Hampton Harbor

[Cadoda]

Went to Hampton Harbor yesterday with some guys and did what I usually do. I start with my fly rod, then when my friends start catching fish on bait, I switch over after a couple of hours. Yesterday I caught a big shad? on my third cast, then caught many schoolie stripers. I lost a lot more than I caught.
My friends didn't catch anything on bait, which was a nice change. The other people around were catching small flounder and a few stripers.
I'm still adjusting to using a 9wt rod. It's a bit different than the 6wt. I use a sinking-tip line, whice I like a lot. I also have a full-floating line, that I haven't used yet. I wish I bought a sinking line instead of the full-float. Maybee I will for next year? Any suggestions?

[lowwall]

Stick with the sinking Line, I like 350,400Gr on a 9Weight and Throw a 500gr and 700gr on a 11 Wght. You will get used to it, just have to get it up and moving before the cast. Can't pick a 700gr line up with out a quick roll casts to get it out of the water. I have a floater but never use it up here. Have used it in Florida and for Salmon. I would invest in a intermediate line over a floater. I like a 10Wght Little Tunie line on my 9 wght in clear.
Good report you have done beter than I have from a boat! Those shad are fun, i caught a bunch at the mouth of the mack in JUN. They were lucky i did'nt have any bait gear with me becuase i would probably have live lined a small one.

Mike

[Cadoda]

Thanks for the advice lowwall. I haven't bought a stripping basket yet either, but I seen to manage just fine without for now. Probably another item I will buy for next year. :roll:

[lowwall]

The basket will make a huge difference,I made my first one out of a dishpan, wader belt and some weed waker cord.LL Bean has a nice one for $20, not worth making one when you can get one for that price.
Mike

[Cadoda]

At that price, maybe I won't wait until next year to get one. Again; thank you. Oh yea, those were the first fish I caught on that rod, and my first saltwater fish caught on a fly rod. What a rush!! :D

Sick.

[ipswich mayfly]

Nice to hear there is action in Hampton. Stay with the 9wt. I think you'll eventually like it. I'd suggest an Intermediate line for most of the conditions you'll run into. wf9 transparent or what used to be called a sline Line. Workes well for me. Question, what time of tide were you getting success, I've usually had my best luck on the first three hours of an incoming tide at Hampton, Does that still hold?

[Solid]

Well, this is not my post but I do fish Hampton Harbor all the time. I agree, the first 3 hours has been the most productive for me. I try to fish as close to the inlet as possible. I just seem to always find the fish there.