09.17.14 Mother Montauk very kind to this Jersey boy on day one......

                          

     Had Charlie with me out today on a gorgeous day. Slow morning, a little windy, but the afternoon was great and the albies were up and hungry. I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to Montauk than today. 

     Started out leaving the the Jersey Shore around 4 and that put me in in the area by 8 am. Stopped by to see my sister at her job in East Hampton which was a pleasant surprise. My room at Snug Harbor Motel was still occupied so we readied our gear and put the boat in the water and off we went. 

     We started out, well, I started out driving around looking for life. Some birds, some albies blowing up here and there. Up and down....super quick. We got bit off by a bluefish as the tide went slack and then on the flip it got better. We had one shot when the albies were going good and that resulted in a double header. After that it was lots of quick shots with a total of five albies landed for the day. It was nice to have the albies each each one of the fly patterns I tied up the other night. (cont)

     I will be calling Snug Harbor Motel my home for the next 11 days.  It seems to be perfect for what I need. Beds for some friends and clients, a little kitchen, a balcony overlooking the lake....and a quick hop-skip to the West Lake where I am sure I'll end up each night.
     I will be solo Friday and Saturday, so if you have wanted to or have and want to return, give me a call (732.261.7291) to discuss. I have good lodging and if today is any indication the fishing is great.

09.16.14 I dreamed of this fish last night......

      ......no really I did. I went to bed wondering where I would fish this morning. Knowing bait is around, thicker on some days than the other, and bigger fish are here and gone, I wondered where my best bet might be. Rather than stay in my comfort zone......I made the trek to a different beach that I always enjoy fishing in the fall.
     I got out around 430, with the outgoing tide pull really starting to kick in. There was some light from the moon but first light was still a ways off. Looking at the water I knew my "dream" fish was there.

And on my third cast I was tight.

     Initially I thought this fish was big, as it took the Snake Fly off the crest of a wave breaking at the bar. I saw it all, and it was cool. As light arrived rainbait was spraying out of the water being chased by small blues. They pretty much stripped the ostrich plume from my fly and when the sun came up the water appeared flat and lifeless. It was a nice sendoff outing, the last before I head to Montauk around 3am tomorrow.



     Last night I found the bins that held all of my fly tying stuff and I sat down in front of the vice with a
glass of Malbec and the final Grateful Dead show from July 9, 1995 in Soldier Field in Chicago. I tied up a few variations of some albie bait so we'll see what they like when I get out there.

                                         

Enjoy the show!!!!!!

09.15.14 FALL IS HERE !!!!

     Yep, its that time. Opening the door at 415 and getting met with high 40's air temps has it feeling like fall. Couple that with the arrival of the mid-September bait migration and signs of predator fish moving in makes for great early mornings. And you can't forget the sunrises .
     This morning on the outgoing bait passed by unbothered. Rainbait and mullet where easy to spot, either the tiniest of baits getting sprayed by small blues, and the larger bait leaving their telltale "V" wakes as they swam. I looked for a tail slap or swirl but only had one fish, I assume it was a cocktail bluefish, take a bite on my popper.

So, things are setting up nicely here in New Jersey, and I am off to Montauk tomorrow night. I am sure I won't regret it once I arrive at "The End".

09.14.14 The ocean is alive once again......

     Went down to scout things out post blow and found that life had returned to the beach. It looked like it should on any given day. Birds up, bait everywhere, and predator fish on the eat. When I found a few anglers including the above fly rodder  hooking up with cocktail blues cast after cast I decided to do more shooting than casting. I had brought my spey rod down looking to set up on the end of a groin

and wait for some albies to show up. What I found was bay anchovies, spearing and mullet everywhere you looked, or walked. The blues were running through them almost up onto the beach and depending on what you had on would depend on how many fish you wanted to catch. The smaller the fly the more fish you would catch...you just had to match the hatch.

                       

     I stayed big wanting to try for some bass that I know were out there. The spey rod, I find, is much easier from the groins than the surf, and it took me a while to get my rhythm down. I did eventually jump up on the rocks and went with a smaller fly and had bluefish after bluefish eat. They weren't big, but it was fun to be casting to fish blowing up, bait being sprayed, and birds hovering and diving.

09.13.14 "The bass (and albies) are back in town....."

     Different wind, different tide, different beach = different results than this morning.

Well the wind died and the water stayed super clean with lots of nice white water. Fished the end of the ebb tide and landed two nice bass and had a third follow the Snake Fly into the rocks. Seems like this ENE really got some things started as there was a "epic" albie and good pick of bass along the Jersey Shore. Bait has started to move with mullet and bay anchovies providing the fodder for the bass and albies. Could a great next few days here......and I'm leaving NJ to go to Montauk on Tuesday.

09.13.14 Great day in sporty weather for a nice couple.......

     Jacob and Christina started fly fishing in June and have fished in Colorado on the Upper Delaware already. They call Manhattan home and wanted to try some saltwater fly fishing. Sounds like a great plan. They booked a walk and wade trip but were open to something on the boat as well. During the week and post-blow I thought we might be good starting at first light just coming out of slack low before the winds today started to blow.

