Surf's Up!...

[Mr. Noodle Rod]

Holy cow! It's been over 6 months since I last posted something on the Kiene board. I apologize for not being more of a frequent participant. Time really flies when the fishin's great!

The intervening months did not pass without experiencing some incredible action in the local surf around the SF Bay Area. I spent much of this year (& still am) chasing these guys:



I got bit by the striper bug (& it bit me good!) I always knew these guys lurked around the beaches during the Spring & Summer, but for some reason I never bothered to seriously pursue the stripesides until this year.

Otherwise, the surfperch have been providing loads of entertainment. Hopefully, this winter will be a productive one as the mating season for perch draws near.


- Mark

[Loren E]

Mark, great to see you back on the board! I've been staying up to date with the reports on your site, way to go on the linesides this summer, you slayed em'! Tight lines -Loren

[Mr. Noodle Rod]

Hey Loren,

Thanks for the kind words. I've read a few of your reports from fishing abroad this year - they're awesome! Hope to see ya out on the beach sometime before the year's out.

- Mark

[Darian]

Hey, I thought you'd given up on us.... Like loren, I was reading your reports on Stripers in the Monterey surf. I should've made the drive down there to give it a try.

Good to have you back and am looking forward to more reports and info about your new discoveries/flies....

[Adam Grace]

Wow, that's an awesome Striper!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

That's a huge perch in your avitar photo 'noodle rod'.

I would love to catch a Striper in the surf someday myself.

[k.hanley]

'atta boy Skywalker! You had a fantastic season this year. This has been one of the best surf striper years I can ever remember. Proud of you man.
Cheers, Ken

[erhetta]

Hey Mark,

Thanks for coming back to the boards. I like to see stuff from all over. Gimme a jingle sometime if you are coming up this way for some Sonoma Coast action. I would love to hook up with you and check out the surf action.

-Eric-

[Anne Vitale]

Welcome back Mark. We missed your reports here. Like several of the others, I have been visiting your web site to get your almost daily reports. I can't imagine how you remember so many details of your trips.

I notice that you were using a 5wt spey rod to go after those stripers. Good idea. I'll have to give it a try up here in Marin. I've been to Drakes a couple of times this summer but the best I have ever done is catch palm sized barred perch. The beach at Drakes is as flat as a pancake. Hopefully with the on coming winter storms, it will start to develop some character...and draw in those big, spawing red tails.

Good to have you back........Anne

[Mr. Noodle Rod]

Bill, Darian, Adam, Obi-Wan, Eric, Anne & others. Thanks again for the kind & warm welcome! It's great to be back on the Kiene board.

I've never encountered so many stripers in the surf as I did earlier this year. I certainly enjoyed the thrill of feeling the tremendous pull from the bigger fish as they tore through the waves...



Anne, the lightweight 5- & 6-wt speys have been a real hoot in the surf. They're a bit under-gunned for the larger stripers, but clearly not as spineless as the 3-wt & under rods. I'll eventually dust off the 0-/00-wts for the perch later this winter, especially the next time I visit Drake's.

I hope to see many of you on the beach or fly fishing exhibitions in the near future.


- Mark