Alright been away from the board, and fishing for that matter for to long, So I just got off the phone and booked 4 nights first weekend in Nov at the Harkers Fishing center in NC for the albies. So I know a bunch of y’all have done this b ut i am looking for a little advise from fly patterns to leader set ups etc… I figure i can score any materials i can’t get here down there next weekend at Scotty’s and the C-Angler for the big tides in c-town. Any help would be great. thanks
Ok well first things first… What time of year are you goin’… the bait varies depending on the time of year and that will determine what flies you need to take with you, and what the fish will be doing… Also are you taking you’r boat or do you have a charter, because that area of the outer banks is not exactly like here… If you stay on the west side its pretty strait forward, but if you plan on crossing the shoals, well lets just say your gonna need the right day…
Also… pattern is really the least of your worries… approaching the schools, and the way you fish makes a bigger difference than what you have on. If the fish are fired up and on larger bait then the fish will eat just about anything, but if the bait is a certain size… usually on the smaller end… the fish will get extremely specific and you’ll need to match it up pretty well…
its always different, and it takes a little time to learn the fishery… while it’s pretty straight forward, there are alot of tricks that make a big difference… I’ll be up there October 19th - 23rd… you know where to find me if you wanna talk it over…
oh… here are some patterns for ya that I tied …
And if they are on the small bait you might have to think small…
come talk to me… i’ll set you right…
Mad
Thank you my friend! I am coming down next weekend for the bid tides, will you be in next weekend?
If it swims throw a fly at it!
quote:The little Tutti-Frutti fly is about you will need. It's fun to use Crease flies but, sometimes the fish won't be up.
Originally posted by mountain guyAlright been away from the board, and fishing for that matter for to long, So I just got off the phone and booked 4 nights first weekend in Nov at the Harkers Fishing center in NC for the albies. So I know a bunch of y’all have done this b ut i am looking for a little advise from fly patterns to leader set ups etc… I figure i can score any materials i can’t get here down there next weekend at Scotty’s and the C-Angler for the big tides in c-town. Any help would be great. thanks
If it swims throw a fly at it!
I brought two 9wt’s and a 7wt, last time. The albies were pretty thick/fat so the 9wt helped with the work. Most of the pictures I see of albies around there look like they could be handled easily with an 8wt and MAYBE a 7wt. One 9wt had sinking line and was used almost exclusively. It’s often “run and gun” up there so, leaders don’t have to be too sophisticated.
But, after the morning albie bite, you might want a light rod and some trout and redfish patterns to be able to hunt around inshore a bit.
And bring some apples for the ponies. 
Just kidding.
Nice, gonna be there first weekend of November, so what about fly size like mike was saying, are you up with the sun normally to head out? do tides matter? I am taking my 17.5 foot flats and bay mod v boat, 60 on the back, so if the weather sux we will be inside the shoals I guess for sure
If it swims throw a fly at it!
The tuttie fruitti… (pink over chartruse) works well… I have a few in my box as well, but they can get particular… white, tan/white, olive/white… all of these are necissary to have in the box… a few crease flies can make for some arial fun if the fish are in the mood…
here’s some pics to get you as amped as I am about the upcoming run…
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
fly size will vary… sz. 4’s to sz. 2’s… I like Gamakatsu SL113H #4’s and #6’s for the small stuff… #2’s for normal stuff…
if the weather gets nasty… you’re not fishing… not being a dick, but in that boat you won’t be able to leave the cut… and unless the fish are in the hook you’re sitting on the dock… Nov can be dicey… if you get 2 out of 4 days its been good… any more than that is a freakin’ miracle, bring lots of beer and tying materials… somebody’s gotta tell you the truth… lol
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
Those are good size albies that Mike posted. The small ones I often see are half or 1/3 smaller.
If you get lucky… you get to fish the Bight. I’ve never been lucky. If you have to run through the shoales and fish around front, “you are going to need a bigger boat”. I’ve run through there in a 18’ CC with some high gunnels. Wicked fun ride! 
You want to be on the water ready to throw at sun rise. Up at 4AM if you are having to run around front and running back in at noon. Around front, you can burn 40-45 gallons on a 115HP. The weather is luck. The fish being active, is luck.
FlyGirl was pretty helpful on the radio and just ignore the locals if you are on a boat from out of state. 
Do the fish get into the sound ever as well or is it strictly on the outside? I have also been told about reds, blues, and trout that can save a trip if the weather sux, also heard about the beach and ferries to cape look out and surf fishing around the hook? figured we would take waders etc… probably need to take extra fuel tanks too?
If it swims throw a fly at it!
the fish will come into the Hook (Cape lookout bight) sometimes… and occasionally into beaufort inlet… but not alot… 99% of the fishing is on the outside. If the weather gets snotty, you don’t go out. That place ain’t no joke… it can get really nasty, really fast… and usually if the weather is too bad for running out, its not really good for fishing inside… I just sit at the house and tie… well and drink… but you get my point… Also, I know you got a place at the HIFC but Harker’s kinda sucks… no restaurants, bars or anything to keep you entertained if the fishing goes south…
I would look at staying on Atlantic Beach or Beaufort… just my .02…
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
quote:
Originally posted by Mad_Mike…no restaurants, bars or anything to keep you entertained (strippers, drunks, street racing, etc…)</font id=“red”> if the fishing goes south.
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Yep… it’s paradise.
Check out Brian Horsley and Sarah Gardner’s website. They have been getting into the albies the last two weeks pretty good.
I’m heading to harkers in 2 weeks. Can hardly wait.
On another note don’t forget about the pig pickin the first Sat. in Nov. for all the albie people.
Also if any of you need housing there are several fly fishing groups that rent houses for Oct and Nov. You basically rent a room and split food costs and gas for boats.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Cheers,
Chris
quote:
Originally posted by Chris B.Check out Brian Horsley and Sarah Gardner’s website. They have been getting into the albies the last two weeks pretty good…
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Mountain Guy, that Sarah Gardner (Fly Girl) is the one I mentioned earlier. Brian and Sarah are very up to date with the albie reports and many people kind of pass along reports through those two. We listen for her on the radio and she might save you LOTS of running around. GREAT Outer Banks fishing site, too. We even heard ChrisB on the radio, one year.So listen out for “FlyGirl, FlyGirl.”
Check out Capt. Joe Shute’s website and go by his fly shop in Atlantic Beach. I’ve been out with him probably ten times and he’s always found the fish. Great guy and he’ll share info
What up guys have not been around much but Figured I would add to this CORE Porn. I cant wait to get back… One word and Mikes not gonna like it GUMMY MINNOWS… there I said it.
Pathfinder 1806
90 Yamaha
Yeah… make sure and get docking tips from Jake… he’s great at it… lol
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
Ouch. It’s not the docking I have a problem with it’s the tying the boat up properly on a flood tide swing I needed to work on.
Pathfinder 1806
90 Yamaha
haha… you goin up this year brudda??
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
I just got this from Brian Horsley’s page concerning the festivities on Nov. 5 at Harkers.
Your are Cordially ORDERED to Attend
The 981st Banquet and Conclave of the
TRUE SECRET ORDER OF FALSE ALBACORIAN MONKS
The Isle of Harkers
Saturday, November 5, 2011
…
Double-Dip Recession is Great NewsTwice the Albacore!
The HEAD MONK announced today that esteemed economists at The University of False Albacorian Monks (with the unfortunate abbreviation of Monk U.), which has been located in the secret caves on the Isle of Harkers since the year 1215 AD, have made an astounding discovery. For almost 1,000 years every world economic crisis resulting in a double-dip recession has also meant TWICE as many albacore in the year of the double dip. The last double-dip event included the recessions of 1980 and 1982. In the Great Depression, the first recession occurred in 1930 followed by the second dip in 1933. In 1812 and 1815 Napoleon Bonapartes military blunders caused back-to-back recessions that spread form Europe to America.
Economists are now confirming that in addition to the recession beginning in 2008, the world has officially entered a second recession, the feared double dip, in the fall of 2011. Noble Prize winning Monks, Professor Horatio Horsley, Professor Sarah the Tuninator Gardner, and Professor Edward Teach Thimsen have reviewed the imagery from secret satellites owned by the True Secret Order of False Albacorian Monks. An ecstatic Professor Horsley announced the following on October 3: A great school of false albacore 20 miles long and eight miles wide is schedule to surround Cape Lookout the Weekend of November 5, 2011. It is the direct result of the double dip Recession of 2008 and 2011!
The Noble laureates at Monk U. have determined that when a really bad recession hits, anglers are depressed and fish less, giving fish stocks time to rest and recover. When a Double Dip occurs three years later, anglers are then rewarded with at least TWICE as many fishwhich makes anglers VERY happywhich cause