Plans don't always go as planned.

     When we got to the beach the winds were a steady east 20 with gusts above that. The surf was fine but built as the tide flooded and the wind increased. Toss in an east swell and well that's a great day to break into saltwater fly fishing!



     We jumped in an fished the beach first watching the fly sweep hard left to right even with a sinking line. Christina is small in stature but big in guts so standing in the surf taking water was fine by her, but she definitely preferred fishing from the rocks. There wasn't much showing until we saw some birds





focused in about 80 feet from us and soon the albies, or maybe bonita were up and out of the water, before quickly moving on. I got reports that the same was found to our south.......no one was 100% sure if the were albies or bonita as no one brought one to hand.
     As Christina was stripping in, she did go tight, a gull had dove down and grabbed her Snake Fly from the top of a wave but luckily it flipped of as it took flight near the beach. We were glad of that.

     I hope todays trip didn't scare them of from fly fishing the salt, I may have pushed a bit on how great conditions were because this is just my favorite type of water to fish. I believe they will be back, and I promise I will get them out on the boat in October or November in much less sloppy weather.  

09.12.14 Fall 2014 brings a new start to my life....

     Nothing to celebrate here, but I'm starting a new chapter in my life. Went up to Roscoe to get some necessities from the house that I have been lugging around for what seems forever. Pots, pans, silverware, a few pictures, all kinds of home stuff. Most of this has been with me since the late 1990's when we purchased a home in Big Bass Lake in the Poconos. Then it all took the trek to the houses in the Adirondacks, then down to Roscoe, and now to Deal where I'll call home till the summer rental season starts June 1, 2015.
     On my way home I stopped by the Willowemoc and found a few new fly fishers out enjoying the fall morning. As I watched one struggle with his cast I couldn't help but ask if I could offer some tips which were greatly appreciated. Why watch someone struggle? So I offered and had fun with it.

    Kind of felt crappy taking "vacation" house stuff for use on a daily basis....but it just makes no sense to purchase it all over again. Setting up shop again is never fun....just thought I'd share, to keep it real.

09.10.14 Ocean is just big and angry the last few days.....

     Went down yesterday and the winds were kicking and the ocean big and angry. It's going to take a day and tide or so post Harvest Moon to settle things down a bit. Went out this morning on the ebb tide and looked to hit a pocket or two. Even with a sinking line it was difficult to fish, but still enjoyable as this change in the weather, winds, and seas is all part of why fall fly rod fishing for striped bass is so much fun.

09.09.14 Magical Harvest Moon tonight .....

     I got home tonight and was greeted by a pleasant surprise. The "super moon" was up and the sky was lit providing a backdrop for the clouds that were passing by in the night. I felt I wanted to capture tonights sky in a picture so I could always remember it.

     When I uploaded the images I did some searching on this years Harvest Moon and what it may mean to those that studied the stars. It made for an enjoyable read and led to my understanding on why things just might happen for a reason. Below are some explanations..... and it gets pretty deep. TD

FULL MOON ~ SUPERMOON ~ HARVEST MOON bringing the deep and feminine waters of Pisces to cleanse our emotional realms. There is potential for deep healing.

“The Full Moon also forms a Grand Water Trine with Saturn in Scorpio and Juno in Cancer. This sweet watery alignment supports healing and cleaning of the karmic past in relationships and commitments in our lives…if we can tap into Saturn in Scorpio and our ability to navigate the shadow, as well as juno in cancer and our ability to attend to the relationships that mean the most to us- then this Full Moon can be fruitful.”

The magic of Pisces is the magic of the Heart.  The Sufis believe that the Heart is an ocean and the body is its beach.   Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Wisdom, arose from the ocean waters and came to shore as Love, which is our blessing and our heritage.  Pisces is the World’s Heart and Aphrodite’s love arises from the Source of Life, flowing through the body, engaging the heart and mind and filling us with spirit.

“When we actually sense what our hearts are feeling, we understand the quality of the moment.   The heart brings us the quality and texture of the moment.  

“The heart is the knower of truth, not the mind.  The mind presents us with possibilities and choices, but the heart knows the truth.  Being in touch with our heart tells us the quality of our existence, the truth of who we really are.

“The heart brings us a sense of the preciousness of life and the present moment.  The heart feeds the soul, and truth is the heart-food we most need.  What is your truth?  Who are you really?  What are you being called to be and do?  

“…the Blessed Virgin Mary is a good example of a Virgo/Pisces goddess figure.  As virgin, she alone gave birth to the savior.  As Great Mother of all, she is the source of compassion for all our suffering…Mary also has a sacred heart—a heart full of love and compassion.  The ancient Mother is calling to us, wanting to lead us home to that place of calm and peace that we all long for.  The way there is through the heart.”

