Flies

[Woodster]

Dear all,

Was given a selection of flies by the father in law last year have converted them into a mackerel style feather rig? What would be the best retrieve? Am using a 9ft tele spin rod. Help is much appreciated

Woodster

[PanamaJack]

Was given a selection of flies by the father in law last year have converted them into a mackerel style feather rig? What would be the best retrieve? Am using a 9ft tele spin rod. Help is much appreciated

Um.. And my apologies Woodster, I’m not trying to be ‘funny’. But having re-read your posting several times I have to say I’m confused by the Question Mark at the end of that first sentence. Have you, or have you not already converted them into a mackerel style feather rig?

If I start with the assumption that you haven’t can I ask what flies they are? I suspect from the nature of your enquiry that they’re likely to be flies for Trout, Sea Trout or Salmon. Do you know what? Obviously many flies are meant to be broadly imitative patterns and things like Trout Dry flies for instance, I would suggest, are inappropriate for sea fishing.

Then the spin rod you have, what weight is it designed to cast?

If it’s several ounces then probably just create perhaps 3 feathers, mackerel-style, cast it out and fish ‘sink and draw’.

However if it’s very light then you could get away fishing a single fly – assumption, a weighted nymph or a wet fly – with a lead shot up trace from it. (You may find that most ‘wet’ flies have too much dressing to be truly effective though.) The retrieve should then be to mimic that of what you’re trying to imitate. Both a Shrimp and an immature Sand Eel will dart. And to simulate that you’ll need to wind the fixed spool reel in a ‘stuttering’ way – retrieving just a couple of inches for a Shrimp, whereas perhaps 18” for a Sand Eel – interspersed by short ‘stops’. Obviously much easy to achieve (and describe) if you’re using a fly rod! However if you're targeting say a 'schoolie' then a steady retrieve is likely to be just as effective - they'll grab anything!

One final point the corrosive effect of sea water, even if you thoroughly wash those flies in freshwater after each outing will quickly discolour the dressing and corrode the wire under the dressing.
Dave

[Woodster]

PanamaJack,
Thnak you for the reply, have converted them to a mackerel style feather rig. but do have the option of unconverting it. Will let you and all know how I get on as I w'm having a fishing frenzy week starting Monday.

Many thanks

Woodster