Question

Member Joined: Feb 11, 2010 Posts: 98

Doesn't really apply where I fish but do you Salt Water fly fisherman generally believe that once you move from bait fishing to fly/lure fishing there's no going back to beachcasting with 5 oz's of lead plus bait- If so, what is it that makes fly/lure fishing so much more attractive?

Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:50 am

For me its all about constantly moving around,covering more ground.Rod,small pack of flies and off you go.A Mackerel on the fly rod is excellent,good little fighters.
Bait fishing just doesn't do it for me,sat there,waiting,waiting.
Cheers

Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:58 am

Hi Cap'n!

The appeal of Saltwater Fly Fishing is much and varied, and i believe once you've tasted it there is definately no going back to other forms of fishing.

Over the years i have sampled many other aspects of Angling, and whilst there is enjoyment to be had from the other branches of our sport, there is definately a certain draw to Swff'ing.

For a start there is the Tackle, a super lightweight rod, a line, a fly, and nothing else. No weights, no heavy lines, no distance casting, all of which contributes to the sport when a fish is hooked. Nothing to 'get in the way' , and detract from the experience. You are in direct contact with your quarry, you against the fish, mano et fisho! Simplicity is the key. The sheer thrill of hooking a fish on that tackle is just incredible, no other type of fishing gives me the same adrenalin rush. Even small fish are worth catching on such light balanced outfits, instead of being wound in with hardly a hint that they are actually on there.

Mobility; Swffing is a much more mobile and visual way of Angling, for if you are to be a successful Swff'er you must use far more of your senses than static bait fishing methods. Eyes and Ears are your most powerful weapons, where are the Gulls?, are they actively working or are they simply waiting for the right state of tide to begin feasting. Did you just hear the 'splosh' of a jumping Bass? Are there fish sitting just off that tide rip waiting to intercept a free meal..or your fly?..these and many other factors come into play for the Saltwater fly fisherman, not to mention reconaisance trips to your venues at low tide, to discover the lie of the land, and anticipate where the fish may frequent when looking for food.

Then there is the Atmosphere, Swffing necessitates wading in the water much of the time, and what could be better than immersing yourself in your quarrys environment? Feeling the water lapping against your legs, the tide flowing around you as you watch the sun slowly rising or dipping on the horizon, the breeze gently rippling the Ocean...Gulls wheeling and diving as the Bass drive the Baitfish up towards the surface...natures free -for -all banquet. Being waist deep in water watching shoals of Bass driving whitebait towards you, casting at them, getting a hit, playing in your prize as the rest of his shoalmates continue on past you and into shore, and then having played in your fish unhooked, admired and gently returned with it with thanks for the super sport, you eye up the next wave of fish driving toward you, anticipating the next thrilling hit from a hungry Bass...

Eventually you call it a day / night, and go on home, tired, but satisfied with your few hours sport, yet still hungry for more and looking forward already to the next time you can immerse yourself in this superb atmospheric sport of ours.

If i could never fish again i would already have enough happy memories of Saltwater Fly fishing to last me to the day i die, such is the fulfilling experiences i already have.

Give it a go you never know, you might like it! winking

Member Joined: Feb 11, 2010 Posts: 98

Cheers for the replies.

Wightfish - you had me drifting off into some idyllic seaside dream instead of thinking about sitting on a freezing cold windsept beach watching motionless rod tips for hours at an end- what a brilliant write up on SWFF'ing- you've persuaded me so I'll be giving it a go- now where did I put that Hardy rod and reel?

Regular Joined: Jul 26, 2009 Posts: 343 Location: Surrey

Captain_Mainwaring wrote:

once you move from bait fishing to fly/lure fishing there's no going back to beachcasting with 5 oz's of lead plus bait- If so, what is it that makes fly/lure fishing so much more attractive?

Not necessarily. I started off fly fishing in the sea, and it is true that a 2lb bass on fly tackle is more fun than one towing a 5oz lead. But for me it is a question of variety. Both methods have their merits, and if you tire of one, have a go at the other. Fly fishing does offer mobility and freedom without the clobber but I also love lobbing a bait into the surf under the stars. Variety is the spice of fishing as well as life in general.

Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:34 pm

Iknowagoodplaice wrote:

Captain_Mainwaring wrote:

once you move from bait fishing to fly/lure fishing there's no going back to beachcasting with 5 oz's of lead plus bait- If so, what is it that makes fly/lure fishing so much more attractive?

