North Coast Angler
Fishing Reports
June 5, 2009
The striper fishing last week on Cape Ann was fairly good with new arrivals replacing the ones that were here two weeks ago. Steve P. and Dave A. found pods of stripers feeding on top at several local beach locations including Niles and Pavilion. Baitfish in the form of sand eels and squid seem to be the focus of striper activity. Winchesters B&T weighed in a forty pounder mid-week. Not sure where or how the cow was taken. Rumor has it that the fish was taken at the RR bridge near Cape Ann Marina. I fished Wednesday and Thursday, on the dropping tide, at Candy House flat and had very good success. Wednesday I found a large pod of mixed sized stripers busting bait on top. I was the only angler there and I had my way with them for about an hour, landing a good number of stripers from 20 inches to a nice 32 inch striper on the fly. (See clip) On Thursday I did not have the good fortune to find a feeding frenzy but none the less took a few nice sized stripers in hour or so of casting. Capt Allan Smith reported some striper action (boat-wise) along the Rockport rocky shores. He also reported that big stripers have found their way to the “bait rich” Stellwagon Bank. However, stripers can not be targeted in those waters. Let’s hope some big stripers make their way inshore to Cape Ann.

Candy House Striper

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I only had time this week to fish the Merrimack flats one time and that was Tuesday. I had aboard Jim Quill from TRL Fishing and Dana Durkee from River St. B&T in Haverhill. We enjoyed a crisp morning chasing down a ½ dozen stripers. Word has it that the action picked nicely Wednesday and Thursday with more 20-28 inch fish (and larger) arriving to fill the void left by stripers that have gone upriver to feast on Alewife. With the full moon this Sunday, I expect to see the flats fishing to get into full June gear over the remainder of the month.

Jim Quill, TRL Fishing Tackle Co., testing his new tackle

On Thursday morning I made my way up to the Great Stone Dam at Lawrence to fish for shad with John and Bill Lewis. These two gents are super anglers and shad experts. I managed to hook several nice shad in the hour or so I spent there (see video below). It appears that the run is finally taking shape so if haven't tried shad fishing, now is the time to get up there and give it a go. The tackle is quite simple, a small gold willow leaf spoon with a ¼ ounce egg sinker up the leader two feet. I use an light action TRL 7' 10" spinning rod with 14# Berekely Super Braid spooled on a small Symetre Shimano reel. Be sure to separate the leader from the main line with a small barrel swivel and a small bead to protect the knot. Any of the local area tackle shops will get you the right tackle and set-up. American Shad are a fine gamefish and are a blast to hook and battle on light tackle. Few fish that I have hooked hit a lure any harder than a shad…no BULL here.

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