Fly Fishing for Striped Bass
Along the Delaware River
How, When & Where

Gary Mauz has been fishing the Delaware River all his life. He has made his love for fishing pay off as proprietor of Delaware River Fly Fishing Guide Service. Striped bass have become some of the most sought after fish along the Delaware. Here Gary offers tips on landing this popular game fish.

Striped bass are becoming an increasingly targeted species for sports fisherman along the Delaware river. Fly fishing is fun, educational, and both exciting and relaxing. Each person has their own way of fishing. We all hold the rod our own way, feel the take of the fish in a different way, feel the line and retrieve the fly in our own certain way. There are many other factors involved because every person is different. That’s one of the reasons why I build my own fly rods. I place the guides along the blank so the line will go the farthest when the rod is cast.

That’s part of the sport of it. Whether you build your own rod or not, tying your own fly, finding the fish and feeding it your bait, and seeing the fish take the fly all contribute to the fun you'll have when you head out to the Delaware River for stripers! The fish has the spirit to live and be free, and the last thing that fish wants is to be hooked by you, your fly, rod and reel. After the fight, I gently unhook, revive and release the fish to live and fight another day.

HOW

How we fly fish for stripers is a technique all its own. First, you want a bigger fly rod than normal. A fast action 8 or 9 weight rod about 9 feet long will do the job. The Delaware River is big water, and we need to cast our flies farther and cover a lot of water. A stripping basket is necessary to hold the fly line off the water as we retrieve the fly and the basket will assist in shooting the line farther than the average cast. Cast across and downstream. As the fly drifts along the river current, point your fly rod at the fly and follow it with the rod. Sometimes I strip the fly as it’s drifting and other times I let the fly dead drift as it’s floating down. If I feel any type of action on the fly I set the hook. Stripers hit the fly hard and fast and it’s important to be ready for the strike. Other gear for striper fishing are cleats on your feet to prevent slipping on the rocks. Also, a life preserver is most important when fly fishing the Delaware.

Polarized sunglasses assist in wading so we can see where we are wading in the river. They also help to spot the fish. When you can see the fish (called sight fishing), casting and watching the striper take the fly is some of the most exciting fly fishing you can do.

Some of the flies I recommend are the Clouser deep minnow, poppers and white deceivers, which imitate the blueback herring that also migrate up the river and stripers feed on heavily.

WHEN

Striper season can start as early as April and last into July, depending on the water temperature. Once the water gets too warm it will be hard for the fish to survive after a tough fight.

Morning, day, night. We all agree that early morning is the best time for fishing; sunset is also a good time. But stripers can be caught anytime during the day or night—we just have to find them. The evening bite is most exciting. As the sun sets, the insect activity (the hatch) comes alive. Smaller baitfish will feed on the hatch, and the stripers will move in to feed on the baitfish.

This is the time I call the magical hour, around six to eight p.m. Another good reason to fish this time of day is because around that time usually most fisherman must be home for dinner, and the river becomes quite peaceful when there are less people around.

WHERE

Where we fish for stripers might be the most important. There is a lot of different structure on the bottom of the river, manmade structure such as dams, bridge abutments and boat launches, and natural structure such as gravel bars, rocks, boulders, points of land, tributaries and many other kinds of structure to fish. The best way to learn the river bottom is by wading and that’s why it’s important to wear your life vest.

I always practice catch and release. If I’m going to keep the fish, I only keep enough for a meal. I don’t believe in killing a fish just to mount it on the wall. You can easily take measurments of your catch's length and girth to have a lifelike replica made. I always have a camera with me to get that "once in a lifetime" shot. A picture, to me, is worth more than anything you can hang on the wall.

So sharpen your hooks and stretch out your fly line, because the stripers are here and willing to give you a great fight and memories that will last forever.

For more information on fly fishing for shad and other species in the Delaware River, visit Gary's website or call him at 215-343-1720.