Fly Rodding Long Island Sound

Ó Ed Mitchell

  Fly Fisherman   magazine July 2001

For twenty years now, I have fished a remarkable body of water -- one not far from the drumbeats of the modern world. Its western end sits in the shadows of New York's skyscrapers and from there it runs eastward over 110 miles. Several large rivers enter along its northern shore, each with its own fine fishing; and all told there are in excess of 1000 square miles of water in which to wet a line. Most of it is relatively shallow and protected, ideally suited for the fly rod. And at times you can get fish of 10, 15, 20 pounds or more. Little wonder that I am continually amazed with this place called Long Island Sound.

 In the Sound fly rodders focus on four principal species -- striped bass, bluefish, Atlantic bonito and little tunny, frequently called false albacore. These "favorite four" are all migratory fish, coming and going with the changing seasons. Overall it adds up to fully 8 months of action. And if that is not enough, some bass elect to winter in these waters, particularly in the rivers on the Connecticut side, giving diehard anglers a reason to tie on a fly even in the dead of winter.

 Although it is one body of water, the Sound presents anglers with a variety of faces. There are beaches, bays, inlets, flats, points, reefs, river mouths, and islands to explore. Fishing from shore can be highly productive, but unfortunately public access is limited and often hard to locate. Still there are excellent places to fish on foot; just call a local tackle shop and inquire. Naturally tackle shops can also help boaters find public ramps, which thankfully are fairly numerous. And by saltwater standards you do not need a really big boat to effectively fish the Sound. In light to moderate winds and stable weather, well designed hulls as small as 18' are perfectly adequate. Don't have that big a boat? During calm conditions, many anglers use small tin boats, kayaks, rowing dories, and even canoes to fish in sheltered areas. Believe me, those craft can be a ton of fun.

 In general the western half is dotted with numerous bays and harbors. Many of these places are heavily urbanized and less than picture postcard perfect. Nevertheless they are easy to reach, well sheltered from the wind, and home to some very large bass and blues. The eastern half is the scenic end. More open to the sea, here strong tidal currents surge in and out of the Sound creating powerful rips and clear water. Along with this increased openness comes a touch more wind and wave, but the east end is still fly rod friendly and the fishing can be nothing short of super.

     Now we’re ready to take a quick look at each of the four main species, along with a few other fine fish that are also eager to take a fly. From that point I will cover the fly rodding in Long Island Sound, season by season.

Striped Bass

In the Sound striped bass are king. Not only are they strong, handsome fish that come readily to a fly; they are also adaptive creatures, capable of tolerating a wide range of habitats in both fresh and saltwater. Consequently anglers found stripers throughout the Sound; and they regularly ascend the large rivers on the Connecticut side, traveling as far as 60 miles inland.

 Status of the Stock

Two years ago, Paul Apuzzo, a skilled fly rodder and shore guide from New Haven, beached a bass just shy of 50 pounds. And I remember years when it was possible from shore to land 5 or 6 bass a year 36" or larger. So Godzilla bass on a fly are always a possibility. At present, however, the average striper in the Sound is between 22" and 27" in length. Fact is bass that size probably make up over 90 percent of the entire coastal population. That's unfortunate. We need the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to focus heavily on management options to increase the number of larger fish. Let’s hope the ASMFC does just that as they build Amendment Six to the Striped Bass Management Plan.

Bluefish

Few game fish possess the raw power of a blue. On the end of a fly line, they run, jump and pull far out of proportion to their size. Blues are wild. Although they lack the striper's ability to venture far into freshwater, blues are still highly adaptable. Not only will you encounter them running down schools of bait in open water; they are right at home prowling bays, beaches and harbors nearshore. So they are widespread in the Sound. Naturally, anywhere you find blues you must respect their legendary razor sharp teeth.

Status of the Stock

While striped bass are king today, twenty years ago bluefish worn that crown. Back then, they were the most numerous and sought after game fish in the Sound. About 1991 that fishery shrunk like a picked balloon. And frankly our fall fishing has never been quite the same since. Nevertheless take heart, in the last couple of years, bluefish are showing signs of a return.

