08.15.13 Beautiful morning with a later surprise......

     It was a beautiful morning along the Jersey Shore. Clear skies, cool air temperature, mild W wind, and beautiful first light and sunrise coupled with a flat-like-glass surf. Those conditions are great if you are watching and photographing but not if you are striper fishing. Maybe.
     Started at 4 am looking to catch the end of the ebb and getting off the water early since I have a walk and wade trip later today. Picked a short stretch of beach and went to work on top and underneath with only one bluefish that grabbed and let go. I was done by 6 am just not impressed with the look of the water and the lack of life that I saw. I put the rods away and made some cool images of a fly angler finishing up as the sun rose. Making those images made my day even though it was slow with the long rod and fly. I was about done until.....

...... I found the birds and the bait and the blitzing bass. I had fish swirling, breaching, splashing, in front of, behind, to my side, and underfoot for about 45 minutes. At just about each disturbance I either tangled a bird, got a swirl, had a hit, flossed one, missed one, or hooked and landed one while I waited for someone to come behind me and pinch me. I arrived alone, fished alone, and left alone. It was the perfect ending to an already picture perfect morning. My only wish for the morning was that I had a lucky client making those casts instead of me. It would have just as good to watch it unfold as it was to fish it.

08.14.13 Couldn't get a repeat of last nights action.....

     As I ended my night I spotted a fly rod and stripping basket perched on an outflow pipe. At first I thought it might have been my buddy Joe's because of sheet foam popper that was tied on. I looked around and then spotted its rightful owner up the beach, with his second rod in his hand. It was Al who brought along a plugging rod to mix it up a little.

     I tried to repeat last nights efforts, and may have been on the bass, but I didn't have a blow up, splash, or take to confirm this. I tried new towns last night and got out around 1 am. At my first stop the surf was still big just coming off high tide and the waves were breaking on the beach side of the trough, with enough force that could knock you down. I first heard the talking, and laughs, and playful screams coming from the beach next to me. It was kids playing around, but then the started playing in the water. The guys would pick up the girls and carry them into the water. A nervous pit started to form in my stomach. Kids being kids. But here I am not going much past 1 foot into the big water and they're frolicking in it. I must be getting old. I almost said something, but then I just left, hoping they would make it have safe. 

     I traveled south and fished in the NW wind and light rain. Because of the bigger winds and water then the night before I did bring two rods and mostly was working Pulse Disc led flies underneath. It is amazing how much action those discs add. As you slowly retrieve in working a rip or backwash, the vibration carries all the way up to your hands. 

     As the fainest first light started to show I moved back north knowing there was one spot that wouldn't disappoint on the end of the ebb tide. I made it there still in the dark and quickly went to work. And you know what....not a bump. 

     What made my night was seeing Al's rod and basket and him way up the beach working his popper in the wash. He said he had a few fish move on it.....and that's a great way to start the day. 

     As I always tell my clients or during presentations, scout, scout, scout. Below is a short groin that has gone through some serious changes since Sandy. The below picture was taken this morning, showing how south side shoaling occurs because of the longshore drift.

August 14, 2013

     After Sandy all of that sand was gone and it had become great structure to fish. There was a deep pocket and the fish would just camp out there looking for food on the right tide and time of day. Below is a picture of the same spot taken in March 2012, which was six months after Irene and six months before Sandy. It shows the structural changes (rock disbursement) resulting from a storm and also the natural movement of sand along a beach. This is one reason why I believe "beach nourishment" is a bad idea. Mother Nature will put her rocks and sand where she wants in her ocean. Period.

