Cape Cod's Chatham, Monomoy Island, Flats and Beyond
 Inshore Wade Saltwater
Fly/Spin Fishing Report's and Ramblings:

Wade Cape Cod - World Class Destination Flats Fishery -
May through August

Here on the Cape, we have miles and miles of light colored sand flats and crystal clear water that makes sight casting to 5-25 pound stripers the order of the day. This is probably the most exciting type of fly/spin fishing you will ever do. They're cruising the flats eating crabs, shrimp, silversides and sand lances, and just waiting for your perfectly cast fly or bait. Sometimes you need to burn up the water with a fast retrieve and at other times using a dead drift with the current is all that is needed. All methods will require distance, speed and accuracy in your casting. We have some of the finest destination flats fishing in the world right here on Cape Cod. Seeing 100s or more fish in a tide is the norm when sunny. Test your skills and let's work together to help you along the path to hooking up in paradise.

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Blending in and stalking our prey while wading the Flats.
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  5 fish, 2 O'Clock, 75 feet, moving left, throw it 50 feet, 12 O'Clock, leave it, leave it, ok now, strip it, faster, strip it, their on it, there on it...

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  He ate it! Ye-haa! :)
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The following fishing reports will consist of Inshore Saltwater (Fly/Spin) Fishing. It will include Tips, techniques, Habitat, Presentation, Baitology, Flies-Hooks, Moon Fazes, Flats, and even some highlights from year’s past fishing reports. Some of the material will come straight from my past experience as chief instructor of the Orvis 2 ½ day saltwater fly fishing schools. Additional material will come from first hand knowledge, gained from my many years of eating, breathing, living and loving the New England - Cape Cod Inshore Saltwater environment. So, sit back, relax and enjoy this Truly World Class Destination Fishery!

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Updated

This past weeks (Sight - Blind) Wade Fly/Spin Flats Fishing Report, Etc...  Posted 6/7

On one of the days it was very foggy. Not the best day to sight fish, but there is always more than one way to skin a cat.
Some of the tricks we used were:
1. We did see a number of fish by standing closer to the travel lane than normal due to our smaller visual cone caused by the lower light.  The key part of this was knowing EXACTLY where there travel lane was at ALL stages of the tide as we moved from place to place. This helped us see (opportunity) and or catch them in approx. 6 out of 8 spots.
2. We saw them travel just under the surface of the water while in a transitional stage. They are much easier to spot this way then on the bottom in 2-3 feet of water on a low light day, where most normally swim. We call these fish swimming, "high and happy". These are some of the BEST biters around and come to the fly easier than almost any other time.
3. We looked for and saw some flashing. They do this when they are eating and its one of the easiest ways to spot them whether sight fishing or blind. It looks like a piece of tin foil flashing under the surface of the water. The trick is to try to determine what direction they are traveling, if any and then cast asap. If your not sure then I always suggest casting at the flash. We found them flashing in several different types of habitat. Some were sitting in the current stationary eating whatever this dropping tide was bringing them. Some were eating - flashing while they were in a transitional stage in there travel lane for that flat, stage of tide.
4. We used one of mother natures signature aids. Sand bars and there edges. These bars help to control the fish's travel. If there is not enouph water on top of the bar for them to feel comfortable going over it,  then they will travel along it. There by concentrating and compressing them. This way you get to see ALL the fish.
Another BIG advantage would be your increased visual cone caused by the height of this bar of sand. (Just like when I used to stand on a step ladder, many flies ago :) The higher you get the better - soon'r you can see them. We were able to achieve both of these on this exciting, low-light, slow fishing day. We probably saw 40-50 fish and were not able to see the other 200 or so that swam by within casting range due to the poor lighting. But hey, some are better then none!
5. More fish than normal today were boiling while in transition. With little to no wind to disturb the water it was very easy to see the boil. We would then either cast at the boil or look for the slightest shadow of the school of fish and what direction of travel they were in.
6. Knowing that the fish like to use - follow edges and depth of water to help them navigate on there migration. We utilized this key ingredient to help us find and see them.

With out utilizing the above and much more we would have not seen a single fish nor had the opportunity that we were after.

We had a presence of fish in 6 out of 8 spots. We had opportunity in all 8 places. The two area's that were as dead as a door knob (didnt stay long) were prime habitat's but not when a baby seal is present and making a mess of things. No fish were sighted or caught in these two places because they had all left due to this larger predator. It was funny to see as mom was sitting just off the edge of the flat in the deeper water actively keeping an eye on her pup. The pup was so curious that it came in close on us and kept following us around.
 
All in all we had a fun time, learned a lot and played with a few fish while haveing a far # of other very good sight fishing opportunities that swam by us within 20-40 feet.
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Another sunny sight fishing day on the C.C. flats while wading last week.

Long story short. We had fish around us all day long that we could see. We had a presence of fish and incredible opportunity all day. This was an all you can catch, cast at smorgasbord of fish. We had all sizes of bass and blues. Largest Bass were some 20 lb'rs in the shallows. I'd guess'ta'mate that we saw approx. 250 fish conservatively.
1, 2's, 3's, schools of 5, 10's, 20's mostly and a couple 50 to one 80 fish pod passed us by within fly casting range. We did extremely well for the slowness of the tide. We had fresh fish coming at us at times within seconds of each other. The longest we waited between fish was one 10 minute period. Normally we waited seconds to a couple minutes before we had more fresh fish to cast at. Not bad for the slowness of the tides.

The water at times was so shallow, the sun so bright, the sand so light, the fish so big and so many of them we could see these fish 200 yards away. It was funny to see them and then have to wait almost an entire minute before they would get to you :)  Dam,  I love this job!

I hope you enjoyed the above fishing reports along w/ its many many complementary tips and strategies I use on a daily basis while enjoying these magnificent C.C. spin/fly sight wade flat's. I hope they help you along your fish finding path. Stay safe!

Best Fish's,
Randy

The below was in reply to a safety thread on Reel - Time.com

HI Pete and Peter,
Ive been meaning to say "HI".

Love that picture Pete, brings back many fond fishing memories. I rescued a guy (not a client, but a clammer) in a similar situation you had. My Mom (very religious :)  said that the lord must have placed me there for that reason. I guess she would say the same about you. :)
I noticed this year how the boat channel changed to the S.B. side. Hmmm, more fish entering the Bay? Especially at the low? Or is that sand bar still there? Wonder if there is even more current? Would guess yes to all. I wanted to get over there and sight fish but now with the parking ban at the light house it makes it more difficult to fish during the prime sight hours. When I drive to work I havent seen any angler cars in the normal spot for that area. Must be no fish,  like Monomoy ;)

Peter, boy, you couldn't be more right. I can remember in Pete's picture how P.B. current runs hard out until around approx. 2 hours into the com'n tide. I think I heard of someone last year swimming back from one of the outer bars after they stayed to long fishing?

I always am extremely careful in that area because for me its not the deeper water that scares me on the com'n. Usually the surf waves start to increase in size as the tide turns in. If you wait to long on your return on those outer bars,  those waves can slam your back. Causing you to do a major "super man" slamming face plant into the sand with that crushing wave on top of you twisting you all up not knowing which way is up. Nope, not talking from experience, but have heard. :)  If your fly line was in your basket it could very easily wrap you all up around your feet and your a gon'r.

Couple Cardinal Rules when fishing the Surf:
Always fish the surf w/ a freind, for that and many more safety related issues. Another one most everyone remembers is to never turn your back on the surf.

Both of you can appreciate what I had to do on Wed. guided wade flats trip. It was foggy as all get out. Kept rolling in, start to clear, roll in again, then almost clear, this continued the entire time we were out there. It was forecast to clear up, but didnt. Knowing full well that it could get to the point of rock solid pea soup, I kept continuously re-setting my compass heading for a safe and dry return to the mainland. Overtime we moved to another spot,  I would reset my compass. I also left a certain area a lil soon'r than normal as I always do when their is a fog concern. Especially when you have to zig-zag out, long walk, soft sand, cross a creek-river in the correct place, find your gear and cross another large dry bay-flat, continue on another flat until you hit dry sand.

As most everyone knows on here. Why do they call them a flat? There rarely is any up or down to help you navigate.

I'll see you guys out there!
Best Fish's,
Randy

Patterning fish
I think most folks think this means 1 or 2 things. I continuously all day never stop this strategic process. For myself it means:

1. What fish are the most dominate at all stages of the tide, then adjusting to what there needs are to fool. This helps me with presentational issues and fly choice.

2. What direction are most coming from. This helps with putting a certain % of my time visually scanning back and forth a lil more or not, in one direction or the other to help me see them soon'r.
Yesterday, at times, dependent of the flat we were wade, fly, sightfishing we had the terrible problem of having to look 360 degrees because they were coming by us from all directions. We had very defined very specific travel lanes all around us. Each type of habitat was a lil different but for each specific fish or group of fish it was the deciding factor on how they would proceed. Standing in the middle was the best place to try to be out of the way of most of them, while keeping within 80 or so feet for fly casting. (sidewalk casting into their travel lane and or highway) It was fun to cast in every which direction. :) Man, my neck is sore!
This area (Junction, funnel, major thruway, compression zone, etc... ) was more like a rotary, with cars entering from 4 directions. Some on their way to work, some on their way to b-fest, some taking a short cut to their summer homes, some lost, etc... :)  We basically stood in the middle of this rotary of fish, so to speak :)

3. Are they tailing, boiling, blitzing, holding and just flashing ever so often, etc....? Each one of these patterns plus many more would cause me to rethink my presentation and fly choice.

4. There are more,  but they escape me at present :)

Bottom line, by patterning these fish correctly, it will help you to catch more by becoming a more proficient hunter, hoooowwwl.

Whats that ol saying,  Find your preys weaknesses and then exploit them.
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I think the most common type of patterning that anglers think of would be:
1. What depth are most swimming at presently. By this determination you can forecast or predict its projected path 95% of the time. Looking at the contour of the sand and depth of water is the ticket. Most fish will stay at that same depth and or follow that same edge. By  understanding this you can easily and productively "lead" your fish from 20 to 80 feet. (Distance I lead fish is a whole other article :) This is one of the most basic and fundamental aspects of sight fishing the flats. Determine there projected path and then lead them. (Why is leading them correctly so critical to your success? Another article)

Im hoping that the above might help one of you catch a couple more fish while you out enjoying this magnificent fishery.
Enouph rambling for today ;)

Best Fish's,
Randy

We patterned the Bass and Blues all day with success.
 
99% of'm in the morning until noon were migrating Bass. Simple! (All on the drop tide)
Then around noon time (as the tide turned from low) we started to see more of those Big'r residents mixed in.
Turned out that over a short period of re-patterning these Bass, approx. 70% of'm were big residents and needed a different fly and to be presented too entirely different.
One of the more interesting things Friday was it was predominately Bass almost to the low. Right before low it changed to almost 100% Blues until approx. 1 hour after low. Then it switched back to almost all bass. Hmmm, interesting

Tuff Fish on the Flats?

