WOW...SNOW...SNOW...SNOW...And lot's of it...Knee deep, light, powdery stuff...the kind of rare snow that's perfect for outdoor activities like skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling...take advantage of it!!!Yup...We survived the latest monster blizzard that terrorized us up here on the coast of Maine and we're now firmly locked in winters icy's grip...but that doesn't mean that we're not busy getting ready for the 2011 season. We have a ton of work to do!!!We have lots of equipment to do annual maintenance on...we need to restock on line, leaders, lures and other misc. tackle...Our fly boxes need to be re stocked with killer patterns....and we need to assemble a list of projects to get the boat ready to splash...
When I get a call or email asking if we can sight fish for Stripers or catch a Tuna on a topwater plug....my answer is always..."sure that is possible"...The Tuna bite can be epic but not always dependable and Granted, for sight casting on the flats the conditions can typically be good to very good...but it's also a very good possibility that the conditions won't be remotely good enough for sight fishing...I know that most of us saltwater inshore anglers all love to sight fish for Stripers with fly or light tackle...it's a blast for sure, but let's face it...we don't always have the conditions to allow for it here in Maine...wind, turbid water, cloudy conditions, fog for weeks on end can all hamper the sight fishing game...These are the times when the guide needs to switch gears and they need to do it quickly or you the angler suffers...This past summer an elitist comment from a competing guide has stuck in my head and sort of reinforces the way that we approach guiding, After telling a group of guides and anglers after a fly fishing only tournament (that "Team Super Fly" just happened to place 1st in!!!) how successful we've been using live baits over deep ledges...one guide in the group proclaimed, rather arrogantly, that he'd rather watch paint dry than fish livies on light tackle...hmm...a very interesting philosophy I thought to myself...but hey, I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion...to each their own...To me...it's not about fishing with the methods that I prefer...rather putting my anglers on fish...and it could be any species of fish...which I guess, to most anglers is the whole point at the end of the day...I kinda felt sorry for captain crab fly's anglers as I thought to myself...while those guys are watching paint dry and struggling to get a well fed fish to eat a clump of feathers and listening to the guides endless excuses as to why the bite is turned off (wrong sun angle, too much sea weed, water too dirty, water too clear, water too cold, water too warm, too much bait, full moon, new moon, small tides....etc...etc hahaha)...we're hammering away on fish using alternate methods...even during the brightest dog days of summer...We're on the water everyday and have the experience to advise you as to what methods or species that we should pursue...It's one thing if fly fishing is the only method you use and you realize that it presents a different set of challenges...but the average fly angler isn't married to the long rod and will mix it up when necessary...either way it's all about having a fun day on the water....just with an added challenge...hahaha!!!
There are lot's of different ways to get Carp to respond....don't believe the hype that Carp can only be taken on fly from the deck of a poling skiff, Do yourself a huge favor...don't drink the KOOL-AID...the fact remains that the common Carp, like Stripers, only spend limited time in the shallows...like most other species, the larger schools travel and hold in the relative safety of the deeper water where they are safer from predators but become much easier targets for the fishermen!!! Either way...shallow or deep...there are very few anglers fishing for them...we already have many of these trips booked for the 2011 season, so we'll be there fishing for them...will you? hahaha ;-)
Our most popular offering over the years has been our inshore trip for Striped Bass & Bluefish with fly & light tackle...This trip takes place in the Mid-Coast region of Maine, from Casco Bay to Penobscot Bay...an area featuring an astonishing 1000 miles of jagged, pristine shoreline habitat. We focus our efforts on the broad reach of the lower Kennebec River system including Merrymeeting Bay and it's adjacent tidal estuaries...This dynamic fishery consists of thousands of acres of untouched saltwater flats, gnarly tides that rip over rocky structure and an intricate maze of never ending backcountry channels. It's a fly & light tackle fisherman's nirvana!!!
We recognize the fact that out on the water, there are no fences holding fish in specific areas, so to better serve our anglers, we trailer our boats...staying mobile is going to be the key in 2011...we're not married to specific areas...If the bite heats up north or south of our home base on the Kennebec River region we'll simply haul the 21' Parker or the smaller more nimble 17' shallow draft skiff to where the hottest action is...this nomadic mobility allows us to access the incredibly scenic and fish rich waters of Penobscot Bay, Muscongus Bay & Sheepscot Bay to the north and to the south we'll explore the diverse fisheries around the Calendar islands of Casco Bay & further down the coast the Scarborough Marsh, Saco Bay, and the Saco River...On any given day we can be found fishing coastal tide marshes, shallow flats, sandy beaches and islands or ledges located offshore....Basically wherever the fish are biting best & whatever fish are biting best!!!
...This is the time of year when I spend the most time at the fly tying bench....re stocking the fly boxes and coming up with new ways to to improve my fly patterns...Almost all of the flies that we use during my guiding season are custom made right at my bench...for those of you that live in the area and want to learn all about saltwater fly tying...we'll be offering several courses throughout the winter months...these will most likely be 6-8 week courses 1 night a week....all material will be provided....get in touch if you're interested in learning how to tie the top patterns for saltwater fishing in the northeast as well as some patterns for anglers traveling to the tropics!!!
It's the middle of winter and I'm kind of bored so I often think back to some of the great trips that we've had from seasons past...here is a blog post recap of one of the many trips that I did with the Monheit family back in July 2010...(07/19/2010)"This report will be brief...The striper fishing in Maine is really good right now...this morning I guided Mike Monheit and his son Matt also along were two of Matts friends...the tide started slow and the fishing matched the tide...but as the tide started to rip we started scoring lots of stripers...singles, doubles, triples and quadruple hook ups...most fish were in the 28-34 inch range which make for great sport on light tackle...The methods we use are proven to catch stripers during the brightest, hottest days...what most anglers call tough fishing conditions is just business as usual for us...we have the experience to time the tides and have the right rigs aboard to ensure that we get the hook ups that elude and frustrate most anglers into submission"
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Buh Bye Twenty Ten & Hello Twenty Eleven!!!
