| Last weeks weather put a damper on the number of worthwhile fishing days we had last week. By the weekend the weather improved and we were out fishing for shad and stripers. For the most part, the shad run has so far, been disappointing. We have boated fewer than a dozen fish in 12 hours of fishing. I am not sure what is going on with the run so far, but time will tell. I would only be guessing as to why so few shad have entered the river. I have received reports from anglers all the way up the river to the Lawrence dam and everyone has said the same thing “we haven’t seen many shad taken”. Water temperature, water color, and water flow are pretty much normal for this date. I plan to fish the Rocks Village area during the week and we’ll see what happens. The good news is that lot’s of stripers are showing on the north shore. I have had good reports from Gloucester (Little River mud flat), the Essex river, the Parker and the Merrimack. Stripers up to 26” have been taken in good numbers. I believe we are seeing the beginnings of a very good season to come. Reports from the Cape Cod Canal and the islands are also indicating very good numbers as well good sized fish. Greg Wilkinson of Rockport reported catching a half dozen small schoolies off the east end rocks at Pebble Beach. The fish were present an hour and a half before low tide and disappeared quickly thereafter. Greg was fly casting a Clouser from the rocks. He mentioned that the small stripers were very lively and covered with sea lice. I fished Little River on Saturday and Monday with very good success. Other anglers also did quite well. Guy’s were taking fish on flies, top water poppers and small grub tailed jigs. For those not familiar with the Little River mud flat, take note of the map and video clip below. If you plan on fly fishing, I recommend using a 200 or 300 grain sink tip line on an 8 to 10 weight rod. Use a leader length of 9 feet tipped with 12-15 lb test material. An intermediate WF line will also work well. This is good time to get out there and enjoy the early season action. The map below outlines the Little River access point and parking. Please do not park in the Nichols Candy shop lot without permission. There is parking on the traffic island opposite the candy house and along the roadway. As you make your through the marsh area be aware of many sink holes. Trust me; you don’t want to step in one! Be careful wading out to the river channel as the clam diggers are leaving some nasty un-filled holes throughout the flat.Also, do not attempt to wade (too deep for hip boots) out to the sand bar until the tide has run out for at least 3 hours. A good indicator of safe water level is the rock pile situated at the south end of the sand bar. When the water level has dropped below the tops of the rocks, it is safe to venture out onto the mud flat. The sand bar fishes well from three hours out and for about an hour or so after the tide turns back in. I have had very good success fishing the south west corner (note X’s on map) of the marsh grass area. This is best fished from the bank two hours either side of high tide. I have taken many stripers casting flies or using a light tackle assortment of surface plugs and soft plastic jigs.  The video clip begins looking east down river to the Annisquam and pans to the north and west with the candy house coming into view. The video continues to west and south with the rock pile coming in to view. Lastly the clip pans to the river channel and ends where it bagan. The clip was shot standing on the sand bar at low tide.
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