coastal fly fishing

[coch a bonddu]

Living near the coast of North Wales I am blessed with (I am told) outstanding bass fishing. I have read a few articles on the relatively new concept of fly fishing for bass and was wandering if anyone has experienced the sport, also what gear would I require if I was to give it a go.

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by coch a bonddu

Living near the coast of North Wales I am blessed with (I am told) outstanding bass fishing. I have read a few articles on the relatively new concept of fly fishing for bass and was wandering if anyone has experienced the sport, also what gear would I require if I was to give it a go.

Hi Coch a Bonddu,

Yes you are blessed with great Bass fishing. I am from Rhyl and St.Asaph originally and spent my childhood fishing the Clwyd and the Elwy rivers. But i digress.....

Check out my threads on Saltwater Fly fishing......:

Saltwater Fly Fishing

There are a few posts in that section you may find interesting.

I have heard that around Conway and in the Menai Straits is very good.

[coch a bonddu]

Thanks Old Smoothound,

Some very good advice indeed

[Trevor Howard]

I was brought up in N. Wales and never heard of anyone catching on the fly in the Menai Straights. I lived on the straights. However I did recently just a few days ago see someone flycasting off the rocks at the foot of the Gt Orme about adjacent to puffin island. Near the old Gun Range, I didnt enquire as I was on the Marine Drive.

[coch a bonddu]

Originally Posted by Trevor Howard

I was brought up in N. Wales and never heard of anyone catching on the fly in the Menai Straights. I lived on the straights. However I did recently just a few days ago see someone flycasting off the rocks at the foot of the Gt Orme about adjacent to puffin island. Near the old Gun Range, I didnt enquire as I was on the Marine Drive.

I have since been successful in the capture of Bass, mackerel and Polack with fly off the coast of Anglesey and Conway. I am primarily a freshwater game angler but must admit that there is great fun to be had off the British coast.

[Portland Pirate]

Hi.

I turned to salt water fly fishing due to the stupid price of fly fishing any of the rivers in Dorset.
However I must say I have never lloked back. I have tried to catch anything that swims on fly. I have been most succesfull with Bass, Garfish, Mackerel, Pollock, Scad and Carp.

I personally have found that you need clear water for catching the sea fish on the fly and fairly large flies. I know that a few people localy catch Mullet on the fly. I have never tried it yet.

[Trevor Howard]

Lovely, Good, Smashing while the lakes n rivers are quiet in the hot summer months. if it ever happens. I must give it a try,
Thanks for the inspiration

[acefisher]

Hi All,
I started salt water fly fishing here in Scotland about 5 years ago . I had read Mike Ladle and before that John Darling , ( both early pioneers ) , and others before that, (in Florida and Connecticut ) , and wondered if it was feasible to catch sea fish on a fly rod, here , in the wilds of the Scotland .
As a marine biologist with the Marine Laboratory in Aberdeen for some 26 years and a salmon and trout fly fisherman for far longer, I , even then , had "ma doots" .

Don't have these doubts .

It is perfectly feasible to catch all species of British sea fish on a fly rod .

It is not however something you just go and do .

Like anything there is a learning process .

The best advice , not often given , is this :
Do not fish with a fly rod at first (!!!). Find out what fish are in your location first - and only then target them . If you are a salt water fly fishing beginner then go for the smallest fish first until you are comfortable. In British waters these are likely to be coalfish , pollock and mackerel . In the course of gaining this knowledge you will hear many tales . Do not believe them all but retain all of what you are told.

Conditions do NOT always allow fly casting so take a spinning rod , at least until you are happy fly casting yourself .

GET Casting Instruction from a QUALIFIED FLY CASTING INSTRUCTOR , not just your mate , unless of course , you are happy fly casting yourself .

You not have have to cast large distances in the sea.

Trust me I am a marine biologist . (!)

However, this is something that you go and learn from experience . Read the books on fish species and behaviour . Listen to everything that is said .
Fly Fishing in the sea is not so new but we are the pioneers again .
Bass and mackerel , etc, can be caught , with stealth , only feet from your rod tip .

Observation and the application of knowledge catch these fish , and all other species too .

The Americans have been doing this for years with Striped Bass , Albacore , etc . and we can learn from them . Search around the Internet , buy some some books but scale it all down a wee bit .

Same tactics apply and same flies , but half the size generally.

Hope this helps .

[Old Smoothound]

Some great info and encouragement there

[coch a bonddu]

Great post acefisher, many thanks.