Salt water fly fishing off the beach
Submitted by randall df223 on Sun, 2017-02-12 19:07
Ok. So my young bloke has just given me an old fly rod and reel. Quite light weight. I am off to monkey mia and shelter bay in april and may. And i am thinking i will just have a much around off the beach either early morning and late afternoon. I know there are whiting on the flats south of monkey mia, and herring, whiting, flathead and silver bream in shelter bay. Will these species attack a fly? Is so, what should i be looking for in types of fly?
Cheers in advance.
____________________________________________________________________________
Fish! HARD!
.thumbnail.JPG "Jays second meter plus threadie for the trip went 112cm, monster!")
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Try some of these Randal,
Try some of these Randal, the clousers look pretty good.
https://www.saltwaterflyworkshop.com.au"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
Nice link
Nice link Dale, any of those will work. The gotcha and clousers types are good alrounders to start with.
What type of fly line is on the set up randal ? This can effect the size and types of fly he would be able to cast .
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
There is insufficent on
There is insufficent on there at the moment. I will need to put new fly line on. Whats on there at the moment is barely longer than tbe rod. Its green, probably 1mm in diameter. Looks like rubber actually.
What you you recommend?
Complete newby here.
Fish! HARD!
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
My best advise
My best advise would be to take the rod and reel into www.flyworld.com.au/ Bayswater, and explain what type of fishing you will be doing.
You will get the best advise and gear for your price range. With fly rods etc, each set up is used for different types of water and flies, but you can set up a bit of an allrounder with the right advice.
I would call before going there, I think he sneeks off fishing sometimes .
CD
Posts: 46
Date Joined: 06/12/16
As above, if you can get to
As above, if you can get to a store to get some advice that is probably your best bet - but if you can't this is what I have found over the years.
Off beaches you really can't go past the clousers. The best colour I have found is light blue over white. The best thing about the clousers is that the weighted eyes mean that you can work the slowly down deeper or strip them back fast to entice a strike if you need to depending on the type of fish. My best advice would be to mix up the retrieve to try and fish all the watercolumn.
In terms of line, I would go an intermediate (not floating and not quick sinking) as it is the most versatile and you can fish different depths by just varying your retrieve. A good line will make all the difference, especially if you haven't had much practice casting. Go a shooting line or weight forward at least, that way once the line is out it will help you throw the fly further, especially if there is wind around.
Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm no expert but have spent a fair bit of time casting around on beaches. Like all fishing you can need to be persistent, but I have generally been surprised at how readily most fish will eat a fly.
Good luck.
smicko
Posts: 135
Date Joined: 11/04/10
Get up to the tip of Peron
Get up to the tip of Peron and fish the bay just in to the east. Paradise.
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Cheers guys. Good tips for
Cheers guys. Good tips for a newbie.
Fish! HARD!
squidvicious1
Posts: 824
Date Joined: 22/07/10
Dan at flyworld will show you
Dan at flyworld will show you all you need, and might even show you his new whiting fly and how to use.
He's got a Facebook page showing that technic mainly for Mandurah but will work for shark bay.
Paw
Posts: 53
Date Joined: 12/06/15
Hi Randall, welcome to the
Hi Randall, welcome to the new addiction of fly fishing. Dan at flyworld will sort you out. It gets a bit confusing with all the line weights and types of line. Perhaps get a few casting lessons too. Always a good idea to start off with the right technique rather than trying to fix bad habits later. Then ..... practice, practice and practice some more. I have been fly fishing for years and still practice as often as I can. Besides it keeps the cravings at bay.
Up Monkey Mia way you should be able to get some flathead. Something like a crazy charlie will be easy for a beginner to cast and if fished along the bottom, they can prove to be very effective (I have even caught plenty of flounder this way). Sometimes you even catch flathead whilst looking for a fish to cast to and the fly is just dangling on the sand. There are also some Golden Trevally up that way and they often cruise the sand flats. Clouser Minnows are good for them. For a beginner you might want to try a size 4 clouser or perhaps a size 2 (heavy flies become more difficult to cast). Golden Trevally will monster a yellow and white or chartreuse and white clouser minnow that is left to sink and then retrieved with a fairly fast strip. Once you hook into a Golden you will be addicted to fly fishing for life, will take out a second bond on the house and be incapable of concentrating on anything else but sight fishing. Herring will also attack a clouser with glee and on occassion we have come across wolf herring near monkey mia. Wolf Herring will very aggresively hit a clouser if they are around. Bream like crazy charlies bounced around the bottom.
The crazy charlie and clouser minnow are good "prospecting flies". In other words, blind casting and retrieving. However, a good pair of polarised glasses are essential for sight fishing as is an accurate cast. When practicing your casting, concentrate on getting accurate casts at around 50 foot. Put a piece of yarn on the end of your fly line leader and practice landing it on a dinner plate. This will serve you well when you are on the flats as if you wade quietly and keep your eyes peeled, you will be amazed at how many fish you can spot and get close to. Nothing can compare to an accurate cast in front of a fish followed by a hook up and then the pandemonium as the fly line disappears over the horizon.
