Saltwater Freshwater Fly fishing

[Greenheart]

Originally Posted by edwin

I turned to Saltwater Fly Fishing some six years ago now having become tired of reservoir trout fishing. I started exploring the Sulfolk esturies and worked myself southwards through essex.
Because flyfishing is basically a method of luring fish by sight (Spinning has the added advantage of attraction by vibration.) clear or clearish water is required. The east coast estuaries have an added disadvantage of being over enriched with agriculural nitrates which cause heavy blooms of algae/seaweeds about the same time the clearer waters & Bass arrive.
I turned to the South coast starting at Christchurch & worked myself westwards for three years--returning to Poole harbour & Sandbanks which was my most successful venue. Fish to date have been Bass, Mackerel, Seatrout, Garfish, Blackbream, Mullet (reasonably easy) Pollack, & Tub Gurnard. (It's amazing how this bottom lover will follow a lure to the surface!)
I started with my reservoir tackle but expensive freshwater reels & line rapidly bow to saltwater use Salt,Silt & sand. Saltwater varieties, larger spooled, are available over here now. Casting distance is essential and Lures need to be big, and in tidal areas heavy (Bass) I bought a Worstershire Boron 10/11 weight 10ft Rod (I rate it higher) Two weight forward American sea lines,floater & sinker the latter having a tungsten core, weight around 14/15 but easily managed on the stiff Boron & they sink superfast fished cast upcurrent then retrieved depending on tideflow/current. I tried many American sea flies but started producing my own, some up to 8 inches long & they work for they are based on natural British livebaits/whitebait/sandeel/mixtures. Likewise with shrimp / prawn. Crabs no--I believe crabs are hunted more by smell by our fish. The endless limit size bass I have caught in Poole by any means were full off 10-20c.m hardbacks, The Gurnards & Blackbream small shrimps
I eventually bought an Avon inflatable which seriously increased catches. The best but hardest is still fishing Sandbanks surfy beaches with the heavy gear and a floater (Sinking lines bury in the sand) & watch a hooked Bass race horizontally through an aquarium like crest of clear surf. It is however hard work.
Cheers Edwin

Welcome to the Forum Edwin,
I do loads of summer stillwater flyfishing for trout & have been meaning to try saltwater flyfishing for ages along with a mate of mine. I notice that most of the guys on the forum who express an interest in salt water flyfishing appear to be from down south. Maybe a summer forum meet could be arranged down on the south coast where we could learn from each other & exchange a few ideas. The flys look very similar to pike flies, which is something else I have been meaning to try.
On a slightly different subject, can you still buy Boron rods? I had a Shakespeare Mach 3 Boron match rod in the early eighties & it was brilliant (still use it) But iv'e not seen any for years.

[edwin]

Hi,
My Worstershire was a Shakespeare Boron Flyrod. I was looking for tool bits in Brick Lane just after having 'Gone to Sea' & came across a chap with a few brand new ones. I,m sure he said they were end of line. Had to return to get one for my pal the week after. I've always enjoyed good rods hand built from Normark blanks, sensitive & built to take specific line weights. Great on reservoirs/rivers--useless at sea. I would never have given the sharp,crisp heavy spring like powerful casting stroke of Borons a second look ten years ago on a resorvoir! Now I use it on reservoirs with a 6# double taper, then in a tide rip with a 12#-14# tungsten core. It is a powerful but versatile material. You should find them at sportsfish on the net along with all american Sea/fly tackle. If in London wander the Tackle shops in the Mall-most have comprehensive stocks.
Missed last year as my young son was ill but he's fine now & we shall all be heading to Christchurch with the tent regularly throughout the year. Shall keep in touch on dates. Its a great place situated between two natural harbours with surfy beaches between. (Poole harbour is the second biggest in the world -Sydney takes the title)
Shallow, double high tides, clear water, & many terrains to fish along with several species that readily take lures.(It often means walkers & many others use parts of it--most are unaware of flyfishing or it's dangers so be attentive & patient when casting or find a more remote area-there is enough of it.)Try to ignore the endless old Ladies who encourage their senile pooches to "Swim around the gentleman-thats it show him how you can swim-after you have spent an hour stalking a shoal. !!" (Mullet). You will also find that feeding is very reliant on the state of the tide. I have very rarely had fish on the fly very long after high tide.
Cheers Edwin.

[Greenheart]

Have you tried the long Groyne at Hengisbury Head? I,ve fished there using normal beach & float tactics, but it looks perfect for fly fishing.

[edwin]

Many times. Mackerel & Scad only. The tide really rips there when it runs. An upcurrent cast with a 14# tungsten core sinks very fast running with the current but within 6-10 seconds it travels through 90 deg. and starts to pick up & rise rapidly leaving you little time to work the lure before it is lost in the eddies of the Groyne/Bay The beaches to the west are reasonable Bass beaches with an southerly surf running on a rising tide athough they can be small fish. The most successful fishermen I have seen catch off of that Groyne have been the dedicated crowd of Wrasse fishers that often get there.
Cheers Edwin

[Greenheart]

I believe that Portland Pirate has had some success for Bass in the Ferrybridge area of Portland harbour.

[edwin]

Tried it a couple of times, around the old naval base drifting in the Avon & off the head. The head was my first encounter off of rock ledges into deep water, looked perfection but nothing. The eastern side is difficult to get down too and when you do you find the floating Kelp beds which are impossible to cast across. Basically Sea/fly over here is hard work. One needs to find where and when the few varieties that would take a lure are likely to congregate--usually estuaries & bays. I think a punt type sea going boat as they have in Florida for the purpose would help a lot but don't hold your breath! Cheers Edwin.