Flounder on the fly.

Dave Sikorski · 06-17-2009, 09:38 AM

Our favorite flat had been providing some fun flounder action over the past few weeks so I headed east on Saturday. With an incoming tide all morning and some decent cloud cover, I couldn't ask for better conditions.

I headed out to the section that I always start in, and as soon as the current got moving, I had my first fish. 18 1/4". He was just shy of keeper size, and while it might have been big enough, I didn't chance it. To measure in the water I have two marks on my rod, and it's not exactly easy to handle a slimy flounder and a fly rod, without losing the fish, or sending the rod swimming.

A few min later and I was hooked up with another fish. This one was about 16". A size that would be rather consistent through the day.

I move my way across the flat, and made quite a few casts before having a small flurry of action to get my release total to 6 fish. No keepers, but still not a bad day in my book. Flounder on the fly is definitely a unique experience. It's a game of patience and proper techniques that can vary throughout the tide. The changing contours and bottom conditions of the flat always make it fun to find your way back to the beach after the tide has come up.

I took a little break to make a few phone calls and share the good fishing news with friends, but made sure not to waste the last of the good tide.

I moved shallow and threw a perfect cast to the up tide side of a sandbar and BAM, there he was. The fish immediately began swimming into the current and his weight put a nice bend in my 8wt. As I got the first glimpse of his dark back, I was certain he would be joining me for dinner.

After some struggle to land him without a release I finally got him measured and on the stringer.

He destroyed the bunny strip dropper fly so I clipped it off and dug in my pocket for another. I stripped in some line to lessen the ball of spaghetti that had surrounded me, and much to my surprise the line came tight and fish #8 was hooked up. My fly had drifted only a short distance from my feet, and another flounder found it inviting enough to make it a snack. I guess you just never know when they'll bite.

One more short fish gave my line a tug, and with a smile on my face and a wet left leg, I headed back to the truck.

It was a much needed day of relaxation, and as a bonus I was rewarded with some lunch.

-D

chesapeakeblend · 06-17-2009, 01:00 PM

WHOAH! Give me a call I am around town and can fish through friday if you can make it here.

mn

CapeMayRay · 06-17-2009, 01:56 PM

Nice fun way to get a fish dinner. Saved yourself 7.95 a pound (price at the fish market on Sunday) My only keeper was the day before the season opened and have not caught one the fly since it opened. Usually I get a few while fishing on the beach front for weakies but so far not one.

What kind of strip are you using to catch? It looks like you were using floating line too.

Dave Sikorski · 06-17-2009, 02:55 PM

I use a floating line and an 8' leader of 25lb flouro. I'll pull about a 7' piece of leader off the spool then about 2'. Make a loop in one end of the 7' piece, then tie a surgeons knot to join the 7' and 2' piece. Leave a 6"+ tag end from the 7' side and tighten the knot. Trim the other tag end.

Tie the top fly to the 6" tag end and the bottom fly on the very end of the leader. It usually ends up being about 8' long and seems to work well in the waist deep water.

I stand with the tide coming at my 3 o'clock and cast at anywhere from about 1030-12. or behind me at 7-8.

The line with drift with the tide and the flies will drag just along the bottom or a little bit up in the water column. I'll mend the line and make small strips to keep in contact w/ the fly, but I won't really strip until the line is at my 9 o'clock and it's time to bring it back up current to me.

I ALWAYS finish my drifts and ALWAYS strip back to me until the leader is at the rod tip. I also slowly lift the rod to make sure a lazy fatty hasn't followed the fly. The follow happens A LOT and will allow you to make a short cast and get the fly back in the right zone. It quite often leads to a hook up.

I try and move around the flat a lot, especially when alone. There's a lot of ground to cover, and the fish tend to be found in wolfpacks that are on the move.

My keeper fish had 4 calico crabs the size of a nickel or quarter in it, as well as a few snails that were found all over the beach at the high tide line.

The big fish tend to barely tap the fly and the little guys will pick it up and run with it. The big ones also tend to swim right at you when hooked and can make it quite entertaining when they go right through the 5 hole.

The left fly is always the bottom one, and the right fly is the dropper. They caught 4 and 5 fish respectively on Saturday.

-D

CapeMayRay · 06-17-2009, 04:41 PM

Excellent information, especially about working the fly to the end of the rod. Same thing here when working Cape May Point. There is a 3 foot drop off at the beach and many times you get that hit and hookup right as you start to lift the fly out of the water. Fish must look at it as their last chance to get it.

Paul Sikorski · 06-23-2009, 01:21 PM

Sounds like an awesome day! Let me know if you want some company the next time you go. I am definately in. That's worth calling in sick for!

