Here in the Northeast, some fishermen are getting out and taking fish
at some of our local hydroelectric plants. In Connecticut and Long Island,
we have a number of plants with warm water outflows. These outflows
provide a haven for Striped Bass that winter in our waters.
The CL&P plant in Norwalk, UI plant in Bridgeport, CT,
Millstone power plant in Niantic and Northport power plant on Long Island NY,
will offer the bravest of fly fishermen the opportunity to take these fish
throughout the winter. Fishing can be quite intense at times with water
temperatures as high as fifty-five to sixty degrees F. in and around these
outflows. With winter water temperatures stabilizing in the low thirty's,
these warm waters make an excellent holding area for fish that did not make the
migration south to the Hudson or Chesapeake.
Fishing techniques vary in the Northeast with the changing seasons. In warmer
weather most fly fishermen take Striped Bass in the first fifteen feet of the water column. These fish feed on large schools of small bait at or near the surface, however in the winter months Striped Bass tend to school up, suspending themselves at or near the bottom. Whether you fish these outflows from a boat or from shore,
fast sinking lines are a must. You have to get the fly down to take fish. I
recommend fishing the bottom of an ebb tide, casting the fly upstream in the
outflow, letting it sink to the bottom, strip in enough line to stay
connected with the fly as it drifts down stream; when the fly rounds out
start a slow retrieve. Vary your casting angle, length and retrieve in the
outflow, this will help you find out what depth in the water column the fish
are holding at. I use a 400-grain fast sinking line. When fishing spring tides,
I switch to a 28-foot lead core shooting head on a 10-wgt rod. Clousser
minnows in chartreuse and white, olive and white and small Deceivers are
the best fly choice in the winter months.
Coastal Connecticut had an exceptional year for False Albacore; it started the first week of September and lasted until the second week of November. These fish showed up
in large numbers throughout Long Island Sound and southern Rhode Island. The
hottest fly in the box, was a white, lavender and blue Deceiver about two
inches long, fished on a sinking line. ~ Bob
About Bob:
Bob is a USCG Licensed Captain and fly-fishing guide from Stratford
CT, and owner of North Coast Charters, just 45 minutes from
New York City. He specializes in saltwater Fly and Light
Tackle Charters. He fishes coastal Connecticut and Southern
Rhode Island for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Bonito and False
Albacore. You can reach him at (203) 378-1160.
|
