I just returned from fishing southern Maine for 2 weeks. It was the slowest fishing I've had for stripers in 15 years. I threw plugs, lures, bait and flies. I fished every day (and some nights) and landed about 10 fish in 2 weeks. Normally I land 50-80. Also the fish were all between 24" and 35" (inches). In every year past I've landed many more smaller fish in the mix. Maybe it was just the 2 weeks I was fishing. I sure hope it's not a sign of further decline of the bass stocks. By the way, I kept only one fish for dinner. And I had a terrific time trying.

I think things might be a little behind this year......
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I hope it's just that. I got the usual "you shoulda been here in June" and "it'll turn on later", so it might just have been an off year.

its been a pretty decent year from what ive seen but the last two weeks have been very slow.
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Every year I put up a post to this effect. The fish have started to move. The Fall migration is on. There are tons of fish south of you.

Bass are phototropic. "Growth or movement of a sessile organism toward or away from a source of light." As the days get shorter the bass sense that there is less daylight and that the nights are longer. Correspondingly they move toward the light source....south.

I was at a spot for 3 days last week with another member of this board and we crushed fish to 20# that were quite obviously moving south.

Be forwarned. It's started.

bass are smart.....smart as a dog (almost)

and my dog knows exactly when it's 4:30 pm

which always amazes me...

I should point out that I fish the first 2 weeks of August EVERY year. So it is apples to apples. Maybe the late spring had an effect. I should also mention that the water was the WARMEST I've ever experienced. You could actually swim in comfort.