Not necessarily. I started off fly fishing in the sea, and it is true that a 2lb bass on fly tackle is more fun than one towing a 5oz lead. But for me it is a question of variety. Both methods have their merits, and if you tire of one, have a go at the other. Fly fishing does offer mobility and freedom without the clobber but I also love lobbing a bait into the surf under the stars. Variety is the spice of fishing as well as life in general.

I'm not into fly fishing but definately into the lures ... rod sits ready in the corner all spring/summer/autumn ready to go at a moments notice. The trouble of course is that when its blowing a gale and a pea souper very little gets caught on lures and in my part of the world not humping leads out means you will probably not be fishing for 6 to 9 months of the year.

Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:07 pm

There is no doubt that, like any method, lure fishing and Fly fishing have their limitations, and, depending on where you are in the world, some may not even be possible. If you are unfortunate to live somewhere that precludes these types of fishing most of the time, then my sympathies go out to you, because you are missing out on some great fishing.
However if you do happen to live somewhere that allows you to take advantage of lure and Fly fishing then i suggest you give it a try.

There are many times throughout the year when us Saltwater fly fishermen are unable to persue our beloved sport due to inclement weather, wind and tide conditions, and this can be very frustrating, winter is a long lean time for us too, as this forum will pay testament!

I myself do partake in other types of Angling during these times, simply to keep fishing, otherwise i would definately go stir crazy! ( AND I AM DEFINATELY NOT DUMBING DOWN THESE OTHER BRANCHES OF OUR SPORT!)
But it is always the Swffing, that i am thinking of and longing for, i enjoy the other types of Fishing but not with the same passion and enthusiasm that i have found for my Swffing Mistress!

love struck

Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:20 pm

An eloquent description of the sport we love, Mr WIGHTFISH.
Baitfishing is an enjoyable form of relaxation.
Flyfishing is an enjoyable form of hunting, with the option of releasing the prey once caught.

Bendy rods to one and all.

Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:55 pm

Living in deepest land locked Derbyshire I do a lot of river fly fishing, have done since my teens. It was the only fishing I knew. In fact before I started visiting Hampshire the only sea fishing I had done was a bit of spinning when on holiday in Cornwall. Now my passion has progressed to SWFFing, when I'm fishing on the Derbyshire Derwent or the Wye, I'm thinking of the salt. I can’t get enough, when I’m at home I long to be out in the surf, I can’t get it out of my head, it drives me mad. Even in mid winter, every time I was down in Hampshire, I was out in the salt, even though I knew I didn’t stand a chance of catching fish, I just had to be out there. For the life of me I don’t know why I’ve become so obsessed! All I know is that as soon as I pull on my chest waders and assemble my fly rod, I get such a rush! It’s ridiculous, maybe if I lived nearer the salt it might be different, I don’t know but I know for sure I just can’t get enough of that saltwater rush.

Roll on Easter!!!!

Tight lines for the new season.
Dave

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:42 pm

Living by the sea makes it worse if anything, Dave. Whenever I step out the door I can smell the salt drooling

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:11 pm

hi guys .my way of thinking is that if u r sat on a beach waiting for a fish to come by,u r wasting time and effort.after many years of waiting for a fish to come to me ive found in swffing more enjoyment stalking my prey and once caught releasing to fight another day.
i truely believe once you have caught on the fly u will be hooked,then u will try pushing the fly to the limits .what is more exciting then pulling a gurgler on the surface and watching a bass snapping 3 or 4 times at the lure/fly u dont get that on 5oz lead.
fluff chucking for me all day long .

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:04 pm

Adding to the above...this season i will try and get out more in the darkness on the warm still summer nights.
Your hearing is enhanced by the lack of vision so the slightest plop in the sea can be heard.
But the casting goes to rat shit!

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:20 pm

i was thinking of doing a bit more nite time swffing.along the lines of big dark flies worth a go .

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:34 pm

Warm summer evenings my ass,who am i trying to kid.
I meant, getting out more in the howling south-westerlys with the horizontal rain lashing against your face,getting really peed off as the wind keeps swinging around bringing that hook whistling past your cheek via the ear lobe.
Lets face reality.Summers are dodgy.
But sooo much better then winter.
Cheers
Si

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:40 pm

I'll deffo be out more in the darkness this year. I decided this when I was wading along the waters edge one October night, at a well known mark (those of you that know me know the place winking

). I'd fished into the darkness and was making my way back to the car. Suddenly there was a bloody great bow wave going from the waters edge out to sea, went off like a torpedo. In the words of "Brooks" out of Shawshank Redemption, I near soiled myself!! I'm sure it was a bass and a big 'un too.
Cheers Dave