salt water fly fishing (silly question)

Member Joined: Mar 03, 2009 Posts: 46

Can anyone help with regard to Salt water fly fishing?

i have a question or two if i may please? i have fresh water fly equipment from when i have done a few trout sessions (how boring, too easy!) i would say i'm an ok caster. bearing in mind all the gear bar the flies i have are fresh water bits, line, rod etc. can i use this gear for bass fishing?

silly question remember!! went down with this kit and for the first time ever i managed to wrap the fly and leeda around my head, either i got much worse at fluff chucking or the gear was not suited to chucking the fly (being bigger than one would use in a lake/puddle), fairly scratchy i know and i do apologise, i woundered if anyone would know what the problem maybe?

don't know whether i need to replace the fly line or whether being a fresh water fly rod, the fly i was trying to chuck is too big or whatever..

all replies most welcome and appreciated

Member Joined: Apr 08, 2009 Posts: 13

Hi there
I use a 9`6 rod which is a 9-10 weight specially for salt water fly fishing, some of the bigger poppers i use for bass fishing need a heavier weight line to get them out, if you are using fresh water gear you will find after a short time it will rust up and the reel will be no use, you can pick up some reasonable reels for the purpose between £50-£100 now as its becoming ever more popular, also with the line you need to be using a saltwater line i have seen leeda do one for about £25 now check out veals website they do quite a bit of salt water fly gear, in principle its same as fresh water and even if you dont get into the bass garfish and mackerel will take fly and it can be pretty good sport!

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:50 pm

iam sure you will get a better response from the others ,bassfly ,crapcaster,.but you need something in the region of a 7wt rod and reel set up for swff .fresh water fly gear is ok just make sure u rinse it off after your trip.all the rest of your no how from trout fishing should help you.only learning my self but the advice given on the forum has improve my fluff chucking just need a few more fish tight lines trublue

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:58 pm

Your fresh water stuff should do the trick,but a heavier weight preferred.
As mentioned just a good rinse off afterwards,i personally like to take my evening shower and wash kit off at the same time!!Saves water.
If you have lighter gear then Mackerel,Garfish etc will give you good sport.
I tend to use Intermediate and Floating lines,sometimes with a fast sink tip.
Some saltwater flies are very sparse so yor kit should cope.
I would also explore other targets apart from Bass.
You'll get it sussed im sure.
Best of luck
Simon

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:09 pm

Welcome on board trueblue. If you can catch trout then you should be able to catch salt water fish without too much problem. A sparse Clouser is a good starter fly, with small eyes to making casting easier. A pair of breathable waders can be a real advantage, so that you are not restricted to fishing only from the shore. If you are wading, watch that you aren't cut off by an incoming tide. The best way to learn is by getting out on the water and keep your eyes open (wearing polarised shades of course) for any fish activity and getting your fly in amongst them. Couldn't be easier.
Tight lines
CC big grin

Member Joined: Mar 03, 2009 Posts: 46

I really can't thank you all enough, thank you all very much, your advice has given me a bit of a lift and will most certainly stick with it.

locally I have been fishing ratty bank on a flooding tide with waders (huge numbers of fish) had a few bass on plugs already ranging in size, seen bigger one's than i have caught mind you, lacking finesse perhaps. best part about this spot, completely quiet - never seen another angler down there.

during my many smoothy fishing evenings I have seen a few people fishing the 'bay - harbour' area down hillhead that I will give a go at some point (for bass not sea trout!!)

where abouts do you lads get the gars on flies? anywhere else that maybe worth some consideration?

again, thanks all. very much appreciated!

Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:27 am

Hi there,
Where is 'ratty bank'? Sounds like a good spot.
Hillhead should produce but you say 'not sea trout'.Any particular reason?
Try for some Mullet too,little deer hair bread flys,they will also take clousers and red tags.When you hit one you will certainly be aware of it as all you fly line gets stripped off and you are into your backing line in 2 seconds.
Happy hunting.
Simon

Member Joined: Mar 03, 2009 Posts: 46

Hey Simon, if you know Gosport at all, head for the new bridge down by priddy's hard, on the same side jump down on the same side and walk towards the harbour, at low tide you will see the bank. huge numbers of mullet and bass shoal as the water starts to run over the bank, probably more numbers of mullet than bass but the bass are in amgonst them, some huge takes of the surface with the aggression the fish display it must be bass hitting smaller fish, always as the light starts to dip so you can not see them.. oh another note, the fish are so easily spooked another good sign that they are not used to anglers and such. also worth noting i have had bass from both the creek and harbour sides..

will give the mullet a go for sure later in the season with bread,.

would advise extreme caution with the tides and mud also under water obstructions..

Member Joined: Mar 03, 2009 Posts: 46

bassfly wrote:

Hillhead should produce but you say 'not sea trout'.Any particular reason?

yes mate, no game fishing licence.

Regards,
Steve