March 2012

08.13.13 Great night with a bass or a pop at every stop.....

     It's great when you're on the bass, no matter what size. Found a town where the stripers are vacationing this August. I made a quick stop at 130 am and fished without a bump in one town before taking a drive and settling in for the rest of the night in another. Fished there from 230- 530 am catching the last three hours of the ebb tide.
     Over those three hours I must have walked a few miles, made a thousand casts, landed a hand full of bass, and flossed and missed another half a dozen. Two of the best blow-ups, one a double blow-up, from bigger fish just wouldn't bite down hard on the Bob's Banger. The smaller fish attack with reckless abandon while the bigger bass are either nosing or tail slapping the popper and not committing.
     With every stop I made I either had a fish show itself or go tight, which makes for walking a beach and fishing your way up and down really fun. After the first stop I left my second rod in the rack and decided I would pop my way along the beach. I spent the night up to my waist in water fishing the wash behind me and just over the sand bar in front of me. Most of the night I was exploring the great structure with my feet, taking small steps as I navigated the troughs and cuts and edges of the sand bars. It is really a great way to learn a beach, that coupled with fishing in the darkness and hanging around to see the beach at dead low tide. It answers the question on why a fish was caught here, say, and not over there.
     As the light arrived I switched over to a small Deceiver and made several casts before catching a swirl out of the corner of my eye. There's nothing like having a target to shoot for. One 40 foot cast and the fish swirled hard on it but didn't get tight. It was a great way to end the night.
     It's amazing how fish either get on bait and or just hold on some beaches over another. While some towns have been slow to spurty this summer this town and some of the neighboring towns have seen a more steady pick. I believe anglers sometimes become too comfortable with "home" and fish in one spot over and over without moving. Not just moving to a new town, even just walking the beach or picking a new groin or jetty to explore. Sometimes the bait and predator fish just aren't there and a break from the routine can and will surprise you. Plus it's just plain fun fishing new water and finding a new "home" and maybe even a few fish.
   

                             

08.12.13 Slow night shift fishing...

     Went to work at 1 am throwing a variety of black flies on the outgoing tide till dead low at 530 am. Not a splash or a bump over five groins and three beaches in three different towns. Actually I was 20 feet over the border in one so four different towns. Didn't see another angler out till the break of dawn and by then I was done. Started off strong, got a little bored in the middle, and then charged up when I could see the popper working the topwater. Went with a popper/ dropper and managed a small fish, micro bass or bluefish, that came unbuttoned as I lifted it up onto the rocks within the first twenty minutes. At that point I thought it would be a busy shift.
     The sky was overcast at first but then cleared up just in time to catch the perseid meteors, aka "shooting stars", traveling across the sky. The night before the sky was much more active. It was a great night to be out there even though the fish were spending the night in a town just a little further south.

08.11.13 Fished through the night and went one for two....

     With low tide at 430 am and a high bright sun forecast for today I figured night time would be the right time. Anglers out using plugs or swimmers have caught bass at night up and down the shore the last few weeks so I decided I would give it a go on the fly rod. Fishing the night would still leave me the whole day Sunday to work on photo editing.

     I pulled into the beach at 123 am in a town I haven't fished in since the spring. I had the whole place to myself. I worked the groin on the north side and then walked the beach for a few hundred feet without a tail slap or splash.

     With a few hours left on the outgoing I jumped in my truck and moved a few towns away and went to work in the dark. There was still waves breaking in close and was surprised when my popper got hit on the crest of a wave. It was a nice fat and healthy bass that I hardly even touched. Beached on a wave and then the barbless hook backed out easily and back into the wash. Before I fish I always adjust the settings on my camera and wear it around my neck so the picture just takes a second. 

     I worked my way down the beach and had a violent blow up but the striper didn't bite down. I worked the same area and that fish for the next two hours, alternating between the popper and a black Kinky Muddler. As the sun rose I was joined by a few other fly and spin anglers and made a few casts with a Jiggy trying to move a fluke, but there were no takers. 

     One of the best parts of the night was casting off the beach and seeing the stars in the sky, and being treated to a large number shooting stars as they fell from the sky. 

     

08.10.13 Slow in the morning but my buddy got a fly rod doormat later in the day....

     Surprisingly no fish this morning with clean and plenty of white water on the incoming tide. Started in the dark and finished up at sunrise. Got a call from my buddy who said he was going out at low tide. I talked with him on his way there.....and 20 minutes later I got the above text message.
     He was throwing a Clouser in two feet of water when this 25 inch 5.5 pound fluke hit his fly. It's a great fish and made his afternoon outing rather quick.

