While wading the flats, how do you manage your line to stay ready for a cast? How much line do you keep out of the tip? Say 25 ft total, tail pops up 15 ft away,cast and strip back?
All ideas, tips,techniques appreciated. Thanks!
i carry a few large loops in my hand and drop them when im about to cast…if its a short cast, i just wont shoot line. a line management device like the mangrove hip shooter could work also for you, i think they work well just not entirely necessary for flats. I have when i fish the family pond, as the little shoreline shrubs will constantly grab loose line
I’m with soctty_d…when stripping line back in, I loop in my hand and hold there until I spot a fish…but only if plenty of water is there. If alot of grass is present, then I won’t shoot alot of line.
At first, I used to fumble alot out there, trying to get untangled from grass as I watch a fish tail away from me! 
After time and practice, like everything else with fly fishing, it will all come natural to you.
Once you get good at making nice clean loops in your hand, you’ll be able to shoot from your hand.
Also consider a stripping basket. Those help when wading the flats…but its all personal preference.
I recently got myself a “Charlie’s Total Control Stripping Basket” that works just fine. You can strip 30 ft. into the basket and keep maybe 6-10 feet out of the rod tip and you’re ready to react pretty quick if needed. The thing folds flat when you’re just walking and doesn’t get in the way when fishing. The website is www.flyfishbasket.com/
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Stripping basket. Ones made out of hard plastic are best. I really dislike any made out of mesh.
Stipping baskets are for yankees… just sayin…
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
quote:
Originally posted by Mad_MikeStipping baskets are for yankees… just sayin…
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! 
true dat brutha.
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
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Tarpon 160os
Mike,
I guess you just prefer to stand on your line and get it blown into the water all the time or have it get snagged in grass and shells and whatever. For me I prefer to not deal with those things. When you have been doing this for as long as me and as often as I do then you might have the same epiphany.
quote:
Originally posted by captgordonMike,
I guess you just prefer to stand on your line and get it blown into the water all the time or have it get snagged in grass and shells and whatever. For me I prefer to not deal with those things. When you have been doing this for as long as me and as often as I do then you might have the same epiphany.
I have a feeling this won’t end well…
I like to use a stripping basket. The William Joseph one has worked very well on the flats for me. It is also handy to hang stuff off of the belt like a boga, some water, etc. I also use it to hold my flyrod when I need a break. I use it depending on the amount of grass and water. It has made a difference for me…40 fish last year during my first year of redfishing, and 44 this year so far.
JohnH0802
So a mangrove hip shooter is OK but a stripping basket is not? Just want to clear that up before I go into CA and ask for the wrong thing. I can only imagine what will follow
I use a mangrove hipshooter. Didn’t for like 10yrs cause I thought the same thing (yankee striper/bluefish thing and not a flats fishing thing). My boat is not a fancy flats boat with the clean deck so the line was forever catching on this and that. Just got tired of all that as it was increasing frustration and decreasing time with the fly in the water. So I decided to give it a try. Now that I use one I use it all the time, even in the boat. Makes a serious difference. I’m able to step to the back of the boat to make a cast, cast in the wind without the line blowing off the deck, etc., all without tangles. Can leave the line in the basket, put the motor down and run, stop and then pick up the rig and cast without stripping line back out etc. Adds a bit of distance for me also due to the line management effect.
Slightly geeky? Yes. Worth it (to me)? Yes.
(Btw, I’m not necessarily uniquely endorsing the mangrove brand, it’s just the one I happened to buy. As mentioned, I am happy with it though.)
Alex V
capt. gordon - “Mike,
I guess you just prefer to stand on your line and get it blown into the water all the time or have it get snagged in grass and shells and whatever. For me I prefer to not deal with those things. When you have been doing this for as long as me and as often as I do then you might have the same epiphany.”
Sorry O’ prince of the Tides for having the indecency to make a joke… I guess I’ll never amass the massive amount of knowlege that you and only you posses and shall never reach the potential that you have for wading flats… Gimme a break man…
For anyone else reading this, my comment was a joke… use whatever you like, I have no problems managing my line, but thats just me… stripping baskets do help…
I’m out…
edited to be a little nicer… 
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
Prince of Tides… bwahahahahahaha
Pillage and plunder with a 9wt and a fist full of clousers.