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In our final Fish On! event for 2026, we will hear how with careful planning, Johan Frenje's fly-fishing season is a year-round endeavor.
Throughout the year, several species are targeted, including the striped bass, American shad, blue fish, false albacore, bonito, king salmon, coho salmon, steelhead and brown trout.
The saltwater season typically starts in early April when hold-over striped bass are targeted in various river systems in New England. Late-April and early-May are also good times for some American-shad fishing in the Merrimack River. As the striper migration progresses further north, he tends to follow the migration front all the way up to Maine.
When June comes around, Johan switches to sight fishing for striped bass, crabbing flats, his favorite way of fishing for striped bass, as one can be quite successful finding large bass from shore during the day.
In August, the hard-tail fever kicks in that brings him down to Long Island sound and Southern Cape Cod. Hooking a False albacore on fly is an amazing and unforgettable experience.
Although the saltwater season is far from over in October, he will typically make a switch to freshwater and start making trips to upstate New York for some Lake Ontario tributary fishing. As the king and coho salmon runs are typically peaking in early October, he makes an effort to hook up with one of these tackle busters. When November comes around, his attention is on lake-run Brown trout and steelhead.
During the winter, some of the rivers, such as the Salmon River, Oak Orchard, and Niagara River, often stay open that allows for fishing of browns and steelhead in winter-holding spots.
In March and April, when the tributaries start to warm up, swinging flies for spring-run or drop-back steelhead is a wonderful way of fishing for them.
Johan grew up in Sweden, spending time there fishing for perch, northern pike, trout, char, grayling, and salmon. His passion for fly fishing for big fish started in the mid-90s when he realized he could target Northern pike with the fly rod. Johan moved to the Boston area in the late 90s for work. There, he met a girl from the Vineyard, got married and had kids. About 25 years later, his passion is fly fishing the salt and freshwater in New England and upstate New York. Morris Island and Monomoy flats were initially the saltwater regions he fished the most. He moved to the MA north shore about 15 years ago and Cape Ann and Plum Island are now the areas he mainly fish these days, but he does fish the entire coastline from Housatonic in CT to Kennebec in ME. On freshwater side, he spends time mainly fly fishing the Merrimack River and the Lake Ontario tributaries. For more information about Johan’s fishing, see his Instagram page: instagram.com/frenjefly
Join us for other Fish On! events on Tuesday, February 3rd and Tuesday, February 10th.
Fish On! Andover is sponsored by the Friends of Memorial Hall Library.
AGE GROUP: | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Library Program--Adults |
