Flies for 2012 - Striped Bass

I have been tying Fresh and Salt water patterns, preparing the upcoming season for striped bass and trouts.

This season my fishing will be done on fewer flies but tied with a little more attention than usual. I am still using epoxy but I have ordered the UV Epoxy from Loon Outdoors. Epoxy was great but it yellows and it is truly difficult to have consistency.

As a whole, I do not follow the patterns to the letter, instead I use different materials. My flies are far from being good looking but they fish well and are build strong.

Enough Talking - See below pictures of some of my saltwater patterns:

Best Video - EVER - About Fly Fishing for Striped Bass in Long Island

I met with Peter last year and we have been fishing HARD last season - Peter is incredibly driven - carrying his stuff all over the place, waking up at 4:00 am, wading in the muddy water is not a problem and he ALWAYS manage to capture his fishing on tape.

This video is brillant, the soundtrack is amazing and feature a little bit of urban fishing in NYC - I have showed my spots on the East River, and he caught a couple of schoolies.

The images are stunning, the ambiance is fantastic - I call for a major TALENT. Period.

Now enjoy the video and stay tuned - he is about to release and extended version of it!


First Images from Surf & Inshore Fly Fishing 2011 from Peter Laurelli on Vimeo.

Texas Fishing on the Fly

Spent some time in the Lone Star State - Boy was it good to leave the Big Apple for a while...

The feeling of freedom is still vibrant in Texas - People are friendly, sky is so blue it is striking... there is so many lakes to explore that a life time of fishing will not be enough to explore these waters!

Everything started by a nice flight from the "Big Apple" to Dallas, I have been really lucky to take a nice aerial picture of Lewisville Lake, located north of Dallas Fort Worth (see below)

After a little scouting here and there I decided to approach these big waters on a different angle... The fishing season is pretty much over in North Texas, the water is damn cold and based on recent reports I will have a heck of a tough time to land a fish...

For many, this reports combined with the cold would be enough to stay home... luckily I don't give up that easily and exploring new places is my thing... preferably by running / scouting. I feel like exploration in a car is not as fun... you are going to fast to really capture the essence, the particularities of a place - you can't really get it...

My strategy was based on a "top - bottom" approach: follow a creek to the lake. Pretty simple plan, and pretty crazy exploration since it is muddy as hell.  It was well worth it at so many levels...

The pictures below are a summary of my Texan exploration - Discovering the forgotten creek.

Following the Creek Part 1

Following the Creek...Part 2 

Getting there...

The mouth of the rivers merging in the lake!

Going Dirty - Texan Mud is hard to beat!

The Fish of Texas - Never caught them before - There is a first time for everything!

White Bass - Fresh water cousin of our beloved Striped Bass

Bass are everywhere in Texas! Protecting water one step at a time

A Small Mouth Buffalo Carp - They love nymphs!

A LM Bass - Eating nymphs designed for Trouts :)

Crappie are a lot of fun to catch

The Alligator Gar! 

Texas fishing is truly something different, landscapes are amazing and the lakes are perfect for fishing - not mention how friendly people are... All the folks I met while while fishing were REALLY great people - I will be back for more!

Yeehaw!!

On The Incoming - Great Video!

On The Incoming // Drake Fly Fishing Magazine

Killer Shot Fall Run 2011

One once said said that a picture speaks a thousand words... Well it is not entirely true for the vast majority of the pictures I take... but this one is a great summary of what surf fishing can be!

Enjoy!

Breezy Point Jetty - October 2011 - Charles Getting Slamed!

Fishing New York City - Jamaica Bay November 2011

Fall Run 2011 - September

The "Fall Run" is the word used by fishermen to describe the annual migration of the Striped Bass that occurs in the Fall.

Each year, striped bass swim back to their spawning grounds and "pack up" on food before the long winter.

Fueled by the bait fish that leave shores and bays, the striped bass normally hunt these preys along the beach of the North East of the USA. This year has been very challenging to fish from shore because the weather has been really affected by the Hurricane "Irene" that not only disturbed the fishing conditions but also caused NY and NJ state some very serious floods, causing a very murky water.

Breezy Point Jetty

This murky water, coupled with very high winds and the quasi-absence of sand eels has been the source of a very tough season. New Jersey shore around Sandy Hook is known to be a really great place for surf fishing - but this year, I didn't get the chance to witness any "Blitz"... and the action has been very very slow...

My New SUV allowing to fish from the Shore!

Anyway, at a personal level, my season has been really great! I now have a SUV and a Kayak that allows me to fish, anywhere I want. No more headaches trying to figure out a way to access a spot, no more waiting in vain for a potential fish to swim by... in one word: FREEDOM.

The First Bass on the Kayak!

Jamaica Bay and its surroundings is the perfect place to pursue fishing opportunities from a kayak... The diversity of species, birds and spots accessible form a kayak are truly ENDLESS.

A very healthy 35 inch bass caught in Jamaica Bay, NY

If your thing is exploring go inside the bay and follow the marches, if you're like me and you like to fish waves and currents, go fish the mouth of the bay where the Atlantic Ocean meets the bay!

A typical size fish caught this year

Exploring new grounds and territory is something I enjoyed since my early age and if I can coupled this with a fishing rod in my hand then it is even better.

Breezy Point, Waves are forming, creating hot spots 

Jamaica Bay at low tide, in the maze...

Penfield Reef Lighthouse, Connecticut