringing in some nice ones. There’s something special about this after what we’ve seen the last two years----keep um coming!

The Fly Fishing Film Tour
This national festival is playing in Portland, Maine at the Asylum on Thursday, June 4, at 7pm. Hosted by Flies and Fins and sponsored by The Drake magazine, Sage Fly Rods, Patagonia, Scientific Anglers and others, The Fly Fishing Film Tour showcases some of the best cutting edge fly fishing films to date. There will be a pre- and post-show party with appetizers, beer from local brewing companies and outstanding shorts from 406 Productions, World Angling and Flies and Fins, to midnight.

Striper Tournament
Looking ahead, the Royal River Catch and Release Striper Tournament is set for Sept 12-13, 2009 with cash prizes for fly and a Captain/Angler pre-party at the Royal River Grill House. See www.royalriverstriper.com and feel free to e-mail if you’re looking for guides for the tournament.

Maine Striper Fishing Reports 2009

2009-05-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

Food and Warm Flats, 2009 is off to a very good Striper Season!!!!!

Portland Maine Fly Fishing Reports 2009

2009-05-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

A perfect way to start off the 2009 Striper fly Fishing Season in Maine.

Rhode Island and Cape Cod are turning on!!!! some great reports and some not so, it seems the guy's in the know have been finding the warmer water and have had some active days. Looking ahead if water warms the Late May worm hatches could be fun we all know how silly the bass get over these sworms,Maine's water temp's are not to far off from the cape's we are ahead in temp they are behind so let's hope the fish move through the bait and move up in better number than last year.

Open Dates as of May 2009
Call For Late May Date 207-671-4330
Dates Casco Bay June 6 10,11,13, =
Dates Casco Bay July 6 11,12,15-18
Dates Casco Bay August 8,9 13.14 Call for Mid -Late August openings
Dates Casco Bay Sept Update Soon
Dates Maine/ Cape Cod Oct 4-10 and 16-20 open

The Fly Fishing Film Tour, Hosted by, www.fliesandfins.com sponsored by The Drake magazine, Sage Fly Rods, Scientific Anglers, Patagonia, among others, is touring the country this spring and early summer, showcasing some of the most cutting edge fly fishing films to date. The festival is playing in Portland, Maine at the Asylum on Thursday, June 4, at 7pm. There will also be a pre- and post-show party with appetizers, beer from local brewing companies and some outstanding shorts from 406 Productions, World Angling and Flies and Fins, 7pm to midnight.

Tickets for the festival are $15 for adults (21 and over only). For more info on the Fly Fishing Film Tour, and to see trailers of the films that will be showing, check out the website: www.flyfishingfilmtour.com or contact Eric Wallace by email, eric@coastalflyangler.com, or phone, 207-671-4330.

"The focus of this tour is to showcase the talent of these filmmakers, raise some money for various conservation groups and provide fly-fishers an evening of entertainment," says organizer Tom Bie. "It may also be the only legitimate chance for thousands of lonely fly-tyers to actually get a date."

Film Lineup

. "Drift" -- Sweeps across the flats of Belize and the Bahamas to spey
casting on Oregon's Deschutes River and exotic rivers in Kashmir, India.
10-minute and 18-minute segments.

. "Nervous Water" -- Four groups of anglers, each obsessed with the fish
they love, chase brown trout, rainbows, redfish and marlin. 18 minutes.

. "Eastern Rising" -- Felt Soul Media founders Ben Knight and Travis Rummel,
who did the Bristol Bay documentary "Red Gold," offer a fly-fishing
excursion from Bristol Bay to the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. 9 minutes.

. "Red Gold" -- A fishing segment from the "Red Gold" documentary. 9 minutes.

. "Bass: The Movie" By Jamie Howard-- Pits a fly-rod angler versus a
conventional angler in a bass hotspot. Who will win? 5 minutes.

. "Rivers of a Lost Coast" -- Led by fly-fishing gypsy Bill Schaadt, a cult
of California coastal fly-fishermen revolutionized their sport and redefined
their lives. 5 minutes.

. "Great White North" -- An MTV-style video that uses creative camera angles
to highlight steelhead and trout fishing in the Northwest and British
Columbia. 10 minutes.

. "Soul Fish" -- A teaser from a recently released film by California
filmmaker Mikey Weir features footage from Mongolia, Brazil, Florida Keys,
Christmas Island, Louisiana and Belize. 5 minutes.

. "Drum" -- Filmmakers take you inside the mind of the Holeman Brothers and
their relentless quest for big redfish in the character-filled community of
Hopedale, La. 9 minutes.

. "Raising the Ghost" -- Finding steelhead in a remote stretch of British
Columbia is hard enough. But finding ones that will chase a dead-drifted dry
fly? Nearly impossible. 5 minutes.

Fly Fishing Film Tour Summary
When: 7 p.m. June 4th., doors open a half-hour before the show.
Where: Asylum, 121 Center St Portland ME Cost: $15, 21+
Length: 90 minutes plus shorts and live music
Prizes: Among the many door prizes is entry in a grand prize drawing for a trip to Belize, Fly Rods and Patagonia gear.
Tickets/More Info: Go to www.flyfishingfilmtour.com or follow the buzz at www.fliesandfins.com

Maine Striper Fishing Reports, Summer 2009

2009-04-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

Early Season Blitz Casco Bay Maine

Capt. Greg Snow just sent in this report for Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, thought I would pass it along. Full Northeast fishing reports coming next week.
———
Thank the Lord, Spring is here! Easter is gone and Mother’s Day is fast approaching. The dogwoods are in full bloom and the Forsythias are dropping theirs. The water temps have skyrocketed into the fifties and Ospreys have set up shop on their marshy perches. These are the signs we look for this time of year to tell us that the Stripers are making their way up beautiful Narragansett Bay. Oh and guess what… They’re here! The upper bay is full of fat, healthy, fresh bass in the 20″ to 30″ range with some 35″ being caught as well. The bay is stuffed with hearing, bunker, squid, and spawning Mantis Shrimp. The fish are aggressively blasting small topwater plugs, small soft plastics, shrimp and squid flies. The next 3 weeks should be something special. It will only get better as the water gets a little warmer and the bait continues to funnel in. I am so looking forward to a stellar spring run before I relocate Snowfly Charters out to Block Island come mid June. Until next time. Screaming reels and roaring tides.

