The Joy of Fly Fishing in New Brunswick

Friday was my first day striper fishing and I was so excited to be going I didn't get much sleep. I slept fine until about 2am and then it was mostly awake so finally I just got up at 4am. Not unusual when I go fishing.

I have wanted to fish for striped bass for more than 10 years and had an opportunity to go to Rexton with Casey for a day.

I was thinking this was my first time fishing at Rexton until we got there and I recognized a church and an old ship skeleton. Then I remembered we came here ice fishing for smelts. That was my first time catching smelt as well.

About 15 minutes from the launch Casey hooked his first striper and it looked like it was going to be an exciting day. It was 14 inches and smacked the bait like it was 20 inches.

The next striper was about an hour later and that was Casey as well with a 17 inch striper. Love Casey's new rubber net so easy on the fish as well as easy getting the hooks out of the net.

I had my camera at the ready so we could quickly snap a picture and then get him back in the water as it was catch and release only.

Just a couple of seconds on the measuring board and right back into the drink.

It was an hour and three quarters later when I caught my first striper, ever. I love how hard they strike for their size.

There was no hesitation when he smacked my plastic Storm bait, he nearly swallowed the entire bait. The fact we were fishing barbless made it easy to remove the hook and release it. He was 14 inches and a scrapper. A nice experience.

My second striped bass was bigger than my first but not as big as Casey's second striper so I just let him go without taking another picture. Our day was rather slow but we did both get two striped bass and enjoyed the beautiful day we had.

I didn't think about my garden all day.

We didn't see many clouds all day. Very clear skies except for this shot of a bridge with a huge fog bank behind it.