A Forgotten Fly

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Ed Mitchell

A Forgotten Fly,

In the next issue of Estuary magazine, I’ll tell you about a fly that was once well-known in the Great North Woods. Today it is long forgotten. It is a fine little streamer created for brookies and landlocked salmon. Do you know it?

 

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More Great Flies from Mark Lewchik

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Ed Mitchell

More Great Flies from Mark Lewchik

Got two more nice flies to show you from the vise of Mark Lewchik. The first fly is designed to match the large offshore sand eels that were around this year. Typically we only see the smaller inshore variety, which rarely grows over 4 inches. These offshore sand eels reach twice that size.

The bottom fly is a juvenile menhaden or “peanut bunker” Mark has done an excellent  job of  mimicking the shape, size and coloration of this common bait fish. This fly should prove to be a killer.

 

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Nice Striper off Orient Point

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Ed Mitchell

Nice Striper off Orient Point

Here’s a nice striper my son caught in the waters off Orient Point, New York

 

 

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Striper Spawn in Serious Trouble

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Ed Mitchell

The Juvenile Abundance Index (JAI) counts the number of baby striped bass in spawning areas, representing the productivity of each year’s spawn. The JAI for the Bay has been recorded since the 1950s. It is the gold standard for assessing the coastwide fishery. Mathematical models are one thing. Physically counting juvenile fish in a seine net for decades is another. The Juvenile Abundance Index should be the number one consideration for managers.
For perspective, the average index is 11. The outstanding 2015-year class we are all enjoying targeting was 24.2.

Here are concerning metrics from the last five years:

2019 – 3.37

2020 – 2.48

2021 – 3.20

2022 – 3.62

2023 – 1.02

This is the worst 5-year series ever documented. Many anglers and guides up and down the coast report a concerning lack of smaller fish. Unfortunately, there is little hope of resolving that issue soon. The ASMFC Striped Bass Board will meet next week, and we must take proactive action to conserve this vital species. Without strong management decisions now, we will face a fishery loaded with non-existent year classes.

Sign our official letter calling for critical action to rebuild this fishery. We must speak up for the fish we love before it’s too late.

 

 

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Is there a Rod Rack?

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Ed Mitchell

Is there a Rod Rack?

Saw this on the street today. Wonder whether you can add a fly rod rack? Called a ELF Fr2, it is made by Organic Transit.com Solar panel in the roof, runs on both electric and pedal power, can hit 30 mph. Well not in a head wind. No air conditioning, no heater, and no stereo, but very, very cool.

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