South County

[Hookemdude]

I was lucky enough to get out a couple of times this week and there certainly are fish around. Fished near one of the breachways today and caught many more stripers than blues (although I did lose a plug to one of the toothy beasts). Most of the stripers were just legal and I did manage a 30 incher on a fly.

I have to credit this forum for helping me learn the ropes. As a newbie, I can't tell you how much everyone's comments help.

I made a couple of observations today, and was curious if others have noticed the same things. I used a black/purple pencil popper and moved it slowly-could feel hits and bumps on every cast. The fish I hooked were mostly stripers. The other guys there were really working their poppers and swimmers and at a higher speed. They seemed to hookup with many more blues. I assume the speed favored the blues?

Also, several stripers were foul hooked on the belly near the tail. The other guys kept talking about "tail slapping". Does that really happen or are they just missing the front of the plug and getting hooked as they turn away?

Anyway, it was a beautiful day out and entertaining for me.

Hookemdude

[merch]

Presentation is key. You were more likely catching more bass than blues due to something you didn’t even realize you were doing at the time. The general consensus is that any idiot can catch a fish in the outflow at the breachways. This is true ...sometimes, but it is more likely that the person who is really paying attention will outfish everyone else not only in quantity but in quality. When fishing anywhere else, anyone who is taking it seriously will rarely “chuck and chance” to any piece of water. You look for the “fishy spots” and you do your best to most effectively present your offering to that area. More often than not, the actual plug or bait is secondary to proper presentation. This is particularly important in an outflow...especially the breachways. The fish will be concentrated in different areas at different stages of the tide. I won’t get into too much detail because it’s worth finding out on your own. Don’t give it away when you figure it out too because trust me, you will get asked.

What was going on that night at your breachway? I have a couple of guesses. Most likely your drift or swing was the same every time for you, but the other guys were drifting and swinging to a different area of the flow. Many factors can influence this... the initial cast, where your rod tip is during the drift out (up or down), different diameter lines have different drag characteristics in the water, your slower retrieve (which is good practice anyway) gave you more time out there putting you through different pieces of water, etc.. Pay attention to what you are doing as well as the other guys. You can learn a lot that way. Mess around with the retrieve. It’s not just cast and reel. Leave that to the storm shad daytime fisherman .

As far as the foul hooked bass goes, it happens a lot down there. My theory is that the fish strike at the lure and decide not to commit at the last split second. Curious bass often approach a plug at strike speed only to turn away at the last second if they don’t like something. Ask anyone who fishes a dannys regularly. Try stepping down the size next time it happens. It’s not an actual “tail slap”. It’s the result of a last second refusal. If a bass really wants something, they don’t miss...ever.

Good luck!

Tom

[Hookemdude]

Thanks for the comments. I definately noted things I would/wouldn't emulate. Also, if nothing else, I am pretty consistent with location/presentation...so I think that helped.

On the few casts when I didn't hook up I caught scales on both sets of hooks. For a landlubbing, micro-trout fisherman it was a rush.

Hookemdude.

[patfly]

I was fishing the breachway 2 weeks ago drifting a fly. There was so many fish that I hooked about 4 on their back...among them a keeper. During the drift, I'd feel something pulling and I though I had a hit only to realize the fish was hooked hear the dorsal fin. I doubt it was a tail slapping. I missed a lot of fish thinking they were foul hooked cause I would 't set the hook upon feeling them...I wanted a real bit (which I had plenty ).

[Hookemdude]

I have read that sometimes all you will feel is a tightening of the line rather than a jerk when a bass takes the fly. Until that last trip out, I didn't believe it. Usually they really nail the fly. I do like the current, or to cast the backside of a wave so I can keep tight to the fly-can usually even feel when I hook up to a small piece of weed...I did "foul hook" a couple of peanut bunker along the way too.