Maine Striper Fishing Reports. Coastal Fly Angler

Monday, July 6, 2009

Maine Striper Fishing Reports July 6

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

Friday, June 26, 2009

June 26, 2009 Maine Striper Fishing Report,

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

Friday, June 19, 2009

Maine Striper Fishing Report, June 19, 2009

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

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Maine Striper fishing reports

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

Friday, June 5, 2009

Maine Striper Fishing Reports

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

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Maine Striper Fishing Reports, June 1, 2009

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.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Maine Striper Fishing Reports 2009

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.

Flats fishing report for Striped Bass: Capt Eric Wallace

From Maine to Cape Cod Bay there are both big flats and small shoreline pockets that offer good skinny water fishing, and big tides that average 8 to 10 feet. The coast from Chatham, Massachusetts to Long Island, New York offers the same type of water but smaller tides, only 2 to 4 feet or so. Only Long Island has tide ranges up to 7 feet.

The bigger the tides the faster fishing conditions will change. In locations with a 2-foot tide a flat might be fishable for the entire day; a flat with a 10-foot tide will be most stable around low tide, sometimes for several hours. Once the strong flow begins be prepared to move with the flow so as not to get trapped by the rising water when wading.

An early incoming tide will be the most productive in many locations. Stripers feel more at ease and as the flats cover there is food like dead sand eels, clams and crabs that are easy targets for stripers. This is especially true where tides are biggest. However, a falling tide in places that trap baitfish along edges and inside basins and drainage gullies can be excellent, too. Small creekmouths attract fish on a falling tide and they move upstream into the creek in search of food as the tide rises. Some small creeks are crystal clear and will remind the trout angler of Western spring creeks. Generally, big-tides mean a short fishing window.

Sand eels are the best baitfish for northern flats because they burrow and remain in the sand on dry flats through low tide. As water returns, some baitfish die and lay on the bottom. A flat where you see dead sand eels at low tide could be a hotspot, so stick around. Crabs are numerous on all flats and both crabs and shrimp are abundant inside creeks and estuaries. I do very well with a sparse, white Deceiver, and an epoxy sand eel fly made with purple Fluorofibre over cream Fluorofibre with some flash. Tie these flies 3 to 5 inches long. The lady crab, or calico, is a very important food source in the shallows; a reddish Del Brown Crab Fly is a good match for these. Any light tan bonefish fly 1 1/2 to 2 inches long will match both the common shore and sand shrimp that live on the flats inside most estuaries. And lightly weighted 3- to 4-inch Clouser Minnows in tan-and-white or olive-and-white are also very popular.

Top times for sight fishing are from mid May through early July. Then you can depend on good sunlight and the lower water temperature brings hungry fish onto the flats and into the creeks to feed. Some of the colder water locations from northern Massachusetts to Maine can have good sight fishing into August. In September and early October big flats might hold fish at times but the light is not as good as in summer. The key to good daytime fishing is cool water and abundant food sources.

In the spring there are places when you can sight cast and catch large numbers of smaller stripers, but the real fun begins when casting to big stripers. You will earn each fish, and you will remember each one long after the memory of a 20-fish day has faded.

Copyright Coastal Fly Angler Maine Saltwater Fly fishing Guides and Reports With Capt Eric Wallace.