08.09.13 Howling S wind and off color incoming tide....

     It didn't matter what town, beach, or groin you fished early this morning because the S wind was blowing steady 15 -20 right up the coast. The town I picked and more specifically the groin I started at looked good in the dark but I came to found out was Yoo-Hoo ish colored as the light appeared. Worked the top and went under without a bump over an hour or so. Moved down the beach and found better current and cleaner water on the third hour of the flooding tide. Managed a short fluke for a yeoman's job.
     I'm looking forward to the wind to spin around and come from the northeast. We need a good blow to shake things up a bit and get the bait all disoriented and the predator fish in close. Also, I am finding the beach structure has changed considerably in the last few months and the shoaling that is occurring needs to be broken up to make some structure that will hold fish. Hopefully that will all happen before the beach nourishment project arrives in Jetty Country.

08.08.13 Try a new approach to increase your chances....

     How often have you been out fishing and stay with the same fly, some fly line, and same presentation and retrieve over and over again? I've done it, I still do it, we probably all do it. Maybe we switch flies every now and then, but how long do you stay with something that is or isn't working?
     Recently one of my fly fishing mentors wrote me a note. It was simple but made me think,

                                          " Fine tune your presentation...
                                            Changing flies, retrieves, lines, and leaders.
                                            Maximize your retrieve in the surf. 
                                            Let fly swing ect. "

     Now for some of us we like to catch fish the way we like to catch fish. I see this a lot while guiding. Clients will say, " I only want to fish dry fiies." or "Let's just look for heads." or " I want to find birds and fish for blitzing fish." There are other clients that just want to catch fish, no matter what methods are used. Nymphing, popping, dredging, stripping streamers......basically by any means necessary.
     On my boat, fresh or salt, I have several rods rigged and ready to change up in a minutes notice. Either rods rigged for nymphing or streamers, or for dredging big bunker flies or fly lines for leader shy pelagics taking tiny flies. I also have another rod ready when walking the river, beach, or rocks. One, in case a breakage occurs, or if we want to give the fish a different look.
     I always have a spare spool or two of different fly lines in my pack in case I want to switch. Say I have on an intermediate line on an incoming tide or am going to be fishing a deep bowl or rip and need to get the fly deeper in the water column. I have to find a place to switch over and re-rig. It can be done, but happens less than I want it to. It's a bit of an ordeal, especially if you want to switch back when moving to a different spot or finding that wasn't productive.
     So, I am taking the practice of carrying multiple rods with me when I personally fish on the beach, groins, and jetties. Since I prefer to fish alone and usually pass on those areas where other anglers are this reduces the problem of the rod getting in someones way or broken.
     The last three days I have found this to work for me. At first light I am able to cover water with a popper, and then hit that same spot with a sinking line for deeper presentation. Usually an angler will cover a stretch and then make the spare spool switch, if he does it at all, and then re-fish the same water. This works, however sometimes a spot is only fishy for so long. Light and tides are always changing, and may not wait for you to fish the beach down, and then back.
     The same goes true for fly selection. Sometimes I fish the same fly an entire outing, and sometimes just too damn long. Other times it stays tied on for multiple days. It only becomes worse when we catch a fish because we think that is the go-to fly. Maybe there's a fly in your box that work better and catch more and bigger fish if you just tried it. You can even stay with the same pattern, but maybe a different color or size will increase your chances.
     Leader and tippet diameter and length can be experimented with also. Many times clients have had on a 4x or 5x tippet but are getting no results. A quick change to a 6x or 7x can be a game changer. The same can be said for salt water leaders and tippet. Mono or flouro- tapered or not- and short and long. Conditions and species can dictate what you tie on. A classic example is when bluefish and stripers are in mixed company, wire leaders or not?
     I transport my fly rods with a Sumo Car Top Rod Rack, HERE. I have used it for several years and haven't had it fail yet. However it should be checked every time you go to use it if has been on your vehicle for a while. Temperature changes and moisture content in the air can loosen them up.
   


