The burning question of the day is: If using a floating line in chop/surf is causing me to lose contact with my fly…

…then how am I catching all those stripers?

The answer should be self-evident.

I wanted to briefly make another point about using floating lines for stripers. If I could change minds on one aspect of using a floating line for stripers from the shore, it might be the notion that one must have weight (fast sink tips, etc.) incorporated into the system — and/or that you’ve somehow got to get the fly down into some imaginary strike zone. Certainly, there are times when stripers are grubbing. But bass are usually looking straight ahead or up. I rarely use sink tips or weighted flies with the floater. That 20-pounder from last month came on a totally floating line setup, and the take came where a wadeable reef drops off into substantially deeper (overhead) water. Not surprisingly, the bass found my fly near the surface.

An oldie but goody from Block Island. I’m standing in thigh-deep water, but I was casting into water that was probably over my head. The bass are usually looking up. Using a Rio Outbound 9-weight floating line with a 7 1/2 foot leader.

“Targeting Big Stripers From The Shore” in the can and “Wet Flies 101” at CFFA

Jan14

Just put the finishing touches on a new presentation, Targeting Big Stripers From The Shore — Fly Fishing Tactics and Techniques. It will debut at the Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough Saturday, January 19, 10am in Room A of the Destination Theater.

Want to catch bass like this? See you Saturday!

I’ve also been asked to present at the CFFA Expo, Saturday, February 2 at Maneely’s in South Windsor. The program will be Wet Flies 101, starting at 9:30. I will also be on tier’s row, but I have a coaching commitment in the afternoon, so I’ll only be there until 12:30pm.

The Official Steve Culton Fly Fishing Show Marlborough schedule

Dec3

It’s show time! I’ll be presenting all three days at the Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, MA, January 18, 19 & 20, 2019. Three brand new programs, each making their debut.

First up is a seminar, Wet Flies 2.0. A deeper dive into the ancient and mystical art of wet fly fishing. This will be almost all new material, and a natural extension of the very popular “Wet Flies 101.” Friday, January 18, 2:30pm in the Catch Room.

On Saturday, January 19, 10am in Room A of the Destination Theater, I’ll be presenting Targeting Big Stripers From The Shore. Catching bigger bass on the fly while wading is always challenging, even more so in these tough striper times. Come find out some of my secrets.

Speaking of secrets, we wrap things up Sunday, January 20 10am in Room B of the Destination Theater with Lost Secrets of Legendary Anglers. How do iconic fly anglers consistently manage to catch all those fish? Shhh…it’s a secret.

I don’t have my Edison, NJ show schedule yet, but when I do you can be sure that I’ll post it here.

Mark it down on your calendar. Be there or be square. And as always, be sure to come say hello.