Good luck, tight lines and shout if you need more advice.
Phil
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Fish! HARD!
crasny1
Posts: 7002
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Hey Randall When you first
Hey Randall
When you first learn, either wear one of those Arafhat's (pardon the spelling) or cut the hook off the fly.
I have had a few fly ear rings when I first learned. It is very addictive, but I have to admit I haven't lifted one of my 8 fly rods since coming back from Karratha to Mandurah.
I know the whiting in the Peel-Harvey will take flies or lures, but for some reason it is not that successful as far as I am aware around Shark Bay.
Might be that the targets down south is prawns, and up Shark bay the prey is something else.
If I had to guess I would probably think a crab pattern fly like the Permit types (smaller though) might work on whiting up that way.
Good luck.
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
cruzy111
Posts: 274
Date Joined: 08/10/13
I buy my all my flies off
I buy my all my flies off an ebay shop in the US. Millers place is the shop. They are very well priced and very good quality. They charge a flat fee for postage I think 6 dollars US for as many as you buy . I particularly like there epoxy shrimps. These catch everything off the beach and last. I usually just buy crabs and shrimps as I target blue bone and permit. Tips for learning. Get some lessons or watch some you tube videos. Its all about co-ordination. If you dont you will lose lots of flies off the beach. With the back cast the fly can hit the sand and the leader wears through quickly. I found this out when I first started so you dont want to be throwing 10 dollar flies around when you are learning. Get a line that is good for casting in the wind. I prefer floating off the beach.
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
I am told to keep the rod
I am told to keep the rod between "2 o'clock" and "10 o'clock". And dont let the fly line drop past horizontal. You dont want the fly to touch the ground behind you or water in front of you (until you intend it too).
Can anyone recommend a colour of fly line for salt water beach fishing. Is one better than the other?
Fish! HARD!
Paw
Posts: 53
Date Joined: 12/06/15
Keeping the path of the line
Keeping the path of the line straight is essential to a good cast. The reason most books talk about 10 and 2 o clock is because at these two points, the path of the line will be straight but will also keep a tight loop. In an ideal cast the loop that forms above the main path of the line should be as tight as possible without tangling. The tighter the loop, the more power in the cast and the further it will go or cut through the wind. The wider the loop, the weaker the cast. It is also important to bring each swing to an abrupt stop as this will aid proper loop formation. Sharp stop on the back cast, sharp stop on the front. Most beginners open the loop up too much and hence struggle to get distance.
It would be a good idea to spend some time on youtube. There are a ton of fly casting videos on there and some will teach you how to double haul (a technique that is very useful if not essential for saltwater).
Line wise, it will depend on what weight the rod is. Look on the side of the rod near the grip and there should be a number there followed or preceeded by a #. Sometimes there are two numbers separated by a /. So for example a rod with 9# on it is a 9 weight rod designed to cast with 9 weight lines. A 8/9# will probably go well with an 8 weight intermediate or a 9 weight floating line. There will be another number that will indicate the length of the rod. The important one is the weight number. Example below is an 8 weight rod. Let me know what weight and make the rod is and I could give you some ideas for a line.
Phil
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
It is a 5/6 weight rod. 8'
It is a 5/6 weight rod. 8' long. Not sure what brand. I suspect only a cheap one.
Fish! HARD!
Paw
Posts: 53
Date Joined: 12/06/15
I would go for the Scientific
I would go for the Scientific Angler Mastery Grand Slam in a 6 weight. It is a slightly heavier line which will help considering you are new to fly fishing. A heavier line will load the rod quicker and will help you get distance. The Grand Slam is currently my favourite line. It casts a mile even in wind and is very easy to handle. You should add some backing to the reel (the fly line is only 30 meters). Normal braid in 20lb will work fine and try to get on as much as possible (at least 50 meters) then attach the fly line to the end. Best attachment is a bimini twist in the backing and then attached to the loop in the fly line with a cats paw. Another line option would be a Rio Bonefish Quick Shooter in a 6 weight. A slightly cheaper line.
5/6 will be great fun for flathead, herring and other smaller critters and will be more forgiving when learning to cast. It won't be heavy enough for trevally. 8 and 9 weight rods are more suited to trevally.
For flies, I wouldn't go bigger than a size 4 for clouser minnows. Crazy Charlies in size 8 or maybe a 6 should work well. Have a look at Aussie Angler, they should have everything you need.
Phil
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Cheers :)
Cheers :)
Fish! HARD!
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
Dont forget
Don't forget the roll cast.Very useful cast and most people bypass learning it.
Lance55
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 26/08/16
My 2c worth
Mate, all the info posted is great, but as an ex SWF giude, I would say the most valuable advice once you get the gear set up -is to find another crazy swoffer on here and actually go for a fish!
You learn so much it aint funny, and dont get sucked into the distance thing, most working casts are only 40-60 feet, and its not unusual to have a fly snaffled right off the rodtip.
You can catch anything that swims on fly gear.
And no barbs, it kinda ruins your day.