“…The Great Moon Mother shares with us an awareness of the woundedness of our world and asks our Virgo self, what we intend to do about it.   Once we remember our inner Spirit, we are compelled to open ourselves to our spiritual destiny.

   

09.08.14 Just knew there had to be bass out there in the slop....

         It was my kind of weather out there. East winds up to 20 mph with gusts to 25 on an outgoing tide. Easy day to make excuses. Got out on hour 4 of the ebb an found, well, lots of wind and white water. Didn't have my "A" game outfit with me so I went with what I had., 9ft 10wt with an intermediate line. I had that because on Saturday I took a time out and ran up to Newport to search for bass and albies. Did a little scouting but didn't find anything so it was more relaxing than fishing. Newport after summer and at the start of fall is just beautiful...I know I would be happy calling it home.

     Back on the beach it wasn't easy getting the fly straight out into spots that held water. There a wicked left to right sweep so it became a job timing the waves and then the sweep in getting my Snake Fly to wind up where I wanted it. 

     I jumped up on the groin and fished more back towards the beach, constantly mending my line over the waves to prevent the fly from traveling at 60 mph from the pull on the line. On one cast I saw the fly approach the surface and the above bass almost come out of the water after it. I thought for sure there would be more. 

      As the near full moon tide ebbed quickly I went back to the beach and worked some really fishy water. Small blues bit at the tail of the fly and there were no more bass takers. Tomorrow I'll be ready with a sinking line as the E winds continue, up to 30, which will be nice as long as the water doesn't get to shitted up and loaded with cabbage. 

09.05.14 Time to start tying my favorite fly as there's reports of mullet making their way out front.....

                       

     It's my favorite season of the year. Favorite season with cooler temps, fall foliage, fall fashion, fall food, everything about the fall I love. And, fall is my favorite time to fish, especially in the salt. Tinnier baits designed for the fly rodder to mimic should be making their way out of the natal nurseries of the bays and rivers.  Its about to go off...well hopefully.

                        

     One of my favorite baits is the mullet. Easy to spot, nice and tight to the beach, and the striped bass and blues love them. When this bait is around I get to tie up my own version of Lou Tabory's Snake Fly or Slab Fly. I tie them in several sizes and colors and with weight and without. They are durable, swim nicely, and catch fish.



     Below is Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions demonstrating the Snake Fly. as always a gret tie and video from Tim.

Tabory Snake Fly from Tightline Productions on Vimeo.

     I'm going up north this weekend for a quick trip and then next week it's hitting hard at the bench getting ready for our Jersey mullet run and for Montauk. I will be at "The End" from September 17- 27 and have a few dates open if you would like to fish out there with me. I'll have a place to stay so just bring yourself and we'll have a great day at one of the storied spots for fall striped bass, bluefish, and albies on the East Coast.

09.04.14 Starting to see some bigger bait, and BIG bait eaters, in close.....

     Went down to the beach around 530, not to fish, but just scout the glass flat water. Outgoing tide, no wind, perfect to see for miles. As I scanned the horizon back and forth, really looking for albies, I saw dark pods in the water. Couldn't really see if there was anything on them unless I looked through the 300mm lens on my "real" camera. Yes, I am lugging around my real cameras as both G-12's are at Canon because of exposure to the salty elements. I didn't see anything blow up but the bunker remained tight as I watched. I waited to see if any whales were around as my buddy and I saw one breach off in the distance yesterday. Meanwhile over on the New York side .......

.....charter captain and author John McMurray was in close in 20 feet of water and had a whale blowing up on the bunker. This should be a good sign of things to come if we can just get those bass, blues, and albies to start coming south sooner than later.
   

09.03.14 Pick up the September issue of 'On the Water" magazine......

     Great Jersey issue of OTW magazine this month. It starts with Tom Lynch with the cover photo, a story about the history of Jersey surfcasting by Shell E. Caris, and even yours truly getting in on the action with a story about beach replenishment and jetty notching. They ran a bunch of pics with the story and my buddy Rich got the full page bleed with a pic of him hooked up on the fly rod.

Below is the full image....

09.01.14 Love the end of the groins in the fall.....

     Well, today is Labor Day!!!! You know what that means to us Jersey Shore folks???....we get our lives back. Back is Ocean Ave without a ton of traffic, buses stopping every 50 feet to pick up and drop off kids from summer camp, beaches pretty much empty again, and a free in and out at Sandy Hook.

    This morning we had near perfect conditions out front on the end of the outgoing and start of the incoming. Worked the beach hard and then moved to the en of the groin tossing Kinky Muddler's out about the hickory shad looking for a lurking striper. My fishing partner today lost a keeper striper that flipped off at the rocks so it was not only just fishy looking but fishy as well.

     I love fishing the groin tips, down near the water level, taking an occasional wave, sweating where my fly line will wind up with each cast and wave, and then wondering how and where I will land a fish that takes the fly. It's even more fun on the incoming...as a rouge wave every now and then will soak you or push you off the rock you are precariously balancing on. Now that's fun.