The Cinder Worms are Coming Soon
Here in Southern New England, the Cinder Worms are coming soon. At least we hope they are. I say that because these Cinder Worm spawns vary from year to year. They can be intense. They can be a bust. And the timing is tricky. It all depends are where you are and the weather.
In all cases, these spawns are found in areas with a mud bottom, be they river or creek mouths, or salt ponds, or bays, or marshes. But hang onto your hat, things are not that simple. In Connecticut, typically the spawn happens at the top of the drop, on a moon tide, in the dead of night. Yeah that could be around midnight. And it may repeat on the next moon in the following month. Over in Rhode Island, on the other hand, the spawn occurs during the day, as water heats up to near 60 degrees in shallow muddy bays and mud flats. You need warm weather, winds from the southwest and no rain. And expect a cold front to shut it down fast. This spawn can last several days to a week, although expect the bite to move around.
Cinder Worms
As the photo shows, cinder worms vary in size and length. A good general average would be around 2 inches. Still it is wise to carry a few flies as small as 1 inch and as large as 3 inches. In the color department, no question red or pink is king, but dirty white might be a killer. What is the best pattern? Opinions vary all over the damn place. Truth is, however, a number of difference patterns work. Still allow me to warn you. The Cinder Worm spawn can be frustrating. At times striped bass may seem to totally ignore your offering. Why? If the water is filled with naturals, your fly simply gets lost. Note too, the worms swim in an odd slow erratic manner that is tough to match. So presentation plays a big role. Try to delivery the fly as close to a feeding fish as you can. And retrieve it slowly. 
Here’s one last tip. At times a floating fly is your best bet, one that creates a small wake on the surface as it moves forward. That’s why some patterns are tied with foam bodies. Still you can tie a floating fly without foam, as you see below in a Cinder Worm fly made by Mark Lewchik. Hang on. The Cinder Worms are Coming Soon!
Mark Lewchik’s Worm Fly
