Saltwater Fly Fishing Guides In Connecticut And Massachusetts

Article Date: September 1988

Five years ago, it was rare to find a flyrodder heaving streamers from the surf or the deck of a center console along the northeastern coast. Today, it's become a common sight, with many anglers using fly tackle once reserved for bonefish and salmon to pursue powerful northeastern gamefish such as bluefish, stripers and bonito. So, how can you give this angling a whirl? The easiest way is to hire a guide. Here are four to choose from:

Jeff Northrop (*) of Westport, Connecticut, fishes the Norwalk Islands, a pleasing series of grassy isles surrounded by boulders studded water that's perfect for stripers. Northrop's services are strictly boat oriented, and he motors his 22 foot customized Rybovich out of Saugatuck Harbor. He reports April/May and September/October are top striper times, while the biggest blues and weakfish are available in August/September. Northrop charges $350 for a half day, $450 for the full day, and he has a complete line of fly tackle aboard. The number of persons allowed on board (and thus permitted to split the cost) varies.

Steve Bellefleur (*) operates from Stonington's Coveside Marina, a bit further up the Connecticut coast. He fishes out of a 19 foot Mako and concentrates on the east end of Fishers Island, especially Watch Hill Reef, and off the west end of Fishers at Race Point. This month he'll run the 45 minutes to Pt. Judith, Rhode Island, to chase bonito. When water temperatures drop in November, he'll turn to stripers in the Thames River. Other times of the year, he takes many stripers in the five to 10 pound range around Fishers. Bellefleur charges $200 a day for two anglers. He supplies all tackle, if requested, at no additional cost.

Everett "Porky" Francis (*) is a highly respected guide who prow........(continued)

CONTACT DETAILS FOR COMPANIES/INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN ARTICLE (if any)

Jeff Northrop, Saltwater Flyfishing Charters. 520 Riverside Avenue. Westport, CT, 06880-2540. Tel. 203-226-1915. Fax 203-454-0857. E-mail: godzilla41@aol.com, Web: www.saltwater-flyfishing.com

Steve Bellefleur. 65 Farm Home Rd.. Stoneyton, CT, 06378. Tel. 860-535-4856

Everett Francis. Tel. 508-627-5963

Tony Stetzko. PO Box 1324. Orleans, MA, 02653. Tel. 508-255-2357