     Since carrying two rods I have been using Orvis reel cases, HERE, to protect the reels from damage on the rocks and from sand infiltartion on the beach. I am going to devise a small stand that I can use to keep it upright on the beach. It will prevent walkers or other anglers from stepping on it, however, you have to be careful of your or others backcasts if you're fishing in front of where you leave your rod.

    So if you are fishing the beach or rocks and see a fly rod standing alone please look around for the fly rodder it may belong too before you take it to the Lost and Found.

08.07.13 Pair of bass in the dark...watched a battle with a cownose ray....and a great catch and release roundtable

     There's been a lot of water around with the current new moon. To beat that I got on the beach around 4am. On the second cast I watched the above bass blow up on the Bob's Banger. Had a few more takes bringing one more to hand. When daylight hit I switched over to a sinking line and sand eel pattern. Didn't get a touch until I saw a swirl and made a cast and went tight, for just a minute before it spit the barbless hook.




     As the sun rose a lone angler on the groin hooked into a cownosed raw and fought it for time. He kept the ray saying his friend who is a chef knew how to cook it. I did some reading on it and found the CNR's are edible, if dressed properly after being caught.
     CNR's are members of the Chondraicthes family, including sharks, rays, and skates. They carry a large body mass and quickly build up uric and lactic acid when stressed. During a prolonged fight it will build up these metabolites, which will change the taste of a fish. It's similar to tuna, where a tuna can actually cook itself during a prolonged fight, that is why they are bled and gills are removed quickly upon being landed. If you keep a ray for the table, you must quickly kill the fish, and remove it's wings and put them on ice immediately. Below is a recipe,

Ray Kabobs

• 1 lb. ray filets
• 2 green peppers, seeded and cut into 1-1/2-inch chunks
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• ½ cup bottled barbecue sauce
• 16 boiling onions
• 1 ½ t. lemon juice
• 16 slices bacon
• 16 pineapple chunks
• 16 cherry tomatoes

Parboil onions in boiling water, covered for 5 minutes, adding green pepper chunks at the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain and peel onions. Cut ray into 1-inch cubes; pat dry. Sprinkle ray with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Partially cook bacon; drain. Wrap 1 slice bacon around each ray chunk; secure with wooden picks. Thread wrapped ray, onions, pepper chunks and pineapple alternately on eight skewers, ending with tomatoes. Grill over medium-hot coals for about 15 minutes, turning and basting often with your favorite barbecue sauce. Makes 4 servings.

     Today there was a number of anglers out early, with most looking for striped bass. I counted 4 fly and six spin anglers just a groin or two either way of the beach I was on. I guess "cabin fever" is setting in and anglers can't wait till fall arrives.....

     Later in the day I saw this video posted on Facebook. It's a roundtable discussion called- "Striped Bass For the Future: Striped Bass Catch and Release". It was held at Monmouth University and includes Lou Tabory and Bob Popvics. It's a great listen and hopefully we can all step up our techniques for releasing striped bass. 

08.06.13 Quiet morning.....but the lady walking the beach knew otherwise

     Pretty morning with flat water on the flooding tide. Got out early enough to jump up on the notched groin to fish the tip before heading back to the beach as the water rose. Went with the popper and stayed with it maybe a bit too long. After an hour or so the beach walkers started to show up. I crossed water with a spin fisherman who was using a black swimmer/teaser combo who didn't muster up a bite.
Spin fisherman, for fly fisherman, are a great resource to find out if fish are taking offerings other than flies. So, today, it was confirmed that there were no fish around, until the walking lady stopped by.
     I saw her approaching and held my cast so I didn't catch her. She stopped and asked, " Get anything?" I replied, confidently, " No, not today. No one's home." And then like a needle to a balloon she answered, " The guy on the jetty over there got a big one!." I knew what groin, and which fisherman she spoke of, and answered, " He always catches fish." She added, " It was big...."
     I switched to a sinking line with a Clouser hoping to get a bass that was chasing sand eels but that didn't excite a fish. On my way out I met a guy getting ready to soak some clams looking for a bass. His name is Ron Popivchak and he is a regular contributor to The Fisherman magazine. He handed me a copy of one of his latest articles titled, "Four Great Myths Of Striper Fishing". Before I pulled away I

read the article and was slightly entertained at his encounter with a fly fisherman he had in January. He wrote,

