advice please, new to fly gear...

[crazyplums]

hey oop, i'm new to the fly gear, my casting is begining to look like someone who thinks they know wht they're doing ! but some general advice might be useful !


i assume i want my lures (sandeel and joeys from dave mcfluffchucker on ebay) to fish near the bottom. i think i need a weighted line, so could you describe exactly what a 'shooting head' line is ? is it just a weighted tip ? i've currently got floating line on the rod i've just been given (10ft 9wht), my lures/flies turned up today and i'm itching to use them !

could also use some advice on lures/flies, i'll mainly fish shallow sandy areas at low tide while waiting to start with the bigger rods, i'm not sure what is acually caught on fly/lure, but we get bass, sole, flounder, macky etc from the beach.

tia,
Plums

[Flyguy]

Plums, I suggest you post your questions, and you will have a few, on one of the many fly boards around.
However standard issue UK SWFFing kit is as follows:

9ft 8wt or 9wt rod. WF floater and Intermediate line to match rod, saltwaterproof reel, DIY stripping basket/line tray, Clousers and deceivers for flies.

Oh and some waders, preferrably breathable and decent wading boots with studs so you don't kill yourself on the rocks.

[crazyplums]

thanks, i think i've got most of my answers now, trying to avoid anymore forums for the moment, got one for each main hobby, costing way too much time !

[slayer]

hugh i go fly fishing quite a bit i use a slow sinking line ,if i want want to fish it near to the bottom i just count the line down before my retreve
now you can vary the depth of witch you fish by the amount of time you let it sink ,20 sec and your on a real deep retreve and if i retreve strait away you will be a foot under the surface, this for me is spot on
if you fancie a trip out give me a shout i know a couple of spots up your way only small schoolies but last time i went i had 18 all small the biggest was just under the pound and the smallest about 3inches
still good fun on the fly though

[crazyplums]

sounds good to me ! with the added bouyancy of saltwater, is a slow sink line a very slow sinker ? i mean compared to freshwater

[slayer]

sounds good to me ! with the added bouyancy of saltwater, is a slow sink line a very slow sinker ? i mean compared to freshwater

yes im sure it is a bit slower sinking but not realy a problem as most places i have been arnt all that deep any ways.bar the odd few where the wait can be a bit teadeios but theres not all that many real deep marks around
ill give you a go with my rod line when i see you, and you can make up your own mind
are you comming saturday

[crazyplums]

aye, i'll be around on sat, chris hopefully down too, he's promised me a lesson if e does... assuming the weather is better then predicted !

[Flyguy]

sounds good to me ! with the added bouyancy of saltwater, is a slow sink line a very slow sinker ? i mean compared to freshwater

Not much difference really. Thinner sinker lines can help cut thru wind and water chop improving distance and contact with the fly in snotty conditions. If you are fishing any kind of tide then slow sinkers will still be fishing just under the surface.
Whilst fast sinking lines have their place most fly caught bass are caught in the UK on floating and intermediate lines as you will probably be fishing shallow broken ground (hint ;) ).

Flyguy

[crazyplums]

thanks flyguy, the best fly mark i know around here is very much shallow broken ground !