Spring: April-June
Traditionally, the striper season started slowly in April then built quickly into May. In recent years, however, the opening bell has come earlier, probably because of the increasing number of bass that winter over in the Sound. Whatever the reason, look for action on the Sound's western end by mid- to late March, particularly after a warm winter. After that, the action moves east gradually.
In spring, the bass are apt to be sluggish, so the best strategy is to work your flies low and slow. Sinking-tip lines (Type II or III), weighted flies, and a lazy retrieve do the job. You should fish moving tides during the warmest part of the day. But, beyond tide and time of day, the weather in spring is an important factor. A cloudy day with a southwest wind, and even a touch of rain, is prime--blue skies and north winds are the kiss of death.
Along the north shore of Long Island, the early striper fishing is concentrated in bays and harbors, moving to the east as the season progresses. On the Connecticut side, the three large coastal rivers--Housatonic, Connecticut, and Thames--host most of the action. Work the lower reaches of these rivers, paying particular attention to where the edges of channels meet a flat.
By late May, a second pulse of bass, probably from the Chesapeake Bay, enters the Sound from the eastern end. This provides fine fishing for boaters plying the moving waters of The Race and Plum Gut. Some blues join these bass. Once the water temperatures have risen, the low-and-slow retrieve is no longer the only game. You should speed up your retrieve and break out the surface poppers and sliders.
In late May, weakfish cruise into town. Look for them in the shallow backwaters of bays, creeks, river mouths, and salt marshes. An ebbing tide in late afternoon is frequently a great opportunity for weaks.
May also brings the season's first worm hatches, a fascinating event that draws striped bass like bees to honey. The worm spawning rites take place in and around the Sound's tributaries, especially those with a bottom of mud and broken shells. The worm hatch is mainly a night bite, occurring around the new moon. You should expect to fish long into the night. In some places on the Sound's eastern end, the hatch can happen during daylight hours. Up-to-date information from fly shops and guides is critical to locating the hatch.
June fishing for striped bass can be red hot for boaters and beach-based anglers. Moving water at dusk and dawn is prime, but don't forget to work the points of land, where the big fish often concentrate. If you encounter bluefish, tie on a wire tippet and go for them.
Summer: July-August
During the warmer months, boaters enjoy bass and bluefish action early and late in the day, when the fish are most likely to be on top. Deep rips and the reefs have the most consistent action. By mid-July, bonito have entered the Sound through The Race. These early bonito are fussy and hard to hook. Gradually they spread out into places where the bait is thick and the water is salty--bay and harbor entrances and places with structure close to deep water. By late August their cousin, the little tunny, joins the fun.
When the water reaches the high 60s (F), the beach fishing for bass and blues slows. Then you should switch to night tides and fish under the stars with silverside or sand-eel patterns worked slowly. You may pick up a weakfish, too. In some years, a second worm hatch occurs in June and a third can surprise us in July, so check with fly shops around the new moon.
Hickory shad, which start busting bait in May, start to roll in the dog days of summer. They hang close to shore, preferring bays and harbors. In a hot summer such as we had in 1999, Spanish mackerel come into the Sound. If they show, it is usually in August and in only a few locations. Don't expect the fishing to be easy or to last more than a month or two.
Fall: September-November
Come September, you should sharpen your hooks. The fish are about to go on a feeding spree. If you're looking for weaks, don't waste time; by month's end they should be gone. Around mid-September, bonito and little tunny become aggressive. At first, these fish stage in inlets and bays, and then the action shifts to points of land, and then out to deep rips. Expect the action to peak by mid-October, although bonito can be caught into the first week of November.
September and October are also the best months to search for big blues. They can pop up anywhere, but historically the most consistent fishing for Kong-size "choppers" occurs in the harbors and bays on the Sound's western end. Pick a day with a rising tide and fish at rising light. As October wanes, however, don't give up. A few jumbos may pass through in the first week of November.
In October, focus your striper fishing on the river mouths and land points. Night fishing remains good, especially for big bass, but dusk and dawn are highly productive, too. The bass bite lasts into November, especially in the western Sound. We used to fish for bass past Thanksgiving Day; now after the first moon of November, the Sound can be devoid of bass, but those leaping hickories are still around.
Ed Mitchell is author of Fly Rodding the Coast, and Fly-fishing the Saltwater Shoreline. He lives in Wethersfield, Connecticut.
|
