I’ve just started saltwater flyfishing last year and I’ve got a question. Freshwater bass fishermen “always” use a spray on attractant on lures like plastic worms. Do you saltwater flyfishermen use anything like Gulp Spray Attractant on your flies? All the articles I’ve been reading about flats Red fishing say that if a perfect cast to a tailing Redfish doesn’t get a strike, he probably didn’t see the fly. I also know that a Redfish has poor eyesight, so would an odor attractant help?
Redfish have good eyesight, try to catch one in Mosquito Lagoon, its just the water here is dirty and they are face down looking for crabs. I have heard of people dipping there flies in gulp. I am sure it would work, it would just take the essence of the sport out of it.
Most of my friends that fly fish say they (and I’m included) go to fly fishing to get away from live bait and plastic simulated baits. But, each one made his own personal choice.
I don’t think it would help you like it would with worms and crank baits. I focus on where the fly lands and what it does when I move it. It is certainly your choice, though. It gets kind of silly sometimes when people say flies should be all natural. There is nothing natural in nature like steel hooks wrapped with feathers and weighted with lead painted eyes. You don’t need the spray. I promise.
They must be able to see something because, the see me ALL the time.
It isn’t true fly fishing if you do that. I know smell/scent is a very important sense to fish but if they aren’t seeing your fly then I would switch to one that pushes more water so the fish feel it through their lateral line. IMHO that’s the most important sense to fish, though I could certainly be wrong. Try a Seaducer to push some water or Dalhberg diver on top to make some noise
I did see an episode of fly fishing the world with john barrett and nick price. They were fishing for bonefish in the bahamas and the guide would rub the fly with sand to get a fish smell on it.
I wonder if reds like pluff mud?
Chris.
there is a whole range of purity in the fly world. there are guys who think the only flash shud be peacock hurl and silk thread is the only thing to tie with and you have to count the hackle turns. at the other end there’s chuck and duck which is a legal dodge using a fly rod to fish bait in waters restricted to fly fishing only. most of us fall somewhere in between. i am ok with spoon flies and poppers some arent. if its ok to use mylar i dont see why certain shapes shud be bad. i wud certainly be willing to use scent to increase a kids chances if i was trying to get them started. one fish every 40 hours is not going to keep their interest. i also fish flies on spinning gear at times. i became interested in fly fishing via the float n fly system for bass, so my pedigree is not papered. welcome to the jungle. i promise not to sniff your fly.
Well I know a few ppl who put there flies in a bag with shrimp or crabs over night. They were mostly permit fishing. I don’t use this method but to each his own. I quess if the fishing is really slow and you want to increase you chances for a hook up this may help.
bugspray, get that on your fly and you are in for a fishless day. Couldn’t figure out why they weren’t biting, then it hit me as I was tying on a new fly right after laying on another layer of bug juice, by hand. Experience is a great teacher. Speaking of scents, has anyone ever used one of those silver bars out of Cabela’s to keep your hands scent-free?
“The good fisherman is surprised when he doesn’t catch fish: I am just the other way around.”
Gene Hill, Passing a Good Time.