Maine Striper Fishing 2009 reports

2009-03-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

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Maine Shallow Water Striped Bass fishing Feature.April 2009

Check out the April 2009 Saltwater Sportsman- Inshore Issue, There is a featured article on Maine Striper Fishing on the flats of lower-western Casco Bay
Pages 34-39

Fish for stripers the unconventional way — on the flats of Casco Bay.
April 14, 2009
By John Frazier (More of the article at (saltwatersportsman.com)

Stealth
As any flats-fishing junkie knows, a stealthy boat is a successful boat. Striper fishing in Maine is no different, and that goes for everything from poling to presentation. The water temperature averages about 60 to 65 degrees, which is perfect to keep fish happy and active. When we encountered the big fish on the sand, Wallace instructed me to put a sock in it — I was so excited to see those big fish in only a foot of water, I was rambling like a child. Such skinny water also means you need to pay special attention to your baits. When fly-fishing, long leaders (up to 12 feet) are in order, as are unweighted flies. Spinning tackle calls for the same — light leaders with either live crabs or soft-plastic jerk baits to minimize the splashdown and increase your odds. When you make your presentation, try to lead fish as much as possible, and make your cast in front of and beyond the fish. When you think you are leading the fish too far, lead it a couple more feet. The fish are less likely to spook if the drift of your offering has a more natural appearance and time to get down to the fish's eye level.

I'll Be Back
I'll never forget the first time I ever threw a fly at a tarpon — my knees were wobbling something fierce. That was a long time ago, and I never thought I'd be able to recreate that sensation until I found myself on the deck with four 30-pound-plus stripers lazily cruising by in 2 feet of water. Just like that first tarpon, these fish didn't eat, either. But they left me with a void that I'll need to fill. And the only way to do that is to return to the shallow flats of Casco Bay, Maine.

SWS PLANNER

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT: While stripers are the main draw, fishing for laid-up bluefish is another scenario anglers might witness on the flats of Casco Bay. Throwing poppers to these voracious feeders when they are stationary is a blast and quite different from fishing for them when they are schooling.

WHERE: Although there are several airports that are in close proximity to Casco Bay, the most convenient is Portland. Rent a car at the airport and head north to Freeport, which is a great spot for couples. Bed-and-breakfast type inns are aplenty and are well suited for anglers and shoppers alike.

Applewood Inn
207.865.9705
www.applewoodusa.com

Chebeague Island Inn
207.846.5155
www.chebeagueislandinn.com

Coastal Fly Angler
Capt. Eric Wallace
207.671.4330
www.coastalflyangler.com

Don't forget to Save the Date June 4 for Fly Fishing Film Fest in Portland.This is the perfect way to start off the Maine Striper Fishing Season. Some Great raffle Items are coming in, from High end rods to Guide trips and endless swag!!

Fl Keys Reports

2009-03-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

Key West Fishing Report
Updated fishing reports for the flats and offshore

May 7, 2009

The weather is just getting better every day here in the Lower Keys. Sunshine and lighter winds are starting to prevail which means the tarpon should start moving on the flats a little better in the coming days. Last week was tough with high winds and some cloud cover but we managed to get a few fish to the boat and jump a couple others.

Bonefishing is phenominal right now. The bonefish range from 5- to 8- pounds in our back yard on Sugarloaf Key. They are a great fighting fish and are a lot of fun if you just want to take a break from the mighty tarpon.

There are still some permit on the flats but they are smaller right now because the majority of permit are still offshore on the wrecks and rock piles spawning. There are some bigger permit around but few and far between.

I still have some available dates around July 4 weekend for tarpon, bonefish and permit. July is a perfect time to target the slam. August and September are also great months for relaxed fishing as the boating pressure diminishes greatly by then.

You can reach Captain Justin Rea at 305-744-0903 or email justin@flyfishingthekeys.com

Maine Striper Fishing / FL Keys

2009-03-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

Maine Striper Fishing Date 2009

I'm in the FL Keys until Late April then it's off to Cape Cod, There is a few days left open between the 15-30 of May for fishing the Cape. As for Maine here is what is open as of today thru July 4, Will update April 1st, The best bet is to Call for bookings 207-671-4330 and I will return your call as soon as I'm of the water.

Remember June 4th for the Fly Fishing film tour in Portland Maine,Hosted by Flies and fins.
More Info Soon, PS fishing in the keys has been real good.

**********Cinder Worm Workshop ‘09**********
Kettle Pond Visitor Center and Ninigret Refuge, RI

Observe one of nature’s fascinating spring rituals. Witness thousands of cinder worms as they wiggle their way to the surface performing their spring mating dance. Quietly wade the protected coves of Ninigret Pond on a warm spring evening. See the beauty of a sunset over tranquil water. Now listen to the sound of silence as it is interrupted by dozens of surface feeding stripers. Finally, fish for those stripers using the tiny cinder worm flies you tied yourself. This isn’t some kind of fisherman’s dream? It’s reality and it can happen to you.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with RI D.E.M. is organizing a Cinder Worm Workshop. There will be two weekday evening classes in fly tying instruction on cinder worm patterns and one weekend evening of fly fishing. We would like to have everyone attend both workshops, but you also have the option to pick just one.

Fly Tying Instruction - Kettle Pond Visitor Center on May 5th, and 19th between the hours of 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

Fly Fishing - Ninigret Refuge (entrance through Ninigret Park) on May 30 begins at 4:00 pm and we will fish the worm swarm till dark. Introduction to practical rigging and casting instruction will be covered for those that need additional assistance. Fly Fishers will then fish the coves of Grassy Point area of Ninigret Refuge. (We don’t guarantee the weather or the fish but past experiences have shown that this is prime time for the worm mating season.)

This program is open to any adult or child over the age of 15 regardless of skill level. Instruction and guidance will be provided by some of the area’s most knowledgeable worm fishermen. All fly tying materials will be provided. We encourage the use of personal equipment, but RIDEM Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Aquatic Resource Education program will also provide the necessary fishing and fly tying equipment (other than waders)) for beginners and entry level registrants. Pre-registration is required.

For further information and registration contact:
Chuck Bullington – (401) 364-9124, ext. 44 or Charles_bullington@fws.gov

Maine Striper Fishing Reports. 2009

2009-02-24T11:23:00.000-08:00

Another nice 2008 skinny water bass that ate a crab pattern,fishing the mud and eel grass flats on Maine's Casco Bay.

More Bull S#!T from the Commercial Striped Bass Crowd.

Representative Richard Roy of Milford, CT has introduced
HB #5506 which would overturn CT’s long-standing game fish law and make it legal to commercially fish for striped bass in CT! This would certainly be a blow that striped bass don’t need, and it would make it much more difficult to finally achieve the coast-wide game fish status for striped bass that Stripers Forever is working towards with its Massachusetts game fish bill.