06-17-2009, 09:38 AM	#1
Dave Sikorski Got Carpal Tunnel? Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MD Posts: 4,448 Credits: 15,058.8 Boat: Bankes Goliath 21' Home Port: Any place, any time. Best Catch: The next one Occupation: Good Question...	Flounder on the fly. Our favorite flat had been providing some fun flounder action over the past few weeks so I headed east on Saturday. With an incoming tide all morning and some decent cloud cover, I couldn't ask for better conditions. I headed out to the section that I always start in, and as soon as the current got moving, I had my first fish. 18 1/4". He was just shy of keeper size, and while it might have been big enough, I didn't chance it. To measure in the water I have two marks on my rod, and it's not exactly easy to handle a slimy flounder and a fly rod, without losing the fish, or sending the rod swimming. A few min later and I was hooked up with another fish. This one was about 16". A size that would be rather consistent through the day. I move my way across the flat, and made quite a few casts before having a small flurry of action to get my release total to 6 fish. No keepers, but still not a bad day in my book. Flounder on the fly is definitely a unique experience. It's a game of patience and proper techniques that can vary throughout the tide. The changing contours and bottom conditions of the flat always make it fun to find your way back to the beach after the tide has come up. I took a little break to make a few phone calls and share the good fishing news with friends, but made sure not to waste the last of the good tide. I moved shallow and threw a perfect cast to the up tide side of a sandbar and BAM, there he was. The fish immediately began swimming into the current and his weight put a nice bend in my 8wt. As I got the first glimpse of his dark back, I was certain he would be joining me for dinner. After some struggle to land him without a release I finally got him measured and on the stringer. He destroyed the bunny strip dropper fly so I clipped it off and dug in my pocket for another. I stripped in some line to lessen the ball of spaghetti that had surrounded me, and much to my surprise the line came tight and fish #8 was hooked up. My fly had drifted only a short distance from my feet, and another flounder found it inviting enough to make it a snack. I guess you just never know when they'll bite. One more short fish gave my line a tug, and with a smile on my face and a wet left leg, I headed back to the truck. It was a much needed day of relaxation, and as a bonus I was rewarded with some lunch. -D

06-17-2009, 02:55 PM	#4
Dave Sikorski Got Carpal Tunnel? Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MD Posts: 4,448 Credits: 15,058.8 Boat: Bankes Goliath 21' Home Port: Any place, any time. Best Catch: The next one Occupation: Good Question...	I use a floating line and an 8' leader of 25lb flouro. I'll pull about a 7' piece of leader off the spool then about 2'. Make a loop in one end of the 7' piece, then tie a surgeons knot to join the 7' and 2' piece. Leave a 6"+ tag end from the 7' side and tighten the knot. Trim the other tag end. Tie the top fly to the 6" tag end and the bottom fly on the very end of the leader. It usually ends up being about 8' long and seems to work well in the waist deep water. I stand with the tide coming at my 3 o'clock and cast at anywhere from about 1030-12. or behind me at 7-8. The line with drift with the tide and the flies will drag just along the bottom or a little bit up in the water column. I'll mend the line and make small strips to keep in contact w/ the fly, but I won't really strip until the line is at my 9 o'clock and it's time to bring it back up current to me. I ALWAYS finish my drifts and ALWAYS strip back to me until the leader is at the rod tip. I also slowly lift the rod to make sure a lazy fatty hasn't followed the fly. The follow happens A LOT and will allow you to make a short cast and get the fly back in the right zone. It quite often leads to a hook up. I try and move around the flat a lot, especially when alone. There's a lot of ground to cover, and the fish tend to be found in wolfpacks that are on the move. My keeper fish had 4 calico crabs the size of a nickel or quarter in it, as well as a few snails that were found all over the beach at the high tide line. The big fish tend to barely tap the fly and the little guys will pick it up and run with it. The big ones also tend to swim right at you when hooked and can make it quite entertaining when they go right through the 5 hole. The left fly is always the bottom one, and the right fly is the dropper. They caught 4 and 5 fish respectively on Saturday. -D Last edited by Dave Sikorski; 06-17-2009 at 02:58 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-17-2009, 01:00 PM	#2
chesapeakeblend Sail boats suck Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 5 Credits: 5,352.8	WHOAH! Give me a call I am around town and can fish through friday if you can make it here. mn

06-17-2009, 01:56 PM	#3
CapeMayRay I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 1,101 Credits: 2,591.0 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Nice fun way to get a fish dinner. Saved yourself 7.95 a pound (price at the fish market on Sunday) My only keeper was the day before the season opened and have not caught one the fly since it opened. Usually I get a few while fishing on the beach front for weakies but so far not one. What kind of strip are you using to catch? It looks like you were using floating line too.

06-17-2009, 04:41 PM	#5
CapeMayRay I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 1,101 Credits: 2,591.0 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Excellent information, especially about working the fly to the end of the rod. Same thing here when working Cape May Point. There is a 3 foot drop off at the beach and many times you get that hit and hookup right as you start to lift the fly out of the water. Fish must look at it as their last chance to get it.

06-23-2009, 01:21 PM	#6
Paul Sikorski My best friend has a 65 footer Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 63 Credits: 1,574.9	Sounds like an awesome day! Let me know if you want some company the next time you go. I am definately in. That's worth calling in sick for!