     Presently bluefish in the Sound are typically between 4 and 8 pounds -- a fun fish on a fly rod. But like striped bass, Long Island Sound blues can be huge. At the end of the 80's fly rodders tangled regularly with blues between 10 and 14 pounds. And every once in awhile you locked horns with beast in the high teens. Believe me, that's a war! Today, a few teen-size blues are still taken on a fly very year, and their numbers are steadily improving with each passing season. So pack your wire shock tippets.

Bonito and little tunny

For many anglers in the Sound, Atlantic bonito and little tunny are the highlights of the entire season. Why? These two speedsters can sizzle deep into your backing; they're nothing short of lightning on a line. Frankly, I think every fly rodder within driving distance of the Sound owes it to him or herself to at least once experience these incredible fish.

Status of the Stock

From year to year the number of bonito and little varies and is probably a factor of weather more than anything else. In July and August, the bonito run about 4-6 pounds, but later in the season bigger "bones" are a distinct possibility. For instance, 8 and 9 pound fish fall to the fly every October and bonito 10 pounds and bigger, while rare, have been caught. Little tunny are, on average, heavier. Six pounds is a small one, with fish between 7 and 9 pounds about average. But many years these ballistic missiles are common at 9 to 11 pound, with some going into teens. Hook one of these "teen" tuna in a swift rip and watch your 10 weight groan into the corks.

     Unlike bass and blues, the action for these two fish tends to happen in isolated pockets. So you are going to have to do some searching around. The biggest bite is at the eastern end of the Sound where currents are swiftest. More specifically in the rips know as The Race, The Sluiceway, and Plum Gut. (You find them by drawing a line on your chart from Orient Point through Plum Island over to Fishers Island.) Note that seaworthy craft and careful captains are required in these occasionally wild waters.

On the north shore of Long Island look for bonito and little tunny to visit inlets, harbors and bays at least as far west as Port Jefferson. Along the Connecticut shore, these speed demons do swim westward as far as the Thimble Islands, but frequently they are much more plentiful east of Madison.

Others Species

Hickory Shad

A relative of the American shad, hickory shad are, on light gear, a very acrobatic game fish. In fact many anglers think of them as tiny tarpon. Generally they average around 14 to 18 inches in length, although some go well over the 20" mark. Ten years ago, hickories were all but unheard of in these waters. They started showing up around 1993. Then about 1995 the population just exploded. Personally I think hickories are filling the niche left by the decline of bluefish in 1993. If I am right when the blues return in force, it is adios tiny tarpon.

Weakfish

Weakfish! After close to a 25-year hiatus, "weaks" appeared to be on the rebound. Presently, there are not a lot of them, still where found they run upwards of 6 or 7 pounds. Note however that the Sound once held "weaks" in excess of 15 pounds. I have my fingers crossed we are about to see those days again.

Spanish mackerel

Spanish mackerel are an occasional visitor in the Sound, but when you latch on to one, it sure to produce a grin. This tropical fish needs water temperatures of 68 degrees or better. Hence they are apt to show their face only during extremely warm summers. Even in those years, expect a short season, likely August and September at best. The good news is that the ones that make the trip north are nice size. Seven pounders have come ashore, and last summer I hear of one that went 9 pounds! Who knows, if the present warming trend continues, Spanish mackerels could become a familiar face.

Fishing the Sound by the Seasons

April/ May/ June

Traditionally the striper season started slowly in April, and then built quickly into May. In recent times, however, the opening bell has come earlier. Likely it is a product of the increasing number of bass that winter over here, but whatever the reason look for some action on the western end of the Sound by mid to late March, particularly if the winter was warm. After that things gradually move eastward.

 At this time of year the bass are apt to be sluggish, so the best strategy is to work "low and slow". Sink-tip lines, weighted flies, and a lazy retrieve does the job. Running tides during the warmest part of the day are an excellent choice. But beyond tide and time of day, in the spring weather is a very important factor. A cloudy day with a southwest wind, and even a touch of rain is prime. Blue skies and north winds, on the other hand, are the kiss of death.