We understand this bill has been introduced largely to reduce the number of striped bass in CT waters so that they will not eat all the lobsters. According to a 1999 study by the Univ. of Conn. the lobster population crashed from record high numbers – that coincided with record numbers of striped bass – because the waters of the Sound became too warm.

We urge all CT anglers to do their utmost to defeat this bill. Send Representative Roy both an e-mail, a postal letter, and make a phone call to his office today. His name in paragraph one above is a link that will provide complete contact information. Let him know that you live in CT, that this bill will be very harmful to the sport that you love and to the recreational industry in CT that depends on good striped bass fishing. Tell him that you want him to withdraw this legislation today.

Here are some talking points if you want to say or write more:
1. The striped bass are already under too much pressure. Fishing quality is already substantially worse than it was 5 or especially 10 years ago. This is reducing fishing participation and harming the guiding and tackle industry.
2. Commercial fishing has been shown to create an illegal market in addition to the legal one that puts far more pressure on the resource than planned.
3. The State of Connecticut has no commercial quota for striped bass and any such quota would have to therefore come by reducing the current recreational season and/or bag limits which are already very restrictive by historical standards. In 2003 CT had 473,000 marine anglers, 212,000 of whom primarily targeted striped bass. This legislation would be unfair to them since it would give a very few people a disproportionate share of a scarce public resource.
4. Professionally produced socio-economic studies have shown that recreational use of this resource is many times more valuable than commercial sale in terms of economic activity, taxes generated, and jobs created.
5. The State of Connecticut has a strong warning against regularly consuming striped bass taken from Long Island Sound. These fish should not be sold to consumers.
6. The University of Connecticut has determined that the lobster problem is due to water temperature issues and not predation by striped bass. Before warming temperatures in the late 1990s record numbers of both lobsters and striped bass coexisted in the Sound.
7. Since 1980 Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and New Jersey have made striped bass a game fish protected from the pressures of commercial fishing. Legislation is now pending in MA to accomplish the same thing in that state because of the points made here. CT should not overturn years of positive precedent in the conservation of striped bass.

Remember: E-mail, and Write, and Phone Call!

What else can you do in addition? If you are as upset with this as we are, take the same steps above with your local legislator – and if you know them by all means go see them – explain your concerns, and ask them to help you convince Rep. Richard Roy to withdraw this legislation as soon as possible. You can find your CT legislator at this link.

Also, forward this e-mail to all of your fishing friends. Ask them to do the same thing and to go to the Stripers Forever website and become a member – free as always – so that we can help them stay on top of this issue too.

While we urge you to use your own words, please…do not be insulting or negative towards commercial fishing or to Representative Roy. Dwell on the facts above and the benefits of a robust recreational fishery for striped bass.

Richard.Roy@cga.ct.gov

Link to the bill:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05506&which_year=2009
Reply to LoganReport
Reply

(Maine Striper Fishing on the Mud Flats of Casco Bay near Freeport) (Photo Becks)

FREEPORT, ME. March 2009--Some of the biggest names in the history of fishing will be at L.L.Bean on March 21-22 for L.L.Bean's annual Spring Fishing Expo. These "Legends of Fishing" will be available at the store from 10:00am to 4:00pm Saturday and Sunday to visit with customers, share stories, sign autographs, books and more.

"We are thrilled to have talent of this caliber in one place at one time," said Ken Kacere, Senior VP and General Manager of Retail. "And we're excited to be giving our customers, especially the little ones, the opportunity to talk face-to-face with some of the biggest names the fishing world has ever seen."

In addition, during the weekend, 5% of all fishing gear and apparel sales will go to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs program.

Featured celebrity fly tyers include David Klausmeyer, Bob Popovics, Mike Martinek and Ted Rogowski. Other weekend highlights include free fly-casting lessons, kids' activities, and a variety of demonstrations, clinics and seminars including presentations by Harry Vanderweide, as well as several L.L.Bean experts. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will also be conducting a special panel discussion on all things related to fishing in Maine. Special promotions include 20% off all rods, reels, outfits and waders. All event activities are free. For more information, please visit www.llbean.com/events, or call 800-559-0747, ext. 37222.

L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading retailer of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. While its business has grown substantially, L.L.Bean still upholds the values of its founder and continues his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors.

# # #
Contact: Mac McKeever, 207-552-6078, emckeever@llbean.com

Maine Striper fishing Reports. 2009

2009-02-17T18:51:00.000-08:00

A customer of mine emailed me this facebook chat, I thought it was good.
Check out www.fliesandfins.com Great website

'm not lettin' "The Guides" .. Get away with this one, "Dealing With Difficult Guests" too easy! (http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=45200683261&topic=6504) ... No way! How about the FISHERMAN? The guys who PAY the BILL? We deserve a voice! I've been on many guided trips (and for the sake of discussion, i will exclude all of the occassions of fishing with my friends that are guides .. and am just referring to guides that have been hired for money) ... I'd like to hear honest input from other fly fisherman as to what they see as being a GOOD guided experience and a BAD guided experience. I'll kick it off with my thoughts.

THE GOOD Vs. BAD GUIDE EXPERIENCE

1. No complaining by the guide, I don't want to pay for someone to tell me "oh boy its windy, cold, hot, too this, too that, its gonna be touch, shoulda been here last week, i'm not sure about today, etc" .. I know when times are tough, THE USUALLY ARE, so a good guide is positive and doesn't guarantee fish .. but at the same time doesn't make me feel like I am at a funeral.

2. WORKS hard to get me fish. You can't fake it ..you either have the passion or you don't. no inbetween. period. I've been with guides that seem to want to catch me fish more than i want to myself .. and i have been out with guides who are looking at their wrist watch every 45 minutes just waiting for the end of the day so they can get paid. I didn't sign up or pay for a BOAT RIDE and let's take florida for example .. I have been out in the everglades (without mentioning names) with many professional guides .. one of them will literally CUT DOWN MANGROVES to get us to spots .. and another will literally pole around a cove that's within a rocks throw from the dock because he doesn't want to burn the fuel. And even when he's poling around .. i feel like i am on some sort of scenic tour with my wife .. definately NOT fishing. So, a good guide .. in my opinion .. either has the passion or doesn't .. period.

3. Talks about himself and all of his accomplishments. If I wanted to pay to listen to someone blow hot air over their lips about all that they know and all the awards they have won and all of their big accomplishments and tournaments that they have won etc... I could just watch ESPN on saturday morning. In my opinion the best guides do very little talking and if they talk the ask questions .. It sounds crazy .. but the BEST guide I have ever been with (the same dude who CUTS DOWN MANGROVES) is the ONLY guide who ever ASKED me questions about myself .. rather than told me all about themselves ... I will never forget that .. and it stood out to me because that's how rare it is.