Whether it's on the fly...pitching plugs or live lining frisky live baits we've got you covered check out our website for all of our trip offerings...and stay tuned for some new trips options for 2011If you're addicted to catching Striped Bass, Bluefish, Shark, Bluefin Tuna and Cod or would like to give our Merrymeeting Bay "Trash Can Tarpon" (aka Carp) offering a try...please give us a call or shoot us an email to discuss the possibilities. Please Come Join Super Fly Charters in 2011: Midcoast Maine's premier fly & light tackle guide service, fishing for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Bluefin Tuna and More!!! ~ USCG 100 Ton Master ~ Registered Maine Tidewater Guide ~ For reservations call 207-691-0745. Also for those who have been asking there is still time to purchase that holiday gift certificate for your loved ones. We can customize a gift certificate for any of the guided trips that we offer. As an added bonus all of our trips are currently $50.00 off our listed rates
(Happy Holidays To All!!! See info below to book your 2011 Maine Saltwater Fishing Adventure!!!
For those of you out there whom have not yet fished with me and are currently in the difficult process of selecting a fly & light tackle guide service for the 2011 season...to help you with this process I'd like to provide you with a bit of background info about myself describing how passionate I am about living the "Salt Life" on the coast of Maine, saltwater fishing and my fly & light tackle guide service. ~
In the early 1990's...I packed all of my belongings into my battered Subaru 4X4 "fish wagon", left the Maine coast behind me and moved south to Florida to satisfy the overwhelming craving for year round saltwater fishing...It was on these proving grounds that I honed my fishing skills, prowling the beaches, flats & mangrove shorelines, passes & inlets around the Indian river near Port St.Lucie & Stuart on the east coast and Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor, Tampa Bay with much of my focus on the waters from Egmont Key to Anclote key in the Gulf of Mexico...fishing for Redfish, Trout, Snook & Tarpon and many other species, spending over 250 days each year on the water. An avid SCUBA & Breathhold "free diver", I also spent considerable time underwater pursuing underwater giants like Grouper, Snapper, Hogfish, Sheepshead, Amberjack & Kingfish with the speargun!!! 
My experiences as an international angler have led me to the fabled Bonefish waters of Great Abaco, Bahamas as well as bluewater fishing off it's outer chain of Cays...We have fished the north drop off Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic for Marlin, Dorado, Wahoo, Tuna and more and our excursions have led us further south to the storied Central American fishing ports of Herrudura, Quepos & Golfito, Costa Rica fishing for Snook, Roosterfish, Cubera, Tuna, Sailfish and many other bluewater giants...
whether it's on the fly...pitching plugs or live lining frisky live baits we've got you covered check out our website for all of our trip offerings...and stay tuned for some new trips options for 2011 
Here at Super Fly Charters We're continuously looking for new ways to raise the bar higher and higher...Our goal, as always, is to provide the best service available to our anglers...All of our trips are customized for the individual angler...To accomplish this, we listen to our anglers needs and advise them accordingly rather than push a certain style of fishing on them, let's face it, we've all fished with "Capt. Awesome" and have had to endure the ensuing brag fest of all of his blah blah blah accomplishments...Well let me assure you that there are no huge ego's or elitist attitudes here...we'd much rather impress you with a fun, laid back, quality fishing experience...That's just the way we roll!!!...So while "Capt. Hollywood" preps his hall of fame speech...We'll quietly keep on doing what we do best....continue to offer you some of the very best saltwater fishing experiences that New England has to offer. 
Our action packed groundfish trip is a total blast...we cruise offshore to the ledges and banks and while whales roll all around us, we'll drop our "butterfly" jigs with lightweight spin and conventional tackle for tasty bottom fish species like Cod, Haddock and Pollock...if you love Grouper and Snapper fishing down south...this trip is right up your alley...
Our most popular offering over the years has been our inshore trip for Striped Bass & Bluefish with fly & light tackle...This trip takes place in the Mid-Coast region of Maine, from Casco Bay to Penobscot Bay...an area featuring an astonishing 1000 miles of jagged, pristine shoreline habitat. We focus our efforts on the broad reach of the lower Kennebec River system including Merrymeeting Bay and it's adjacent tidal estuaries...This dynamic fishery consists of thousands of acres of untouched saltwater flats, gnarly tides that rip over rocky structure and an intricate maze of never ending backcountry channels. It's a fly & light tackle fisherman's nirvana!!! We recognize the fact that out on the water, there are no fences holding fish in specific areas, so to better serve our anglers, we trailer our boats...staying mobile is going to be the key in 2011...we're not married to specific areas...If the bite heats up north or south of our home base on the Kennebec River region we'll simply haul the 21' Parker or the smaller more nimble 17' shallow draft skiff to where the hottest action is...this nomadic mobility allows us to access the incredibly scenic and fish rich waters of Penobscot Bay, Muscongus Bay & Sheepscot Bay to the north and to the south we'll explore the diverse fisheries around the Calendar islands of Casco Bay & further down the coast the Scarborough Marsh, Saco Bay, and the Saco River...On any given day we can be found fishing coastal tide marshes, shallow flats, sandy beaches and islands or ledges located offshore....Basically wherever the fish are biting best & whatever fish are biting best!!!