Several things to try next time.

1. Leave'm and find some other easier fish :) In my opinion, these are some of the most difficult types of bass you'll ever encounter, given your scenario and my personal almost daily wade - fly - sight - flats - experience with them. A lot of patience will help and make sure they dont see or hear you, obviously.  :)

Also, most of the Bass I see on the flats will eagerly eat that are schooled up and not moving.  Like some we found yesterday :)
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The ones you describe I only come across rarely each summer. The below would only be used in the situation your describing, in my humble opinion :)
 
We came across some of these 15-20lb. Bass yesterday that did exactly what we are talking about now. We took step #1 and left them and found a lot that would eat easier - strike all day loooong :)

This worked for me once.
I crouched and kneeled behind a sand bar the entire time. The only thing that was visible to the fish was the top of my head and my rod tip as I positioned myself approx. 80 feet away. Try throwing 2 different types of crustaceans at'm and work them accordingly.

These two remaining tips come from two of my personal peer's,  many flies ago,  that worked for them and others.

2. Try this one also next time you come across some of those fussy blues. (Especially if they are daisy chaining in the Spring)
Floating line, small gurgler. Work it sloooooly, long pause, repeat.

3. Pick out your biggest, brightest gaudiest fly you have in your box. Throw it and strip it like a mad man right into there faces. Once 4-5 of them give chase, stop it dead and leave it. Your hoping that one of them will be so aggressive and angry, etc... that it will smash it. Your not imitating any food that they want to eat on this one.
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If any of you are "Free Lance" writers, would like to edit some of my flats flies notes, articles to compile into a NEW Article titled, My Top 5 Flats Flies for N.E. (Why they work so well, how to present each one specifically, When, Etc... then shoot me an email. We already have the outlines done and Professionally taken photo's by my Pro. Photographer, John Halnon. We have both been printed in different languages, local, regional, national, worldwide, corporation catalogs, print media Markets, both books and Mag's.
We are looking to submit to a national fly fishing publication. We have all the connections.
If there are any editors reading this that would be intrested in printing this article in your f.f magazine, then please contact me. Maybe one of your writers could finish this piece for a Spring deadline of 2011?
Neither of us are asking for $, just name, biz., url credit's. No pay would be in it for you. Just a by line name credit.
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I'm in the planning stages of trying to coming up with some new fresh idea's in the advanced flats - fishing article and tips arena. I havent seen, read anywhere in any book, internet site or magazine some of my idea's. Lets see , hmmmm :) If any of you have any suggestions, please email them to me.
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Catch More Fish with Confidence!
My guest was amazed at the quality and very consistent distance he could easily get when he was taught how to double haul correctly. Once we learned the proper technique to tightened up his loop to approx. 3 feet, the strong wind became child's play and his distance throwing the fly increased almost like magic.  His jaw dropped again when I taught him the art of throwing the fly on his back cast properly when the wind would not allow you to throw it on your forward cast for fear of impaling the hook into some part of your body. He could throw the fly just as far by shooting it on his back cast as letting it go on his normal forward cast. He also was taught the correct form, skill and method in (sky writing with a fly rod) jabbing or stabbing the sky during the power stroke to let Mother Nature make that 100 foot cast with ease when the wind was honk'n on our back's. Easy as spread'n soft but'a on a warm muf'n. :)

By combining his newly acquired taught skill's of creating tighter loop's, double hauling, sky writing and casting on his back cast. He vastly improved the quality of life long expert skill's that he will be able to use for the rest of his fly fishing life that will surly help him to (bottom line) Catch More Fish! These were just a few of the many many things my guest learned. All the fish he caught were just icing on the cake. We all have the rest of our lives to catch a fish. But, once these advanced skills have been acquired you'll cast, catch more fish, and fish, etc....., etc..... with greater ease, guaranteed! Now, instead of being an ok caster, he took it to the next level and become a good caster. Now, instead of Mother Nature controlling his fishing, he laugh's at her feeble attempts to try to discourage him and charges forward with Confidence! Congratulations!
Interested?
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Humor
Today was one of those relaxing, enjoyable, peaceful rainy days. The only thing that was irritating was when the tranquility of the day was interrupted by that darn whining sound of my guest's drag's. Then people would yell, Fish On. Come on folks, can't a guide get a lil rest and peace and quit around here? The nerve of some people! Then I was expected to chase after this 16 lb. Silver beast that kept doing these darn 25 foot tail walks across the pool, then these obnoxious somersault's 4 feet into the air with a big ol loud belly flop with water splashing 20 feet in all directions. I would  have reeeeelly been upset if my hair had gotten wet. Then more speeding bullet run's until that bright orange stringy stuff would appear behind the fly line.
I just could not win today. Every spot I stopped to fish, my guest's would continually hook more fish. Out of 3 spot's my guest's fished, we hit them in all. I got so fed up that I finally stopped in a spot where no fish has been hooked in over 100 years, and my guest's were still able to hook some up. So much for a nice relaxing day on the water. I think I need to find a new, less stressful job, where a person can get a lil R and R. :)
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Need to run, the fish are biting.
Thanks for stopping by,
Best Fish's,
Randy

May 21-28 2010 Fishing Report, plus plus....my usual Ramblings :)

I'd highly recommend a trip out to one of the many flats around here or even just from shore. There are enouph fresh uneducated Bass and Blues around you'll see on the flats or catch from shore to keep you all happy. Lots of big'ns too!
Fresh Bass have recently surrounded the entire Cape Cod area. N-S-E and W. Inside and out. All habitats producing. Just remember to fish each spot when it is fishing at its most productive part of the tide. Small to some 20lb plus sized Bass! Bring your wire for those crazy fighting Blues :)

I'm in the planning stages of trying to coming up with some new fresh idea's in the advanced flats - fishing article and tips arena. I havent seen, read anywhere in any book, internet site or magazine some of my idea's. Lets see , hmmmm :) If any of you have any suggestions, please email them to me.

What am I personally seeing on the C.C. wade flats while sight fishing?
Schools of mostly migrating Bass in groups of 10 to 20, some in the 50 range with an odd 100 fish or more in them. If you do it right, its like taking candy from a baby, but its not as easy as it looks, unfortunately, but thats what makes it fun! I call it challenging your ability level as an angler. All the pieces of the puzzle must come completely together to be consistently successful. On each and every outing with a multitude of different varibles to factor in and successfully interpret. Your reward?  Fish ON!!
ALL of the fish Im seeing (as usual at this time of the year) are in a transitional stage, some are holding and feeding and the rest I've found are doing what I call haveing a Jacuzzi party. These are Bass that are simply resting, not moving. Like you or I would after climbing a long flight of stairs or jogging a few miles. Just like fish that are running a river. I also call them transitional resting holding fish. They are in schools of 20 to normally 50-100 fish per school. (I'd enjoy writing an entire article A to Z on these migrating holding resting large schools of bass sometime, but not today)
One of the funnier things about any of these migrating Bass is they do not have a set, written in stone path or travel lane that they follow. Many will follow the same Rt.s that the residents do all summer. But, these spring bass can run over flats in the strangest places. Or rest in places that your not used to finding them. The warmer the water the more they like it. Ive found them relaxing on flats in the shallows in water over 70 deg. Sometimes holding in shin deep water for hours! It feels more like a jacuzzi than the ocean, believe it or not :)
Tip: Try getting closer than 80-90 feet to them on a flat and tell me what they do, I know from experience. :) I guarantee you wont like it. (Remember, always try to wade very quietly up wind of them) If sight fished to correctly, the tide is correct, I've personally had wade clients pull nice sized bass out of the same school of these tran. holding rest's for up to 3 hours, believe it or not  :)
You have BETTER been practicing your double haul, accuracy and wind casting trick's and not waited until you come across this scenario to start!
I could continue writing all day about all aspect's of this magical time of year but I have 100 other things to do. Maybe Ill add some more tomorrow?

P.S. I am also, as usual at this time of year, seeing some very BIG resident bass on the flats. How can you tell the difference between a resident bass and a migrating one?  Stay tuned!

What Fly Rod rigging has been working for myself and guest's while wading the flats or from shore lately?
For your striper wade fly rigging from shore or flat, I'd recommend a 9 foot mono tapered leader - 15 lb. test. (heavier if in the surf, off shore or night)

Size 4 hook, Monomoy flat wings for any of the fewer in #'s larger (15-20lb.)  resident bass Ive been seeing lately, clousers and deceivers in either bright attractor colors or white or tan for the rest.

With all the squid around in the Spring and all the Silversides around from small to large, white does a nice job imitating either the squid or the belly of a silverside as the fish look's up at it and it also falls into the category of an attractor color.  I guess I'd recommend all white over all, especially with such uneducated, fresh fish around.

Deep water - Clouser
Shallow water - Deceiver or that Monomoy Flat Wing, they land like a feather on the water.

Type of fly line?
Normally, not always,  depends on the speed and the depth of the water your fishing

Dangerous C.C. Wade Fly/Spin Sightfishing Flats Tides and Weather coming up for this holiday period

FYI - These are the tides and weather patterns I see most flats wade anglers get into trouble on. As usual, we will have increased #'s of wade angler's fishing this holiday weekend. My reason for posting this is to simply remind you all that it can be reeel easy to get into trouble out here when wading these large expanses of sand flats, on a beautiful day, even if you can see the shoreline.

With the high coming around the 1 to 3 pm area, you will be wade fishing from a dead low on an incoming tide all day. I've personally witnessed numerous times, the highest % of flats wade anglers needing some sort of assistance to get back to shore has normally been on these tides around the 11am to 3 pm area and during this type of weather.

Any chance for a surprise visit from our foggy freind? Never know :)
The reel funny part about this story is my freind who is a guide politely and professionally asked this lone gentleman if he knew where is was walking on the flat and if he knew how to get back into shore in this heavy fog and with the tide turning and coming in. The angler turned his nose up in the air and rudely suggested to my freind that HE,  knew what he was doing.
Any of you ever stood on the shoreline on a reel foggy day and heard an angler out in the distance on a flat with an incoming tide yell, Help me, help me! and then blowing his whistle for all he is worth? I have and it sends a bone chilling rush up you spine. Im sure the many advanced anglers reading this have some of the same stories to tell as this one. It's not as uncommon as one would think, especially when your out there almost everyday as I am working and witnessing other anglers. I honestly get scared sometimes with what I see.
FYI - I normally carry a whistle with me now, for the same reason he did. Turns out a clammer in the distance heard his whistle and followed the sound in his boat to where this angler was standing, lost, with the water rising around him, current picking up, panic stricken. His wife and kids were happy to have him back. :)

We all know how easy it is to get mesmerized out here and how large the expanse's are of our sand flats that you can easily walk on. We all tend to let our guards down, get excited by the chase, strategy, water looks like the Caribbean, some big fish swimming by within casting range, light breeze blowing, adrenaline rushing up our spin's.
* Most importantly we gain a false sense of security when the sun is shinning brightly over our heads as it is forecast to do Sun. - Mon.. What could possibly go wrong? This is again when I see the most accidents happen. By early afternoon as the tide approach's high,  we realize we cant get back to shore. OOP's!