4. Cheap vs. Expensive - All guided trips are expensive .. NOBODY WANTS to pay 550 for a day of guiding in florida .. but that's roughly the price .. and if you want to catch some nice fish in let's say the marquesses .. you ain't wading out there .. so you gotta pay .. and you get what you pay for .. So, If a HIGHER PRICE by 100 bucks or whatever ensures me being in the hands of a FISHING GUIDE and not a tour guide .. than i will gladly pay .. because at this point .. what's the difference? .. Conversely .. if some dude is $300 bucks .. you gotta wonder why ... does his boat suck? does he suck? does he not know the fishery? why would he be so cheap? .. Point being THE PRICE IS THE PRICE and as long as the price is within reason (and maybe even a few bucks higher rather than lower) and i feel as though i am getting a true FISHING guide ... than I'll pay it .. and i will tip well.

5. It's not my HONOR to fish with you. I don't know any other business where there is this unsaid thing about .. you feel indebted to "THE GUIDE" .. I am PAYING .. granted I am not expected to be pampered to .. infact, i don't want your silly sandwich and chips or whatever .. let's face it .. I am PAYING TO FISH .. not eat balogne on the side of the river .. I could do that myself .. And in no other service orientated business .. is there this kind of ever present somewhat "arrogance" about the CUSTOMER PAYS and then FEELS like its an honor for him to do so .. F* that!! ... Its mutual respect ... its not a priveledge for you to guide me and not a priveledge for me to have you as my guide ... its a simple matter of good business .. a good guide is able to work beyond his ego .. and recognize that he might be the "master" of his domain in his part of the world and THAT IS very commendable and very respected usually by the guy on the bow .. but the guide needs to realize that the guy on the bow is not some sort of clown just because he doesn't know the one little region of the world in which the guided trip is taking place .. put a tarpon guide on a steelhead river and visa versa ..and all of a sudden the guide is a bozo ... so, a good guide and a good customer both recognize that how much/little each respectively know .. and that ultimately, what they both collectively know .. in the big scheme of things .. adds up to .. NOT MUCH AT ALL.

Finally - A good guide .. feels like a friend .. and works with you like a team .. and when the trip is over .. you feel GOOD .. and that is something that can't be trained or learned or taught in guide school .. at the end of the trip .. did the guide make you feel GOOD. if so, its a good guide .. if not .. find another.
Reply to FliesReport

Maine Striper Fishing Reports. Capt Eric Wallace

2009-02-15T06:44:00.000-08:00

*** SPECIALS UPDATED FEBRUARY 12, 2009 *** Contact Capt.Eric Wallace for more info 207-671-4330

JUST ANNOUNCED! TURNEFFE FLATS 2-FOR-1 PROMOTION FEB. 21-28 (Turneffe Atoll, Belize)
Just announced! Turneffe will be offering an unheard of prime season 2-anglers-for-the-price-of-one-single-angler deal for the week of February 21-28, 2009. Instead of a cost of $4,114.00 per angler, two anglers can now book for the low price of $2,573.00 per person. This is a savings of more than $1500.00 per person! Contact Coastal Fly Angler today for available dates and details.207-671-4330

50% DISCOUNT ON NOMADS OF THE SEAS TRIPS (Puerto Montt, Chile)
An unheard of discount with the most high-end, unique outfitter in all of South America. We are offering HALF OFF of week-long, all-inclusive packages, and the overall prices for the trip have been reduced from $8000-$10,000 per person! This specials is good for the departure dates of:
March 14, 2009
April 4, 2009
Visit our Nomads of the Seas page on our website for more details and information, or contact Yellow Dog's Jim Klug for more details.

PESCA MAYA LODGE (Ascension Bay - Yucatan, Mexico)
NEW SPECIALS JUST ADDED! Pesca Maya - already one of the best values in the Caribbean - is offering an additional discount of $585.00 per person for the following week:
March 7 - 14, 2009
Rates have been reduced from $3085.00 per person for a 7 night / 6 fishing day, all-inclusive package to $2500.00 per person! (Double occupancy).This is PRIME TIME in Ascension Bay and considered peak season for bonefish, permit, tarpon and more. Contact Yellow Dog's Bob Meade for more information.

BAIR'S BONEFISH LODGE (South Andros Island, Bahamas)
Just announced! A reduction of $750.00 per person for the week of February 15-20, 2009. One of the finest lodges on all of Andros Island. Prices have been reduced from $3250.00 to only $2500.00 per person! Contact Ian Davis at Yellow Dog for details.

CASA BLANCA & PLAYA BLANCA LODGES (Yucatan, Mexico)
NEW SPECIALS JUST ANNOUNCED! Casa Blanca Lodge and Playa Blanca Lodge, two of the finest fishing operations in the Caribbean, are offering an unheard of prime season special in February. For the week of February 28 - March 7, 2009 at BOTH Casa Blanca AND Playa Blanca, rates have been reduced to $2945.00 per person, including the in-country private air charter! (Normal List Price: $3545.00 per person). SAVE $600.00! Contact Yellow Dog's Bob Meade for more information.

Maine and Cape Cod Striper Fishing and Lodging Packages Call Capt Eric Wallace 207-671-4330

CROOKED ISLAND LODGE (Crooked Island, Bahamas)
Crooked Island Lodge - one of the most remote operations in the Bahamas - is offering a $500.00 Discount off the cost of a full week of fishing for the entire 2009 season! Prices have been reduced for the already low rate of $2995.00 per person to only $2500.00 per person! This discount applies to all prime-season fishing weeks for 2009. SAVE $500! Contact Ian Davis at Yellow Dog for details.

TURNEFFE FLATS LODGE FREE* AIRFARE PROMOTION (Turneffe Atoll, Belize)
Just announced! Turneffe is offering a "fishing package rebate" of $500.00 for all trips booked for the dates of January 31 - June 27, 2009. Book a standard fishing package and receive a $500.00 discount, which can be applied to the cost of your airfare to Belize City! (We've found a lot of round trip tickets lately from major U.S. cities to Belize for $500.00 or less). Normal price of a full week of fishing (including taxes) is $4114.00 per person. With this special, the price has been reduced to $3614.00 per person - a savings of $500.00! Additional rebates are being offered for dive packages ($300.00 per person) and Atoll Adventrues packages ($200.00 per person). These dive and A.A. rebates are available through December 19, 2009. Contact Coastal Fly Angler today for available dates and details. (207-671-4330)

