Salt-water Fly Fishing

[The Great Wallsendo]

Well I've taken the plunge...got myself a relatively cheap combo to add to my armoury...

So if you see a baldy chubby fella chucking his arms around like an epileptic in a disco (I am epileptic before people get huffy) it's more than likely me trying to figure out the technique...

Couple of questions (as ever)...

• Are there any "proven" fly designs?
  
• Is the line weight as important for the sea as it would be for "proper" Fly Fishing?

Veals are selling a pack of ten flies for £15...

[RobAdair]

Best advice I can give you is to check out the UK salt water fly fishing forum, where you'll find loads of advice on tackle, flies, casting etc.

Proven flies? Loads, but ask 100 people and you'll get 100 different answers depending on where, when and what they fish for. Deceivers, clousers and shrimp patterns are pretty much universal for salt water, but a lot of freshwater patterns are also very capable. I would seriously consider looking to the above forum, ebay or even tying your own (highly addictive but bloody expensive to start out!)

As for line question, I don't really understand exactly what you're asking Tony. Line weight is dependant on the rod rating, just the same as freshwater fly fishing. Most salt water fly fishing uses #7-#9 line in this country, with an intermediate or a sink tip probably seeing the most use, if that was what you were wondering?

[The Great Wallsendo]

Just signed up...saw an old thread you'd started in 2006...will have a good ganders

I thought the "proven flies" might be subjective...kind of like "what's the best bait"...never the same for everybody

LOL it's like learning a new language...I think that's what I meant with the line...will have to read up a bit and learn the jargon etc

Cheers

[mark]

line weight is important. you should only use line that is the same weight as your rod, so if you've a 6/7 weight rod you need 6/7 weight line. using lines that are a differnt weight to the rod can dramatically affect its casting ability

personally I'd go for fast sinkers, weight forward or shooting heads, the majority of fish you'd get up here are likely to be down in the water, I often give the lure a helping hand by nipping a small bit of shot on the leader above the hook

as for leaders, I don't bother with expensive tapered leaders and the like, 5lb or so mono or fluorocarbon if you want to run to it works perfectly well.

I found a great little cheat, you can by minute snap link swivels, think theya re for carp anglers, but they are only about 5mm long, one of them on the end makes changing flies a doddle rather than having to retie each time you want to change

I'd not bother with expensive line either, they'll get trashed quickly, especially as your starting out. go for millends, John Norris Economy Fly Lines from John Norris of Penrith 5 for 15 quid, thats 3 quid a line!

as for flies, think about tying your own, SW flies tend to be bigger than the trouty flies so less fiddly to tie, and mackeral/pollock are much less fussy about presentation and finish than trout are. When I first started, I was just cutting a hook off a string of feathers/hokkais/daylights or whatever and using that. Even the micro spoon type spinners work well, the weeny 3g jobs like mini toby's/sprat lures. don't dismiss some of the reservoir streamer type trout flies either, they work just as well and are fairly cheap. If you're gonna buy your flies, it can get pricey as they get a right battering, especially when they taken a fish or two

that veals set looks interesting but things like poppers and surface lures aren't gonna be that effective up here, ok if your on the south coast or somewhere where there's bass and pollock that want to mug small fry on the surface

few of my preferred styles, need to knock some more up for the summer as this lot are looking a bit battered, having been left in the box where I stuffed them last time out!

[MickA]

I gave it a shot couple of yrs ago, didn't get round to trying last year. Just used old gear I'd had lying around from years ago when I used to do a lot of fly fishing. Standard reservoir gear is more than adequate although shooting heads or weight forward lines will be better than double taper lines. Too many flies to choose from but I don't think I'd pay £15 for a set of 10. Have a go making some yourself, bit of a challenge at first but gets easier. Also you won't be to bothered if, or more likely when, you lose them as making them yourself they only work out a few pence each.

The few times I did get out was just around S/Shields. Only thing I caught was a small Wrasse under the North Arm.

Definitely be packing the fly gear everytime I have a look out somewhere during the summer to try for a few mackie but what I really want is a Pollack.

[salmon bob]

what line rating is your rod? you mite find it a struggle to cast those big flies on anything lower than an 8 weight rod.

[The Great Wallsendo]

it says it's a 7-8....

[The Great Wallsendo]

I'm never ever going to be a purist at this lark...but do quite fancy tying a few of my own flies...

• Can you just use "normal" hooks?
• Where do you get the "eyes" from?
• Where do you get the basic materials etc? Haberdashery shops?

Cheers for all info so far...

[MickA]

Tying up the larger lures/flies is not that hard Tony.

- "Normal" hooks. Take it you mean just your bog standard hook, aberdeens etc. They'll be fine, sizes 4's upto 2/0's is the range of sizes I've done.

- "Eyes". usually they're already on the hook along with a point and barb (soz coudln't resist). Various things can be used. For the silver beads just use a bit of chain that you usually see on the bathroom sink plug. Cut off two bits leaving the link in between them. Then lie across the hook shank and figure of 8 whip them on with some thread. Or the eyes can be painted on or the little boggly eyes that you so on some kids toys just need glueing on.

- Places to buy stuff. Haberdashers, you'd porbably find some stuff but easier just to go to local tackle shop and see what they stock. Never been to frazers in W/bay but their G/head shop has all the packets of stuff on display so you can just browse it at your leisure. Make a note of the colour schemes of the flies in piccy posted by Mark and buy some stuff to suit. Note though that a packet of the 'flashy' stuff and feathers will go a long way and make a lot of flies.

Once you've got some materials the fun begins. Good luck

[The Great Wallsendo]

excellent info - cheers

[RobAdair]

Hooks - get in touch with Roy (ebay id - Roydlures) he has just popped a few packets of his new SWFF hook samples through my door and they are very good and a damn sight cheaper than Mustad/Tiemco/Daiichi/Owner etc

Feather/fur/dubbing/flash etc - give Austen a ring "uksal****erflies.com", tell him what you want to tie or catch and he will put a tying kit together to suit your needs. This will be good enough to get you started and you'll get a fair few flies from it. In my experience a sparsely tied fly catches more than something that resembles a dead budgie!!

Once you know whats what, give ebay a bash or get yourself to Hobbycraft on the Team Valley (just take plenty of dosh!)