Mike,
No disagreement here. I agree, and feel that if we can educate more flyfishers to fish at night on the flats and back bays the more stripers will come to the fly.
I grew up in Ossining and know the Croton System well. Great description of pushing up the Croton river from the Railroad bridge. When I was 12, (1952) I kept a plank built wooden boat w/ a 5 hp motor on a dock just east of Route 9 in Crotonville. Absolutely like taking a time machine back into the past when you get back in there. I thought I was Huckleberry Finn and lived on the river for a whole summer.
We have some interesting flats up here past Catskill. As I connect in the back bays and on the flats, I'll let you know.
I might be older than you, but have only been flyfishing for stripers for about 6 years. Your guidance and advice will be greatly appreciated.
Especially on flys and when to use different types or styles.
Here are some local statistics on the activities of spawning striped bass since 1984.
They arrive at Catskill about April 17th. They start to feed agressively when the river reaches 45-degrees. They begin spawning activity at 58 degrees and are fully into it at 62 degrees.
In this area, based on daytime angling reports - The best time to catch striped bass is first light and the first 3 hours of daylight.
Spawned out females head south and to the sea very quickly. A small number of them stage in Catskill Creek fro a couple of week in June and then head south.
The best tide is the last three hours of a dropping tide.
When you bring a fish to the boat or to shore and see other striped bass following it closely, it is a sure sign that spawning has begun, or will start shortly.
I'll be fishing the wee hours in the morning on through daylight. Wading, yaking or tin boating depending on the location and tide.
The river is less than a quarter mile wide here in most places. The narrowness compresses the water during tide turns and tidal flow can get intense. Great rip fishing possibilities. Like Teller's Point along the brick line only swifter. The average tide rise and drop is 5.5 feet. Wind and run off will increase the flow and the height on occasion.
Stay in touch. We're not far away, so if your of a mind, come on up and be my guest. The first three weeks in May is prime!
See ya,