STAFFORD CREEK LODGE (Andros Island, Bahamas)
For the first time in history, Stafford Creek Lodge is offering a $750.00 Discount off the cost of a full week of fishing. This is a discount on fall-season fishing slots. Normal week-long fishing packages have been reduced by $750.00. Applicable for all dates in September 2009. Good for groups of 4 anglers only.
Our Price: $3999.00 per person (Normal List Price: $4749.00 per person) SAVE $750! Contact Capt.Eric Wallace 207-671-4330

ALASKA'S NO SEE UM LODGE (Kvichak - Bristol Bay Region, Alaska)
One of the top fishing lodges in all of Alaska, with a standard price of $8000 per week. Fantastic disounts of $3000.00 per person for the following weeks:
June 8 -15, 2009 (Currently 8 spots available @ $5000 per person)
September 21-28, 2009 (Currently 7 spots available @ $5000 per person)
Never have we seen these kinds of discounts for prime fishing weeks at at a lodge this good. Similar disounts are available for four additional weeks (listed below). Please contact Yellow Dog's Robert Boyce for exact pricing and details. Additional weeks are:
June 15- 22, July 13- 20, July 27- August 3 and September 7- 14, 2009

ANDROS ISLAND BONEFISH CLUB REDUCES RATES FOR 2009 SEASON!
Andros Island Bonefish Lodge has just announced that they will be slashing their 2009 rates and returning all rates for the 2009 to last year's 2008 rates! This will result in a saving of $600.00 per person for a full week of fishing! New Price: $3145.00 per person. (Normal List Price: $3745.00 per person). SAVE $600.00! Contact Yellow Dog's Ian Davis for details.

EL PESCADOR LODGE SUMMER 2-FOR-1 PROMOTION BEGINS JUNE 1 (Ambergris Caye, Belize)
Belize's El Pescador Lodge in Ambergris Caye will once again be offering their 2-anglers-for-the-price-of-one-single-angler deal beginning June 1, 2009 and good for all trips June 1 - December 15, 2009. Instead of a cost of $3,295.00 per angler, two anglers can now book for the low price of $2,500.00 per person based on double occupancy. This is a savings of $800.00 per person! Book today to reserve prime dates and the best guides. Contact Yellow Dog today for available dates and details.

THE INN AT ROBERT'S GROVE (Placencia, Belize)
The Inn at Robert's Grove, one of the nicest full-service resorts in all of Belize, is offering a $300.00 disount per couple on all packages of five days or more booked before February 28, 2009 for travel at any time in the coming year. Whatever your package ends up being (for five or more days,) take $150.00 per person off the total cost. Contact Yellow Dog today for available dates and details.

ALASKA'S RAINBOW POINT LODGE (Illiamna Region, Alaska)
One of top lodges in all of Alaska is currently offering a major special for all trips booked in August of 2009. Price for a 6 night / 5 fishing day package has been reduced from $6995.00 to $4995.00 per person for the week. A SAVINGS OF $2000.00! The best deal that we've seen so far for anything in Alaska for 2009. Our Price: $4995.00 per person (Normal List Price: $6995.00 per person). SAVE $2000! Contact Robert Boyce at Yellow Dog for details.

TURNEFFE FLATS LODGE SUMMER 2-FOR-1 PROMOTION BEGINS JUNE 27 (Turneffe Atoll, Belize)
Just announced! Turneffe will once again be offering their 2-anglers-for-the-price-of-one-single-angler deal beginning June 27, 2009. Instead of a cost of $4,114.00 per angler, two anglers can now book for the low price of $2,573.00 per person. This is a savings of more than $1500.00! Offer is good on all trips taken between June 27 and December 19, 2009. Contact Yellow Dog today for available dates and details.
Posted by fish and ski at 6:59 PM 0 comments

Maine Striper Fishing Reports

2009-01-09T05:18:00.000-08:00

Bright Sky- Bright Stripes, off the sand flats.

Photo By Dave Skok

About The photo: About 4 years ago Dave Skok (many of you use his flies) and Steve Straq, Patagonia fishing product designer, and I spent a day chasing fish on the flats of Casco Bay often getting out of the boat and wading, and one of the comments that Steve said that day, that is so true!!: (A Crab Pattern is a special tool for flats Fishing for Striped Bass in Maine)

Crabs GET THEM!!!

Fishing a crab pattern requires some changes to the normal habits of the New England Striper angler. First off floating lines and longer leader are a must to do this right, the angler needs to be able to pick up the line quickly and re cast, I like a 8wt rod the Sage z axis and Scott x2s are great rods that load quick and tight .

Unless your in a crab hatch where the bass are feeding like nuts on tiny crabs drifting in the current. The name of the game is feeding the fish, here is where angling from a boat is a team effort, the fish you are casting too need to be spotted early!! the fish are often bigger and well fed using the warmer flats to digest.

Stripers on the flats spook very easy so the caster really needs to keep a low casting stroke and get the fly light and tight to the fish. Some fish will react to the fly quickly and some you need to work them with a very slow strips, Casting is key here and some flats are better fished from foot or as low a you can get down on the bow of the boat. Rod movement and fly lines whipping around, just spooks fish and all you will be casting at, are tails swimming away.
Trolling motors should be off well before you get on hard bottom clear water flats, and a good poler will set up the best shot for the angler working with the sun and tide movement.
Flies have come a long way quickly for shallow water striped bass fishing, there's a big crew of shore anglers from Portland to Cape Cod fishing the sand flats that have developed some great Crab and sand eel patterns that moved some large fish this past year. Over all Steve's Comments that day really held true this summer where you had to learn how to feed well fed happy fish.

Maine Striper Fishing Reports: Capt Eric Wallace

2008-12-21T18:59:00.000-08:00

Maine Striper Fishing Reports : Capt Eric Wallace

2008-11-25T20:19:00.001-08:00

(Damm A crowed day Striper Fishing Maine's Casco Bay)

Updated 1/5/09

Shallow Water Striped Bass flies: Fly tying class for Feb 28 is full Give Jim a call 207-363-9269 for waiting list.
See you there, Capt Eric

Well After a strange, but I would call it a fun Striper season From Cape Cod to Casco Bay , It's time to start looking forward to Spring fishing in the FL Keys early season Striper fishing on Cape Cod, and Summer on Maine’s Casco Bay, But meanwhile We have Tradeshows, Fly-tying classes and a Movie premiere,to keep you going until the next cast.

