Flyfishing for April Schoolies

by George Baldwin

Spring is quickly approaching, and with it the beginning of a new season of fishing for stripers, blues, weakfish, and other perennial favorites. With the recent growth in saltwater fly fishing, many will be working the salt with a fly rod for the first time. For a newcomer to this sport, it may be overwhelming just trying to decide where to begin.
If you have been fishing the brine with a spinning rod, you may have a good idea of where the early season hot spots are. If not, the mouths of shallow estuaries are a good starting place. These areas warm up quickly, attracting baitfish and their pursuing gamefish. The mouths of the Connecticut, Thames, and Housatonic River are hotspots at this time. Check the outdoor sections of your local paper, or the reports section of the Fisherman weekly magazine. Websites, such as www.ctfisherman.com or www.reel-time.com are also good to check for reports.

Most saltwater flyfishers think of April as time for schoolie stripers, sometimes in large numbers. They are certainly a great way to break you into the sport, as they are abundant, and much more forgiving than the larger fish of later months. There is no real need for the nocturnal lifestyle that is highly suggested in summer months, so the beginning fly fisherman can develop his skills with the aid of daylight.

In April, the waters are cold. Fish are ectothermic, which means that their internal body temperatures are largely dependent on the surrounding water temperatures. Their metabolisms are slow, and so are their movements and appetites.
Sinking lines, or intermediate lines and weighted flies are just right when worked slowly, low in the water column. Flies tied with lead eyes, such as Clouser minnows or bunny flies get down quickly to where the fish are. Don't bother with the poppers or sliders for another month. More buoyant flies, such as Lefty's deceivers or Tabory's snake flies are also good choices, but work better on a sinking line with a short (4 foot) leader. Good color choices for this time of year are all white, white with an olive back, and chartreuse.

Most of these fish will be schoolie-sized, and an eight weight rod is fine, although a bigger rod helps in the windy conditions that often prevail in early spring. Small bluefish can sometimes be found, interspersed with the little bass. Every now and then, a larger bass can keep things interesting.

An exception to this advice may occur if you find a herring run, where larger bass are feeding on larger baits. In this case, you will have to really do your homework, as fishermen are much less likely to divulge these spots.
Whether you are a seasoned, salt-encrusted veteran fly fisherman, a freshwater flyfisherman looking for a change, or if you just bought your first rod, April is the month to start the coming season. Keep an eye on the fishing reports starting about the second week in April, or ask at a local tackle shop and maybe be one of the first to give a report!