Greater Chesapeake Bay & Tributaries | MD Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions

Capt. Tom Hughes's Tip of the Week

There are striped bass available in the middle and lower Maryland Sector of the Maryland Sector of the Chesapeake Bay. The best action is from Solomons Island south. All are ready to take a fly. Use full sinking line with a 4 foot - 20 pound fluorocarbon leader once the sun comes up. 3 inch sinking Clouser Minnows in white and red are the hot ticket. Please unhook and release all fish while they are 'in the water'.

Techniques & Tips as of 12/18/24

MAY through NOVEMBER when FLY-FISHING SALTWATER - All equipment should be Saltwater Rated. When fish are BUSTING TOPWATER, use a floating fly-line with a tapered leader. A Blados Crease or Mylar Popping Fly are highly productive. TOPWATER TECHNIQUE - when the fly hits the water, the rod tip should be down just above the water, pointing directly at the fly, with all the slack out of the line. Immediately start swiftly moving the fly in 1 to 2 foot strips. From December through March the fish will be in deeper waters. APRIL is closed to striped bass fishing. When the fish are LOCATED IN DIFFERENT WATER COLUMNS, use sinking fly-line with a 4 foot leader. A sinking Clouser Minnow or a Lefty Deceiver are highly productive. SINKING LINE TECHNIQUE - when the fly hits the water, the rod tip should be down just above the water, pointing directly at the fly. Count down the fly to the desired depth. EXAMPLE: The fish are located in the 20 foot water column. Using a sinking Clouser Minnow, 3” length, 2/0 hook on PRO Saltwater All Rounder Fly Line—Smooth sink rate with this fly and fly-line will be 1 foot per second. The countdown will be between 15 to 18 seconds. Now start swiftly moving the fly in 1 to 2 foot strips. ALL OTHER TIMES use a sinking fly line with a 4-foot leader. Attach a Clouser sinking minnow or Half & Half minnow. Count the fly down to just above the fish. Start stripping in 2-foot increments swiftly. REDFISH — when busting topwater use floating line with a large Blados Crease Fly or when down use sinking line & clousers. SPANISH MACKERELS —Once the fly hits the water immediately start a double-handed retrieve. Move the fly as fast as possible. The fly should be just under topwater. This makes it possible to use floating fly line. NOTE: Install 6 feet of Absolute Predator Toothy Fish Leader (Orvis Item #3A0A) from the end of the fly line to the fly.

Capt. Tom Hughes's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name:	Colors:	Size(s):
Mylar Popper	BLUE/WHITE	2/0 Hook
Blados Crease Fly	OLIVE/PEARL	3/0 Hook
Clouser Minnow	YELLOW	2/0 Hook
Half And Half	TAN/WHITE	2/0 Hook
Lefty's Deceiver	CHARTREUSE	2/0Hook
Burk's Hot Flash Minnow	ANCHOVY	1/0 Hook