Topwater Stripers.

[Salter]

One of my true joys in life is catching stripers on surface flys.Even small "rats" are a blast on top.When the bigger fish of 30" or so take a topwater fly the explosion of the take is memorable.
Some of my favorite topwater flys are small poppers,crease flys,gurglers and my own creations of spun deer hair and feathers.Black seems to be the most productive color.
Usually because of wind surface flys are limited to very early in the day or at night,this is when the wind is less of a factor.A stop and go technique works best unless stripers are actively feeding in schools on the surface.Then a fast splashy retrieve works best.
Anybody else fish topwater flys for stripers? Whats your favorite topwater fly? :D

[lowwall]

I don't use topwater flies , but at night i do use a variant of these ( ie mine are'nt 1/2 as nice) with some flotant so that they are just sub surface and pushing some water. I fish them on an intermediate.

Joe's Striper Dragon/Eel Fly

http://www.saltwatercustomflies.com/new_page_2.htm

[flygal]

Mmmm, those flies look good Lowwall....

I haven't fish stripers long enough to have a preference.....Hope to correct that this season. :D

[Salter]

flygal you're always welcome to come visit and fish the Saco bay area with me. :D

[Swede]

Nice Post Salter.
The few times I have managed to entice stripers to the surface, the take has almost stopped my heart. Truly awesome. For me the most productive fly up top has been gurglers.
That said, I am in Flygal's boat. I'm just starting to learn the saltwater scene and make stripers more of a priority. So, I'll finish with a question.
Do you think there is a maximum depth of water that you can productively fish a top water fly over? In other words, how far do you think a striper will come up for a topwater fly? From 5 feet below? 8 ft.? 10 ft.? Just interested in people's personal opinion of when they choose to throw topwater bugs.

--Swede

[Salter]

Good question Swede.I think a striper will investigate a surface comotion from considerable distance.I've seen stripers travel several yards to check out a surface plug,but a surface fly I'm not so sure.I would imagine if they can see or hear it they'll travel a ways to investigate it.I usually fish the flats and estuaries where water depth is eight feet or less.Water clarity may be a deciding factor.I guess I really don't know. :)

[Solid]

Last summer I forced Natefish to use a Bob's Banger one day off Odiorne, it took a while, but he was able to land a fish. I would have been throwing them as well, but I was using a 350 grain sinker. After I saw this, I went out and purchased a floating line. Normally I fish streamers, but I think there are times when top water would be effective. I fish from shore 90% of the time, and in some pretty shallow spots. It would be much easier to work a popper or gurgler over shallow structure. I plan on trying it more this spring.

[flygal]

flygal you're always welcome to come visit and fish the Saco bay area with me. :D Only if we fish your flounder flies :D

[NH YOUNG GUN]

I am really thinking about getting a new 7 wt set up with floating line for the salt. I suppose it would be a good idea to just get two spools... One set up with float line and the other with sink. I am really looking forward to exploring new areas to fish this spring. I usually hit the back bays and rivers but this year I might get into the surf more. Do most of you fish rivers or the surf??

-NH YOUNG GUN

[s2ary]

I think in clear water stripers can move a long way for a rapala, and I would assume a fly as well.

Back when I used to fish the high cliffs along the north shore you could see fish for a long ways out. Some of the cliffs I fished were 25-30 feet up, and the average one was 15 feet. In the clear water of Salem Harbor I'd watch cows follow my rapalas right up to the base of the cliffs. Some time they shadowed them 5-6 feet under andbehing the lure as though in its blind spot. and other times they rushed in out of no where to grab the lure tight to the rocks.

One of the big things this taught me is sometimes the cows would come calling long after I pulled the lure and readied the next cast. Similar to a hunter that lets its prey bed down before it attacks. 8)

If we can hold the small bait this year we could have a good striper summer, lots of guys with small boats here we should get an afterwork club going. Hampton or little bay 6-8 guys casting and smoking up the waters into the early eavening.

Maybe Salter's mom could let him come out after school this summer. :lol:

[Salter]

NH Young Gun you might wanna step that seven wgt. up to an eight or even a nine wgt..Especially if you want to fish the surf.Wind is a major factor in surf fishing.A heavier rod will cast big flys farther against the wind.I use a nine wgt. for 90% of my saltwater fishing.Occasionally I switch to an eight wgt. to fish the smaller estuaries. :D

[s2ary]

NH Young Gun you might wanna step that seven wgt. up to an eight or even a nine wgt..Especially if you want to fish the surf.Wind is a major factor in surf fishing.A heavier rod will cast big flys farther against the wind.I use a nine wgt. for 90% of my saltwater fishing.Occasionally I switch to an eight wgt. to fish the smaller estuaries. :D

Is that a no from Mum? :lol: :lol:

[Salter]

I got two words for you Geoff.Guess what they are?