 Along the New York’s north shore of Long Island the early striper fishing is concentrated in western bays and harbors, moving to the east as weeks progress. On the Connecticut side, the three large coastal rivers - The Housatonic, The Connecticut and the Thames -- host the bulk of the action. Anglers work the lower reaches of these rivers, paying particular attention to spots where the edges of the channel meets a flat.

     By late May, a second pulse of bass, likely from the Chesapeake Bay, enters the Sound; this time from the eastern end, providing fine fishing for boaters plying the moving waters of The Race and Plum Glut. And along with these bass come some blues. By now water temperatures have risen and "low and slow" is no longer the only game in town. Speed up your retrieve a bit and break out the surface stuff. Poppers and sliders will work just fine. Late May is also the time when weakfish cruise into town. Look for them in the shallow backwaters of bays, creeks, river mouths and salt marshes. An ebbing tide in late afternoon is frequently an opportunity.

Worms Hatches

May also holds the first worm hatches of the season. These are fascinating events, and best of all they attract a ton of striped bass. These spawning rites take place in and around the tributaries of the Sound, especially those with a bottom of mud and broken shells. This is mainly a night bite, occurring on the days around the new moon, but be aware that in some places especially on the eastern end, some hatches happen during the daylight hours. Locale knowledge is, therefore, critical.

June fishing for striped bass can be red hot for both boaters and beach based anglers. Some reefs may have squid, which bass love to chase down. Moving water at dusk and dawn is prime, and do not forget to work the points of land. That is where the really big ones often sit. Remember too, the blues are in town by now, so carry wire with you.

July/ August

During the warmer months, boaters enjoy a good deal of action for bass and blues, particularly early and late in the day, when they are more likely to be right on top. Deep rips and the reefs are a home to the most consistent action. By mid July the Atlantic bonito have entered the Sound particularly through the Race. These early "bones" are fussy and hard to hook. Gradually these bonito spread out, filtering into places where bait is thick. By late August their cousin the little tunny has joined them.

     With water in the high sixties, fishing for bass from the beach has slowed. Wise anglers switch to night tides. Under the stars try silverside or sand eel patterns and work them slowly. Who knows? You may pick up a weakfish too. In some years there will be a second worm hatch in June and even a third in July, so check around the time of the new moon.

     Hickory shad have been busting bait since May, but "hicks" really start to roll in the dog days of summer. Generally they hang very close to shore, preferring bays and harbors. In a very warm summer, such as we had in 1999, Spanish mackerel may come into the Sound. If they show it is usually in August and they will be in limited locations. Don't expect this fishing to be easy or to last more than a month.

 September/October/ November

Come September best sharpen your hooks; the fish are about to go on a feeding spree. If you looking for "weaks", don't waste time. By month's end they are apt to be gone. Around mid month bonito and little tunny become very aggressive. At first these fish stage in inlets and bays, and then the action shifts to points of land and then out to the deeper rips. Expect this activity to peak by mid October, although bonito action can be caught into the first week of November.

     September and October are also the best months to search for a big blue. They can pop up anywhere, but historically the most consistent fishing for Kong-sized "choppers" occurred in the harbors and bays on the western end of the Sound. Pick a day when you have a rising tide at rising light. As October wanes, however, don't give up. A few jumbos may pass through in the first week of November.

In October striped bass anglers should again focus on the river mouths and points of land. Night fishing remains a good idea, especially for the biggest bass, but dusk and dawn are highly productive too. The bass bite lasts into November, especially as you go to the west. Yet know this. Not only does the bass season seem earlier in the spring; it seems to end earlier in the fall too. We used to fish out to Thanksgiving and beyond. Now after the first moon of November, the Sound can be dead. Oh, before I forget, even in November those leaping tiny tarpon hickories are still around.

A Quick Look at Picking Your Tackle

A 9 foot rod for 9 or 10-weight line is a decent all-a-round rod for the Sound. But given the wide variety of locations and species the Sound has to offer, it makes sense to have a bigger arsenal. Beside, a selection of rods will make your adventure far more fun. Let’s start with the lightest rigs.