By paying close attention to the details of the habitat that you are wade fishing. Whats between you and the shoreline along with the tide coming up around you and current speed this weekend, well help get you back, to fish another day.

I'm not trying to scare you but it has taken some of us years to figure out how to safely wade fish miles and miles of these flats, surf, etc... all over the C.C. area on an almost daily basis.

Please be careful out there,
May all your doorknobs smell of grossly over sized striped bass!
Best Fish's,
Randy

New Cape Cod Cell phone # 508-980-9473, email is always best. My NY 315-298-5999 is off until I return back up North.

Please make sure you all have one of these U.S. Saltwater Federal Fishing Licenses on you when we fish. Its free, takes about 60 seconds to complete either by calling or on-line. You may already have one (Saltwater Fishing License) from your own state that will work w/ Mass. saltwater. (you wont need a freshwater license)
https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov

Thanks to all of you who have spent your hard earned fishing $$ up here. The local economy thanks you all! I'm always VERY happy to see all of you up here enjoying yourselves. Plenty of room for everyone. Hello to all of the service men and women who are over sea's. Safe returns!
Thanks for stopping in and spending your valuable internet fishing time here. :)
Go get'm!
Best Fish's,
Randy


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June Wade Saltwater Cape Cod Chatham Monomoy Island Fly/Spin and Beyond Fishing Report, Pictures, Articles, Humor, Tips and much more:
Coming this month. What you can expect. To a S.E. and Beyond beach near you. :)
Look for the balance of our resident Bass to finish arriving here during the first week of July. Look for those resident flats Bass to become more fussy as the month progress's. Be ready to re-rig up your fly/spin rods with fussy Bass stuff. Get ready for even bigger Bass. Make sure your knots are good. :) Look for the Blues to search out colder water off shore and further North shortly. Instead of seeing 1,000's of Migratory Bass in a tide on their travel Rt's, expect to see 100's of those resident Bass in a tide traveling their normal feeding - travel Rt's. Expect not as many fish around as during the migration. You can look forwards to bigger resident quality fish. You will normally but not always see lot's of bass on our faster tides and normally less on our slower tides. Fog will become your worst nightmare so be prepared. Now is the time to prepare for getting lost, turned around, trapped by the incoming tide, on these extremely large flat's, where is that compass, cell phone, GPS at. (Ton's of helpful life saving tips below) Expect more tourist's, old people and in general driver's going 20 miles an hour under the posted speed limit when your in a hurry to catch the first shuttle boat out at 8am. to hit those flats! :)
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Over view - June
Over this last week we fly fished from Barnstable all the way up to P-Town and then back down and around the other side of the Cape to the Bass River. (And many spots in between.) All spot's were hold'n, some LOADED (A fish on almost every cast) and some you had to work for them(slooow.) All wading, during the day, Surface and Sub, blind and Sightfishing on flat's, surf, marsh, channels, Bays, etc...etc..w/all fly. (I dont discriminate, I do spin also.)
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The entire Cape Cod area inside and out are with Blues and Bass of all sizes in our Spring fishing locations. Bring your wire for the blues if fishing anytime soon.
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I have found the fishing this last week to be just that. Fishing :) Every place had fish, it was just a matter of how many Mother Nature was going to give us. Some days we had incredible number's of migratory fish all around us, while a couple of days Mother Nature gave us a lull or low numbers of Migratory fish. With Migratory fish you either are in a peak or a valley it seams (high numbers to low numbers - very normal)
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Easiest time of the year to catch a keeper while wading, Experience helps! Fish in all the normal Spring spots. Same ol same hole.
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Two days were reeeeel slow (still caught some fish), while the rest were epic, whether we were blindcasting or sight fishing. Those faster tides certainly helped. We have had some sight and blind casting days with the fly rods that were fish on almost every cast. We even saw some 20 lb. Bass in 12 inch's of water. Schools of 100 Bass in each school. Schools of schoolies to schools of all keepers (20-30) in a school. The sight fishing around the Cape has normally been amazing! But, we have also had our slow periods thrown in too, which is very normal. That's fishing. Things look to be getting better and better each day. More resident Bass showing up daily. Blues around also as an optional treat.
Top water flies and lures working great if you like your fish on the surface! We had a LOT of fish slurping bait on the surface in 2 feet of water or less recently. For fly fishing Im rigging with a 9 foot tapered leader down to a 12-14 lb. test tippet (leader).
Flies:
Ive been useing with great success whether sight or blind casting are a all white clouser, white and olive clouser or a white squid on the surface. Big white Deceivers to thin sparse white and olive sand lance imitations. If you have large schools of migratory fish around then a simple white and chartreuse clouser will do the trick. Larger Bass go with a more natural looking fly to match the dominant bait that is around in your area for this time of year.
Spin lures:
I like the white Mr. Twister tails on a jig head, sluggos - weighted and unweighted, storm lures, fin-s on a jig head and white 4-6 inch rubber squid on the surface. For Blues I like all the normal top water and subsurface ones. Im running Braid from 10 lb. test up to 20 lb. test, depending on the lures Im throwing, inshore.
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Dangerous Tides:
Please be careful with exaggerated tides. Please remember to carry a whistle, GPS and a compass should the fog roll in fast and make seeing more than 10 feet away impossible. It is soooo easy to get turned totally around in a heavy fog (I have) on those flats. Thats why they call them a flat, there is normally no up or down to help you navigate your way back to safety. Please remember, their is only one right way back (and that will probably zig - zag) and about a thousand wrong ways to walk back to the safety of shallow water or dry sand when we have pea soup fog and the tide is coming in. I like to take a compass reading once Ive reached my fishing location. Even if the weather is bright and sunny and their is no forecast for fog. It can roll in heavy and fast. Be safe as always, they are not worth it.
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Guest testimonial for today:
Well, it has been on my mind for a while to try the Monomoy flats. It became impossible to resist after Maine got off to such a slow start this year. I decided to jump in with both feet by hiring Guide Randy Jones to show me the ropes. He was super good company, patient (as he had to be, given my casting ability) and oh, could he find fish. We estimated that in that in our one day of wading (just this past Thursday) we saw around 700 fish. If I were reading this, I wouldn't believe it, but I was there, and I saw most of them. Coming at us from all directions. In ones, twos, threes, schools of 30 and 50. Makes it kind of hard to focus on casting well with all of that activity. And these were not just schoolies. There were a lot of BIG fish, some swimming within a rods length of me before being spooked. I went out the next day by myself and saw a bit less than half as many fish, but then again, I didn't have Randy's expert eyes helping out and showing me all of the fish that I was missing. I can't wait to get back down there!
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As soon as we approached our first flats of the day while wading with fly rods, it was FISH, 50 feet, moving left, 40 fish. Then it was FISH, 60 feet, head shot, get it out there fast. Then, well, I wont bore you, same ol same hole for the next hour. Steady fish on the flats with in easy casting range with the fly rod in 2 feet of water. Moved to 2 different flats close by and it was 1 here 1 there, slow. Moved to another location close by and we started to get into'm! Did a lil walking to check out a coupl'a other holes and on the 3rd one we hit it. Fish on and on!
That was our day in a nut shell. Another one of many great days to be out on the flats sight fishing and forgetting about work!
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First 2 holes nothing. I bet the seal that was patrolling this area made the fish feel like bit'n. NOT! :) 3rd hole was like magic. Could see 30-40 keepers patrolling these waters and flashing. Caught one with a few short's. Beautiful day to be out sight fishing these crystal clear waters on an almost sugar colored flats bottom. Ye-haa!
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Sightfishing today. Saw one fish in a guzzler, saw another 6-7 at the low in a low tide spot, stood around for an hour and 1/2 nothing? And this is in one of the best low tide to incoming spots. Then, in the last 1/2 hour all hell broke lose, School of 40 migratories, another school of 30, 20, 10, 20, another 10, 1, 20, 1, etc.. Over 100 fish on the flats in a 1/2 hour! Wow!! Overall a very slow day.
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June - Last Week's Daily Fishing Log:

