Striper Fishing (Striped Bass)

Kennebec River / Midcoast,  Maine

Striper Fishing

Stripers from 24” to 48” long and weighing as much as 30 pounds spend the summer in the waters of the Kennebec River Watershed and surrounding beaches and islands. Striped Bass show up in good numbers usually during late May here in the mid coast area of Maine. The first to arrive are the smaller, younger fish. They show up in vast schools as the water temperature reaches the mid 50’s. These first arrivals are full of spunk and eat everything put in front of them. 12 pound class spinning gear and 6-8 wt. fly rods are the weapons of choice. Lures and flies vary from the smallest juvenile baitfish imitations to full sized offerings that mimic 12” Alewives and Herring.

Kennebec Striped Bass with John Albin

Long time client and friend John Albin making this Orvis fishing guide look good on a less than perfect day of fly fishing. 15mph NE winds, rain and a 3 knot moon  tide river current didn't stop John from catching over 20 striped bass. 

Capt. Dave Pecci - Obsession Sportfishing
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Kennebec River – Casco Bay Fishing Report July 10, 2017

Early morning surface action followed by fish stacking up on ledges and in rips. Water quality is good and water flow is increasing due to the big full moon tides.​..   Continued

"We are catching 20-30 fish per trip on flies and lures! Sizes are ranging from 12" to 32" with some fish over 36".​"

Capt. Dave Pecci
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Fred Bogue Catching Kennebec Stripers 07-02-17

Fred Bogue and Doug Bear catching a bucket load of striped bass on the Kennebec River

Capt. Dave Pecci - Obsession Sportfishing
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Fly Fishing for Kennebec Stripers 07-06-17

John Shanely and Richard Riley enjoying a morning of July striped bass fly fishing 

Capt. Dave Pecci - Obsession Sportfishing
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Kennebec River – Casco Bay Fishing Report July 1, 2017

              Jerry and Karl had a fun morning catching 20+ stripers on fly in just 4 hours June 29th.

Conditions: The striped bass fishing is excellent both on fly and spinning gear. Lots of stripers in the River up to 32" with some biguns around. Water clarity is... cont.

"Fly and lure size matters more than color right now..."

07-01-17 Fishing Report - Capt. Dave Pecci
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Mike and Chris Durham Fly fishing for Striped Bass on the Kennebec 06-25-17

Mike and Scott Durham had a great morning on the Kennebec. Over 35 stripers on fly rod in 6 hours. 

Capt. Dave Pecci
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Tom and Naomi Nicoll Kennebec River Striped Bass Fishing

A fun morning of fly and spin fishing for striped bass on the Kennebec river 

Capt. Dave Pecci - Obsession Sportfishing
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June Striped Bass Fishing on the Kennebec River

30 or so fish caught on this charter June 19th. 

Capt. Dave Pecci - Obsession Sportfishing
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Kennebec River – Casco Bay Fishing Report June 20, 2017

The schools of stripers are on the move throughout the lower Kennebec. They are feeding on a variety of baitfish ranging in size from 2" – 6". Success requires... cont.

We are averaging 30 fish per trip right now on fly and spinning gear.

Capt. Dave Pecci 06-20-17 Report
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June Striped Bass Fishing on the Kennebec

​On Fire! 40 Stripers in 5 hours. 

We caught fish ranging from 14" to 30" in 8 different locations this morning..

Capt. Dave Pecci - Obsession Sportfishing
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25 Years!

Kicking off year 25 – To my best estimate I have guided around 6,000 people since 1991. I am truly ... cont

The stripers are here - We're catching fish from 11"-25" with some 36"+ fish just showing up.

Capt. Dave Pecci
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Kennebec River - Casco Bay Fishing Report 05-29-17

Doug Bear from Orvis
The first of the striped bass have arrived in the River. Water temps are a bit ​...

The schoolies are feeding on the surface while the tide is moving.

​5/29 Report - Capt. Dave Pecci
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Kennebec River Eastern Casco Bay Fishing Report 09-01-16

A very busy guiding season is winding down. I've spent around 120 days on the water and I'll admit it, I'm a bit worn down. But there are things that recharge my batteries. Beautiful sunrises. Smiles of clients when the rod bends. Their wonderment when seeing eagles, seals and ospreys. Those strange and unexpected catches. Spending time with friends who were once just customers. I am a blessed man.

A very busy guiding season is winding down. I'll admit it, I'm a bit worn down but...

Fishing Report 09-01-16
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Kennebec River Eastern Casco Bay Fishing Report Aug. 15, 2016

The Dog Days of Summer are Here on the Kennebec River - Striped bass are into a fairly constant night feed because of rising water temperatures. We are taking advantage of this by leaving the dock at or before sunrise. There are fish blitzing on the surface almost every morning for an hour or two. They're eating poppers on both fly and spinning rods. As the sun comes up we change...

"We are taking advantage of this by leaving the dock at or before sunrise"

Fishing Report Aug. 15, 2016

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Pictures Other Fishing Guides Won't Post

​Guides including myself love to post "grip n grin" pictures. Nothing's better for entries in the booking calendar than a pic of a smiling client holding a big fish. You've seen lots of them from me this summer like this one from back in June. But here's three pictures that from my perspective are every bit impressive...

"Nothing's better for entries in the booking calendar than a pic of a smiling client holding a big fish."

August 8,2016 blog post
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The Fardigs Enjoy Another Fun Day Fishing on The Kennebec

Jack and Will with dad and mom; Peter and Karen Fardig joined me again this year for another fishing trip on the Obsession. We caught some striped bass on bucktails and live eels upriver early in the morning. I had help from the boys getting the eels when I needed them.

Will kissed his first striper again this year just he did last year.

July 24th, 2016
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Windy Morning Striped Bass Fishing on the Kennebec

Despite 18kt SSE winds and ripping out going tide the Coopers Get it done. 

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Kennebec River, Eastern Casco Bay Fishing Report July 20, 2016

Conditions: Water temps are now in the mid 70s upriver and in the low 60s downriver. Water clarity is slightly diminished in the River due to the runoff from inland rains. The clarity on the beaches is excellent. The River is holding several schools of striped bass ranging from 12" to 28". There are some larger fish staged up on the beaches and the south facing ledges from Indian Point to Cape Small.

Bait the fish are feeding on: River Herring, American eels, Alewives, Mackerel, Sea Herring and Sand eels

Fishing Tactics: Warmer water and bright sunlight is causing the striped bass to move into deeper water by mid morning. So go early, use topwater lures at first light and change to subsurface lures and flies as it brightens up. 

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Kennebec River / Eastern Casco Bay Fishing Report 07-11-16

July Fishing is Looking Every Bit as Great as June!

Conditions: Water temps in the river range from 65*-75*. The beaches are around 60*. There's tons of bait everywhere so the stripers have full bellies by mid day. The best bite is really early and again at dusk. But, with some patience you'll catch fish from late morning through the afternoon in the deeper water.

This year the River is fishing so good my trips to the beach have been fewer than normal but when I've gone the action has been worth the 12 mile run.

July 11 Fishing Report

Normand Saucier and Bob Emmons with a striper caught on live eel

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July Striped Bass Fishing on the Kennebec River

Ron and Karen Banas from PA enjoying a nice (albeit windy) day of striped bass fishing on the Kennebec river.

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