Question

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 10:13 am

I have fished the fly ( for trout etc ) since i was a kid. I started SWFF in the UK in earnest last year with some of the guys on the forum and learned a fair bit about Bass, locations and flies. The thing that really has hooked me is how unpredictable this type of fishing can be. One minute you can be kind of day dreaming as you cast into the sea with the sun warming your back and you lull into a rhythm of cast/retrieve cast/retrieve when one of your friends spots some activity from birds or surface motion and your off on a hundred metre sprint to intercept a shoal of bass, mackeral, Mullet or Garfish. So many species to go for and with the option of specialising in a particular favourite.

The other real draw for me is the cost. Once you have your kit, the outlay is minimal (fuel for car and sarnies etc). I have spent thousands of pounds over the years pursuing stockies on put and take waters and shelled out £50-£60 per trip for 4 trout that i usually give away (don't like the taste). Sure you can get onto some beautiful waters but they all have one thing in common, TROUT! Give me the variety and the uncertainty of the salt anytime. What's more you can take a small travel rod, a dozen flies and a reel with a couple of lines on Holiday. I've taken my kit to Cuba, Mauritius, Antigua, Barbados and the USA and fished for an hour or so in the mornings before the missus has awoken. There aren't many types of fishing that are so "portable". and the funny thing is that, where ever i have fished i have always drawn a small crowd of locals who are either fascinated by the method or think you are a complete nutter and wasting your time (had that in Barbados until i was giving freshly caught horse-eyes to the locals who ended up forming a respectable queue every morning). Funny how fishing breaks down all sorts of barriers either language or ethnicity.

I would urge all those who fish in the salt to "Try with a Fly".

You will never look back!

Mike

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 10:45 am

Very well put Mike.... I'm off to Kos in June, I can't wait to see the look on the faces of the locals when I turn up with my fly rod.....Another mad Englishman!!! suprise

Cheers Dave

PS: Mike (Silverfly), you were on about giving Carsington a chuck when you come up to my neck of the woods.....Apparently it is open under new management.

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:44 pm

I had a similar experience one night Dave. I was wading back towards the car park when I saw two fish very close to shore. I cast a bloodworm close by the nearest fish which shot forward, took the fly and almost pulled the rod from my hand. The fish then took off for deeper water at lightning pace, stripping me down to the backing and showing no sign of stopping until the hook pulled free. Two old ladies stood on the beach appeared a little shocked by my language. No idea what the fish was but I hope that in the words of Dame Vera, "We'll meet again".

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:32 pm

so what sort of kit is required for swffing then?? is it anything like river fly stuff??

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 5:08 pm

geordiesandman wrote:

so what sort of kit is required for swffing then?? is it anything like river fly stuff??

Not really it's more akin to a reservoir/stillwater trout set up. Swffers in this country generaly use rods between 7 and 9 weight, maybe a 10 weight and around 9 foot long. My rod is a 9 foot 8 weight specifically made for salty fishing, where as my river rods are an 8 foot 4/5 weight and a 6 foot 3 weight. The reel is a big wide arbour reel, to take plenty of backing and again, suitable for salt.

You can use freshwater gear no problem, so long as you take it in the shower with you when you get home or the salt will rot the fittings and reel etc. Even though my gear is made for salt, I still rinse it in freshwater.

A lot of guys are now starting to use two handed rods, so I suppose that's akin to salmon fishing.
Give it a go, you'll never look back!!
Cheers Dave

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 5:44 pm

what type of reel do you use? fixed spool? center pin? multiplier????

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 6:23 pm

geordiesandman wrote:

what type of reel do you use? fixed spool? center pin? multiplier????

Fly reel. This is mine.

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

If you intend to have a go at flyfishing, bear in mind that it does require a fair bit of casting skill - what with wind and heavy lines - so you might consider casting lessons as a shortcut. It's certainly good exercise as there's an awful lot of walking around involved. As others have said, it can be a glorious way to fish, but as with all types of fishing, it has its dire moments.

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 7:29 pm

ballthebuilder wrote:

Very well put Mike.... I'm off to Kos in June, I can't wait to see the look on the faces of the locals when I turn up with my fly rod.....Another mad Englishman!!! suprise

Cheers Dave

PS: Mike (Silverfly), you were on about giving Carsington a chuck when you come up to my neck of the woods.....Apparently it is open under new management.

Mad dogs and englishman huh Dave?

It really is funny how the fly attracts people who fish but see the fly as a mysterious art!

We visited friends in New Jersey (The Shore) USA last summer and although he is a passionate lure fisherman he was amazed at the reception my fly fishing received from die hard striper and bluefish anglers who use lures.

I spent 2 days cathching nothing off the coast of long beach island while all around guys were catching Herring, Bluefish and smallish stripers on lures but on day 3 i found the fly and the depth and hammered them all!!!

I reckon around 10 of these guys who have never fly fished before all swore to take lessons and learn how to SWFF after seeing this lone mad Englishman with nothing but determination hook and land 50 - 60 3lb to 4lb blue fish in 2.5 hrs!

I'd rather die than give up the Fly!

Mike

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 7:38 pm

[quote="silverfly"]

ballthebuilder wrote:

I'd rather die than give up the Fly!

Mike

Ditto mate, ditto big grin

Trouble is, one day it'll happen worried