Wow! Amazing? Super! The fishing today was nothing short of spectacular! As we sloooowly approached the hole this morning I asked my clients to walk slowly and to keep their eyes open. It was a dark drizzly morning and this means we might have fish on the surface. Sure enough, we had about 100 bass in 1-2 feet of water sipping, rolling, slurping Bait on the surface. We stayed 40 feet away from the waters edge so we would not spook these fish. We cast approx. 30 feet into the water at the boil's. Fish on! Ye-haa! Each of my guest's hooked up. My guest's got a lil overly excited and then started to blind cast into the water. This made waaaay to much noise and put the fish down fast. Darn! I explained to them that casting at these boil's was exactly like sight fishing. Dont cast until you see the boil and then only cast at the boil. They apologized and we all laughed! They said that they were very excited and kind'a forgot. Ha!
John wondered off by himself and continued sight casting to fish that were in 1 foot of water. (both of my guest's are very experienced sight fly) We stopped at a hole and it was a fish on almost every cast. Waaaay toooo easyyyyy. This kept up for over an hour. Next hole was the same way except the fish were bigger! We had big school's of Adult Sand Lances. (Hint:)That was our day in a nut shell. If you can make it to the Cape, I'd recommend coming.
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Found 3, 100 fish school's as soon as our feet touched the edge of the flat while sight fishing. Moved to another location and were rewarded with a fish on almost every cast. Around the high it slowed so we went to another productive flats area, slow, until we got closer to the normal hot spot. Sighted fish galore, mostly schools of all keepers in 10's to 30's. Probably a couple hundred in 1/2 hour of looking and fishing. O'what a day! :)
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Special Cape Flats loaded. Sightfishing wade, fly/spin. I rarely see these types of numbers of fish on the flats, and I do this daily. We had 1 day last year on a flat where myself and some of you saw around 3,000 Bass in 2 feet of water swim by us within casting range on a very popular flats area that many of you fish, nope not Monomoy. :) We were on top of one of those peaks I have been talking about. Mother Nature gave us the mother load. Normal for this time of year, also just the opposite is true, as you just read above. We had easily over 1,500 migratory Bass with a few blues and an ok number of resident Bass for this time of year. We had the normal residents swimming on their normal routes on the flats. The migratories were doing what we all like to see. They were all having a flats Jacuzzi party. Not in any hurry, not feeding all that much and just hanging around by the 100's.
We stayed 80 feet away from them and made our fly cast's from their. Any closer and they would leave. Those and others would filter by us, with many of them stopping to party with us. :) Some stayed with us for over 3 hours! It was fun to visually see them, cast, watch them chase down our flies with reckless abandonment and then watch them open their mouth and eat it. Visually seeing the run all the way to the finish was astounding. Don't get much better!
Normal flies and rigging for this time of year. Presentation was critical. If we didnt present it properly, no go. If we didnt have the correct fly, no go. If we didnt imitate the exact fleeing reaction of the bait we were trying to imitate, yup, you guessed it, no go. Put it all together with consistency and it was almost toooo easy. :)
All fish were in 12 inch's of water to 2-1/2 feet. We could see them easily at times over 100 yards away over these crystal clear water flats and almost sugar colored sand. They were schoolie - keeper sized up to 20 lb'rs.
Wow! Wish everyday was this easy. I guess thats why they call these the salad days.
I've seen thousands of fish on these flats and the next day Ive seen 2 or 3 total for the day this early in the season. You never know and thats why they call it fishing. :) I think even Ray Charles could have sight cast on these magical flats today and caught one. :)  
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Sight fishing heaven! Slooow for the first couple of hours around the high - dropping. Then we moved and all heck broke loose. Residents, from schoolie size to a few 20lb'rs. Some in as lil as 12 inch's of water. Also saw some blues. Enjoyed the company of 4-5 schools of migratory Bass from 20 to 40 fish in each school. Also did some blind casting in a hole with current and for 1/2 hour straight my client caught a fish every 1-3 cast's. :)
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Late July Fishing Report:
This weeks fishing report from Monomoy.
(Photo John Halnon)
Nice picture of the reeeeel deal. Notice the clarity of the water, lightness of the sand, knee deep water. Pretty neat stuff!
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Ton's and I mean TON's of Blues around. Mostly 3-6 lb'rs with the occasional 10 lb. Blue or schoolies to keeper sized Bass. When wade, fly/spin, flats, sight fishing,  we have been either casting at schools of 100 or less Blues or many - many single 15-20LB. Bass in 1-2 feet of crystal clear water with an almost white bottom and turquoise colored water. Just like the Caribbean,  except $1,000's of dollar's less. :)
I expect things to remain the same until the slower tides arrive Aug. 8. Until then, LOOK OUT!
Fishing has been fishing. Most anglers (except my guest's) are having a VERY difficult time unless intimately familiar with the water they are fishing and are VERY adapt and changing according to what the fish are telling them. Monomoy is VERY slow fishing of late for the unfamiliar angler. Fish have gone into there very normal late summer life style. Very challenging fishing for some, but not all. :) (he-he)
I have a couple of pool's out there that are presently holding 500 to 1,000 Blues and 3-400 Bass. :)
Best wade blind fly/spin fishing on the cape is normally around an out-flow w/ current, w/ a hole combined with cold water - bait and no predator's. Best sight fishing has been on any of the late summer, current, bait,  producing flats while wade fly/spin fishing. :)
Happy Hook'n to all,
Randy
http://www.yankeeangler.com - Fishing reports page for many more additional tips, articles, pictures, etc.. on sight fishing the flats and blind around all of the Cape Cod wade fly/spin inshore water fishery.
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Outermost Harbor Marine Shuttle Boat to Monomoy island
I ride the Outermost Harbor Marine Shuttle boat almost daily. They operate Full - time: 7 days a week, 3 boats, 8am until 4:30pm, 6 Capt.'s., never (rarely) a wait, no # of people restrictions, fresh water hose to rinse all of your gear, 100 foot walk to the docked boat, small general store (shack) for any last minute items, $20 to Monomoy round trip, free parking in the marina's secure lot with a parking attendant.) http://www.outermostharbor.com
They have a web cam set up on their roof, so you can see the Tub and South beach on their home page. Neat!
Check the weather reel - time before you fish!
Happy hook'n,
Randy
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I'm a proud sponsor of http://reel-time.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=3
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This fish was taken at the high in 12 inch's of water, 1 foot off the dry sand to your right in photo! It was the smaller of the five. :) I was standing 30 feet back from the waters edge on the sand. (Believe it or not :)FYI -  3 other anglers were standing waist deep in the water 200 feet out in front of me fly casting to water void of anything swimming. Very normal, I used to do it too!
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July Wade Saltwater Cape Cod Chatham Monomoy Island Fly/Spin Fishing Report, Pictures, Articles, Humor, Tips and much more:
I hope you find my reports and articles entertainingly informative and mildly educational from a fly/spin wade angler's perspective here on Cape Cod.
Over view:
I've been fishing in a number of different habitat's from all around the entire Cape Cod area, depending on several factors or variables.
Just like my last overview, the fishing has been just that. Fishing! Everyday is different and you never know exactly what you will find. Whether we are blindcasting or sight fishing. Some days have been sloooow, some days have been ok but most of our days have been OUTSTANDING!  These fast tides that we are having now 7/4 have improved the fishing from last week in my opinion. Very normal.
Look for your flats fish to become much more spooky and fussy. Time for your stealth presentations, flies, etc... The balance of our resident population of migratory Bass will finish arriving this first week of July (Approx.)  Best time to catch a keeper before they get a phd in whats real or not. :)
Best places to fish here on the Cape will be places that have a cold water influence off the Ocean along with moving water over a hole, hump or some type of structure while wading. Find these things and I'll bet you will find some fish.
Normally, the only reason's the fish wont be in these locations is if they are threaten by predators, water is to warm or there is not enough food for them.
Good luck everyone and go get'm!
Happy Hook'n,
Randy
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New Moffit Angling:
I would have not believed it unless I had seen it with my own eyes in the saltwater. Pat has caught 100's if not 1,000's of Steelhead and Saltwater Species useing this method. His lost rate is equal to any other method. His method will actually increase your odds of hooking up with flies as they will have more action. You can use this with bait also. Moffit Angling
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July:
Holy Cow-a-Bunga! We absolutely hammered the fish today. Bass and Blues. Blindcasting and sight fishing. We started off blindcasting and within a few cast's were tight. Then another and another. Boring :) (just kidding:) While sight fishing we first came across some singles, doubles and schools of 10-20 Bass (One school had no less than 150 Bass in it) with only an approx. 20-30 foot visual window due to being fogged in. Once the skies cleared we found a school of approx. 500 Bass, all having what I call a jacuzzi party. They had no place to go and just hung out with us in 2 feet of water or less (for an entire 2 hours) and allowed us to constantly - consistently hook them up while sight fishing. We stayed 80 feet away and used the wind at our back to help place the fly on the button. We used the edge of the flat to hide from them and had to duck down several times to help keep from being seen by them as they swam within 30 feet. Another fish ON! Then, we waded after them and or stood still and allowed them to come back to us time after time. After they finally left the flat they hung out in another location allowing us to see them easily and continue catching them. We saw over 800 fish today, with most of these being the 500 Bass that just hung around with us for a loooong time. Simply AMAZING. I hope you all get the chance sometime in your life to experience this endless, all you can eat, smorgasbord while wade sightfishing with the fly rod.
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We sight/fly/wade fished all day. We started off with a school of 100 Bass all Keeper's just sitting there not moving while they rested.  We hooked some up. :) Then it was keeper Bass in schools of 1,2, 20, 30, 50 for the next hour steady (approx. 300). But, no schoolies. Then we hit a lull and all we could find were those nice fighting 10 lb. Blues on the flats while sightfishing in 1,2's, 7-8's and 10's (approx. 40), but no schoolies. We had to force ourselves to put on the wire and play with these darn Bluefish in 1 foot of water. :)  Then as we moved along the flat looking over the edges, we finally found some schoolies in 1,2's and 3's, (approx. 30 of them in total.) They were off the main flat and seemed to be in hiding. Then as we progressed along the flats to another section all hell broke lose. School's of 3lb. to 10 lb. Blues in singles, doubles, 10's, 20's 30's, 40's all the way up to school's of 100. (Saw easily over 1,000 Blues in less than 2 hour's. AMAZING!!  :)
In total we sightfished while wading and useing fly rods to approx. 1,400 fish in a 5 hour time period. (Most of which came within easy casting range of a fly rod in less than a 2 hour period.) Almost steady fish all day with sometimes only seconds inbetween them. At times they surrounded us and Ray Charles could have sight fished to them. :)
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Started off slow on the flats. Saw a school of approx. 7 Bass in the first 1/2 hour. Then we left for greener pastures and again, found nothing for the next 1/2 hour. Left again for another flat and as soon as our ankles touched the edge it was fish, 12 O'Clock, moving right. Fish ON! As we fought this fish we saw more pass'n us by. As we proceeded to walk along this edge we saw more and more fish, had lots of opportunity, caught zip.
I always jokingly tell folks that if you want to improve your odds, then blindcast. You don't have to be fast or accurate, you just have to get it out there. If you want to TRY to catch fish, then sight cast. :)
As we approached the main flat for the day we began to see BIG Bass, more and then some more. Then, as expected, we began to see those schools of blues and more Blues. Amazing numbers. The Bass sighting's slooowed down so we switched to Blue fish rigging and proceeded to hook them up. Along with these BIG numbers of blues, we also began to see these keeper Bass again. Combination of very good numbers of both species consistently on the flats. If you can imagine seeing several pods of blues in schools of 20 to 100 ( in 1 foot of water) and also at the same time seeing 2-3 keeper bass all around you, then you have the picture! Turquoise water, almost matching the color of the sky and looking exactly like the Caribbean. The only difference is that you didnt have to spend $1,000's of dollar's for the experience. :) A good sized Bluefish will give you almost the same run - fight as a bonefish in my opinion. The only difference is about $1,000 per fish. :)
Another amazing day while sight fishing with a fly rod in these crystal clear waters LOADED with Bass and blues. Ended the day with another Blue attacking our lil Sand Lance fly pattern with another one of many spectacular speeding bullet runs ending at the rod while landing with the normal bite off. :)Darn, and that was my favorite fly. :) Amazing, simply amazing. I hope you all get a chance to experience this fishery.
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Mustad Hooks, the BEST their is! :)
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Salt and Fresh Mustad Hooks:
If you are looking for a great hook, look no further. Many guides, Seasoned Salmon River Steelhead Anglers, my Two expert Fly Tier's and Myself, all use the Mustad Signature Series Ultra Point CO68 and the 37132 for all of our Salmon and Steelhead flies. These hooks are grown locally, almost in your own back yard. I use exclusively the Mustad Signature Series Ultra Point CO68 for every fly that I use for steelhead. Matter of fact, Im haveing about 1,400 flies tied up for my business as we speak, all on those amazing Mustad CO68's.
All of my favorite Salmon Flies are tied on either the CO68 or the 37132.
The reason Mustad went to a Signature Series Ultra Point was to be more competitive with the other high end foreign hook manufacture's. They have succeeded!
Personal recommendation, the ones I use for all of my guide services, year round.
Saltwater - Mustad Signature series - S71S-SS  or C70S-D or C47S-D
Salmon River, Pulaski, NY. - New Mustad Signature Series Hooks - CO68 Wet/Nymph Caddis - 2x Heavy / 2x Short
If you'd like to visit there website for more info. or get some great Salmon - Steelhead fly recipes, here it is
SHARPEST Site on the Web - www.mustad.no
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www.Seaguar.com
Seaguar - like nothing you'll ever see. Salt and Fresh Water.
If you want to use the exact same leader - tippet material that I do for steelhead, then this is the exclusive floro. I use in the Winter time. I think it is also the most expensive? I get paid to guide anglers like yourself and feel its my responsibility to offer you the best shot at catching fish. Thats why I only use the best materials, etc.. made, simple. It is not brittle in the Winter time like some other really good floro.'s are. The diameter beat's ALL other's. As Ive always said, anytime you can disguise what your fly, bait, etc.. is tied too, any species of fish, anywhere in the world, the odds are pretty good that you will play with a few more. If you want to use the same floro. as many of the world's TOP guides, then Seagaur is the ticket.
I could type all day long on the advantages you'll have over all other angler's, type all day long about all of the experiment's Ive run. All day long about, well, you get my drift. I only use the best materials, etc.. in my guide business. In many many cases, this one product can make the difference between no fish and a dozen. Been there, done that, I've bought the T-shirt. I like my side of the fence better than the other side. We have all been on the other side, but no more, with Seagaur Fluorocarbon :)

The top five things I enjoy about Seaguar Leader/Tippet attributes are:
1. Invisibility
2. Strength
3. Invisibility
4. Knot Strength
5. Invisibility
www.Seaguar.com
Seaguar - like nothing you'll ever see.
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My one day off to go fishing with a freind
First flat of the morning had a school of 100 Fish in 1-1/2 feet of water just hang'n around that we sight cast too. Hooked a couple, in 2 cast's. They moved into another area that had a couple more schools hanging around. Played with these for awhile. Then off to another area flat complex and found some more here and there to cast at. We then moved to the honey hole. This hole has had approx. 1,000 to 500 fish in it lately. It was LOADED today. Every single cast replied with numerous Blues crashing our surface lures. We had a competition on who could retrieve it the fastest and make the most cast's without hooking up. We tied with each of us unable to keep the plugs away from them by our second cast. Incredible jump's, somersault's, speeding bullet runs. Ye-haa! My buddy tried fishing bait on the bottom and in 4 cast's caught 4 Bass. Blues on top and Bass underneath them. Tremendous amount of bait spraying. I even had fun taking the hook off :0 the lure and letting the blues hammer the plug time and time again. :) Wrist's and arms sore, no more challenge, tooo easy, left.
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Sunday morning caught myself surfing the Saltwater Web sites, sipping coffee, day dreaming of surf, blue bird skies, crystal clear water over light colored sand flats, girls in bikinis - errrr, I mean, cruising blues and bass on the shallow flat's.
5 fish - 2 o'clock! , throw it 12 O'clock, 50 feet ! O.K. , let it sit there, dont move it, stay low, here they come, get ready, Now strip it, strip it faster, 2 fish just broke from the school, strip it - strip it, their nose is on it, there on it, keep stripping, their on it,

He ate it! The pictures above were actually a single 15 or above pound Bass in 12 inch's of water while wade fly fishing the flats. Saw it about 160 feet away. Head shot. Big'n, Cast 70, Adrenaline, leave it, don't move it, wait, Adrenaline, he flashed! Set it!

Ye-haa!! What a honk'a!!! Sometimes setting by sight is the answer.
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When I talk about perfect sight fishing conditions and mother nature being kind to you, this is the type of stuff you can hopefully expect. Obviously, I've also had just the opposite of these days too, which Im sure some of you can relate to. :)
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Had a slooow day on the flats while sight fishing. Only saw approx. 450 Bass all day. Most of these were all Migratory keepers. The rest were migratory Blues and resident Bass.
The morning started off unexpectedly reeel slow. The fish must have over slept. :) Around 11 we started to see them in small numbers. Then unexpectedly, at the BEST part of the tide where we normally see a crescendo of fish, it died. We left for greener pastures and found a few more. Still not enough to make me happy so we left for another flat. Before we even got there all hell broke lose. Would you believe that in the last 25 minutes of sight fishing today, that over 300 Bass (mostly keepers) came by us within fly casting range in schools of 20 to 50? WOW!
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Sight fished to approx. 750 Bass in 2 feet of water or less, the ENTIRE tide while wade w/fly. Ye-hha! Randy
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Same guest's for these two days. We had a blast fishing around Monomoy Island and picked up fish in every spot. The next day due to the wind we stayed inshore and played with Bass, Flounder and Shad useing the fly rods. Ye-haa!
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Last Week's Daily Fishing Log: 

Ton's and tons of Baby Sand Lances. Incredible size of pods. Birds working feverishly. Lot's of fish underneath them out in 20-30 feet of water off hardings beach.
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Massive amounts of tooth pick sized Sand Lances covering the flats today. Slooow sight fishing, but we still had a blast trying our hand at seeing and then casting to a moving target. Schoolies, Blues and a number of keeper sized bass. Saw 1 school of over 100 Bass that looked to be all Keepers. Other school's in 10, 20, 30 along with the usual 1,2 and 3's. Good number of snapper blues that we donated a few flies too. :) Did a lil blindcasting with success also. Another fun and exciting day! Can't wait to do it all over again tomorrow.
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Very dangerous and frequent lightning Thunderstorms, hail, rain and very high gusting winds (40 knots) was our forecast for today as of last night. It always pays to have a lot of very good inshore spots that produce at their optimum at different stages of the tide that are out of any wind direction.
Wouldn't you know it, that the weatherman was 100% wrong again today? It was a beautiful day of light to medium winds with 100% sun ALL day! Ye-haa. Another Bonus day. We sight fished almost all day and were rewarded with a good number of opportunities. Short's to a nice number of resident 20 lb. Bass! Saw very very few migratory Bass. The largest school of migratories had approx. 100 Keeper sized bass in it.
As we approached a particular section of the flat, I explained to my client that sometimes the migratory Bass will just sit on the other side, off the edge. Just relaxing, taking a break, having a lil Jacuzzi party is what I call it. Wouldn't you know it. As we approached the edge I suddenly asked my guest to stop walking. 100 feet in front of us was one of those school's of approx. 100 Keeper sized Bass. Just hang'n around, not moving. I've had Bass sit in this location and others for hours on end. But, not today. My guest made one cast into the school, hooked up immediatly and then they all got spooked by his fly line slashing thru the school with his fish on it. This sent them on their way. Besides all of the other fish that we saw that was the most memorable part of the day for me. I love it when what you hope for materializes and I get to share this incredible world of sight fishing the flats while wading with a new fly/spin rod angler. Needless to say it was another amazing, memorable day in many of late. :)
Happy hook'n,
Randy
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(Photo by John Halnon)
When I die, I hope I end up on a flat with sunny skies, (You need the sun to be able to see them) a 5-6 knot wind (this is the preferred speed of wind we like when sight fishing for many reason's) and big Bass doing head stands. (tailing)
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John Knight and myself, hard at work. Trying to stay
out of the fish's window.
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Back in the good'ol ladder days :)
I think this was one of the pictures that appeared in "On The Water" magazine.
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Another Sighted Fly Fish while wading the Flats.
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My good freind Bill O'Mally caught this 40 inch Bass while useing his 15 foot spey rod, 10 feet off the dry sand in the surf off ANY outer Cape beach. He was sight fishing to 100's and 100's of migratory Bass and Blues during the migration at this time of the year. Pretty simple stuff if you hit it just right!
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Wade Fly Blind Monomoy Island Wed. 8/6
We had an enjoyable day out on the island today. First spot, thru the fly in and my guest came up with a nice Bass. Out of the next 5 cast's with fly he was hooked up to 4 more bass. My other client was enjoying useing surface stuff and watching 4-5 Bass explode on it on a single retrieve - 50 feet. As soon as I retied him to fish subsurface both of my guest's were doubled up on a couple more nice bass in the mid - twenty inch range taken on a fly.
That was one the many highlight's of the day while blind wade fly. We worked (so whats new in August?) for the rest of our fish. We enjoyed fishing several different spot's and found more Bass, no Blues.White and olive clouser's - clear Int. line, white pencil poppers - floating line.
Best Fish's,
Randy
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Wind and casting aid's while fly fishing tips:

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1. When fly fishing and the wind is blow'n hard on your casting arm:
All we do is turn around and cast on our back cast when the wind is honk'n on our casting arm. Whether in a boat, wade, blind or sight fishing. This casting technique should be practiced until you become proficient at it. It's as simple as spreading soft but'a on a warm muff'n. Before long you will throw it as far or close to it as you presently are on your forward cast. All your doing is letting it go on your back cast instead of your forward. Your arm makes the exact same motion going forward as it does back. The trick is to train your forearm to make that "power stroke" quick and fast (when going back) enough to load the rod and keep a tight loop while fly fishing and letting it go on your back cast.
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2. The "Double Haul" is another valuable casting aid I would try to learn over the summer if you enjoy fly fishing the saltwater. Once learned it's easy stuff. You can do it with your eyes closed and you'll catch more fish. It helps you in all aspect's of casting. With out getting to deeply into the D.H. I start my haul at the beginning of my power stroke, on both my forward and back. Or another way to say it is at the exact moment and time that you initiate your power stroke, haul 6-10 inch's (fast) on both the forward and back. There is a lot more to this casting aid, but that's another article all together.
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3. Next time your fly fishing, got the wind at your back, let the wind make the cast for you . I've taken folks through the Orvis Fly School who in NO wind could cast it 40-60 feet, then put them with a strong wind at there back. Helped teach them how to throw it UP into the sky. And let the wind take it out 80 feet. Amazing!
I swear many fly fishing anglers are amazed at the distance they can achieve once this sky writing technique is learned. Lefty Krey said something about stabbing-jabbing the sky with the tip of your rod during the power stroke. You accomplish 2 things.
A tight loop and the line always goes in the direction you excelerate and stop the rod tip. So with a quick stabbing motion upwards, you maintain a tight loop. Also you are throwing the line up, towards the heavens. Leaving it for the wind to take it along for a looooooong ride. It's fun to teach and watch the reaction of my guest's when they get it.
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4. Another tip would be to use a 2 handed fly rod or spey rod. These are longer fly rods that you use 2 hand's to cast that are normally 12 to 15 feet in length. The longer rod is what I personally use in any and all saltwater fly fishing. The longer rod has soooooo many advantages that someday I'll write an article on it.
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5. Obviously, tight loop's (3-4 feet) are your goal on both your forward and back cast for over all casting. Look at your back cast once in a while to make sure your loop's are tight. Many angler's only perfect their forward cast and sometimes forget about the importance of the back. The back cast set's up the forward and is more important. I used to practice a tight loop by standing on the grass, floating line so I could see it real good and make sure I have a strong wind at my back. With a strong wind at your back, you are forced to throw a tight loop on the back or it fall's apart and with the bright floating line it should make it easy to see. Your goal is to train your arm. Remember - The distance the rod tip travel's during the power stroke is solely responsible for the size of your loop. Nothing else. The shorter the distance the rod tip travels during the power stroke, the tighter the loop. With wind at your back, you will have to make this speed up and stop (power stroke), fast and with power to keep, maintain, consistently throw a tight loop into the wind on your back cast. And have the fly line completely straighten out into the wind. Perfecting this with a strong wind will only make you a stronger caster.
The above are all tip's, techniques, things that we all use while fly fishing the salt. Hope it helps a lil.
Randy Jones

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Mail Bag:

What kind of FFing strategies do you guys implement when stripers on the flats seem to be in lockjaw mode? Any particular go-to flies?
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All great suggestions. Without giving the farm away. :)
The very first thing I do at this time of year to determine my fly choice is.
1. Are these migratory fish? I determine this by one factor. If they are they want a a specific fly presented in a very specific manner, In my opinion. Most of these dont like to travel further than 20 feet or so from the safety of the pack and or their leaders to their summer grounds. A lil luck and well placement of fly usually does the trick but not always. Food is not always the most important issue when dealing with these guys.
2. Are these resident Bass? I determine this again by one factor. If they are resident's then the next determining factor on what fly I use is solely determined by the size of these residents. Smaller like one thing and larger prefer something entirely different.
That's the first step, in my opinion to start to determine your fly choice. After that then there are about 4-5 other things I would consider if they are being fussy. Presentation as in most any type of fishing scenario is normally always the most important.
I also always try to pattern these fish before whittling it down to one thing or another. I never know exactly what Ill see on any given day, meaning what will be the most abundant Bass present (at this time of year, Re-read #1 and #2) until Ive had a look see. Sometimes I use 1 fly but fish it in two entirely different presentational styles, depending on type of Bass, (Migratory, Resident, size, etc....)
Hope this helps a lil,
Randy
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Near death experience out on Monomoy yesterday! (by an experienced wade angler?) Dont let this be you. I see stuff like this happen several times each summer!
Is your life worth reading this? Making a copy of this and reading it each time before you go to the Island? Sharing it with friends? Ive compiled my own and other's post's from Reel-Time.com of helpful tips that could save your life.
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If this can happen to someone who has experience out here, then what about those of you who are new or have a few years under your belt? I could sadly go on and on and on. I hope you ALL can learn something from this.
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The main mistake among MANY that this wade angler (not my client's) made yesterday was he waded blindly into an area he was not "intimately" familiar with on an "incoming" tide.
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Got trapped on all sides by the incoming strong current tide. I yelled, do you know where to cross? He said yes, and pointed to an area that was 12 feet deep at this stage of the tide. He tried to wade back across the channel (after I yelled at him and told him where the shallowest part of the channel was to cross and he might have to swim) and got up to his chest with water and current poring into and filling up his chest waders. Barely making it back to his almost isolated trapped casket. (I was the only one around who knew he was in deep trouble, talked him thru it, called for the rescue) Still trapped, panic stricken?, tide rising all around him. He did not have the shuttle boat's number pre- programed into his cell phone and did not know it to call for a rescue. His cell phone probably got soaked and was not working. He did not know where the high ground was to wait out the high tide or wait for rescue. He did NOT even know where he was at when asked twice by me so he could give proper directions to the rescue boat. (Maybe he was panic stricken?) Originally he had crossed a creek channel (did he even know this?) and did not know the proper spot to re-cross. He probably didnt even know he had crossed over a creek channel that was filling up fast on this oncoming tide. He did not know when he HAD to be back across this channel. As he tried to reach the high ground (after I yelled to him where it was at) he kept pushing hard against the current which kept getting deeper and deeper almost reaching his chest again. He may have been panic stricken at this point. I yelled "dont panic" you'll be ok. Walk to your right, its shallower. I called the shuttle service and they were there within 5 minutes to save his life. He said later that if he had too, he would have dumped all of his gear and swam to a certain beach. Only problem was with the current he never would have made the 1/4 mile swim to his beach. And may have died of a heart attack trying. He should have know to swim with the current to another beach, down current. He would of had to swim across the boat channel. Not safe. He may have gotten hypothermia being in the water that long and we all know what happens next.
I was very happy to have helped and very happy that it was me that was there watching his every move while I was working, even when he first crossed the channel when it was "safe", even before he realized he was in trouble. But VERY angry that all of this could have been soooooo easily avoided and that I almost watched someone who has the same love and passion for the sport as all of you and myself, almost die in front of my eyes.
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I'd like to thank "Outermost Harbor and Marine" - http://www.outermostharbor.com
They were there in 3-1/2 minuets. I couldn't believe how fast they got there to rescue him!
They provide a shuttle service to Monomoy Island, South Beach (2 stops on S.B.- across from Monomoy and all the way out to the South Way - (Bird watching, fishing and beach goo's) and Seal watching tours. They have 3 boats and run all day. Its open for the general public, on site parking, etc... I ride their shuttle boats almost daily.
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Another invaluable tip for your safety would be to go to Google Earth and look at this area. Print it out and take it with you. Any white sand you see would be the driest sand. This might be your high ground. Visually confirm this on your walk out. It would help you to get more familiar with the lay of the land and all of those dangerous creeks that fill in. Also, when you are there, most of the grass that is growing off the main island on the flats is normally some of your high spots where you could wait out the tide in most cases.Also, the whitest sand you see is normally the driest and can sometimes be your high spot.
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Another invaluable tip that has been mentioned numerous times on this and other sites is Cape Cod Bay. This area has 8 to 11 foot tides. Presently we are having exaggerated tides. (higher high's and lower lows) These are the tides that most wade anglers get into trouble with. If you are waist deep on Cape Cod Bay and you are 1/2 mile out on a flat (in some cases a 1/4 mile out), on an incoming tide, you CANT out run it. You WILL end up swimming. A lot of the time its the last 200 feet closest to the shore where there is a depression that gets ya. I know anglers that grew up here that are very experienced that have had to swim back from the Brewster flats.
Best Safe Fish's,
Randy
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Archives:
Flats 101- Safety first while wading or kayaking: This COULD save your life!

Here on Cape Cod, fog can become your worst nightmare when 1/8-2 miles out on a flat. Some of us have had close calls on the flats, so I would like to share some of the things I do to remain safe.

Number one rule is do not wonder into an area you are not familiar with. When I say familiar, I mean having an intimate understanding of all of the following.

2- Before I even walk out onto a flat I have already checked several weather related wind internet sites. I know direction and if its going to swing and at what time. As I walk out I pay attention to what direction I feel the wind on my face. This helps should I have to guess ta mate my return.

3- I know exactly in what stage in the tide I'm walking out and when it will change. I'm very familiar with tidal current direction at every phase of the tide for the flat I am on. Knowing current direction also helps with navigation when seeing land is not an option.

4- Over the years the sand becomes like a road map, every trough, sluice, creek, river, depression is memorized over and over each year. Even if you can not see 10 feet you will come across these things that will help you navigate your way back. I plan my return as Im walking out in the morning. Taking notice and studying everything Ive written here, should I need it.

5-Knowing exactly at what stage in the tide I can cross and (most importantly) re-cross (to safety) channels that surround the entire island. This knowledge is invaluable and requires your time and energy to figure each individual depression out. Crossing any channels out here is an advanced move and should not be taken lightly or done unitl you are intimately familiar with the area. By crossing, it allows me access to certain flats and a safe return. But, by no means do you have to cross any of these many depressions or channels to catch fish out here.

6-Taking in all audible clues as I walk out. (Cars, Fog horns, Bells, Motor boat engine noise coming from the main channel.)

7- I take a compass reading when I reach my destination. I carry a compass on my watchband for easy access. I carry a back-up.

8-Know the height of your tides. Worse case scenario is to seek higher ground and sit it out. Knowing were this area is at, is crucial.

9-A cell phone is invaluable should you happen to hurt yourself and walking back is not an option. Pre-program the shuttle boats number in it. Tell your buddies where its at in case something happens to you. Also the coast guard and harbor master's numbers.

10-Go with a friend or someone who knows the area as good as the inside of their pocket.

11- Know your moon fazes. There are certain tides in certain areas that will not allow you to out run them. No high ground to sit it out and the current is so swift you can not walk against it. Put yourself on the edge of a flat with a drop off and this current can at times run like a ragging river, as water drains off it. Someone lost their life a few year's ago under this same scenario.

12- An inflatable vest of some sort makes a lot of sense.

13- Look for the way water drains off the flat. If it drains to your right, then the high ground is to your left. If you can find the area where it drains off left and over to your right, you have just found you exit off the flat when faced with high water. Knowing this direct route will save you valuable time when faced with a fast incoming tide that you can not out run.

14- A good pair of polarized glasses are not only an invaluable tool for seeing fish but also for safety.

15 - GPS

Having to feel your way back in by following the edge of the flat with your feet is not an enjoyable feeling, especially when the tide has turned and the fog is overwhelming. This happened to me once (Nauset - Chatham Cut - Pleasant Bay) when I was much younger, green, not a guide yet, STUPID and did not know the above. It well never happen again! I could have easily lost my life!! So be safe, be smart don't fool around with Mother Nature. She always has the winning hand.

In closing, Monomoy is not a play ground and someone could die. If you post a report on it, you should also be responsible enough to point out the obvious safety issues.
Randy Jones

(Photo John Halnon)
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Ray, who is a moderator of a site adds a few of his own safety tips:
There is no question that safety is the biggest concern. Most flats are alluring. You "wander" around in knee deep water casting to fish, what fun.

What do most people do wrong?

1. Don't "know" the area in detail
2. Don't know the tide and how it acts
3. Don't carry basic safety gear like a compass and cell phone (please leave it off)
4. Don't USE their compass (their real good for telling just how lost you are)
5. This is a big one for me, they cross channels that may be 6 feet deep later that day!!!
6. Don't know about fog and how it can really get you crossed up
7. Don't carry enough water and food for a full day.

I have been fishing the NM flats for about 6 years. I do it about 30 times per year. Before each season I go out and wander around to see what changed over the winter.

If you ever find yourself in a place you feel the slightest bit unsure of, get out of there. It's just not worth it.
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Another angler adds;
Great topic. Not to digress or self indulge too much, but something to think about for people like me only fish there a handful of times each year.

I have fished this area for several years now and have hired Randy to show me how to fish the flats once or twice per season. With him I am in capable hands. Additionally, Ray has helped too with line advice, depth and speed (as a PM). Thanks for the help guys, and others on this board as well.


Thanks for stopping by,
Randy Jones
www.yankeeangler.com - Fishing Reports, Tips, Past, Present and Future Fishing Forecasts,  Articles, Pictures, Humor and Much More :)

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Feel free to contact my references regarding my presentations and experience:
  Whitakers Sports Shop and Motel (315)-298-6162
     Trout Unlimited Chapters:  

     Finger Lakes TU, NY
     Iroquois TU, NY
     Chenango Valley TU, NY
     Scranton TU, PA
     Catskill Mt. TU, NY
     Tug Hill TU, NY
     Southeast TU, MA
     Greater Boston TU, MA
     Northeast TU, MA
     Croton Watershed TU, NY
     Clearwater TU, NY
     Mid-Hudson TU, NY
     Iron Furnace TU, PA
     Stan Cooper TU, PA
     Thames Valley TU, CT
     Hammonasset TU, CT
     Chittenango TU, NY
Also:
     Orvis-Manhattan, NY
     Orvis-Boston, MA
     Green Mt. Fly Tiers Assoc. VT
     Rivers Edge Trading Co.(Orvis)
     Central NY Fly Fishers, NY
     Oysterville Yacht Club, MA
     Rochester Sportsman Show, NY  (2 ½ day show, paid featured guest speaker and fly casting demo’s.)
     Albany Outdoors Show, NY  (2 ½ day show, paid featured guest speaker and fly casting demo’s.)
     Wilmington Sportsman Show MA.  (2 ½ day show, paid featured guest speaker and fly casting demo’s.)

The above was written about 8 years ago and I've forgotten some of the International, National, Regional, State and Local Publications  - (Books, Magazines, Internet and Newspapers) I've been involved with since this was posted. Books - Spey Casting - Simon Gawesworth - First and also Second Editions, Rich Murphy - Fly Fishing for Striped Bass.
I was interviewed (along with Lefty K.) for an article on 2 handed fly rods (Spey Rods) in the surf and flats that appeared in Saltwater Fly Fishing Magazine. Once again, in the same magazine for my “go to saltwater striper fly”. Also in Fly Fishing in Saltwater. Additionally, I’ve also been featured in a few guide profile articles for the Albany, Syracuse, Utica and N.Y. Times Newspapers.  Some of my “How To” articles have also appeared in the N.Y. Sportsmen, N.Y. Fishing and Hunting, Salmon River Success Magazine’s. As will as many of the major East Coast Internet Fishing Sites.
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Thank you all for your words of encouragement, kind words and your continued support. Ill continue to do my best in sharing what I've learned through, experience, experimentation, borrowed ideas and taught techniques. I sincerely hope that what little I've been able to share with you will help you along the path to more enjoyable, safe, knowledgeable fishing.

Happy Hook'n,
Randy Jones

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Gift certificates are available for Trips.

Gift Certificate good for 2 people,  complimentary day of fishing, either on Cape Cod or Salmon River. Good anytime. (Except weekends and Holidays - my day's off)

www.YANKEEANGLER.com 

            The fishing of your dreams...

     Come wade or drift boat the world-renowned Salmon River, NY, for hard fighting salmon and steelhead during the splendor of the fall, winter and spring seasons. This summer, if you feel you're up for the fun and challenge, master your technique of sight fishing! Wade fish the many crystal-clear flats teeming with bluefish and striped bass off Cape Cod (Chatham) beaches, bays and Monomoy Island.

      Whether it's steelhead, salmon, blues or stripers that you're after, I am dedicated to introducing both new anglers and experienced anglers to the exciting world of freshwater and or saltwater fly/spin fishing. For novices, I place emphasis on fly-spin  fishing skills and supplement the day with knots, fly-bait selection, fish habitats, and prey species. For the more experienced sportsman, I'll work with you to hone your skills. I guarantee a rewarding experience.  

                                            ...  we'll make it reel.

                                
                                                       Randy Jones
                         (Photo courtesy of Orvis)     http://www.ORVIS.com         

******************

 
Randy Jones is a full-time professional fly/spin fishing guide with over 24 years of experience. He has represented the Orvis Corporation as a guide and chief instructor of their 2 1/2 day Saltwater Fly fishing schools.
    During the summer, Randy can be found wade guiding the S.E. (and beyond) Cape Cod area's,  where sight casting on the flats to trophy Striped Bass is his specialty. During the Fall, Winter, and Spring Randy runs drift boat and wade trips on the world class Salmon River, Pulaski N.Y. for Steelhead, Coho, Browns, Atlantic's and Kings.
 

"Salmon River, where Memories are Made"

RATES: SALMON RIVER Sept. to May - Wade or Drift Boat
One Angler:.....$225
Two Anglers:...$300
Orvis Fly Equipment - Spin rods provided (Flies and Egg sacks included)
Pulaski Hm: (315) 298-5999

RATES: CAPE COD May - August  - Wade flats, beaches, bays and ocean islands.
One angler -  $275
Two anglers -$350
Orvis equipment -Spin rods and flies, bait, lures provided

Cape Cod Hm: (508) 980-9473  Pulaski Hm: (315) 298-5999

Hamming it up on the Monomoy flats while tight to a keep'a!
                                                 See ya ladder,
                                                            Randy

====================================================

           

- Pulaski, NY. Reports and Ramblings:

Sept. through April

 I hope you find my reports and articles entertainingly informative and mildly educational

              Phil Leonardi                           Bill Cody                          

                                                           
 
            Jeff Pierce                                     Capt. Bill

                         Mustad US Sales Co-ordinator

                     

The smile says it all. Nice colored up male Steelhead.

Thanks for another great 09-10 Salmon and Steelhead season! I'll see you all back on the Salmon River next Fall 2010 - Winter, Spring 2011 season for some more Salmon and Steelhead FUN!!
Never to early to book something :) Email best or call 315-298-5999 or if Im still on the Cape 508-980-9473
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If becoming self sufficient on this river is your primary goal, covering ALL aspect's, along with catching some trophy Steelhead and maybe some BIG browns. Ill happily do my part to work with you as a team, all striving for the same goals.
OR
If you just want to try to catch some fish while haveing fun, we can do that too, as we always do. :)
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Want to increase your normal catch rate by 50-75% Gaurrenteed? Email me:)
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Thank you all for your words of encouragement, kind words and your continued support. Ill continue to do my best in sharing what I've learned through, experience, experimentation, borrowed ideas and taught techniques while guiding you.
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All of us (the local economy) who benefit from this fine fishing would like to "Thank you all" for spending your valuable fishing dollar's here :)
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I hope all of my complementary past reports, tips, articles, pictures and ramblings entertains and keeps you safe while helping you in your fish quest! Sharing this free info. with you has and always will be my personal pleasure.
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As always, my (Our) prayers and hopes go out for a safe stay and return home for all of our service men and women who are fighting over sea's and who also visit my site on a regular basis.
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Thanks to all of you who have used my guide services in the past, refer trips to me and to anyone who stops by and spends their valuable internet fishing time here. :)
Best Fish's,
Randy
 
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Looking for a great place to stay? Look no further!
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http://www.coldspringmanor.com
Located approx. 1 mile from Pulaski center. Bass fishing in the private pond. Canoes for your personal use. I personally endorse and recommend C.S.M. lodging and you will too!
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Welcome to Cold Spring Manor Bed & Breakfast.  We are situated on eight beautiful acres for you to enjoy during your stay with us. Three newly decorated rooms each with a full bath. Sleep in or rise early and enjoy a homemade breakfast in the dining room overlooking the pond. Make yourself at home while relaxing on the porch or taking a walk on the property to spot wildlife.   We are located on the snowmobile trail and only a short distance from the Salmon River. Our location makes it a place you will want to come back to again and again to enjoy the many attractions of the region. We are within an easy drive of the infamous Finger Lakes region vineyards, the Thousand Islands and Adirondacks to name a few. There are many antique shops close by to spend an afternoon browsing.  Trails for the cross country skier and slopes for the alpine skier are also available.

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A sampling of one of my "Archived" weekly notes:
Mon. 2 new anglers, averaged a doz. Steelhead.
Tues. 2 very experienced expert S.R. anglers, hit 21, yes, that was 21 Steelies!
Wed. over a dozen
Thurs. over 17!
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Last week over 20 steel played with in a day.
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I had 2 clients who fished two days in a row.
Tues. 18 and Wed. 15 equals, 33.
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My guest's have continued to find around a dozen Steelhead each day to play with, almost every trip. Sometimes, even a few more! Same as last year. These are VERY strong averages and not the norm if you look at the last 10-15 years :)

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                    This could be you! :) Ye-Haaaa!

A couple of Spring 20lb. Bucks from Pucker Brush Creek, N.Y. - Ye-haa!
                                               (Released for your future fishing pleasure)
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This heated fish catching machine awaits you! 
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New Moffit Angling:
This new and innovative rigging will guarantee all of your fish are hooked in the mouth. (0% mortality rate, 0% foul hooked) I would have not believed it unless I had seen it with my own eyes in the saltwater. Pat has caught 100's if not 1,000's of Steelhead useing this method and I think only 1 was hooked in the tongue. His lost rate is equal to any other method. His method will actually increase your odds of hooking up with flies as they will have more action. You can use this with bait also.
http://www.moffittangling.com
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16 year old ("Hot Rod" for the day) Tom's Holiday present from his Dad, Mike.
Tom was all smiles after fighting this big (approx. 16lb Steelhead).  This was his first time ever fishing for them. The second one even though  smaller, still gave him a great fight and both will last in his memory for a life time. Congrats Tom! I have a feeling it will be a long ride home for his father Mike! ( Both fish released )
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(What a honk'a! Approx. 16 lb'r. Great way to end the day!)
Good fishing,  John
-

Gift certificates are available for Trips.

Gift Certificate good for 2 people,  complimentary day of fishing, either on Cape Cod or Salmon River. Good anytime. (Except weekends and Holidays - my day's off) 

            The fishing of your dreams...

     Come wade or drift boat the world-renowned Salmon River, NY, for hard fighting salmon and steelhead during the splendor of the fall, winter and spring seasons. This summer, if you feel you're up for the fun and challenge, master your technique of sight fishing! Wade fish the many crystal-clear flats teeming with bluefish and striped bass off Cape Cod (Chatham) beaches, bays and Monomoy Island.

      Whether it's steelhead, salmon, blues or stripers that you're after, I am dedicated to introducing both new anglers and experienced anglers to the exciting world of freshwater and or saltwater fly/spin fishing. For novices, I place emphasis on fly-spin  fishing skills and supplement the day with knots, fly-bait selection, fish habitats, and prey species. For the more experienced sportsman, I'll work with you to hone your skills. I guarantee a rewarding experience.  

                                            ...  we'll make it reel.

Congrats!!


