STANDING ON A MARSH

May 8, 2010 - To say that things have progressed nicely during the early stages of the saltwater season would be an understatement. I personally opened up the year the previous weekend and was treated to some pretty fair top water action, that I must confess, was for the most part expected.

Standing on a mid-Cape marsh, approximately 5-miles from the Atlantic Ocean to my south, at 4:00 AM has to be considered one of the most Zen like phenomenon’s one can experience. With only the occasional waterfowl infringing upon the otherwise glass-like surface, the prospects for a successful outing seemed in the offing. At the advanced age of 60, my sense of stability is somewhat compromised, and the absence of visibility only compounded the situation. Positioning my feet at the apex of gentle rise within the marsh, and instinctively flipping my gurgler onto the water in anticipation of instigating my initial cast sequence, the top water offering was crushed on impact by a 34-inch striped bass that was dispatched back into it’s habitat after giving a rather dynamic account of itself.

This sequence of events was repeated many times as I stood, without human company, for over an hour. I actually considered that I might be experiencing some of the finest angling of the entire season, and on my initial outing to boot! As the hour drew closer to 6:00 AM the more portly specimens seemed to be less active (or absent altogether) and fish in the mid-20” category replaced them. The action remained consistent for another ½ hour but began to wane at 6:30, and by ¼ to the hour I could not summoned a single fish with my surface offerings.

I supposed I could have replaced my floating line with the intermediate (about 4-5 feet of rather stagnant water) and baitfish pattern (mummichaugs abound) but I felt somewhat content in the manner that the morning had progressed. 

Lesson! In the event you are not taking advantage of the stellar opportunity that is presenting itself during the next 5 or 6 weeks, you are indeed missing what could be considered the best saltwater fly angling of the year.

BLUES, REALLY!
Yep. It was only May 1^st and fly anglers that have been canvassing the entire south side of Cape Cod are encountering bluefish in the 8-10lb. range (not the 5-6lb. specimens we would normally witness). Generally speaking, May 15^th usually signals the beginning of the bluefish season here in Massachusetts, but things have been running 2-3 weeks early. The more notorious early-season blue fish areas of Cotuit, Mashpee and Falmouth are producing substantial catches. 

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB