Fly fishing from the beach

[tupsyr]

Hi all,

I have recently taken up fly fishing and Malcom (Flydresser) was kind enough to take me out on a trout fishing session. Two trouts.

Went back home and got myself a SW fly rod and reel. Now i've never done any salwater fly fishing before and would like to know how you guys go about it.

Do you stay in one place and fish or move along the beach. If you do move along the beach, is there a specific direction you should move? Like with the wind?

Any help will be appreciated. And hope to catch that first fish on the fly.

[PanamaJack]

Hi tupsyr
Um …………… That’s an extremely interesting question and somewhat difficult to answer.

Obviously you’ll find the predators where they in turn are hunting for bait. And, as a generalization, it’s, certainly for some of the time, where the current is moving bait over, around or into structure. All these qualifications! But where?

Well, here’s perhaps an unusual one to start with. And the particular spot I’m thinking of isn’t a ‘million miles’ from London, to the east of Chichester Harbour. And it’s a classic series of Flats, beloved of Bonefish fishermen – shallows with lots of patches of weed in which immature fish and shrimps are sheltering. Often, in places like that, you can actually spot Bass hunting.

The same would obviously also apply to gullies in rocky areas where things like Bass are targeting crabs or small rock fish.

Then estuaries. On an ebbing tide predators will be waiting near structure to have the bait pushed towards them. Whereas, on a making tide, they’ll be pushing their way into the shallows, actively hunting.

Sand bars are another feature to check for, especially where the current is running. The predators will always be down-tide of such structure.

Finally beaches. Here, and it helps if you’ve examined the area at low water, you’re looking for indentations – again where predators can stay slightly out of the current and have helpless bait washed over them. With steeper beaches, although not something I’m particularly familiar with, the back wash behind the wave line will also hold hunting fish.

I suppose another generalization the faster the current the less you’ll need to work your fly. In fact in some instances you can just allow it to ‘dead drift’, swing round in the current. Obviously if there is limited current then work your fly to imitate the bait you’re using.

Also tupsyr try fishing in low light conditions – first or last thing – when there is limited other activity around. It’s surprising just how close in and in how shallow water fish will feed.

Any rate they’re just some initial thoughts I’m sure others can add to them. And 'fingers crossed' for your first saltwater fish on a fly.
Dave

[tupsyr]

Thank you PanamaJack. Will try it all in a couple of weeks and let you know.

[fishyrob]

Hi Tupyr. As panamaJack says, tough one to answer, but here are a couple of things I thnk are important. (I am very much self taught so these are my observations)

I have caught far more fish in the sea on a sinking line than on a floating line. This could be to do with my presentation on a floating line, but I prefer, even if the fish are going crazy on the surface to fish a sinking line and strip quicker to keep it up in the water. For every fish on top, there are many more just below!

If fishing sandy clean ground, try bouncing the fly back hard along the bottom. You will increase your species tally like this.

Dont be afraid to fly fish from structures. I fly fish Brighton marina often, just have to do it when no-one else is around, for obvious safety reasons. (the extension of the west can be very good indeed, easy back cast, just isnt open very often this year.)

Most tropical flies are too big for uk sea fish. Check out the Veals catalogue. Always have Young of the year and small Clousers in the box.

Hope you find this useful. Cheers. Robin