small peanut bunker levels

[Scott T. C.]

lots of bait this year, but after a decent turnout of large menhaden this spring the baby peanut bunker are epic in RI waters. Hope some escape all the marauding fish, get big and healthy and all the purse sieners sink.

[btuff]

Does anyone know what those little shrimp-like animals are that the bunker and silversides are eating. They are so thick that it turns the water red.

[bdowning]

Possibly krill. Bass eat 'em too but they are almost impossible to mimic. I usually give up trying and just cast bigger stuff to the edge of the krill-eating schools.

-bd

Originally Posted by btuff

Does anyone know what those little shrimp-like animals are that the bunker and silversides are eating. They are so thick that it turns the water red.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Scott T. C.

lots of bait this year, but after a decent turnout of large menhaden this spring the baby peanut bunker are epic in RI waters. Hope some escape all the marauding fish, get big and healthy and all the purse sieners sink.

Unless it's a coincidence, the AWESOME quantities of bait and the fishing that of course come with it are proof enough for me of why more adult bunker is ALWAYS better...

It's interesting that there's at least 3 different sizes of baby bunker in the water right now; 1/2", 1.5", and then a bigger 3.5"...

[btuff]

I was casting a fly into feeding bass near 100 times and never got a hit. My theory was that there was so much bait in the water that they didn't take the fly. It was one of the more frustrating outings of the summer. Any advice would be great. The tide was ripping past a rocky point and the bait was everywhere with some BIG stripers nailing them. I felt like such a newbie... Was it presentation, fly choice or what... I snagged a few peanuts and had it matched perfectly for the fly. What am I doing wrong?

[Hookemdude]

Btuff,
My impression has been that those fish can be extremely selective to the point of embarrassment. Recently, I had a similar situation with blues on bait. After awhile with the perfect match I tried flies that "stood out". Not even a look. Guys in boats nearby were skunked using plugs, bait, tubes, you name it. Sometimes the situation looks too good.

I don't think presentation was a problem. Location and pattern changes might help. (I've seen guys kill the bass using bubble gum color soft plastics when the fish are on green sand eels in CCB).

Usually I switch to my favorite pattern that casts well and hit the fringes of the mayhem. Of course, I also catch a lot of schoolies.

Hookemdude

[patfly]

I have that happening often in the breachways. I just feel I'm casting my fly among 'millions' of other bait fish . At that point I feel it's almost pure luck to hook up a fish and that's not really fishing anymore....However, usually after trying all my flies and different stripping speeds, I manage to find the right combination and I start to catch fish...that's a good feeling

[bart]

definitely way more peanuts than last yr