Reel-Time.com, June 24:

ENVY?

By Capt. John McMurray

Somewhere along the way, the boats flyfishers use got bigger.  It’s not uncommon these days to see 30’ center-consoles running around chasing after birds with four guys flailing away.  I’ve got to say; those boats look cool with their sleek lines, pastel colors and steep deadrises.   Not to mention, they are dry, comfortable and (particularly in the fall) warm.  Plus getting to and from the areas you want to fish is a cinch in these mammoth craft with two, sometimes three, gazillion-horsepower fuel-guzzling outboards in the back.  And hey, you can certainly get to the tuna with these things.  Yep…  If only it was within my means to get one of these hotrods I’d most certainly get all the chicks. 

But seriously…  To me, flyfishing has always been about doing more with less - Getting out in the marsh or a white sand-flat with the lightest of gear, cruising along with a trolling motor or with a guy(or girl) on the back polling, all the while being as minimally invasive as possible.  Throwing a popper with an 8-weight against the sod-banks, or sight-casting to cruising schoolies.  That’s just cool in my book…  I really enjoy that kind of thing. 

This morning I found myself chasing after birds with the rest of the big center console rat-race, picking up a fish now and then, getting pounded by the boat-wakes and swells in my 20-foot skiff and wondering, “what the H am I doing?”  So, after a brief discussion, we headed back to a flat that we traditionally caught fish in.  It was protected from the wind, the water clarity was fantastic, and there was no-one around…   And wouldn’t you know it, as soon as I got up on my sighting platform a half-dozen nice sized bass swam right off my bow.  Now these weren’t fish to brag about, but beautiful bright stripers nonetheless.  I ended up working these flats and some others farther in the back for a good 7-hours.  We didn’t catch a whole lot, and we didn’t get any fish to the boat over 30-inches, but we sure saw a lot of fish, some of them quite big.  Even hooked one well over 30” that pulled the hook right at the boat.  If you’ve ever done this sort of fishing you know that even a 20” fish will get you on the reel pronto, and anything in the 26-inch range will get you into backing.  Darn if we didn’t have a blast with these little guys.  I’d venture to say we had more fun with them than if we had caught a half-dozen 20-pounders chasing the birds, or dredging with sinking lines.    

If you’ve never tried flats fishing, or even just plain shallow water fishing, I highly recommend it.  You can do it out east, you can do it in the west end, you can do it on the North and South Shore and you can do it in New Jersey.  You probably won’t catch a lot of fish, but the experience is always fulfilling, even if you get skunked.  There’s a real pleasure in just seeing fish in skinny water like that.  Perhaps I we can compare it to those Audubon type who enjoy “birding” (watching birds without shooting them).  And man, if you do manage to get a fish or two to eat, there’s nothing cooler than that follow, seeing those bright red gill-plates flare, coming tight on a nice striper and then the wonderful “zing” of the reel.  Nothing compares. 

With all this being said, don’t confuse me with a purist.  I am no such thing, as those who have live-lined bunker with me can attest to.  But given any fishing scenario, if it’s available, I’ll choose the small-boat shallow water game any day of the week. 

Now back to those big boats…  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want one.  Perhaps there’s some envy involved here.  Those things do kick-a**!!!