5/6-Weight Rods

On a light fly rod, hickory shad are a blast. I have taken them on tiny 2-weights, but a 5 weight saltwater fly rod is a more practical choice. Wherever and whenever "schoolie" stripers and blues are running small - 3 to 5 pounds -- a saltwater 6-weight rod makes things more interesting. Naturally such light rods are no match for a stiff breeze. So these outfits are for use only in shallow protected areas, but that's were these smaller fish tend to be. By the way, if you have tennis elbow, you're going to love these light rods  

7/8-Weight Rods

If  "schoolie" bass or blues are slightly bigger, say 5-8 pounds, a saltwater 7 or 8-weight rod is a wonderful choice. An 8-weight is also an ideal rod for Atlantic bonito. And if you regularly work from a canoe or kayak, you may find that the 8-weight is your favorite all round rod. Boaters working deep water, however, should take care. Neither of these wands has the lifting power necessary to raise a bigger fish out of the depths.

9/10-Weight Rods

For bigger quarry, wield a bigger stick. For little tunny, big bonito, stripers and bluefish ten pounds on up, a 9 or 10 -weight outfit is the right medicine. Personally, I prefer the 10-weight particularly in a boat. It has sufficient backbone to steer a strong fish out of a swift current or lift it from the inky blue.

Leaders

Keep your leaders simple, stout and relatively short. Regardless what size outfit you are using, an 8.5 or 9 foot leader is a good general-purpose tool. When using a fast sinking line, go shorter. Five feet is plenty. Make your leaders with no more than three sections. For 4-6 weight lines use a butt section of 20 pound test and then taper to a tippet of 8 pounds. For 7 and 8 weight line start with 30 pounds and taper to 10 pounds. For 9 or 10 weight lines use a butt of 40 pounds and taper to 12 or 15 pound test. For 11 and 12 weight rods a 20-pound tippet is fine. Not ready to make leaders? A straight section of 15 pound test will sometimes do

Reels

Reels capable of holding your fly line and a 100 yards of backing are adequate for hickory shad, weakfish, and school bass and blues. For bonito, little tunny and bigger bass and bluefish, 200 hundred yards of backing is the minimum requirement.

Flies

You don't need every fly under the sun to fish effectively in the Sound. To start out, buy or tie 1/0 Deceivers and 1/0 Clousers. They will get you hooked up in many situations. Where the water is murky, pick chartreuse, where the water is not, pick green or blue over white, after sunset switch to all black. Next add smaller, and larger versions of these same two types of flies. Again in the same colors. Bigger versions are valuable when working over bigger fish. Tie them six to seven inches long, on 2/0 or 3/0 hooks. If you are going to fish with something lighter than a 7-weight, you'll need smaller versions too. By the way a number 1# Clouser is deadly on hickory shad.

 Not only are poppers fun to fish, in recent years they can save the day. Lately the Sound has held a lot of baby menhaden and when the bass and blues focus on them, a streamer doesn't always work very well. But a popper frequently gets results. Slider may work the same magic and they are good fish "getters" even for bonito and little tunny. Color for these surface flies is not terribly important, but a florescent hue will help you track your fly.

 Occasionally in a worm hatch almost anything red works, but often enough the fishing can be very challenging. Perhaps the most popular worm fly in the Sound is Page Rogers Velvet Cinder Worm.  

Most anglers feed epoxy flies to bonito and little tunny. Sizes range from 4 to 1/0. There are a lot of patterns to pick from, but if you are confused by the array try Mystic Bays hardbody shiner -- it works.

Fly Lines

A weight forward intermediate is the single most useful fly line in the Sound. Use it wherever the fish are feeding within ten feet of the surface. There are a lot of them to chose from, but I like the clear AirFlo 7000t series. Next on your list, especially for boaters, is a fast sinking line, something that drops on the order of 5 or 6 inches a second. Use it where fish hang deep or in fast moving water. Lastly floating lines are helpful in water depths of five feet or less. They are also helpful with poppers and sliders, and in a worm hatch.

The End

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