" This past January I clammed up and released five bass (one keeper) from a jetty in Avon and then took a coffee break to warm up a bit, as a fly fisherman headed out. "No fish," he snorted to me and my empty bucket, with his nose turned skyward. I muttered a half-sincere "good-luck" and headed to Coffee Town for some hot double latte. When I returned to the jetty an hour or so later, I encountered the same long-rodder leaving the beach. "No fish," he complained to me in disgust. I smiled at the fly boy and thought "if you only knew! "

     I could pick at this since I know most of the fly rodders that fish those waters regularly but I won't, as the writings are the authors experience and it may have happened just as he wrote. But what I will comment on is the line, "...with his nose turned skyward." I think that line is funny as it just confirms and perpetuates the stereotype that fly anglers are snooty, elitists, and purists.

     I would venture to bet the that the fly angler he encountered does, "if you only knew!", probably because he calls that stretch "home" and fishes it several times a week if not daily. I too had similar outings having talked with friends who had banner days soaking clams over the winter while I put up zereos. But, it's not just about catching fish, to some it's about catching fish the way that person wants to catch fish. Some of us prefer using a fly rod, no matter if the bass are eating fresh clams or bunker chunks weighted down on the bottom with lead.

This morning I wished Ron good luck after telling him that I hadn't caught anything, with a big smile on my face, after having enjoyed a quick early morning session out on a beautiful morning. With flat glass-like and crystal clear water, and tons of bait swimming around I may not think today is a clam- soaking type of day, but hey, I'm a fly-fisherman, what do I know? And I say that with my nose turned down. 

08.05.13 Back at it after a few days away....

     Couldn't wait to get up and out there this morning. It was a fall like day with air temps in the 50's. A W wind and incoming tide with flat glass like conditions. Perfect popping morning. It was fun fishing into the first light and watching a few bass blow up on the Bob's Banger that I tied up last night.
     Just a few things that bummed me out a bit. One, the above pic is cool, but out of focus. I opted not to use the flash and didn't have enough light to shoot it at a higher shutter speed. Second, a good bluefish clean cut my tippet and my Banger was gone.

                             

     After that I switched reels to a sinking line and went with a Pulse Disc led sand eel pattern. If there was a fish in the neighborhood it would have hit it because it swims in the water like a champ. I walked the beach down and up without a bump. The water stayed flat into high tide and the morning was over by 7 am. One thing that was encouraging was on just about every retrieve my fly was followed by something, sand eels, snappers, and even a short fluke. The water has life in it and with the cool temps things are looking great for late summer fishing.

08.03- 04.13 Up to Roscoe to work...and what a great find at the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum Summerfest

      Took the fan damily up to Roscoe for the weekend for some work and heavy lifting at the house. Our house is located on 40 acres and is in a beautiful setting, but it is in desperate need of some love- quickly! With hopefully the Adirondack homes under contract, and sold!, we are hoping to concentrate our efforts on our home here.
     It was a weekend of all good things Roscoe. One bummer, on our way up we always stop in Parksville and hit the Fiddle's Dari-King but it was sad to see it closed, don't know if it's for the summer or for good. We rented a house in Colcheter which worked out great. Some things that we always do, fudge at The Little Store, dinner at the Rockland House, Farmer's Market next to the firehouse, ice cream at The Sweeth Tooth, Smore's over a big night time fire,

                                   

and lots of newts, snakes and frogs both days. Surprisingly we didn't eat at The Roscoe Diner, having cooked breakfast after some early morning runs to Downsville each morning for the papers, fresh coffee, and supplies.



