Stripers that won't strike Dec. 28, 2001

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Date: December 21, 2002 at 02:09:18
From: ken, [pool-64-223-41-242.prov.east.verizon.net]
Subject: Stripers that won't strike Dec. 28, 2001

Hi Ted, What you describe is common behavior by stripers. It is seldom talked about because people will often talk only about their success or some secret fly etc. they are promoting. I do not know what the fish were feeding on but I do know how to find out! Go to Benney's or some western auto type store and buy a fine mesh crab net. One with a five foot handle, take that with you next year and as a matter of fact - don't leave home without it. They cost 13 dollars and are worth $1300 for the insight, the instant insight, they give you. You simply dip the net in the water until you catch the creatures that the fish are feeding on. That is the only way to find out for sure. It is a simple thing to do and will tell you in five minutes what they are up to. It could be glass minnows or worms or shrimp or anthropods or isopods or something else. It is small and it could even be tiny sand eels or something like that. Like I said I do not know for sure but bring along a net and some tying stuff and a light rod. Watch the fish and think of trout presentation and present the fly in harmony with the fish's movement and feeding pattern. Do not assume that casting and stripping with a sinking line or an intermediate is the right thing to do, more than likely it is not. I think that your question is a great one and I am glad you posted it on one of the boards. I think that it may bring some good responses or questions from the viewers and it is the kind of question that opens up new insights to many fishermen who have experienced the same type of situation but have been hesitant to talk about it. What you have described is normal behavior and not at all un-common.
Many salt water fly fishermen do not have a background that enables them to recognize this type of focused selective feeding behavior for what it is. I have heard of guides describing it as the fish are "playing", and therefore cannot be caught. They may be difficult to catch but they are not playing. They are feeding seriously as their bulging bellies will attest to. People used to think that the bass were playing when they were gorging themselves on clam worms. When more information is known about fish behavior and the behavior of their prey the fixed boundaries of what is recognized about fly rod striper fishing come down. That always seems to upset some people. Keep tearing those fetters on salt water fly fishing growth to shreads by simply paying attention to what the fish are actually doing and catching them with methods that actually work and talking about it. Forget the politics.

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