So first thing first , Happy holidays and hope you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday season, Enjoy your friends and family, and I know in the back of your mind your hoping for a new rod.
If you live in a place to cold to try rods at your local shop check out all the latest greatest at the following
Fly Fishing trade shows listed below. But be for-warned if your looking to try the New SAGE or SCOTT rods, these are just a few of the high-end venders who will NOT be at the Marlborough Mass show in 2009,

For the fly tiers out there I’ll be doing a Class on Shallow Water Striper flies for all you flat's anglers at the Eldredge fly shop in Cape Neddick on Feb 28, a few days before I leave for the keys so you may have to help keep me on tract and not wondering off tying tarpon and permit flies. Also take a look at the line up at Eldredge Fly Shop there is some great tiers and anglers tying down there once again this year and any class that fit’s your angling style would be worth the trip, remember these class have filled months ahead of time and often have waiting list, call the guys a Eldredge asap.(207-363-9269

January 9, 10, 11
Denver Merchandise Mart
Marlborough, MA
January 16, 17, 18
Royal Plaza
Somerset, NJ
January 23, 24, 25
Garden State Convention Center
Charlotte, NC

Maine Striper Fishing Reports:

2008-10-22T19:20:00.001-07:00

Striper fishing in Maine
A stunning visual journey, DRIFT combines the highest quality film production, world class flyfishing and an eclectic group of anglers to create the most definitive film about the sport to date
.
Please Drop us an E-mail if your interest in joining us for a Movie Night featuring Drift and other shorts, we are putting togeather the final dates and venues. This film-fest is for anglers by anglers we a looking to raise money for some local striper fishing issues here in Maine
Capt Eric Wallace 207-671-4330

Maine Striper Fishing Reports: Capt Eric Wallace

2008-10-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

One of the few area's that held fish in the summers of 2007 and 2008 was Casco Bay. Like all of Maine, was loaded with big bait , difference was we had fish to cast too. In 2008 you could count on two hands the number of fish that came to the boat under 20 inches, the story was learning how to feed bigger fish that where using the warmer flats to digest after having an all night feed on adult menhaden. A stealthy approach and longer leaders became as important as the tide and lower sun angles
I'm not going to talk about flies as these are the bread and butter and some secrets must be kept by the guy on the poling platform. My self and Capt John Ford spent hours working out some patterns that we feel changed our season!! as the bait anglers sent us photos of the there big fish we where able to respond with 35-40 inch fly caught photos of our anglers, I'm not going to kid you, It was work to find fish that would eat on a daily bases, but they where there, not to often showing them- selves unless you found them first.

(The photos are from a story I did with John frazer of Flyfishing in Saltwater and Saltwater Sportsman on skinny water striper fishing, due out in March 2009 it's a feature story and I'll let John tell how the fishing was for him on two bright sunny days on Casco Bay)

Maine Striper Fishing Reports : Capt Eric Wallace

2008-09-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

Brad Burns - Stripers Forever
Maine, U.S.A
The battle of the striped bass is on, and Brad Burns, President of Stripers Forever, is on the frontlines, fighting to protect the fish so many of us pursue.

It’s a calling he simply couldn’t ignore.

“When the stripers disappeared in the ’70s, the commercial fishery faded away,” Brad says. “But as the fish came back, so did the commercial fishing—to the same levels that preceded the crash in the first place.”

In the last five years, anglers have seen the population of spawning-age stripers fall by nearly 20%. Spurred by a massive increase in commercial harvest quotas and alarmed by the plummeting numbers of big fish, Brad and other concerned anglers banded together to form Stripers Forever in 2003. Since then, they’ve spent nearly every waking hour working to stop the unsustainable harvest of striped bass along the Eastern Seaboard.

On those rare occasions when he’s not pounding away at policy makers—especially in May—Brad can be found tossing floating worm patterns on the south side of Cape Cod, hoping to enjoy the results of his work.

When we started, we were told we couldn’t make reels like these — so we did. We were told there are too many reels on the market — we didn’t care. We were told if we didn’t use cork in a high performance reel we’d be dead in a year — horse@#% We were told anglers didn’t want so many color or style choices — they were wrong. Needless to say I’m glad we didn’t listen. Instead, we stuck to our guns and did what we thought customers wanted. Which ultimately is the most important thing.

Hatch was created for the hardcore and recreational angler alike. It’s dedicated to pioneers and pirates. It’s a brand whose sole focus is on providing the most stylish, high performance fly-fishing reels on the market today. And I think that’s just what we’ve done.

Before you make your next reel purchase you owe it to yourself to try a Hatch. Available at dealers in the know…

Some Info on the great work Brad has been doing for the Striped Bass fishery!!!!

• In 1980, before the striped bass population collapsed from fishing pressure, the recreational regulations in most states mandated a minimum size of 16 inches with no bag limits –a far too liberal policy as it turned out. Today, the coastal recreational fishery operates under much stricter regulations, limiting anglers in many states to a single striped bass at least 24 or 25 inches long. In states with coastal commercial fisheries, the minimum legal size for anglers is 28 inches, which puts a bass for dinner out of reach of the great majority of rod and reel fishermen. In Maine, anglers are allowed to keep one striped bass as small as 20 inches, or one over 40, but none between 26 and 40 inches. With these highly restrictive angling regulations in place from Maine to North Carolina, fishery managers have made room for a large commercial quota at the expense of millions of recreational anglers.

• By keeping a high size limit, both the coastal recreational and commercial fishing efforts are being concentrated on the larger, mature fish. The result is that there are far fewer of these prime breeder fish in the population than is optimal for a healthy stock. The quality of the fishing suffers, the health of the stock suffers, and recreational anglers are deprived of a basic right of citizenship --- which is their historical access to this public resource.

• In Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, a major striped bass spawning area from which fish migrate up and down the Atlantic Coast, two stripers as small as 18 inches may be taken daily, a reasonable bag limit for the estimated 1,500,000 anglers who fish these waters. But the combined 11,000,000- pound commercial, recreational, and charter boat quota for the Bay area puts a very large dent in the numbers of fish that join the coastal migratory stock. The elimination of the legal commercial fishery - which receives 40% of this quota - as well as the large illegal fishery, would make it much easier to return a healthy year class distribution to the entire striped bass population.

In summary, the current striped bass management scheme under the aegis of the ASMFC has in essence privatized the resource for the benefit of a small number of part time commercial fishermen who are harvesting an inordinate number of bass in the Chesapeake Bay system and elsewhere along the coast.

What Stripers Forever Recommends.

We believe that all commercial fishing for wild striped bass should end. The ASMFC would continue to provide the framework for managing stripers; they would also take responsibility for establishing the fishing mortality levels necessary to maintain a healthy resource with a well-balanced natural age class distribution. Meeting those key conservation goals would provide a high quality recreational/personal use fishery and the significant social and economic benefits that go with it.

While it is important that anglers be allowed to catch and eat their own striped bass rather than be forced to buy them at market, converting any part of the current commercial quotas to increase recreational bag limits – or even maintaining the existing recreational limits – should depend on the successful pursuit of the conservation goals outlined above.

