PoleDancing in the Dark

[Hatch]

The lower A.R. has been real slow for me and a few of my Striper Addict friends this and last week, so I decided to go commando style and do a late night Top-Water session in the Delta last night. Put in a 9:30 and found a tough west wind, 71 degree water and a 3/4 full moon. We went to a few "cuts" and "rocks" that sometimes hold fish. Out going tide. Third cast of the night my PolaDancer got crushed by a fish that at first was big, but got smaller and smaller as it came to the boat. Hard fighting 3#er. Several more casts and we managed to get another eater, this time on an Airhead, and a visiting British Soccer Coach, Adam Peet lands his first Striped Bass, a nice little 4#er. We continued on and got 3 more good grab/blow-ups but they didn't stick. Off the water at 2:00 A.M. The fish were not big and I'm getting to old to stay up that late but really cool finding e'm in the dark.
HATCH

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Back in the old days (1970s) we always fly fished at night for Stripers.

The mouth of the American River and mouth of the Feather River where two of the most popular spots.

We would go out in the evening and fish till mid-night.

In those days we had some real commando Striper guys like Al Perryman, Cal Guin, Jim Potter, Larry Cullens, Al Fong, Joe Shirshac and a few others who were always out looking for those big ones.

In those days they believed that Stripers could only be caught on flies in the low light, from sunset, all night long, till sunrise. Well, now we have found that they will feed all day and night.

[mar]

Nighttime stripers!!! And topwater to boot. Is it that time already? Sleep's over-rated anyway. Good chit.

[Jgoding]

Sounds like a blast. Will have to try topwater sometime.

[Frank Roepke]

Very cool Hatch, taking it to the next level. We went out yesterday afternoon till 8:30 onthe AR. Howe area, not tugs or bites.

Time to try evening!

Frank