This spring was especially tough for shore-bound fishermen, especially fly fishermen. The cold weather, dearth of bait, and preponderance of weeds in The Bay made fishing quite difficult and likely altered some of the seasonal patterns regarding bass and bait. We could easily explain this relatively lackluster spring season by reminding ourselves that "every year is different", but the scarcity of large bass and the scarcity of bait really worries me.
I understand that as a shore-bound fly fisherman I cannot expect to catch a keeper every outing. However, when there is ample bait and bass feeding within casting distance I can usually find at least one. This year I only caught one fish that I could confidently call a keeper. I attribute this to the severe lack of bait in The Bay. Many a moon tide I ventured out to reliable spots only to find them barren. There were hardly any silversides this year and when I did find them, the fish that were feeding were always schoolies. Only time will tell if this was just an "off year" or if The Bay is truly in trouble.
While this spring season was disappointing, there were a few highlights. The season got off to a great start with a strong herring run that brought a lot of large schoolies close to shore. Small bait was also very prolific, with clam worms and grass shrimp providing some great fun. These flashes of great action were a lot of fun, but what really saved this spring season for me was the people. Through S.K.S Adventures and other connections I had the pleasure of both meeting and fishing with some really great people. It was a pleasure to be a part of people's first bass on the fly and to introduce them to the traditional style of striped bass fly fishing. I hope to share the water with you all again.
As the sun sets on this spring season I must inform my readers that I will be taking a break from fishing until August. Not because I want to, but because I will be working at an overnight academic enrichment program until the end of July. Since this program is hosted by a boarding school, I am charged with providing my full efforts to the residential, academic, and athletic lives of the students. In other words, chances to sneak off and hit the water will be non-existent. But do not fear! In preparation for this hiatus I have been hard at work writing articles, tying flies, and creating content. As it stands I have enough posts saved up to share 2-3 a week until I get back. Unlike fishing reports, which simply explain that bass were (or were not caught), these post will provide practical knowledge on how to fly fish for striped bass.
Before I go, just one more thing. Most of the fish have left The Bay and moved to the ocean front. If you want to catch bass on the fly during these hot summer months focus your efforts on the Ocean State's rocky shores and sandy beaches. Tight lines!
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