Saltwater Fly Fishing -- The Tide Runs Through It
E. A. Edwards
Saltwater fly fishing is all the rage these days. This excitement is quite understandable because there’s hardly anything more thrilling to a saltwater fly rodder than a bluefish blitz, a tailing red drum off the coast of NC, or a bonefish battle on the flats of south Florida waters.
If you are just getting started in saltwater fly-fishing, there are a few tips that will make your conversion from freshwater easier and more productive.
Get some gear just for fishing saltwater You’re best bet is to get another fly rod and reel for your saltwater fishing adventures. Your freshwater gear is undoubtedly going to be lighter than may be necessary to deliver that big fly in a stiff offshore breeze, and you’re better off leaving your high-dollar equipment out of the punishing salt air.
Get a good 10 weight rod There are a number of reasons you need to use heavier tackle. One is because you will need to make longer casts with larger flies in typically windy conditions. Another is because when you see that fish you need to deliver the fly IMMEDIATELY. Doing that will be considerably easier with heavier equipment.
Put your money in the rod If you have to make a choice between spending money on rod or reel, choose rod. You can get away with a less expensive reel but you will not get the control you need with a cheap rod because it will flex more when you try to cast. The rod is more important than the reel.
Buy a reel made for fishing saltwater You will still have to clean it after use but it will hold up better than one designed for freshwater.
Buy the best fly line you can afford More expensive fly lines last longer and perform better than cheaper lines, it’s as simple as that. Your lines are the one place you can’t afford to pinch pennies. Also be sure to keep your lines clean and dressed with a good line dressing if you expect top performance from your lines.
Keep direct contact between your rod tip and fly. Beginning saltwater anglers often do not realize the lighting speed at which a marine game fish is apt to strike. Every little bit of slack from our rod to the fly means a greater chance your hook-up will be unsuccessful.
Keep your rod tip pointed toward the water Your best chance of hooking a saltwater game fish is by not lifting your rod from the water and setting the hook by stripping the line, keeping the rod pointed down before lifting it. Eliminate as much slack as possible between your rod and the fly and you will find your attempts will be more successful.
Try the shooting head system Because of the heavy head section, a good caster can achieve a good 80 to 90 feet of distance with only one false cast. You may often find yourself in a situation where an 80 foot cast is sometimes not enough for open water fishing so a long cast with a shooting head is what is needed.
Fabulous flies Keep in mind what your game fish eats and mimic it (most of the time). Sometimes the fish will only bite the bizarre, but usually you’re better off with flies that look like minnows, shrimp, crabs, worms, and various other small saltwater creatures.
Whether you are just getting started and testing your fly-fishing “wings” or are a veteran who simply loves the sport, give saltwater fly-fishing a try this fall or spring. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more exciting fly fishing adventure than a saltwater one.
About the author: E. A. Edwards is a free-lance writer with a variety of professional and personal interests. You will find more information about fly-fishing and fly-fishing gear on www.fly-fishing-guide.info.
The latest information and news on Fishing:
This fishing report, provided by the Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from area officers, anglers, guides and local businesses. Conditions may vary as stream, lake and weather conditions alter...
Fishing Line: 02/09/12
AMERICAN RIVER - There are still quite a few steelhead coming up the river, and quite a few that have been in the river for awhile.
Fishing tournaments reel in big bucks for Tavares
TAVARES ? Fishing tournaments provide a big boost to the local economy, according to the more than $1.6 million in economic impact measured from last month's Bassmaster Southern Open.
Best Ice Fishing Spots in South Dakota
Avid ice anglers may want to consider booking a trip to South Dakota this year. The state has well over 1,100 square miles of prime fishing locations to choose from. Even if the ice isn't what it should be, there are plenty of boat launches and shoreline fishing available as...
Hunting and fishing - Fri, 10 Feb 2012 PST
Fly fishing Fly fishing at Rocky Ford has been good. Anglers throwing olive-colored scuds on fluorocarbon leaders under an indicator have an excellent chance of catching several 20-inch rainbows in a day.
RAPALA BECOMES A GLOBAL MARKET LEADER IN ICE FISHING
Rapala VMC CorporationStock Exchange ReleaseFebruary 10, 2012 at 10.45 a.m. Rapala has concluded three major strategic initiatives relating to ice fishing business: Acquisition of the assets of Strike ...
In iceless winter, fishing is a no-go
It?s a bummer year for ice fishing. Ice-fishing tournaments have been canceled this year in Southeastern Massachusetts and throughout much of the state. Although tournaments south of Boston often get postponed a week when the ice is too thin, the unseasonably warm temperatures this winter have left organizers with little hope of rescheduling.
Film series captures thrills, moods of fly fishing
Montana fishing guide Mark Raisler prepares to release a brown trout in the Missouri River during filming of "Missouri Trout: Sipping Dry," one of the films featured in the 2012 Fly Fishing Film Tour. The filmmaker, Simon Perkins, is a fly-fishing guide based near Craig, Mont.
Top 5 Places to Go Ice Fishing in North Dakota
Planning an ice fishing trip to North Dakota this winter and want to know the top five places to sink your line? I've got you covered. Here's a quick rundown on the places you won't want to miss: 1. Devil's Lake Over 16,000 acres of ice fishing nirvana is what...
Fishing industry fights phosphate mining
THE proposed Sandpiper Marine Phosphate mining will negatively affect the fishing grounds of various marine species.