Sydney Harbour Fly Fishing for Salmon

[fragmeister]

Hi Raiders,

Took the fly rod out of storage this week and few photo albums helped me discover that I have not used it for 10 years!

Went for a walk to the local park midweek and had a practice run. I was a bit scratchy but after a while it all came back and I was confident that I could get some distance so I was really looking forward to tackling the North Head Salmon.

Got over to North Head and it wasn't long before a school came through although it was only a small school. I positioned my self on the side of the school and grabbed the fly rod and here's what went wrong... all day....

The schools disappeared all the time and popped up some distance away - last week they were big schools and they stayed almost permanently on the surface.

There are a boat load of things in the way in my boat that catch the free flyline during the cast

The wind was a little strong making it difficult to cast unless the wind was behind of to my right hand side

The swell was running at about 1.6 meters which made things a little unstable

You really need a fishing buddy to be in charge of positioning the boat ( mine cancelled at the last minute) otherwise, by the time I got the rod back in hand the school had gone under again.

I think I only really got a a dozen or so casts into the schools all day and I think I am lucky to have only hooked myself in the back (lightly) once.

On the positive side I think the conditions were not ideal, I only saw one hookup on fly all day. I have never fly fished out of a boat and I have to say that this trip taught me a lot about the challenges of the conditions and the boat.

I missed out on the salmon today but I did catch a bream on a prawn pattern fly at sow and pigs.

Just goes to show that it's not just a walk in the park.

So just learn from the experience and take that into the next trip.

Cheers

Jim

Edited November 15, 2014 by fragmeister

[Blood Knot]

Jim - I can really identify with what you are saying, I recall my fist time at Nth head as a novice fly caster. Those bl---dy Salmon were up and down & all over the the shop (as they usually are) . I could not cast for sh-t and when I was finally in casting distance I drilled the fly into the bow rail due to my uselessness + swell + wind and took the point off the hook. Was lucky that I managed to get my first salmon on fly that day, its the fish in my avatar pic. Have caught bigger and better fish on fly but don't think I ever worked so hard to get the first one in the boat or the sense of relief at being able to cross it off the list. Thats a nice little fly by the way.

Cheers Blood Knot

[W4z]

That's a nice little bream on fly! I'd be happy with that. It does sound like there's a lot to learn with fly casting from a boat. Hopefully I'll be learning it too soon off a mates centre console. Should be interesting

[fragmeister]

Jim - I can really identify with what you are saying, I recall my fist time at Nth head as a novice fly caster. Those bl---dy Salmon were up and down & all over the the shop (as they usually are) . I could not cast for sh-t and when I was finally in casting distance I drilled the fly into the bow rail due to my uselessness + swell + wind and took the point off the hook. Was lucky that I managed to get my first salmon on fly that day, its the fish in my avatar pic. Have caught bigger and better fish on fly but don't think I ever worked so hard to get the first one in the boat or the sense of relief at being able to cross it off the list. Thats a nice little fly by the way.

Cheers Blood Knot

Thanks mate, thats encouraging.

Years ago I spend a lot of time chasing fish on fly on the sand flats and of course thats a big stable open space.

I guess I seriously underestimated the boat factor.

and yes... that prawn fly looks good enough to eat!

That's a nice little bream on fly! I'd be happy with that. It does sound like there's a lot to learn with fly casting from a boat. Hopefully I'll be learning it too soon off a mates centre console. Should be interesting

I was happy to catch it after the earlier difficulties.

I think you the fishing buddy and the centre console will help.

Let us know how you go.

Cheers

Jim