BREWSTER BONANZA
While rearming my fly supply this past winter, I had wisely tied a number of "zonker style" baitfish patterns on size #6 TMC 811S hooks, more in an attempt to use up the hooks rather then specific intent. By abandoning more conventional cast and retrieve techniques, I began to allow the diminutive pattern to thoroughly sink to the bottom, enabling the striped bass to cover the fly before assuming an almost teasing retrieve that would inevitably draw interest. Once this was achieved a rather long aggressive strip and drop was just the ticket. This tactic was an instant success as many fish in the 22"-26" category were brought to hand. Dave employed a number of patterns before settling on a 10" flat wing pattern, probably spurned by the number of larger specimens within easy reach. After a few futile attempts, Armstrong was finally able to convince this 35" female to masticate. On our return journey to Sesuit Harbor we encountered a substantial school of bass located in the depression just north of the flats proper but a few casts realized their 14" mass wasn't worth the effort. I visited my old stomping ground on the Bass River on Sunday and experienced some pretty consistent action despite arriving around midday. The overcast conditions and brief showers encouraged the use of a floating line with gurgler in tow. While probably not the most effective technique to employ on this river system a number of mid-20" fish were convinced of my offering. Good fishing and safe
wading, |
May
30, 2009 - I had
the distinct pleasure of perusing Brewster Flats with Dave Armstong of
Hudson and host Captain Lenny Renauld of Sterling over the holiday
weekend and witnessed some of most unusual behavior of the young season.
After a somewhat uneventful beginning (2 fish landed in the initial hour
or so) the cresting high tide lured us further inshore, covering water
lacking any hint of integrity in the process. Now afloat in 8-10 feet of
water one of the largest congregations of striped bass, certainly in the
many thousands, I have witnessed cruised pointlessly over sugar white
sand, seemingly without intent. A respectable number of animals without
question fell into the 40"+ category, with 25-30" seemingly
the norm. After covering a number of marauding bass with more
conventional sand eel (notorious Brewster Flats fodder) and sparser
baitfish patterns it wasn't long before realizing our course of action
was futile.