How Will We Benefit and Who Will Get Hurt?

The fishing public, even restrained by very modest bag limits and moderately high minimum sizes, could easily harvest all that a well managed wild striper population can provide without any help from commercial fishermen. Making the striped bass a gamefish will simply mean that those who wish to catch their own will be given priority over those who want to buy their own at market. This is the way a free society should work. Personal harvest has historically been given preference over the market when the resource was too limited to provide both. The precedents are in place -- market gunning and freshwater commercial fishing were both outlawed in the United States when they threatened personal use access to public resources. And so it must be with the striped bass, which is far more valuable as a gamefish than as a commercially harvested commodity.

The Economics Argument

1. Aquaculture

The existence of proven aquaculture operations works in favor of gamefish status for wild striped bass. The marine habitat along the Atlantic Coast can only support a finite population of stripers. But the earthen rearing pond system used in striped bass aquaculture can produce essentially unlimited numbers of fish without any coastal environmental impact. Pond-raised stripers are more expensive than commercially harvested wild stripers, but the price gap is narrowing. And unlike wild bass, which are only available seasonally, aquacultured stripers can be marketed year round. In 2002, aquaculture operations raised some 12 million pounds of striped bass for the market, 1 million pounds more than the recreational, commercial, and charter boat catches combined in Chesapeake Bay! The elimination of market fishing for wild bass would provide incentives for increased production of aquaculture fish, resulting in more availability and a lower price. Nor would the public lose the food value of wild striped bass. As with other wild game, they would be eaten by the fishermen who caught them – the fairest possible system of allocation.

2. Recreational Sector Jobs

The economic argument for the elimination of commercial striper fishing and the subsequent expansion of recreational angling is ironclad. In 1993 a study by Southwick and Associates revealed that the economic value of the recreational fishery at that time was more than 500% that of the commercial fishery, and recreational participation since 1993 has grown enormously. Bait, tackle and other marine-related businesses, including guiding services and destination travel by anglers eager to sample new striped bass haunts, would all increase dramatically with an increase in the quality of the fishery. Employment in these recreation-based businesses is usually year-round and employee benefits often include health and retirement plans.

From an economic standpoint, we are literally throwing money away by continuing a commercial striped bass fishery that has outlived its usefulness to society.

Quality Of Life

Striped bass are widely distributed up and down the Atlantic Coast, they are fun to catch and good to eat, and they grow larger than any other inshore saltwater sport fish. Millions of recreational anglers spend an estimated $1 billion dollars each year pursuing stripers from Maine to North Carolina. The pure pleasure they derive from chasing these great fish and from bringing home the occasional bass to grace the family dining table are vitally important quality of life experiences that should no longer be seriously diminished by a commercial fishery which is economically unrealistic and which wreaks havoc on a very valuable public resource.

Coastwide report from Lateral-lines and Capt Eric Wallace

Saltwater Fishing Reports

Same kind of bass action in central and New Jersey as we had last week. Lots of big stripers under bunker schools down there and folks live-lining them are doing a number on’em. Inshore, the action is slow as the water temp is beginning to get up there. Still, lots of schoolie bass blitzing under birds off of Breezy and the Rockaways. There are scattered pods of bunker just east of Breezy, but there doesn’t appear to be much on them at the moment. Hopefully that will change. The sand flats on the backside of the point are really beginning to work well. Lots of sandeels up on them and plenty of cruisers. Very technical and difficult fishing though. If you don’t have you’re A-game, don’t expect to catch fish. Believe it or not, Jamaica Bay fished really well this week. Lots of schoolie bass and big-ass bluefish along the sod banks. We’ve been catching the shit out of them this week on poppers and sliders. Nice to not have to burn all that gas! Across the island it’s been a similar situation with the schoolie bass. The fish only seem to be in or around the inlets though. On the north shore there’s been some pretty good schoolie action in the early mornings, and there were a bunch of reports of some really good cinder-worm hatches going off this week and last. Out east there are some really big bass on the South Side. The flats fishing on the inside is standard for this time of the year. A pretty good amount of bait, but mostly schoolies. There are some big bluefish as well, which make for great fun in the skinny stuff. On the Connecticut side, it’s schoolies to the west and big bass to the east. Someone took a fish in the high 60 pound range last week at orient point. In Rhode Island the fishing has been very consistent. Plenty of fish in the 20-pound range eating plugs and flies. Block Island is just sick right now. If you can manage, get out there! There are some quality bass being taken from the shore as well as by boat. And, the bluefin are beginning to fill in, and anglers are getting some legitimate shots. On the Cape, there have been major bass blitzes off or Race Point and other such rips. Some of these blitzes are composed of fish north of 20-pounds. The tuna fishing has been slow though. Still some fish popping here and there but very difficult to catch. No official reports from the Boston area, but unofficially, there appears to still be plenty of schoolies around. Not much in the way of big fish. Unless of course you’re a bait guy. The Merrimack/Joppa area is relatively slow as well. Increasing water temps are undoubtedly having an effect. In Maine, they continue to have the worst bass season in recent memory. It’s an enigma really, but it’s not a good sign. Still, the aces were able to pull some nice fish off the flats.

Rhode Island Fishing Report
Capt. Greg Snow from Snowfly Charters reports from Block Island:
July 7, 2008. Game On Kids! Block Island is now seeing some of the best striper fishing it has seen in the past decade. Heavy fog has kept the boat traffic to almost nothing while square miles of sand eels siphon in some absolutely remarkable numbers of striped bass. Lots of legitimate shots of fish tickling 40pds have been a common occurrence on the fly with cookie cutter 20 pound fish being the norm. Hot southerly breezes are pushing in the fog and swell which churns up a sand eel cocktail that bass and surprisingly few bluefish are stuffing there faces on daily. The BFT action is quiet only because the fog and quality bass fishing has left most fisherman staying tight to BI. I can tell you however that with these sand eels getting chewed on every day and night that Charlie is sniffing them out and they are not far from the island. I will be looking for fast fish on Friday with a hardcore client that understands the difficulty in trying to find these fish.

Ray Stachelek from Cast-a-Fly Charters checks in this week from Block Island, he reported:
BLOCK – Buster on the 4th of July
Since the start of the striper season back in early May, all of our angling has been in upper Narragansett Bay. And why not! There was some good striper fishing here in our own back yard. There was no reason to leave. There were plenty of double digit stripers following the silversides and bunker when they cooperated. But every day was different. The striper fishery lacked the consistency of last year. Still there was no reason to complain. Sure, gas prices were higher this year, but nothing compared to the record fuel prices we would see in July. Fishing was hit or miss but you didn’t have to run far. June’s weather pushed us further south toward Jamestown and cooler waters. Providence still had its flotilla of bait dunkers and the place continued to fish well. We never got the boat north of Gaspee Point. It was just too stress to enjoy the experience in a war zone of boats. Fast forward, the summertime has changed the fishing season once again. We splashed the boat for the first time on the ocean front on Fourth of July weekend. The weather/winds were favorable as we made the break through the West Wall gap. We pointed our bow toward Block Island. The seas were calm as we headed into the fog of Block Island Sound. Today we had two extra pairs of young eyes on watch. Jeff Paul and his friend Steve were college friends at Boston University, somehow landed work together in New York City. It took Jeff awhile to get acquainted with our GPS system. He kept saying TOM… TOM, not Garmin. We don’t use that stuff out here! That’s only for street wise people. After a 14 mile run we started working the high cliffs on the western side of the island. Steve had no experience whatsoever with a fly rod but did have some knowledge with spinning tackle. He talked about his many adventures on Martha’s Vineyard casting plugs into the surf. Our drifts were slow. We started to cover more ground by trolling small tubes on mono. It is a good method of locating a few stripers rather quickly in calm waters. It wasn’t long before Steve’s rod was bent over fighting a feisty striper. After a few stripers on the tube we felt we had found them. Steve switched to casting plugs while Jeff started to fly fish. Jeff landed some nice fish in the next two hours. The action curtailed. The captain gave the orders for all lines in. As you would have guessed, the last cast before moving produced an experience Jeff would never forget. Jeff has been tying a few flies for several years now. He’s finally getting deeper into all aspects of the game. He decided to tie on a very large deceiver type of green and yellow he dreamed up during the winter months. Jeff has worked to be an excellent caster. Soon that large bulky fly flew through the air 90 feet. After a short pause to let it sink and a few strips, the line went tight like never before. This is Jeff’s best catch to date on a fly especially noted that he created and tied the pattern. Oh’ what a feeling! Jeff Paul is tired but all smiles after a lengthy fight with a 19 lbs Block Island striper. He released the brute unharmed on Independence Day giving her its freedom. Steve enjoyed the day casting plugs into the clear waters. He is now contemplating taking up fly fishing after watching his friend enjoy the experience.
The 4th was a Blockbuster for sure.

Massachusetts Fishing Report
From the Vineyard, Capt. Tom Rapone from Highly Migratory Guide Service reports:
It’s been a busy and productive couple of weeks here on Martha’s Vineyard. True summer fishing patterns are beginning to persist now, and as water temps climb steadily, those willing to get out on the water EARLY in the AM are getting the best shots at quality fish on fly and light tackle. We’ve had numerous fly rod fish topping 20-pounds in last couple of weeks, but low light combined with fast-moving water has definitely been key. Predominant baits have been squid, sandeels and ocean herring.
The summer bluefish are now in full swing, and some of the east-end shoals are holding a mind-boggling amount of 4 to 10-pound choppers. In addition, sandeels are absolutely stacked up in the oceanside rips; at the rate the water has been warming, the first bonito of the season should be just around the corner.

Capt. John Mendelson from Boston Fishstix Guide Service reports:
The fishing has slowed some overall but we are still catching good numbers most trips. Things were on the slow side over the 4th of July holiday weekend with the boat traffic but have rebounded since. We are finding bass feeding on a combination of small mackeral, pogies, and young herring. This morning the Ocean Lure Sand Eel lure did a good job imitating the juvy herring. Still not many bluefish in the harbor which is unusual for this time of year. The tuna fishing has been on the slow side too, though the fish are here, just not feeding hard. We will be running a mix of bass/bluefish trips and tuna trips over the next few weeks. Even though the fishing is not red hot, get out while you can. You never know what you’re going to find!

Maine Fishing Report
Capt. Eric Wallace from Coastal Fly Angler reports:
Reports coast wide have been improving on a daily bases, more fish are moving in and we had a good week of stable weather witch prove to provide some fun fishing. We are still behind in the numbers of fish we should have around but we do have some very nice fish on the flats in Casco Bay and lower Kennebec River, the bite has a very short A.M window. The outer ledges have fish on them but the water temp has been cool, Capt John Ford was running out looking for tuna and said the water outside was 62 got near the outer islands of Casco Bay hit 56 then back to 64 near the flats. More reports of schoolies and slot size fish state wise and today we got our first fish bluefish of the year in Casco bay and reports of blues in small schools north to south, Looking forward to next weeks tides and warm weather and the continue push of fresh fish, things are improving up here for sure.

Maine Striped Bass Fishing

2008-07-15T13:44:00.001-07:00

Maine Striper Fishing on the flats 2008

2008-06-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

Blue fish showed up and feed hard on the large pogies, then we would find them schooled up on flats near the edges of eel grass beds and warmer mud. Blues being blues are always willing to eat a fly if there not spooked, Tim did a great job keeping his body and cast low and droping the line light in some skinny water to get the eat.

This Fish Was caught by Jerry Gibbs who is also taking the Photo in Late June of 2008, Bigger fish had moved in the bay feeding hard on pogies then drifting around the warmer flats to digest. This fish ate the fly in about 18 inches of water about 200 ft from deep water, Jerry had fun with that fight!!!!

Customers Used rod list

2008-06-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

ROD CONDITION PRICE

Loomis GLX 9’ - 4 pc. - 6 wt. Good $275
Scott G 9.5’- 4pc. - 7 wt. Fair $175
Loomis GLX 9.5’- 4 pc. - 8 wt. Good $275
Loomis GLX 9.5’- 4 pc. - 8 wt. Excellent $350
Scott STS 9’ - 3 pc. - 8 wt. Excellent $300
Loomis GLX 9’ - 4 pc. - 9 wt. Good $275
Loomis GLX 9’ - 4 pc. - 9 wt. Fair $200
Graphite USA HT 9’ - 4 pc. - 10 wt. Good $150
St. Croix Legend Ultra 9’ - 3 pc. - 10 wt. Good $200
Thomas & Thomas HS 9’ - 4 pc. - 10 wt. Good $250
Loomis GLX 9’ - 4 pc. - 10 wt. Good $275
Loomis G3 Mega 9’ - 3 pc. - 13/14 wt. Excellent $300
Orvis HLS 9’ - 4 pc. - 12 wt. Good $100
Loomis IMX 9’ - 4 pc. - 12 wt. Good $200

CONDITIONS

Excellent: New/almost new; clean cork

Good: Cork discolored; has been fished, otherwise very good condition

Fair: Obviously fished but very serviceable

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