     Luckily I was up there during the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum Summerfest. After breakfast on Saturday me and gang hit the anglers flea market. I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could score something good there. Maybe someone would have a neat old book on striped bass or saltwater fly fishing for a steal. I figured it was a "Catskills" thing so everyone would know the value of all things from the area. And boy did they.
     There were lots of bamboo and vintage rods and reels, old books, and flies tied by some of the premier tyers from the Catskills. I ran into Bob from the BorderWaterOutfitters fly shop and he showed me some of the more expensive flies for sale. I found three spider flies tied in 1992 by Paul Schmookler that had an asking price of $300.00.



As I walked around I saw a few things that I would have liked to have picked up, but passed on. Then I got to a table that had some old rods and reels on it, and a newer blue fly box. It didn't fit. It was out of place. As I got closer I saw some beautiful Clousers and Deceivers all tucked in nice and neat in rows. I casually glanced at them and picked them up. The seller said they were ".....saltwater flies......30 of them.......50 bucks and they're yours." I answered ".....mmmm they're nice", and put the box down, not before looking on the top to read...."C&F Design - Grand Slam". That's at least a 50 dollar box, and if you went conservatively two dollars a fly.....$150.00. As I stood and calculated in my head he said, ...."......45 dollars, with the box." I answerered, "Would you take 40?". He answered, "Sold". And that was my find of the day, just what I was looking for.





     I did find one tie that was interesting to me. It was a Clouser with a Mister-Twister type tail tied in. It was cut out of some kind of rubber sheet. I will try this fly in the morning, if I can get myself away from the poppers and sand eel patterns.

                              

     After that find it was off to work. Lots debris removal and bagging of "stuff" before hitting the basement. For a change of pace I broke out the chainsaw and we trimmed up a large tree that looks down over the house. My son and older daughter climbed, with my son climbing up around 100 feet. It was great to have the wife, kids and Lola up there and hopefully soon those trips will be just hanging out and not work trips, maybe even take some of them out for a float down the Delaware. 

                               

Don't be fooled, this is our rental! (Below)

08.02.13 Picture perfect setting while fly fishing during a Jersey Shore sunrise....

     What more can you say. Absolutely gorgeous morning to be out wet wading and throwing flies to striped bass, and bluefish, at first light. When we talk about fishing we talk about windows of opportunity. In the summer months that window is the half of the day that goes from the evening hours to just after sunrise. Though fishing at night is rewarding and fun, sunsets and sunrises are not only beautiful but productive as well.
     Watching a popper as the light sets or rises splash across the surface and a blow up or tail slap on it is as good as it gets. Luckily this morning I had Joe out to share the beach and it gave me the opportunity to shoot subjects other than sunrises and schoolie bass.

     The morning started out at 430 am casting poppers in the dark and as the light arrived a bass hit it off the end of the groin. These fish are young, fresh, and put up a good fight. It's great practice before the fall run and the bigger fish arrive. Even though the rocks are productive I prefer working off the beach with the popper. Timing the waves, finding the current, and waiting on each retrieve following a good cast for something to bite.

     I jumped in my truck and changed locations and on my first cast had a bigger than usual bass blow up on it and go tight, only to have the fish come unbuttoned as it caught be off guard. I watched in the distance as a spin fisherman put on a one man clinic getting hooked up every time I looked up. I assume he was using a metal as there seems to be sand eels around and he was working the outer edges of the sand bars.
     I finished with a trio of bass and Joe caught a bluefish that went about 24 inches, and left it's mark on one of his sweet sheet foam poppers. There are plenty of great mornings to be had this summer and walk and wade trips run $200 for fours hours with and early start at 4am and finishing up around 8. If you'd like to enjoy a sunrise with a fly rod in hand give me a call 732.261.7291 to set up a trip.

08.01.13 Great morning...with a pair of great fish

 

     It was a beautiful morning. I had fished last night in a stiff and blowing S wind. I had a huge blow up in the wash on a popper and went back for more this morning, hoping that fish was in the same exact ( yeah right!) spot. Today I fished with Al who had beat me to the parking lot by 5 am. 

