Marylanders Floundering Around Up North

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Northern
Location: Cape Henlopen, DE

After wrapping up the CCA Catch and Release Tournament at the Jetty on Kent Narrows, I gave in easily to some pressure to tag along with Tony Friedrich and Ed Liccione on one of their unique fly rod flounder excursions.

Out of the house at 4:30 a.m. to meet a 5 o'clock departure for the drive to the Cape Henlopen (DE) Flats and the perfect rising tide.

As the sun rose over the parking lot, we assembled 14-foot spey type fly rods in the eight-weight range, strung them up with floating lines tipped with double rigs of Friedrich flies resembling perhaps a mole crab with a mullet haircut dangling from a small holiday ornament from China. With that and boundless optimism, we waded onto the flats to take our chances. Friedrich, the self-appointed guide for the mission, advised that I cast far into the turbid waters and shuffle slowly backward to wait for the strike.

I didn't buy it.

However, as the current picked up, my guide started to reel in fish after white-bellied fish. About nine of them I think including a 21-incher that would make a nice meal or a unique bath mat�and I hadn't felt the first strike. I was doing everything exactly as he was except for the rearward shuffle, which wasn't in my dance repertoire�and I wasn't catching anything but a bad attitude.

One more hook up and a loud (too loud), "I told you so," and I realized I had better learn to moon walk or give up fishing altogether.

Seems that this is the whole thing. By moving backward, you keep the slack out and can then feel the smallest hesitation that is the flounder's subtle take. In this, the summer flounder is more discreet than a Savage River brook trout.

Result � two nice flatties before the tide quit and we packed up to return home.

Here's a shot of Sir Friedrich and one of his many conquests.

I am not worthy.

Joe Evans