Sad day in History 9/11/2001… May God bless America with strong, wise leaders to help us stay safe and free… We Will Never Forget.

TODAY: 9/11/2021

Lt. Col. Richard Comstock arrived in town and shoreline striped bass was the plan. Winds were brutal, SW at 15-20 and it was high tide.

I drove out to Gurnet to meet up with the Colonel and passed several large schools of bass on the way, tight to the shoreline. So tight, they were almost on the beach, turned on their sides, grabbing peanut bunker in inches of water. Hundreds of gulls were also feeding on the bait.

I picked up Richard at Haven, and we headed back up the beach road to the fish. We parked in a pull-off, pulled on our waders, grabbed our fly rods and hoofed it across the marsh to the bay’s edge.

Fish were breaking up and and down the shoreline and far out into the bay. Peanut bunker by the thousands were cruising up and down the coastline. Big schools and the bass were feasting in a classic Fall Blitz. We waded out through tall grass growing in the water, that came up to our waist along with the water. The bait has trying to hide in the grass and one of the most amazing things happened. The bass chased the bait right into the grass and fish where literally breaking at our waists, an arm-length away! It was awesome to be standing in the middle of a Fall Blitz!!!

We began to hook up immediately and it was some of the best in-close fly fishing I have ever experienced while wading the shoreline. The fish were not big, maybe low twenty inches for the biggest ones. But to be surrounded by them and thousands of peanut bunker, all breaking around us was amazing! Keep in mind, it was high tide, winds were in our face 15-20 knots and seas were 2-3 feet! The conditions were absolutely brutal but is was so stressfully joyful we just went with the flow.

The fish finally moved out of the grass and ran down the shoreline a half-mile or more. We were exhausted from the fighting the elements and fighting fish. We landed 12 fish out of that school in the morning blitz.

TECH NOTES: I was casting a TFO BVK 8 wt and intermediate line with 20lb leader and tippet. My fly pattern was a 3 1/2″ all white Bunny Strip topped with white craft fur and an epoxy head, tied on a 1/0 short shank, with a threaded 20-30lb mono loop through the Bunny Strip to keep it up off the hook shank and prevent it from wrapping around the hook. On top of everything, there was about 4 pieces of black and crystal flash. It is a very well thought out fly pattern and design that I did not tie but was given to me by a client. I think it may be a Mike Rice tie from Muddog Saltwater Flies. Google him up and tell Mike Capt. Dave of BAYMEN sent you.

(UPDATE: The above mentioned pattern is a Rich Strolis Silly Rabbit. Bears Den and Saltwater Edge shops carry them). 

I have 15 more charters left for September, 2 in October, and then I change gears and throw the switch, and began guiding up north for New England Grouse & Woodcock. It is an enjoyable life guiding the best clients on earth, from the mountains to the sea. I am currently booking for 2022 & 2023 now. I hope I have the pleasure of guiding you in the new seasons ahead! Contact me for open dates baymencharters@gmail.com 

Back at it. Stay Posted.

Capt. David Bitters, BAYMEN, www.baymenlife.com

***Booking 2022 & 2023 Fishing, Hunting, Clamming***