     Today there was no wind and flat water except when the waves crashed on or before the sand bars as the tide ebbed. I stayed with the popper that Joe had gave me the other day. If you are a tyer than watch the video I posted and tie yourself up a few. These are great flies. I prefer to fish them with an intermediate line as the line maintained just below the surface adds to the flies action and water disruption. I also prefer to fish them from the beach as the added elevation from the groins or jetties makes working the fly and getting good solid strips that move water harder. 

     The fish were just over the waves that crashed at my feet. Casting out produced a fish to hand and a few that tail slapped or missed. I also picked up one casting near parallel to the beach working the popper over the slough in the wash. 

    

     One thing I realized this morning is how much I like to catch small fish. We all like to target big fish. They make for a hard hit, strong fight, great photo, and satisfying release, or, a tasty meal. Sadly though we have become a big, and many, big fish anglers. The magazines and websites are loaded with images of big fish. The anglers have a big smile as they hold their catch or stand on the dock with fish at their feet, hanging from a hook, or laying on the deck. But that's not what does it for me.

     In my two fisheries, the Upper Delaware, 20 inch fish are the benchmark of a good day and a good fish. Ask anyone how they did, " A few good 16's, and a nice 18"......ho hum...yawn." But tell them you got a 20" or bigger.....that's reason to celebrate. Even when your guiding, telling a client that the fish we just gently released was a 20 incher, and they feel fantastic. So really, anything over 18" gets stretched a bit to make that 20 inch mark.
     On the Jersey Shore stripers are benchmarked by 28"- the legal keeper size. " I got a few schoolies and some rats....ho hum....yawn." But, "I got keeper, now you've had a good day." The other bench mark for striper fishing comes when the bigger fish are around. And those are measured in pounds. We use 30's, 40's and the ultimate prize a "50 pounder" descriptions to indicate how "good" a fish someone has caught. But all of it doesn't tell the real story.

     Last week I floated the Upper Delaware and caught a beauty, others say "slob" of a brown trout on a streamer in off-color water. I was casting 35 feet to a bank while the boat was anchored up. I saw the take, set the hook, fought the fish, and my buddy landed after a near straight line path to the boat. As far as undue pressure and stress on the fish it was great, as far as a memorable fish.....it just wasn't. It's size was better than 24" and had to go six pounds. It was one of my better fish that I have personally caught on the Delaware.




   
Now if you have ever been set up on a rising trout standing in waist high water, casting across mixed currents, watching it take just about every mayfly that comes across it's feeding lane, except yours, for hours, then you know how that fish registers as "good" when you finally go tight. It could be 16 inches.....now that's a good fish!




     The same goes for striped bass- I wouldn't say bluefish- because 10 plus pound blues on a fly rod are just plain sick, as to what makes a good fish. I have caught 35 inch bass that take a Clouser casted into flat water with little current, a decent strike, a sluggish fight, and an easy land on the beach. No doubt a nice fish. But, I have been perched on a rock that I shouldn't be on, with a howling cold NE wind, with big waves breaking on the rock you are clinging to, and had a striper grab a Deceiver from the crest of a wave. Quickly you are into your backing as you hold your rod up high as the waves bite your line near the rocks as the fish exits via the rip along the groin. Your wondering how your are ever going to land this thing, yet alone keep your fly line from getting cut on the exposed rocks, mussels, and barnacles.

                                 

     After 15 minutes you have gained back your fly line and found a rock to land the fish. You reach down and grab your leader as having the weight of the fish on your rod tip will surely mean a return-to-Orvis rod repair. As you time the waves you lift up and place the fat 27 inch fish at your feet. You remove the barbless sand eel pattern and gently toss the fish back in. Now that is a great fish!



     So with that said. Last week we caught several 6-10 inch wild brown trout on the West Branch and as of late on the Jersey Shore have been catching a lot of 16-25 inch stripers. I love seeing young fish. They are pretty, feisty, strong, and put up a good fight. Hopefully they mean that the species is procreating and doing well. I often see people quick reeling, or dragging, these fish to net or the beach and not giving them the respect they deserve. These fish are the future 20 inchers and 50 pounders that most seek to catch.



In the end- A good fish isn't measured in inches or pounds, but in the experience and challenge of catching them while out in the great outdoors.