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| GuideLines - The new,
Reel-Time way to have your fishing questions
answered by the experts. FishWire correspondents and GuideLines
editors Bob and Sandy Rodgers will pick questions from Reel-Time readers and post the answers every
two weeks in this new service. Answers will be gathered from current FishWire
correspondents as well as from other full-time guides, whose livelihood depends on their
expertise. While not intended to solve the riddle of what specific fishing spots to
try on a future outing, you will gain the benefit of years of knowledge from professionals
in the saltwater fly fishing field. This can help you overcome obstacles encountered
on such subjects as Boats and how to rig them, Tackle, Flies, or Terminal gear. |
Attention, striper guides in the Northeast: We have received a question concerning Northeast striper boats, so if you want the chance to chime in with your opinion on this subject (or any others) just contact us by e-mail and we'll forward the details to you. Now, for this edition of GuideLines we thought it would be useful to send a reader's question to different guides and experts and post their answers together. This way we could gather a variety of opinions and everyone would be able to compare the results. It is interesting to not only take note of where the replies match up, but to also evaluate where the information in each response might differ. Sometimes what at first seems like a comparatively insignificant bit of knowledge is just enough to spark a new fish-catching idea in an observant fly fisher's mind. Question: "Hi, I am planning to return in the middle of May to the Outer Banks, North Carolina, around Manteo, Hatteras Island, and Oregon Inlet. Mostly, I'll be casting from the beaches or wading. Last Fall I had pretty good results with Clouser Deep Minnows and Deceivers, mostly in chartreuse. I would like to improve my strikes with new patterns. Can you suggest patterns for those areas and best spots to use them? Please tell me where I might find the recommended patterns. I am tying Bruce's Bay Anchovy and Bruce's Ultrahair Silversides now, which look very effective. Thank you." Bob B. Answer: Capt. Brian Horsley (bhorsley@beachlink.com "My advice would be to stick with the Clousers and Deceivers. I think Clousers are the best pattern. If you try tying them in these strange colors you will be happy with the results: Black over orange with copper flash, black with purple flash, red over chartreuse with silver flash, black over red with gold flash, and of course chartreuse over white pearl flash." "Spring is one of the best times for walking and wading anglers here on the Outer Banks. Speckled trout, schoolie stripers, redfish and flounder are all available. I would try the Bodie Island Light House first. Then I would try the Coast Guard Station behind Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. Then I would try the Propeller Slough, which is in front of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. Any of the local tackle shops know of these spots and can give more detailed directions. For instance, you can call T.W's Bait and Tackle (252-261-7848) or Capt. Marty's (252-441-3132), as both of these shops have some fly tackle." Answer: Brad Harvey at the Charleston Angler (ChasAngler@aol.com) in South Carolina sent this reply: "With all honesty, it would be pretty hard to increase the success rate that Clousers and Deceivers will give you and chartreuse/white seems to be everybody's favorite no matter what species of fish they're chasing. However, you might like to give it a shot with Surf Candies or Deep Candies in olive/white. I've had pretty good success with them and know of a number of people that use them exclusively when fishing the surf. Remember to use an intermediate (if not a full sinking) line when fishing the surf. You've got to get your line below the wash or it will be a pretty miserable day. As far as spots to try, your best bet is to hit one of the local shops and ask for some up to date information. Fishing along the Outer Banks can change rapidly and the spots you had success at last year may not produce the results that you want this trip." Answer: Capt. Gordon Churchill (captgordon@flyfish-nc.com), who guides for hybrids, striped bass, largemouth bass and false albacore in the waters of North Carolina, and is FishWire correspondent for the Carolinas, sent this answer: "My first response is why always return to the same place every year? There are many places in North Carolina that offer flyfishing in May besides the Northern Outer Banks. The Crystal Coast area (Harker's Island, Beaufort, Atlantic Beach, Morehead City) and the Southern Coast (Cape Fear) have great fishing and may be more affordable also. As for flies there is one thing to remember in our waters here: The primary forage species is the Atlantic Silversides (glass minnow, spearing, sperling). Any fly that is slender is going to get bit at one time or another. Chartreuse is always a good color to start with. I often tie mine with a blue or an olive back. Experiment. As for recommended patterns, if you are already using Clousers and Deceivers you can't go wrong. I have developed a new pattern that kills on schooling Spanish mackerel, bluefish, bonito, little tunny and ladyfish. I call it the Bullet Proof Baitfish, but I am not ready to unveil it on the world yet. I am still working out the fine points. Basically think about what toothy fish like bluefish and mackerel do to a fly made of natural materials. I have replaced them all with synthetics and have come up with a fly that you can use for dozens of toothy critters (if you are so lucky). You can do the same by looking at a Deceiver and seeing where the bucktail and saddle hackle can be taken out and what those things can be replaced with. Good tying and good luck." Answer: Tyler Stone at the Intracoastal Angler in Wilmington, North Carolina (info@saltwaterfly.com) provided this answer: "What I would do is recommend still fishing with Clouser minnows, but you might try using pink and white. Or try a root beer over tan, like a shiner pattern, or a brown and orange. Just use a darker Clouser because the water in the Sound can get dingy at times, and the redfish sometimes seem to like darker patterns. By mid-May the striper fishing should be very good, so the Half-and-Half pattern, which is a Clouser and Deceiver cross (a Clouser with hackles) in a chartreuse and white should produce well. The two patterns that you are already tying should work well if the fish are schooled up on those baits. But if you have to prospect for fish and have to blind cast to find them, I would go with a bigger pattern, like the bigger Half and Half, just to draw some attention. We have these patterns at our shop. For places to fish them, the south side of Oregon Inlet should be good, and right there at Green Island Slough. Then there's Seven Mile Slough behind Avon, and then the Point at Hatteras Island. You might want to contact Brian Horsley, he lives in Nags Head and can give you some good information." And finally, here's a follow-up to the flats skiff discussion from the last GuideLines: Question: "Great response. Very helpful. The ability to easily pole the boat, and its weight, is very important to me. To show you what my research has turned up, for example consider the following: Action Craft makes a 17'2" boat called the Bayrunner. It is as long as the Mirage and has more wells, but is beamier and the hull itself is 235 pounds heavier than the Mirage. Also, the company recommends a 115 (hp outboard). Thus the total weight of that boat will be about 330 pounds heavier than a Mirage with a 90. Analyzing further, 25 more horses have to push all that extra weight. If I want to push that kind of weight, I'd be better off with an 18' Redfisher, which with a 115 and a foot more room, weighs 100 pounds less than the 17' Action Craft. Bottom line for me at this point, as you've stated - I have to pole the boats. But before I decide, can you provide one more tidbit of information? What is the top speed of the Mirage with two or three people aboard? Thanks again." Ken V. Answer: Capt. Bob Rodgers replied: "Glad to help. The top speed of my Mirage with two or three people (of course it depends on their size) is about 40 mph. With me alone it will run about 43 mph." Close: We've run out of space and time for this edition of GuideLines, but keep those questions coming! Bob and Sandy Rodgers |
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