5 Below 0 when this pic. was taken. It's funny how a "Fish ON" can warm you right up! My guest's played with over 20 Steelies this day. With the bright warming sun and no wind it was actually very nice. Got up too 10 above  :)
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Humor
Today was one of those relaxing, enjoyable, peaceful rainy days. The only thing that was irritating was when the tranquility of the day was interrupted by that darn whining sound of my guest's drag's. Then people would yell, Fish On. Come on folks, can't a guide get a lil rest and peace and quit around here? The nerve of some people! Then I was expected to chase after this 16 lb. Silver beast that kept doing these darn 25 foot tail walks across the pool, then these obnoxious somersault's 4 feet into the air with a big ol loud belly flop with water splashing 20 feet in all directions. I would  have reeeeelly been upset if my hair had gotten wet. Then more speeding bullet run's until that bright orange stringy stuff would appear behind the fly line.
I just could not win today. Every spot I stopped to fish, my guest's would continually hook more fish. Out of 3 spot's my guest's fished, we hit them in all. I got so fed up that I finally stopped in a spot where no fish has been hooked in over 100 years, and my guest's were still able to hook some up. So much for a nice relaxing day on the water. I think I need to find a new, less stressful job, where a person can get a lil R and R. :)
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Steelhead Season
This will be a short report. Not much to add to the below reports. We continue to see reeeeel good fishing. This past week we averaged between 12 and 16 Steelies per day. Ye-haa! I'd obviously recommend coming up! Besides anglers with guides, Im also seeing plenty of shore angler's finding a good number of fish also. That's always nice to see! Every spot that myself and other's are fishing, are with fish. We still have them in transition, so those spots are still producing nicely. All of us (the local economy) who benefit from this fine fishing would like to "Thank you all" for spending your valuable fishing dollar's here :)
Best Fish's,
Randy
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Wed.
My guest's from Tues. joined me again today for another incredible fishing experience. At times we had a dozen 2-4  lb. Browns within a 10 by 10 foot area of the water. Sighted over 75 - 85 Browns over the course of the day with not another sole around. LOADED!! :) Incredible opportunity ALL day.
I hope you all have the chance to some day experience this truly magnificent fishery! Today we felt as though we were in Alaska, and NOT around one of the most popular fishing area's in the country! The fish we played with and landed were WAY to many to try to keep track off. Don't ya just hate when THAT happens? :)
ALL of these fish are just waiting here for YOUR, perfectly cast bait or fly. :)
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Wed.
Dozen Chromer's played with!
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Thurs.
Another approx. Dozen Steelies played with!
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Friday
16 Steelhead played with!
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Photo's complement's of my client, Karl A. Mueller, III (All fish released for you, your friends and or your children's future fishing pleasure!)

A BIG male King Salmon. Nice underwater head shot. Dont know if Ive ever seen one of these before. Unique view!
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For anyone who is wondering, I am taking reservations for 2010-11. Most of this years Salmon and Steelhead guest's are re-booking their same day for next year. Email if intrested. :)
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First Mate Matt, dad and myself out on my 16 foot heated driftboat, enjoying a Steelhead filled day during the Winter on the Salmon River in Pulaski, NY. 35 minutes drive North of Syracuse off the Interstate. Approx. 5-1/2 hour drive from the Boston area, approx. 4-1/2 hour's from N.Y. City. Steelhead average 8 to 12 lb's. We fish for them from Nov. all Winter into the first week of May approx. My personal favorite time to fish for them in order of preference, April - May, Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. and Nov. I have a BIG propane heater on the drift boat that I use during the Winter to help take the chill off. :) Works great!
We also (wade only) fish for (10-20 lb. average) King Salmon (Coho Salmon too) that run from Mid-Sept. until the end of Oct. Then we have Brown trout that average 3-5 pounds with some reaching into the teens during Nov.
Very reasonable flight's into Syracuse, car rentals, very inexpensive lodging, food and guide rates. :)
I supply everything but the chest waders.
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Anyone with any heart problems will not be allowed to fish for steelhead w/ me :) With there acrobatic nature, speeding bullet runs, they have been know to stop and or jump start a few hearts, including mine on an almost daily basis. (Im kidding, of course!) Someone thought I was serious :) Randy 

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Steelhead Nov. - May

Steelhead Open Dates:
Lots of openings for early, Mid, Late Winter and Spring.


Good stuff Les, Congrats again! Mustad Hooks, the best their is!
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Ron with a Reeel Steel Hum Dinger!  
                                        I'm often asked, "What was your best day on the water?” After 20 plus years of guiding in Vermont, Cape Cod and the Salmon River in New York, many best days tend to flash across my mind. As I search deep for one of my best fish stories, it suddenly hit's me. It wasn't my fish, my day or even my story that gave me one of the most rewarding experiences!
Just look at that young man's smile!    Congrats on that 16lb'r Tom!

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Steve and Vinny had a "Day for Kings".
Biggest Steelhead was approx. 15lb's as it catapulted itself skyward toward the heavens, somersaulting several times before splash down! I could see angler heads turning as it sounded like a big brick being thrown into the water. Then a tail walk for about 20 feet. Dam..... I love this job.

Chris with a nice 10 lb'r. Final tally for the day was 9 total Steelhead, fly and spin rods. Congrats Gentleman!

        

Congrats everyone, on those fine "Holiday Cheer" Steelhead! I can't tell who is smiling more, the fish or my guest's.

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Mail Bag:
Just to pump a little info from you with out paying,,,What do you think the best floro carbon line would be? I mean one that is strong and holds a good knot,,,thanks Mr. Jones
Hi Paul, Seaguar Fluorocarbon - http://www.seaguar.com/home.html Any time..... Best Holiday Fish's, Randy
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Fishing Report:
Monday - Played with about 12-13 steelies. Good numbers all over the place. East to West, North to South. :)
Tuesday - Played with 7 or 8 Steelhead! Hit them in 2 out of 3 spots. Learned over 3 miles of some of the best chrome hold'n territory on the river
Wednesday - 5 Steelies with one guest. Ye-haa! It's hammer time.
Thursday - 6 Steelies with my one guest. Same as yesterday. Did one more fish today and cemented in presentation, presentation, presentation! :)

Intrested in some Slam'n Salmon River Fish?
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Much of the week was about learning, studying, becoming the 10% that catch's 90% of the fish consistently. Listening to the fish. When we listened, we were rewarded. :) I know we succeeded in many more ways than to simply catch a fish. It's this knowledge (fishing a number of different good spots - habitat, changing your rigging, changing your drift according to the spot) that builds confidence and allows you to consistently return to this river, without a guide. And catch more fish than you have ever dreamt of before and for the rest of your life. It's this knowledge that helps you to pick up fish all day long.
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We moved around a lot and hit fish in almost all spot's fished. Transitional and holding.
Holding produced better, 100%, more consistent. Transitional produced about 50-50. Send me an email if your intrested in acquiring the skill's necessary to proficiently and consistently with confidence catch these fish.


Wow, so silver. Now you know why we call them the silver bullet. This one is almost translucent and you can't buy a fresher looking fish on this river. :) Congrats!

We've been targeting Salmon lately due to the incredible numbers around. We have been picking up the occasional Steelie almost everyday, sometimes 2 or 3, different area's, while fishing for salmon. :)
The above picture was the last spot of the day. Planned on making just a few cast's on our way back to the parking lot. I knew this spot had remained unfished for the last hour before we got there. The odds were very good that at least a couple of fish had moved into it, as they often do. First cast, fish on, it's a steelie! Then another Chromer, then a couple Salmon in just 20 minutes or so. Out of the 4 fish, this was the only one landed. How sweet it is! Congrats on that beautiful Silver Bullet!
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Time for a commercial break ;)

Randy,
Every time I go fishing, the optimist in me says "This might be the day."  Athletes pray for days like this, hoping they play in "the zone." I think fishermen do too. Surely, this is what keeps many of us thrashing the water with a piece of string. I can count on one hand the number of days when this has happened. Two of them have been with you. The first was two years ago today, Oct. 8, when I hooked 40 or 50 fish, including a 35 lb male king that now sits above my fireplace as an reminder of that one remarkable day of fishing. The other was last Friday. Not only did I land a pair of nice Kings, I also caught my first Cohos, a beautiful male brown and three fall-run steelhead -- my first grand slam on the Salmon River. All told, I had maybe 20 hookups, while my buddy Myles had almost as many and landed cohos, a brown and several steelhead. It wasn't as if this was a great day on the river. I saw many long faces and shaking heads as other anglers came up empty, lost lead and flies to the river bottom and called it quits by midday. The credit for my experience is all yours. I know there are many fishermen who can work the Salmon River and catch plenty of fish, especially when a run is on. I can do it on my own sometimes. But putting it all together when the fishing is slow as you did is a testimony to your skill, knowledge and hard work. Looking forward to my next trip with you and the chance to yell "Fish On"!
Regards, Jim

The Silver Bullet, Chromer, Metal Head, are all names we use for the Steelhead we catch all Fall, Winter and Spring on the Salmon River in Pulaski, N.Y., 30 miles North of Syracuse. (Interested?)
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Randy, had another great fishing trip with you recently. Your knowledge, patience, and professional attitude gave us everything we had hoped for and more. We had a great time, and we are both still so impressed!  We learn something new every time we fish with you.  4 years and 7 trips....and you still have the same drive and desire we saw the first time you took us out!  You are a true professional, and you have customers for life.
Until the next fish bites, Garry
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Stay tuned for more entertainingly informative and mildly educational reports and articles on this never-ending virtual fishing trip with your host Randy "The Yankee Angler" and friends.
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The Author, Guide, Outfitter:
Randy Jones is a full-time professional fly/spin fishing guide with over 24 years of experience. He has represented the Orvis Corporation as a guide and chief instructor of their 2 1/2 day Saltwater Fly fishing schools.
    During the summer, Randy can be found wade guiding the S.E. (and beyond) Cape Cod area's,  where sight casting on the flats to trophy Striped Bass is his specialty. During the Fall, Winter, and Spring Randy runs drift boat and wade trips on the world class Salmon River, Pulaski N.Y. for Steelhead, Coho, Browns, Atlantic's and Kings.
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Thank you all for your words of encouragement, kind words and continued support. Ill continue to do my best in sharing what I've learned through, experience, experimentation, borrowed ideas and taught techniques.
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I sincerely hope that what little I've been able to share with you will help you along the path to more enjoyable, safe, knowledgeable fishing. Randy

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Randy Jones is a full-time professional fly/spin fishing guide with over 24 years of experience. He has represented the Orvis Corporation as a guide and chief instructor of their 2 1/2 day Saltwater Fly fishing schools.
    During the summer, Randy can be found wade guiding the S.E. (and beyond) Cape Cod area's,  where sight casting on the flats to trophy Striped Bass is his specialty. During the Fall, Winter, and Spring Randy runs drift boat and wade trips on the world class Salmon River, Pulaski N.Y. for Steelhead, Coho, Browns, Atlantic's and Kings.
 

"Salmon River, where Memories are Made"

RATES: SALMON RIVER Sept. to May - Wade or Drift Boat
One Angler:.....$225
Two Anglers:...$300
Orvis Fly Equipment - Spin rods provided (Flies and Egg sacks included)
Pulaski Hm: (315) 298-5999

RATES: CAPE COD May - August  - Wade flats, beaches, bays and ocean islands.
One angler -  $275
Two anglers -$350
Orvis equipment -Spin rods and flies, bait, lures provided

Cape Cod Hm: (508)980-9473  Pulaski Hm: (315) 298-5999

Hamming it up on the Monomoy flats while tight to a keep'a!
                                                 See ya ladder,
                                                            Randy