I’ve done quite a bit of spin fishing over the years, but recently have been thinking of getting into fly fishing. The wife surprised me with a new outfit (9ft, 8wt) on christmas morning. Can’t wait to hit the water.
I’ve watched and read for hours on end but any first-hand advice to catching reds on a fly in the area would be greatly appreciated.
Capt John Irwin does a Fly Fishing 101 class every so often. I’ve taken it. Highly recommend.
1966 13’ Boston Whaler “Flatty”
2018 Sportsman Masters 207
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
Where is that at? I might have to check it out.
My best advice is to be patient. I never understood when people talked to me about going somewhere to practice cast when I thought, “Why would I practice cast if I can practice cast on the water?” This ethos worked out for me when I caught my first red on fly on a 4wt when just blind casting into a spot I often spin-fished, but for the most part, practice casting in a wide open field offers more. Developing an understanding with your rod and the elements around you only comes with a lot of practice and its easiest in a open space with maybe a few targets.
As far as targeting reds on the fly its not too different from spin-fishing–you’re looking for signs of fish (tailing, nervous water, chasing bait). However, once you spot the fish the practice comes in. I suggest wading a grassy plain on a heavy tide. You need to be prepared to put that fly where it needs to be at a moments notice. You might have a bank behind you or a really crappy wind, and all of that is much more impactful on casting a fly than a spin bait. You have to make it work given the conditions and deliver that fly anyway. I will say–I’ve caught quite a few fish from blind casting into fishy waters with basic fly patterns. It doesn’t always have to be the predator-prey method of hunting fish on a flood tide.
When you do hook that fish, depending on its size, don’t be in a rush to land it. You don’t want to put in all that work and lose it because you put too much tension on your tippet. I would do your best to get any line you have pulled out reeled in while still keeping tension on the line that is holding the fish–this can be kind of like juggling. Let the reel do the work is what I’m saying–trout fisherman strip the fish in for the most part, but saltwater fish are a lot stronger.
I might be rambling at this point, and I’m by no means an expert; I’m just addicted is all. Hope some of my advice helps, hope I wasn’t repeating things you already knew. I catch fewer fish on fly than I would if I were soaking minnows, b
Sound like a nice setup for reds. The biggest thing is have fun with fly fishing and know the hook-ups are going to be less than when spin casting. Orvis has a great, free, fly fishing 101 video set that you can find on Youtube or there website. Set up some targets in a open yard, park, something with grass and practice casting to them. Casting slightly in front of the targets, similar to what you’ll do on the water. Visit the local shops in Charleston and talk to the guys in the shop, they’ll give you some advice. Low Country fly shop in Mt. Pleasant is a good shop.
Tight Lines!
There is no greater fan of Fly Fishing Than the Worm!
quote:
Originally posted by OptikerCapt John Irwin does a Fly Fishing 101 class every so often. I’ve taken it. Highly recommend.
1966 13’ Boston Whaler “Flatty”
2018 Sportsman Masters 207
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
Ditto. Find one of Irwin’s classes.
Fly casting is a lot like golf in that if you learn bad technique to start with, you’ll spend a ton of time trying to unlearn your bad habits. Find one of Irwin’s FF 101 classes and get the basics of fly casting.
Find anything with Lefty Kreh on youtube.
17’ Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl
26’ Palmer Scott project hull
14’ Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
quote:http://www.flyrightcharters.com
Originally posted by Usaf_gilesWhere is that at? I might have to check it out.
So a little update…
While practicing in my back yard (which I do everyday now) the first joint on the second piece of my rod started to splinter. I called ORVIS and they are sending me two new ones (one of the same model and another upgrade) for my troubles. First time using any of their products but it’s hard to beat that kind of customer service.
As a general rule I have over many years found Orvis to offer excellent customer service.
Welcome to the addiction! Other than an actual defect in the rod, that issue with the ferrule is usually because the ferrule comes loose while casting. Then the rest of the rod acts like a big pry bar & destroys the ferrule. Check them often. Another issue that can cause that ferrule damage is when taking them apart, the two sections are not pulled apart in a straight pull. It could happen when assembling the rod, but not often. Most folks are more careful then, than they are when taking them apart. Again, you’re simply prying the ferrule apart. Ferrules are not particularly strong since the walls of the rod are thin, except when the rod is assembled. Once there’s a break, it’s going to continue breaking, so pay attention to what you’re doing and take your time with assembly & disassembly. Sometimes you may have to twist the sections, just make sure everything is moving in a straight line, and not prying the edges of the ferrule. Some folks use wax & other things on the ferrules to keep them from sticking. That’s fine as long as it doesn’t cause them to come loose when casting.
I agree with what’s already been said here, that getting casting instruction will put you ahead of the curve, and practice on & off the water is never a bad idea. I advise folks to concentrate more on “learning” than on fishing if they practice on the water.
I didn’t see it mentioned, but unlike using other tackle, and with larger fish, you should learn to do a “strip strike” when setting the hook, rather than jerking back on the rod. You’ll get better, more solid hook sets & less likely to do damage to the rod.
I had a friend who was an avid bass angler and he was used to crossing their eyes when setting the hook. He broke his new fly rod the first time out because of his cross their eyes hook set. So, learn the strike strip technique for setting the hook & then raise the rod to play the fish. Your rod might last longer.