LOW LIGHT AND SURF

August 18, 2006 - As wading anglers are faced with the prospects of warming water temperatures along the immediate coastline we must address our tactics during the remaining few weeks of summer. A good general rule to maximize your time on the water would be to 1) fish pre-dawn, 2) fish dusk into dark and 3) fish the surf.

While I personally have been retired from the surf for a few years now, I have relished the exhilaration the pre-dawn phase offers. There are many advantages that are offered to the early riser. Your angling is seldom, if ever, compromised by boat traffic or competing anglers, the wind is usually less of a factor, the balance of your day can be use for other endeavors and your prey is more likely to take advantage of the last glimpse of darkness before slithering into the security of cooler, deeper water.

Light conditions during the mid summer months also plays a factor with boat anglers as well. I can recount many, many episodes of shooting blanks as the sun took it's position on the horizon, while the pre dawn period offered uncanny, if not spectacular results. While many of our summertime transients (bluefish, bonito, false albacore, BFT's and Spanish macs) are certainly less affected, and in many instances seem to relish the summer sun, this is certainly not the case with north Atlantic striped bass.

DNA
What a fly tying material! I've attempted to boil it in water and microwave it on high for 30 minutes but in both instances it was virtually indestructible and maintained all of it's original properties. Believe it or not I am still utilizing my original "clouser-style" fly that dones the end of my tippet on the opening day of the season. God knows how many stripers (and even a few bluefish) it has claimed to it's credit. Fly Tyers not familiar with the product should be aware that it is available in a few flavors. DNA Frosty Fish Fiber and DNA Holo Fusion and the color selections are immense. The material reacts much like bucktail but offers much more movement and durability. The only way to describe the FFF is subdued, subtle color with sheen while the HF is softer in texture with mylar integrated throughout adding flash.

BFT SIGHTING
The middle of August has yet to bring a confirmed fly rod caught Bluefin report. While the number of sightings and attempts has been on the upswing, we've yet to hear of an official boating. The vacationing John Martello of Sherewsbury witnessed a number of schools while canvassing the southern Maine coastline approximately 3 miles out to sea. While Joe Reynolds spent his day being entertained by bluefish in astronomic numbers near Montock, his attempts at BFT's went in vein despite multiple shots.

P.S. Since scribing this article I have spoken with a number of fly anglers that have been successful with BFT'S, skips, and bonito along the Rhode Island coast.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB