FISHING DROPS

July 27, 2006 - Dropping tides… I love them. Whether prospecting an estuary mouth, canvassing the backside of a barrier beach or stalking a striper flat the dropping tide seems to inspire the quarry. Depending on the venue, fish will realize the immediacy of the situation and have limited time to take advantage of the decreasing water volume that funnels baitfish into large communities often resulting in easy pickins.

Witness my most recent session. Somehow I have reverted back to an area that has been generous to me in past years. The topography is well known but does receive its share of subtle, and not so subtle renovations throughout the striper season. Two hours into the drop will offer a fly angler the opportunity to cover water that is extremely difficult if not impossible to properly cover under a high tide situation. As the water volume begins to decrease and pick up speed a bowl of sorts commences to form. A bowl with current, reminiscent of a large western river complete with tailout. The tailout was nothing more than a shoal extending well into the bay and could be easily negotiated by a wading angler 4 hours into the drop.

Developing mussel beds are strewn across the floor bottom, creating a distinct integrity to the terrain and offering perfect camouflage for striped bass. The water of interest is possibly 6-8 feet in depth, decreasing to 4-6 feet at mid-tide and 2-4 feet at the bottom of the tide.

Lessons gathered by the previous two visits led me to incorporate a 300 grain line due to the increasing water velocity and because of its ability to seek bottom in 6 to 8 feet of moving water. In essence this was trout fishing with more portly tackle.

Quartering up current, mending and allowing the 6" sand eel imitations to swing in the current, presenting a broadside target to the stripers that were now occupying the real estate just prior to the tailout.

In honesty the fishing remained stellar for a period of 3 hours, or 1 hour prior to the bottom. The water volume eventually slowed and the grain line now became too much for the decreasing water supply.

BFT'S
I wouldn't consider it BFT season until the shop can actually confirm a fly rod catch. There have been numerous sightings from anglers to the south and even as far north as CCB but no confirmed landing have been reported to the shop. Good luck, Joe Reynolds.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB