Fly Fishing the Casco Bay. Eric Wallace

      12 . Casco Bay (stripers)

       Location: Southern Maine, about a half-hour ride from Portland or a 1½-hour ride from Bangor, Maine; a 2-hour ride from Boston, Massachusetts; and a 2-hour ride from Manchester, New Hampshire. Full-service airports are available in all four cities.

      When most people think of the Maine coast, they think of a rugged shoreline where evergreen forests push right up to the ocean; waves crashing the rocky shores; lighthouses, lobster boats, and quaint seaside villages;

      and seafood restaurants, takeout stands, and general stores. They do not think of sand beaches, with manicured lawns pushing up against the shoreline; calm, shallow water lapping gently against the beach; yacht clubs, flats boats, and large luxury homes; and sushi bars, coffee shops, and pubs.

      The Casco Bay region near Portland fits the description of the latter, not the former. It looks more like Cape Cod than Bar Harbor. It feels more like Massachusetts than Maine. Those who take a closer look will see what actually lies within this beautiful setting. From tourist-friendly Freeport—the town that L.L. Bean built—to bustling Portland, they will find an opportunity to sight fish for striped bass—or stripers—and bluefish—or blues—in shallow water, in a modern and cosmopolitan setting.

      Casco Bay is located on the northern end of the striped bass

      migration. This results in fewer fish than in places such as Montauk, New York. It also presents a unique flats-fishing opportunity where individual fish rather than schools of fish are targeted. While fewer fish migrate this far north, those that do call these waters home for the season. Fish in Casco Bay remain active even during the heat of the summer. Cool water temperatures and greatly fluctuating tides keep things interesting.

      As early as mid- to late May, fly fishing near the mouths of rivers starts to turn on. However, this early