ST

May 9, 2006 - Striper thumb… a superficial abrasion of the right (in the case of right handers) or left (in the case of southpaws) thumb caused by the sandpaper-like infrastructure of a striped bass. We fished two unrelated venues during this past weekend while employing very dissimilar techniques with excellent results.

Saturday evening I found myself in the company of Hudson's, Dave Armstrong. An accomplished angler in his own right, we decided to commit to floating lines and gurglers while float tubing Follins Pond, the headwaters of the Bass River in Dennis. The pond is shallow, warm and contains various configurations of baitfish, lending itself to be a prime early season target. I should also make note of the fact the it receives one of the premier clam worm hatches on Cape Cod, usually commencing a few days prior to the full moon and continuing for a few days after it passes.

The evening was void of wind, a welcome scenario considering our tackle selection making for ideal conditions for our pre-Red Sox game fish. The west-side shoreline is cluttered with slightly deeper coves and structure that begs for a surface fly. Immediately upon arrival our presentations were ravaged by marauding stripers, with most specimens falling in the 15-18" category. I was delighted by the fact that I was able to entice 3 fish that ranged between 25-27 inches on the conservative scale, rounding out a totally splendid evening.

On Sunday I snared the 10 weight and made my way to Stage Harbor Inlet in Chatham. For this more ambitious session a 350 grain line and more conventional DNA flies seemed more appropriate. The inlet depth, along with the aggressive water velocity, usually makes for some interesting tackle requirements. I have always found it best to seek out dropping tides when toiling estuaries and this is certainly the case with Morris Island.

As the volume of water begins to decrease, exposing the now famous eastern bar, an angler is able to wade along the exposing terrain while pitching casts into water of extreme integrity. While heeding this advice, I meticulously worked a 100-yard stretch that yielded numerous stripers, with most falling into the 20-16 inch category. When the tide bottomed-out the action predicable slowed leading to a leisurely retreat.

BIGS AND BLUES
We have fielded numerous reports of larger (keeper sized) stripers entering the system. Most are being taken on south facing beaches and estuaries of Cape Cod. If history is any indicator we should begin to witness our first bluefish of the season within about a weeks time. These fish are generally in the 6-8lb. range and will accept a fly indiscriminately.

STRIPED BASS SYMPOSIUM
The 2006 Striped Bass Symposium, Banquet & Auction will be held on Saturday, May 20th, at Christina's, Rt. 1, Foxboro. The afternoon Symposium is schedule for 1:00-4:30 PM and the cost is $20. The Banquet & Auction portion of the event will be held from 4:30-9:30 PM and the cost is $40. If you would like further info a handout is available at the shop.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB