I’d like to see a feaure on salt fly fishing. Where it can be done, what you can get, when through the year to try, what kind of kit you need.
I ask ‘cos I regard fly fishing as a bit of a king of the sport. Watching the ‘Accidental Angler’ (BBC)(sure that was the title) put you in the mood to try. And seeing salt kit (Ron thompson) for £100 all in makes you wonder if you’d be wasting the money to give it a try.
As well as the new mag doing a feature, I’ll like views from those that do Salt fishing, where they fish and what they use.
I have fly fished for pollack and had varying degrees of success. The pollack will readily take flies designed for bass but in my experience anything over 2/3 lbs and you have one hell of a job landing them. They strip line at an alarming rate and unlike on a spinning rod they don’t usually stop until they find the kelp. My rod an 8/9 weight does not have the backbone to stop them but a fly rod designed for the sea may be more suitable.
When they are on i have had them coming out of the water as they take the fly and it is an exciting way to fish. The best time has been at dusk on a rising tide fishing into gullies or around tide races at the end of rocky outcrops. I generally use a floating line and 12lb fluorocarbon leader as the flies sink well and a sinking line finds more snags and weed. The only other advice i can give is that they are territorial fish and appear to congregate at certain areas, if you find the areas you will have continuous fun as long as they are returned.
Mac.
Ive been looking into this aswell,apparently there are some areas on the Menai straits which fish well with the fly for Bass,but im a bit reluctant to try it cos i wouldnt now were or how to start.
What flys to use what type of line etc.I bought a fly kit a few weeks ago,not a very strong I dont think but I really want to try and fish for the Bass on the fly.
Can anyone give me any pointers on how to start,maybe what state of tide,times,what fly what strength line and what type of linei.e.floating or sinking.
Not sure if you can also fly fish for mullet,id imagine the Mullet and the Bass would be a really good scrap on the fly
Thanks Dils
Getting started on a budget.
O.K, so you have decided you like the idea of trying saltwater fly fishing here in the U.K. The problem is, either you have a limited amount of money to spend getting set up, or you don’t want to break the bank until you know the sport is for you. Obviously the latest offerings from Sage or Hardy won’t fit into your budget. The following is intended as a guide to tackling up on a limited budget, rather than a shopping list of exactly which tackle to buy. Tackle purchases are a very personal thing and what’s right for you may not be suitable for others. I have broken the guide down into sections ( rods, reels,lines etc. ) and have based it on purchasing brand new rather than used. As always it pays to buy the best you can afford, but there are ways to save a few pounds here and there.
Rods
For SWFF in the U.K. an #8 or #9 rod is generally considered most suitable. There are a few #9 rated rods available for less than £100, but the range is limited and I cant recall seeing any #9 rods for around the £50 mark. A rod rated for #8 lines is capable of coping with most UK SWFF situations and there are many more models available in this size at lower prices. Many anglers favour 3 or 4 piece rods, for ease of transport, but the same rods, as a 2 piece are often slightly cheaper. Rods specifically designed with saltwater in mind come with a higher price tag generally , so money can be saved by looking at rods designed for Trout reservoir fishing that co-incidentally have SW proof fittings. Surprisingly, a lot do. Bear in mind that you will need to give these rods a good clean in freshwater after a session in the salt. Whilst some bargains are available online, by purchasing from a tackle store you have the advantage of getting a feel of the rod before you buy, as well as advice from the dealer and if paying by cash.
Reels
There are many budget priced reels on the market. Ideally for SWFF you want a reel with a level of saltwater resistance , a decent line capacity and some sort of drag system. This narrows down your options a little. Both Ron Thompson and Masterline market copies of the System2 reels and these can be bought for as little as £30. If you prefer a large arbour reel then there a several manufacturers who produce suitable reels. Okuma is a name that springs to mind, having seen positive reviews on U.S. websites about these reels.
Lines
This is probably one area where it really pays to buy the best you can. Personally, I do most of my SWFF with a 15 ft Sink tip line, so I would recommend buying a fairly decent line and then saving money by buying a cheaper Intermediate and / or sinking line. Certainly line selection will be reflected by the areas you will be fishing, so seeking advice from others who SWFF in the area or posting a query on a web will help you select the right line for you. Mill ends/ factory seconds may seem cheap but can be a real lottery. You may be lucky and get a line where the colour has come out wrong or the range has been discontinued, but you could easily get a line that has manufacturing defects or is too short etc.
Flies
Ultimately the cheapest flies are those you tie yourself. However this can be time consuming and the initial outlay on tying vice, tools and materials can be expensive. There are many people selling saltwater flies, but much of the product they sell is unsuitable for U.K. use. I would recommend purchasing from OceanFlies Contact them to discuss the areas you will be fishing and the species your attempting to catch and they will be able to advise you on which flies are most suitable.
Leaders
Ask 10 SWFFishermen what leader they use and you’ll get 10 different answers, but none will be wrong. It’s another area where it’s very much personal preference. One area where there seems to be unanimous agreement is the use of Fluorocarbon, rather than Nylon monofilament line, especially during daylight. It’s not cheap, but it can make the difference between catching fish or blanking.
Stripping Basket or Bowl
An essential item. There’s nothing worse ( or more dangerous ) than have loads of fly line wrapped around your feet when stood on rocks or washing around in the current when wading. Quality, hard plastic ones, such as the Orvis are very expensive. An alternative is the folding baskets designed for reservoir use. The best option is to make your own from washing up bowl or similar with a luggage strap or belt to secure it to your waist.
Other Items
Waders - Chest waders are a must. Breathable waders are becoming cheaper, but lightweight Nylon/Rubber waders are a cheap, effective alternative as long as you don’t mind sweating a little. There’s no need to buy a specific fishing waistcoat. Most of the things you need when fishing can be hung round your neck on a lanyard or tucked in the top of your waders. Most hiking /camping stores sell waterproof ‘butt’ bags should you need extra storage. You will need some sort of eyewear to protect your eyes from the glare off the water as well as wayward casts. Polarizing sunglasses can be bought quite cheaply , Line snips are no more than nail clippers.
Fly boxes, forceps or pliers for hook removal, head lamp or small torch, a wide brimmed or baseball cap.
Not mine but hope thats of some use, the flyfishing industry has latched on to SWFF and are trying there hardest to convince everyone they need to spend silly money on tackle.Some of the best saltwater fly fishers I know use very cheap kit.
Cheers Colin
I’ve been lucky enough to fish with him a few times................including one scary occasion when he helped pull me out the mud at Holy Island...................and believe me he knows his stuff. Anyone interested in trying saltwater flyfishing would do well to try and arrange to meet up with him.
Phil
PS Colin I’ve still got your Lefty Kreh/ Bob Popovic dvd in the house!!!
Don’t put yourself down Colin, you are an expert on SWFF ! The definition of an expert is..."a person with a high level of knowledge or skill; a specialist:”
Sorry to say but you fit that Criteria !
We had a few Pollock last weekend but I think the drift would have been a bit fierce for the fly rod. I’ve bought myself a length of Cortland Kerplunk trawling line. Do you think that would get down far enough or would I need extra weight ?
I use Rio T14 shooting heads now,its the fastest sinker available and handles like fly line .Its Tungsten coated rather than lead core handles ok and its cheap at £13 or so for a 30ft head.
I dont use normal shooting head backing off the yak,I spliced the head to an old airflow Di7 line.For maximum sinkiness,the whole thing hangs pretty much vertical,I tend to leave the fly rod in the holder with the fly drifting while jigging muppets and wait for the zzzzzzzzzzzz.
Cars fixed But Im stuck in tying flies for a bloke going to the Seychelles, got to get them done for the weekend
I’ll get myself sorted out with one of those lines. I would’nt worry about this weekend, the forecast looks mince anyway. I’m off next Friday, Saturday, so a double whammy is on the cards, got any plans ?
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