Hooper Island, MD

[TomG]

This weekend three of us are headed to the Cambridge/Hooper Island area of Chesapeake Bay with our kayaks to try some inshore s/w fly fishing.  Since none of us have been there before any advice/recommendation would be welcomed, eg, best boat launches, areas to fish, flys to use, etc.  Thanks.

[HeaveToo]

I had some descent luck at Smith Island, MD with Clowser's.  The stripers really like them.  I believe I was using sink tip line and a local that I was fishing with told me that the best striper fishing was as the sun was going down.  He fished most nights in Smith Island using softshell crabs (He was a true waterman).

If the blues are up there crease flies can be fun.

Good luck.

[Ernie]

There is a free ramp in Cambridge but lots of water to cover in a yak.
White perch abound....use a shrimp fly or clouser. Cast to rocks,
shore line, under docks etc. All in 2-4' of water.

Hooper's is a great place and there are stripers on most points (there
are many) and current beaks. You are liable to find other species like
specs as well. I don't know where one can launch since I usually go
over there by boat from the western shore.

You can also go to the Bellevue ramp (Tred Avon river which feeds in
to the north part of the Choptank River). From Rt. 50- take Easton
bypass to Rt.33 towards St.Michaels, go about 4 1/2 miles and make a
left on Royal Oak Rd.(you will see sign for Bellvue Ferry). You will
go about 3 miles and turn left on Bellvue Rd and follow to end about
another 3 miles and the road will end at the ramp. A short paddle will
get you to some great white perch fishing....go find big rocks and
docks.

If you have never caught white perch with a 5 or 6 wt, you are in for
a treat. And then...you can treat yourself to a delicious fish fry as
they are the tastiest fish in the bay!

Good luck!

Ernie

[Dave Marcus]

Tom G.

I know this is a year later but I'm looking to do some salt water fly fishing on the bay from my kayak. I just got a 9' 9wt that I'm itching to try. Since this post was from just about a year ago I'm wondering if you could report on your trip since I'm assuming the conditions were similar. Were there any fish? What was working? I'm hoping to get out this weekend, would you recommend that location?

Dave

[TomG]

Dave,

Three of us did take our yaks last year to fish in and around Hooper Island, MD.  On the first day we launched from a boat ramp on Hooperville Island and fished the "sound" side of the island.  We managed to catch several Croakers with our fly rods using clousers.  On the 2nd day we launched from south side of the bridge connecting Fishing Creek to Hooper Island and this time we fished the bay side before we were forced off the water by bad weather.  On the 3rd day a friend came from Annapolis with his center console boat and we fished the Cedar Point Lighthouse spoils and caught some very nice stripers using clousers.  If you go be sure and eat at the Old Salty Restaurant especially at Sunset.

See some photos I took of this trip at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomg47/sets/72157630868594942/

Let me know how you do if you go.

Tom