|
Fly fishing smallies in the fading summer
It's unbelievable how some years are dominated by certain types of fishing. Some years the surf is hot for stripers or blues. Some years trout fishing is hot in the streams. This year the hottest fishery going in freshwater is the smallmouth fishing in the rivers and streams throughout New Jersey. While most fly fishermen consider fishing for trout the ultimate sport, one day with a good dose of bronzeback with a buggy whip just might make them think twice. If I had to pick one fish that was my all-time favorite to catch, Ol' Mr. Bronzeback would be at the top of the list. Pound-for-pound, inch-for-inch, there is no better fighting fish to be found in the sweet water. While smallies are found both in the still waters of a lake or reservoir, they especially are feisty when they are found in the current environment of a river or large stream.
Flyfishing gets its hooks into the girl about town
To be honest, I'd class myself as more of a socialising and shopping girl than one who messes about on the river. But this was the Four Seasons, the hotel brand that's a byword for stylish luxury, and if it was pitching fishing as the latest activity for the girl about town, maybe it was time I swapped my wedges for waders. This was going to be deluxe fishing: fishing where you don't have to touch the fish, fishing with champagne and sandwiches back at the hotel. Basically, it's having a laugh, standing in the sunshine at a pond in the country and then having a spa treatment. My previous experience with the rod was hardly a success. When I was a child my father took my younger sister and me fishing at Sandy Balls holiday park in the New Forest. We didn't catch anything, so dad had the cunning idea of buying some fish fingers from the site shop and putting them in our nets for mum to cook back at the caravan.
Fly fishermen love challenge of going after mahi-mahi
Of all the fish in the sea, for this guide, the mahi-mahi is the most thrilling to catch on the fly. Not the biggest or hardest fishing, mind you, but when I think of exciting, visual fly fishing, nothing can top the spectacular colors or leaps of the dolphin fish. This week, fly anglers from Manasquan to Cape May saw an influx of warm blue water in the 12- to 20-mile range. This is warm, crystal-clear blue water that spins off the Gulf Stream. With it, a plethora of open-sea species and life has made its way inshore, and the bulk of these fish have been 10- to 20-pound mahi-mahi, just perfect for the fly angler. When we are lucky enough to have this water quality inshore, fly anglers looking for mahi-mahi should focus their efforts around areas of visual structure.
|
|
|
|
|
Bookmark
(Ctrl + D) |
|
