THE EXODUS

September 1, 2005 - As we enter the month of September we are faced with the realization that the season is in its final furlong. While our days may be numbered, anglers can still expect to experience 6-8 weeks of pretty reliable fishing.

Historically here in the northeast the first distinguished weather event we experience during the month of September should put fish to our north on the move. Fish will drain down from Maine, New Hampshire and the north shore and filter into our coastal habitat only to provide some of the most awaited action of the season.

While I am still observing copious numbers of stripers on the west side flats of South Beach in Chatham, my sense is that my time here is limited as I have never experienced much success sight fishing during the month of October. Incidentally due to my frustration over the extreme selectivity I encountered this past weekend, I stumbled upon a fly pattern that served me well during the balance of my session.

It was actually summoned from my bonefish box which I routinely keep at the ready when sight fishing linesiders. The pattern is completely void of flash (a characteristic that I am becoming quite a believer in) and is a distinct takeoff of Borski's Bonefish Slider (6) in tan.

On close observation you will encounter silversides (important), sand eels (predominant), shrimp (predominant but less important in late season) and mummiechoags as the primary food sources. This pattern is an excellent representation of the latter when tied in size 6. It was the only pattern the fish would accept with regularity despite my vain attempts at presenting fairly good sand eel and shrimp imitations.

When I revealed my rather unscientific findings to master guide, Tom McQuade, of Virgin Islands fame he to had become a major proponent of excluding flash from many of his sight-fishing patterns as witnessed by his series of flies in the current Umpqua Feather Merchants catalogue.

Due to the fact that McQuade has an extremely demanding venue to practice his craft, he insists that leaving out any semblance of flash in his patterns has led to a noticeably higher rate of acceptance among the bonefish he harasses.
I'd like to hear your comments on the subject.

KUDOS TO MAM
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette has appointed Mary Anne Magiera to scribe their two weekly outdoor columns. The columns will appear in the T&G's Tuesday and Friday editions. An avid outdoorswomen in her own right we look forward to reading enlightening articles derived from a woman's point of view. Look for her initial offerings to appear sometime in early September.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB