I fell in love with Ken Abrames’ September Night the moment I saw it. That love deepened when I tied it, and it became a forever love once I fished it. The pattern is intended to imitate finger mullet, and it’s one of Ken’s heavier fly dressings. You can tie it short (3″-4″), long (6″-8″), play around with colors (one year I tied it with a ginger marabou color, and the stripers said yes!) — it’s a supremely versatile fly. I have fond memories of, ironically, and October night in Weekapaug breachway on an outgoing tide when I took bass after bass on the September Night using a greased line swing. I know, you’re heading to your vise right now — so here’s the September Night recipe.
Ooh. Ahh. Ohh. Love this fly and its color accents (black, purple, blue, black). Stripers love it, too.
Hot off the electronics — this is, after all, an online magazine — I have a new article out in the current issue of Surfcaster’s Journal. #95, to be exact. If you’re not a subscriber, it’s less than $25 bucks a year, and you can get there using the link above.
It’s a question that you could debate for an evening and still not come up with a final definitive answer. Thankfully, I have the answer, and you can read about it in this article. Many thanks to Dennis Zambrotta, Alan Caolo, and surfcaster extraordinaire Toby Lapinski for their input.
About ten years ago, there was a phenomenon experienced by football fans known as “Patriots fatigue.” Always on TV, always the darling of analysts, hard to like, frequently winning in ways that defied mathematical probability or opposing coach logic (Super Bowl LI, anyone?).
I have ASMFC fatigue.
Another draft addendum, another public comment period, another chance for the rogue states of New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware to behave stupidly, blah-blah-blah-blah-blah. (Insert heavy sigh here.)
If the bass closes its eyes, will it look like it’s yawning?
Nonetheless, we must do our duty and voice our opinion. The goal of all of this is to improve the SSB, or Spawing Stock Biomass. No SSB, no future stripers. Here are the two simple things you need to do. It’ll take you 15 minutes.
First, go to the ASGA website for the conservation-based opinion on what to comment. (Look for the heading “Proposed Management Options in Addendum III). Two, email your comments to the ASMFC. The following is from their website: “The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding the proposed management options in this document at any time during the addendum process. There are four ways to submit comments, written comments via this page or the comment@asmfc.org email below, the public comment form, mailed written comments, or attend a public hearing. The final date comments will be accepted is Friday, October 3 at 11:59p.m. EST.“
My latest and greatest (or at least moderately non-sucky) piece is now available for your reading pleasure. It boasts the clever title Small Flies for Striped Bass, or: Betcha the Bass Can’t Eat Just One. Like your favorite bowl of chips, you’ll want to enjoy this one over and over. As a bonus, I’ve included three of my favorite small striper patterns. Surfcaster’s Journal is an e-zine that is loaded with sage advice, even for fly fishers only. You can get a subscription for just 25 bucks a year right here.
In case you don’t recognize the names, this issue is packed with articles written by some of the best, most experienced surfcasters in the northeast.
I can’t remember specifically when I came up with the Grass Shrimp Solution, but it was a long time ago, maybe decades. I do remember wanting to create a fast, simple-to-tie, impressionistic soft hackle that would mimic this tiny bait in size, color, and profile. Years later, this fly continues to be a favorite of other anglers who have discovered its deadly effectiveness. It’s one of my favorites, too.
In case you’ve missed it over the years, or are new to currentseams, here’s a crash course on the pattern. The Grass Shrimp Solution was first published in 2015 in my American Angler article “Soft Hackles for Striped Bass.”It was featured in On The Water’s “Guide Flies” Column. I frequently fish this pattern in estuaries when stripers are selectively feeding on small food items. Here’s an article that covers how to do that. This piece discusses the concepts behind the pattern’s bite triggers. Those four articles ought to keep you busy for while, after which, I would guess, you’ll be heading to your tying table — and then, to the closest tidal marsh or flat.
No rest for the weary. The publisher has asked for more photos (that’s a good thing!) and captions for the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River. So, instead of a report on my small stream outing this week, you get this update. Regular reports will be somewhat on hold until I get this book business finished.
The Farmington River continues to run high out of the gate. Hopefully they’ll reduce it by the weekend. I’m on the river giving a lesson tomorrow. Even the Hous is well over 1K cfs. I suppose a little too much water is better than the D-word.
Have fun, go fishing, and a pre-Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there!
And I still haven’t gone striper fishing this year! I’m also working on a new piece for Surfcaster’s Journal. Details on that to come.
Back from a weekend trip to the Windy City. I was able to write up a storm in my down time, and today’s a day for other projects. While I was away, this came in the mailbox, and I thought I would share my answer with the group.
Q: Steve, I currently only have an Air Flo intertmediate line …but I want to fish a 2 or 3 fly set up (with) an Orange Ruthless in the marsh …how would you set that up? A: The dropper rig (leader/tippet) portion of the setup would remain the same. You can read about dropper rigs for stripers here. (Note that the tag length in the diagram is probably too short; I’d recommend 6-8″ for the tags.) The elephant in the room is the intermediate line. Since it’s a sinking line, you cannot mend it. And mending is at the core of traditional presentations with a three fly team . (Here’s a good article on the shortcomings of intermediate lines.) Using an intermediate line doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to failure; it just means that you’re going to have limited control over your presentation. Once the current grabs the line, the flies will move at an unnatural speed. But there’s a village idiot in every pool (or marsh, as it were). If you’re fishing the setup on the dangle, in the current straight below you, the intermediate line will not hurt your cause. I’m simply excited that you want to fish the Orange Ruthless, and that you want to try fishing droppers! Good luck, and let us know how you do.
A nice double caught by someone who took my class at the Fly Fishing Show a few years back. He used a floating line, a three fly team, and some small, marshy bait fly patterns. I believe that’s a Grass Shrimp Solution in the mouth on the right.
Once again, I’ll be leading two “Classes With The Experts” at the Marlborough Fly Fishing Show next weekend. This is a great opportunity for you to book some time with me for far less than the cost of a guided trip. Both classes are designed to duplicate a teaching session on the water. Here are some details.
Tying & Fishing Wet Flies. Saturday, January 18, 2:00-4:30PM. What you’ll learn: When, where and how to fish wet flies; how to tie classic spiders, soft hackles, winged and wingless wets (I will demo these patterns and discuss materials); leader construction and how to build a team of three wet flies; matching the hatch and fly selection; plus more. Did I mention having fun?
Wet flies have been fooling trout for centuries, and the fish aren’t getting any smarter. This lovely wild Farmington River brown savaged an Isonychia soft hackle on a steamy August late afternoon.
Beyond Cast & Strip: Presentation Flies For Stripers. Sunday, January 18, 8:30-11:00AM. What You’ll Learn: How to catch the stripers that other anglers can’t; why cast-and-strip presentations are ultimately limiting; how to target and catch bigger bass on a consistent basis; how to tie classic New England-style sparse flies like bucktails, soft-hackles, and flatwings (I will demo such patterns and discuss materials); the presentations that bring your fly to the fish; and more!
Being able to repeatedly catch big bass like this on the fly from shore is no accident. Take this class, and I’ll reveal my secrets of how I do it.
It’s just a month away! The 2025 Marlborough Fly Fishing Show will be held Friday, January 17 though Sunday, January 19. I’ll be there all three days, along with some of the best and brightest in the fly fishing world. This is a great opportunity to up your skills, meet some exceptional anglers, and have a plain old great time. From demos to talks to classes, I’ve got a busy schedule:
Friday, January 17, 11am, Destination Theater Room A: The Farmington River: Southern New England’s Blue Ribbon Trout Stream. In addition to the river, I’ll also be talking about my upcoming book on the Farmington River.
What a fantastic resource, right here in our back yard. Oh! There’s this new guide book coming out, too…
Friday, January 17, 2:30pm, Featured Tier: Matching the Hatch with Wet Flies. Come see me on the main show floor as I talk about matching specific wet flies to popular hatches — then show you how I tie the fly. These patterns are all consistent producers that should be in your box.
If you aren’t familiar with the singularly awesome power of this wet fly, you should come get acquainted.
Friday, January 17, 4:30pm, Seminar (Release Room): Wet Flies: Fishing Under the Hatch. A new look at fishing wet flies and soft hackles. If you’ve ever wanted to be that person who is catching all the fish, come to this seminar. There are times when wet flies will dramatically out-fish any other style, and the angler who understands the hatches — and how to match them — will be handsomely rewarded.
Saturday, January 18, 10am, Destination Theater Room A: The Farmington River: Southern New England’s Blue Ribbon Trout Stream. In case you can’t make it Friday, a repeat performance. In addition to the river, I’ll also be talking about my upcoming book on the Farmington River.
Saturday, January 18, 11:30am, Featured Tier: Farmington River Favorites. Come see me on the main show floor as I talk about and tie some of my favorite Farmington River guide flies. My secret weapons revealed!
This lovely wild brown ate one of the flies I’m going to demo. You should have it in your box.
Saturday, January 18, 2pm – 4:30m, Class: Tying and Fishing Wet Flies with Steve Culton: This is the next best thing to a lesson on the water! You too can become a dangerous wet fly machine. While not a tying class, I will demo tying classic North Country spiders, winged, and wingless wet flies that trout can’t resist, and show you how to rig and fish them. The course also covers basics like leader construction, matching the hatch, fly selection, where to fish wet flies, and how to fish them. All levels. Click HERE for more info and to register.
Sunday, January 19, 8:30am – 11am, Class: Beyond Cast & Strip: Presentation Flies for Striped Bass. Have you ever wanted to catch bigger stripers on a consistent basis — or the stripers that no one else seems able to catch? This class is for you! It covers traditional New England-style bucktails, soft-hackles, and flatwings, and how to fish them. These are sparse flies that look alive even when at rest and creat the illusion of life. While not a tying class, I will demo some patterns. All Levels. Click HERE for more info and to register.
Being able to repeatedly catch big bass on the fly from shore is no accident. Come to this class and I’ll show you how I do it.
Sunday, January 19, 3pm, Destination Theater Room A: Wet Flies 101. If you’re not fishing wet flies, you’re missing out. This is an intro to the ancient and traditional art of subsurface fly fishing with wets and soft hackles.
As usual, I’m counting on the currentseams crew to make a strong turnout. See you there, and please come say hello.
Hot off the e-presses comes issue 86 of Surfcaster’s Journal. Within, you’ll find the latest from yours truly. It’s about a big striper I landed this year and the skill? — or luck? — maybe both? — that went into it from hook to landing. Surfcaster’s Journal is an e-zine that is worthy of your support. It’s only 20 bucks a year, and for that you get to read stuff written by some of the best striper anglers on the east coast. You can subscribe here.
The article is called “Fishing at the Intersection of Lucky and Good.” I think it’s one of the better things I’ve written.
currentseams.com 