STAGE HARBOR INLET June 10, 2006 - The bigs took up residence within the confines of Morris Island in Chatham this past week, and anglers that were willing to brave the elements were rewarded in a big way. Aided by the presence of abundant schools of 8-10" menhaden, it was relatively common to witness fly anglers fast on to specimens in the 32-40" range. If prospecting Stage Harbor Inlet (between Morris Island and Hardings Beach) it would be wise to schedule your visit to coincide with dropping tides. Ultimately I have found that 4AM-4PM high tides are desired. This will allow the angler to experience optimum water displacement under lower light conditions, often limiting boat and shore traffic if wading. Leave your floating and intermediate lines in your wading jacket, as this is serious water, often requiring 350 to 450 grain lines in conjunction with shorter (I like 6 footers) to achieve your goal. Even with these imposing lines in your employ you are unlikely to nudge the bottom and upcurrent presentations are often required to aid the sinking process. When deciding on your fly selection be observant of the available bait as I have witnessed squid, sand eels, American and hickory shad, silversides, menhaden and mummies all present in the rip at various times throughout the season. While bluefish continue to ravage the south facing beaches from Woods Hole to Harwich, they have yet to become evident within the confines of the Wildlife Refuge in Chatham. I chatted with wade guide, Dave Pearson, and his recent charters have yielded only a single bluefish (30") for their efforts. This could be due to the abnormally cooler water temperatures that prevail since there has definitely been no absence of bait. MARY ANNE Good fishing and safe
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