New to salt water....

[missjessiepants]

Been experimenting with fishing for stripers in between my trips up north. Since the merrimack river runs right through Haverhill MA. I started there. since Im on a budget I put together a set up using an old cheap rod, and the largest reel I had. Ive been Making my own leaders out of heavy test line I stripped off some old bait casters I had in my basement. Talk about a "Ghetto" set up....but I headed down to the Merrimack armed with a couple of leftys decievers. I hit 7 schoolies....one was "20 in. long. It was a pretty impressive fight on a 6 wieght rod. :D
Last night I tried Plum Island at low tide and waded out on the sand bar. I hit 4 more all around 20 in. I also missed about 15 hits, and broke one fly off in a bigones mouth as he took it on the surface 10 ft from me. ( actually it scared the crap right out of me.) All and all Ive been really enjoying this type of fishing and am hell bent on taking a "Keeper" on light tackle. So guys.... any advise for the salt water beginner. You know like types of flies, Retrieve styles, locations? Any info would be great.
Thanks again and as always.... I hope ta see ya on the water. :wink:

~>Jessie<~

[Solid]

Hey there, I am def. new to the salt thing as well. I do have an outfit that I purchased specifically for fishing for striped bass. I have a 9wt. and it was rather inexpensive but seems to do the trick. I have not fished Plum Island this year yet; it is usually very crowded with chunka's. I spend most of my time around Hampton Harbor and up along Rt. 1a fishing off the rocks. Believe it or not, I have had the most fish come off the rocks, but you have to be careful, some of the waves get pretty big, and can take you out easily if you are not paying attention. My favorite style fly to use is either a big Pollack fly or a deceiver. I do sometimes use a clouser minnow if I am using my intermediate line. The weighted eyes seem to give it an awesome action. Colors are usually white with either chartreuse, olive and a little red. I also caught some fish on a snake fly, looks like a sand eel I guess, its all olive green. I still have only caught smaller schoolie fish, I am waiting to stick a big fish, but smaller fish are very fun. Maybe I will bump into you along the coast, I seem to be spending a lot of time there these days.

[lowwall]

You guys want to head out in my boat one of these days I will put you on many fish! I fish from Great Bay to Boston Harbor depending on the time of the year. PM me if you are interested.

Mike

[s2ary]

Hey Jessie,
Your doing fine, the big thing is time on the water.

If you guy guys do not have studded footwear your taking a big risk on the rocks. Studed felt works great, but for years before I got waders and stuff we would use old sneakers with short screws (hex head lags actualy) in the soles.

If you decied that you like the salt, one suggestion please is that you up grade in rod wieghts as soon as you can. I have and do use a 6wt for small schoolies, but when I go after the bigger girls I always pack heavy.

It is for the same reason that you would for freshwater fish. Over played and exhasted fish are more likely to die from lactic acid build up in their tissues. This process take a while and just like how lactic acid build up in or muscles makes them burn, it is probably a less than fitting way for a gamefish to die.

Good Luck out there.