Beginner - Saltwater Fly Fishing

[Dzee]

I have been back into fishing now for 6 months and am enjoying using the new range of SP's.

I am interested in saltwater fly fishing - it just seems an interesting aspect of the sport but I have a couple of questions that I would like to have some answers to before I part with my hard earned.

1/ Why is fly fishing gear so expensive - can I really expect to pay $1000 to set myself up with nice gear?

2/ Is saltwater fly better than SP's - is it more effective or just more enjoyable?

3/ I assume fly is just another tool in the box - depending on what the fish is thinking on the day.

Hope you can help - I am getting a couple of hours casting lessons soon to see if the bug bites

[kenmare]

Hi Dzee,

Welcome to the world of swoffing (in-talk for saltwater fly fishing).

I'll try to answer your questions, and assume you're going to target the most popular soft plastic candidates -- bream and flathead:

1. You don't have to spend $1000 to set yourself up, but you certainly can if you want to. There are now many acceptable rods, made in the Far East, available for less than $200. A suitable reel and line can purchased for even less. Some people will pay much more than that, for one of the following reasons: to some degree, price does indicate quality; they must have the best; they have plenty of money and need retail therapy. Bit like some people needing a BMW, while others get by nicely with a Holden or Ford?

2. Fly fishing is quite different to fishing using conventional tackle, such as spin and baitcaster outfits used to fish soft plastics. In flyfishing it's the line that provides the weight for the cast -- the fly just comes along for the ride. The advantage of this is it's possible to cast very small and light flies gently, so as not to disturb feeding fish. The disadvantage is you've got to spend some time and effort learning how to cast a fly line. Some people enjoy fly casting, others find it all too hard and give it away. Fly fishing works best when casting relatively short distances to fish that can be seen feeding (sight fishing) or to identified fish-holding structures: submerged logs, rock bars, weed beds, drop-offs etc. In my experience, most people find catching fish on fly more difficult than catching them on lures (including SPs). But there's the challenge -- and good reason to keep your investment in fly fishing tackle modest until you decide if it's for you.

3. Your spot-on in saying the fly is just another tool in the box. There will be times,in both salt and fresh water, when a fly fisher will outfish the lure fishers -- such as when fish are feeding exclusively on small baitfish, which can only be effectively imitated by a fly . But when the fish can't be seen, or it's necessary to cast further than most fly fishers can manage, or the fish are holding in water more than a metre or two deep, lure fishing is almost always more effective (and also far less like hard work).

Some final suggestions. If you buy cheaper fly reels, they'll often be made of painted, pressed aluminium and intended for use in freshwater -- and will soon badly corrode when used in the salt. Instead, look around and buy a cheap graphite fly reel. It'll still do the job on flathead, bream etc, but will withstand exposure to salt water. I've a Mitchell 7150 which cost around $50 and works a treat. For the size of fly you'll be casting a 7 or 8 weight, floating, weight-forward line should be about right to start. Later, you might want to invest in an intermediate or sinking line.

[Guest bluecod]

Good words Kenmare

Dzee - I started off with a 8/9 packaged outfit made by ABU that cost less than $200 and something like that is more than acceptable as a starter/backup outfit. I've moved on a bit since then and am tying all my own flies, which is also really enjoyable therapy when you're at a loose end.

[Dzee]

Hey Guys, thanks for those replies - and ken for your attention to detail. I have seen the entry level kits but was not sure if it was just the image thing with all the fancy gear or a practical need to have quality kit.

I can appreciate there is a certain romance in fly fishing - I am a photographer by trade and one day I was lure fishing in Cowan creek and a bass boat arrived in the area and started fly fishing. The sight of the line in the afternoon light just had me interested - the hand on the line pulling through the hands rather than a mechanical reel and the concentration on the fishers eyes was intense.

Yep - you have convinced me to give it a try - I am having a casting lesson this afternoon with Justin Duggan with his gear so for $100 hopefully I will see if I have the basic ability to get me going.

[Guest madsmc]

Gday Dzee.

Kenmare has given you some good advice there.

I have recently taken up fly fishing as well, and have asked about beginner setups here which may be of interest to you also.

1/

You don't need to spend massive dollars to get started. I spent about $400 for a Innovator Distance 6/7 weight combo, which I use for light saltwater fly fishing. Don't go spending a huge amount until you know that fly is for you. I enjoy using my combo, but you definately notice where the money goes when you try out an expensive fly rod.

2 and 3/

Fly fishing is just another form of fishing. I primarily use SP's on flick rods, but I like to get out with the fly rod, or go up the beach with the big beach rod. It's just something different. I wouldn't say that one is more productive, or more fun than the other. My first bream capture on fly was just as exhilarating as my first on SP.

If you do decide to get into it there's a book by Peter Morse called "Saltwater Fly Fishing Fundamentals" which I found very useful when I first got started.

Good to hear you're going to get some casting tuition, as it can be pretty frustrating when you first start. Just be patient with it and perservere, it's well worth it in the end.

Shane