8 Places to Fly Fish for Stripers on Cape Cod during the Spring

The heat of the sun has an immediate impact on creeks and rivers, more so than the open ocean. Creeks & rivers are also warmed by the surrounding land, which can warm faster than the ocean

While this is a detriment during the summer, it can draw fish to these areas in the Spring. Creeks and rivers often have dark muddy bottoms that will warm faster than sand. These are the areas where Ryan has been finding holdover stripers​.

Many creeks & rivers are smaller in scale contrasted to the wide open beachfront. This suits fly casters well.

Many saltwater ponds, and small estuaries open to the ocean. During the Spring, the outgoing tide dumps warm water through the outflow and into the ocean. This influx of warm water can attract bass, and cause them to gather near the mouth of the pond or estuary.

The current from the outflow will continue along the beach and can bring fish in almost like a chum slick does. You can see the current moving alongside the beach in calm conditions.

You can also often find productive fishing upstream from the outflow. Look for holes and undercut banks.

Saltwater ponds that are connected to open water will warm quickly, attract baitfish and subsequently striped bass.

This pond has an outflow to a large estuary that you can see at the top of the photo.

Spring is the time to fish these areas as they will be too warm and too crowded during the summer.

Moss banks can be found in estuaries and are good bass holding structure, particularly at high tide.

Often pieces of the moss bank will be out in the deeper water as well.

Moss banks are like a soft structure boulder field.

Moss banks can be productive at night later in the season, especially if they are near deeper water.

In the photo on the left you can see the fairly extensive shallow water flat between the dry sand and the deeper blue water. I was able to wade out to the edge of the deep water at low tide.

These are areas where bass will hang out, waiting for the tide to rise, so they can move up onto the flat. Make sure you get off the flat in time if the tide is rising.

The bottom is often irregular on flats and you don’t want to get caught on the wrong side of a deeper section as the tide comes in.

Herring runs can cause bass to gather in concentrated numbers within reach of fly casters.

The presence of a herring run can positively impact many places nearby, not just the area in the immediate vicinity.

Flies that simulate herring are large and can be difficult to cast.

A good alternative would be a Deceiver with some blue in it.

This rock formation is on the side of a wide shallow cove. Shallow coves will warm early and bass will move into these areas in the Spring.

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A rock formation such as this will allow you to intercept the fish as they move from the deeper water into the shallows. I was fly fishing from these rocks one May having a blast catching small stripers.

​All of a sudden I saw several large dark shapes moving quickly through the water. The schoolie I was bringing in started acting strangely and I soon found out why.

​A large Bluefish had come by and chomped off it’s tail.