Five Suggested Spots For Fall Saltwater Fly Fishing

Article Date: September 1993

The first part of October begins a feeding spree along the Atlantic Coast from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, south to Montauk, New York. It's a delightful time of year, with cool, bug free mornings, rolling surf, migrating bait and big fish feeding right against the shore. You'll catch stripers, jumbo blues, bonito, false albacore and more; and you can do it all with a fly rod if you choose the right spots. Here are five of the best, in my experience:

Cape Cod bayside: Cape Cod has a host of fly fishing opportunities on the bay and ocean side. One spot to check out on the bay side is the area around the village of Truro. The fishing here is sheltered when the winds range anywhere from north to southeast. This is a particularly good spot for the less experienced flyrodder to try for stripers. From Corn Hill Beach south to the mouth of the Pamet River, there's good access for both two and four wheel drive vehicles. The best fishing usually occurs around high tide, but I've taken fish down near the rivermouth at low water, and there's some sight casting then. At high water, fish may not show, but keep casting they're there. Use 10 weight gear and an intermediate line, a white Snake Fly or a white Deceiver. Mix up your retrieve slower is better at dark. Although most fish will be small, some big ones do feed along this beach. Conditions are similar from the river mouth south to Ryder Beach.

Cape Cod, oceanside: For those who want ocean fishing, Nauset Beach on the Cape is the place to go. Walking either north or south from the parking lot will put you into good fishing grounds. The best tides are........(continued)

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

Mark Palmer, Goose Hummock Shop. Box 57. Orleans, MA, 02653. Tel. 508-255-2620, 507-778-0877

Cooper Gilke III, Coops Bait & Tackle. 147 West Tisbury Road. Edgartown, MA, 02539. Tel. 508-627-8202

Larrys Tackle Shop. Edgartown. Tel. 508-627-5088

Peter Jenkins, Saltwater Edge, The. 561 Thames Street. Newport, RI, 02840. Tel. 401-842-0062. Fax 401-842-0094. E-mail: info@saltwateredge.com, Web: www.saltwateredge.com

Watch Hill Fly Fishing Company. Tel. 401-596-1914

Lyons and Burford Publishers, Fly Fishing The Tidewaters. 31 West 21st Street. New York, NY, 10010. Tel. 212-620-9580, 800-836-0510