Fishing Report: 4th Week of July 2008-The Best Fish Finders (w/Pic)

[Tom Hughes]

Tom Hughes Guide Service
410.744.2351 Office // 443.690.3164 Boat
Fly & Light Tackle Fishing Guide



Fishing Report - 4th Week of July 2008
The Best Fish Finders

This week I had quite a bit of help from the best fish finders...the working birds. Contrary to last week my flying friends put us on some nice striped bass ranging from 16" to 23", along with bluefish, weighing up to 3 pounds. The bluefish supplied an excellent catch 'on the fly'.

The most productive fly this week was a Rainy's Saltwater Bubble Head Popper, #2 hook, in blue and white. I was fortunate enough to have 2 fishers from Oklahoma aboard on their 1st saltwater fly fishing trip. They enjoyed casting and catching on new Orvis 9 & 10 weight Helios Rods during the trip.

The most productive technique :
Topwater Popping-Cast the fly out and put the rod tip just above the water. Swiftly start popping the lure all the way back to the boat. Don't be surprised if a striper takes the popper just when you're making preparations to start another backcast.

Special Thanks To-Jon Weston, Tim Weston, Tom Kent, T.J. Shea, and Doug Shea.

For those who were waiting for this time of the year, trips are now available, giving you a chance to catch striped bass and bluefish on top water with fly or light tackle equipment.

[Dave Sikorski]

The birds definitely help find the fish, and poppers can't be beat.

Don't forget about getting down deep and catching the big lazy fish below the schools.

-D

[Tom Hughes]

-D: I agree with you about getting deep for the really big stripers, but this was the 1st time out 'on the salt' for these guys and they had a great time catching them on top.

When the bite slowed down I put on sinking clousers (I had long leaders on the floating line) and the catching went on for another half an hour.

I'm fishing the Middle Bay out of Chesapeake Beach this year and at times have been running down to Cedar Point Rips. I really like that area of the Bay.