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

Techniques & Tips as of 6/17/26

From MAY through DECEMBER - When fish are BUSTING TOPWATER, use floating fly-line with a 9 FT 20 LB Mirage Fluorocarbon Big Game Leader with 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. REDFISH — when busting topwater use everything listed above. 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. A very productive will be a Cowen’s Silverside. This makes it possible to use floating fly line. Use a 20 pound test tapered leader. When the fish are located in different depths of the water column, use sinking fly-line with a 4 foot 20 pound leader. A sinking Clouser Minnow is 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: Using a 9w fly rod. The fish are located in water 20 foot deep. Using a sinking Clouser Minnow, 3” length, 2/0 hook on Pro Depth Charge 3D Sinking Fly Line, 350 grain, with a 4 foot - 20 pound fluorocarbon leader (no taper needed)--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. From DECEMBER through MARCH - - ‘the ONCE in a LIFETIME STRIPED BASS' are available to fly fish in the middle and lower sectors of the Chesapeake Bay in the State of Maryland. Use Pro Depth Charge 3D Sinking Fly Line, 350 grain on a 9 weight, with a 4 foot piece of - 20 LB Mirage Tippet Material - Big Game - IGFA APRIL - STIPED BASS SEASON IS CLOSED

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