Just read a great article on Striper Moon
[url=http://www.stripermoon.com/:33200]http://www.stripermoon.com/[/url:33200]
Its about the science of surf fishing. Makes me want to go out and try it tonight… but I’ll pass as its expected to be close to 10 degrees tonight. I’m not like Dude, I get cold.
jed
Surf casting with a fly rod is my favorite type of fishing.
The pounding surf, the timing of the cast, the challenge of possibly catching a huge fish from the water right at your feet makes for very exciting fishing.
I’ve tried fishing “Kenny” style with a dead drift on a floating line. It’s not easy when the surf is up. I keep tring, but a sinking line seem to end up on my rod more often then not.
One thing I find myself doing more and more is fishing with a dropper.
This past spring when there was so many “dinks” about, the only way to put a bend in the 10wt was to catch two fish at a time. 
In the past I have caught 2 two footers at once. That was fun.
Jed, that really was a good article–lots of info on a fun way to fish!
In the article Ken suggested floating line as it is easier to mend and to control.
jed
jed,
He uses an extra long, medium action rod, around 11 or 11.5 feet to help lift the mend over the crest of the wave.
I find his style difficult to do with a 9 footer.
Maybe I’m not tring hard enough(or maybe I need to find shorter waves).
Dudley,
I can relate. I was at a fly fishing show last year and someone was trying to sell me a very fast rod. He talked about being able to cast 100+ feet… Then I looked at his arms. He probably coudl cast 100 feet with a broomstick and string. So much of what people can do relates to not only skill but also physical ability. This is not ment to say skill isn’t alot of it, but size and strength do matter.
jed
Jed/Dudley,
Have you considered a short doublehander for fishing the surf. It really helps with line control when the waves are pounding in. In addition to which, it is a lot less effort to cast a lot more line.
I have seen them used quite a lot in the surf when I have been fishing in MA. I use them here in the UK in surf. There are quite a few of these switch/overhead casting style double handers around. Whilst I have not cast the CND rods they look VERY well built, I have a Meiser rod which is absolutely superb and another from Australia, which I believe is based on one of the Talon blanks. Something between 11’-13’ seems to fit the bill.
JME
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Jed, I start to hibernate when it approaches 70 degrees!!!
I have started seeing the two handed rods on the water and have heard more and more people talking about them. My question is can you haul with a two handed rod? It seems that of all the guys I see using the two handed rods can’t cast all that far as I can cast farther just by hauling.
I have never used one so I am curious.
Who has time for stress when there are fish to catch.
Nick
micro, you can’t haul, but i guarantee you can cast further. i have a 12.5 ft. two hander, and it easily throws not only the whole line but a lot of backing, too. kind of hard to use in the yak, though. 
This past spring, at southbeach Chatham, I watched guys standing on stepladders casting two handers.
JME, I believe you fish with that group sometimes. Do you think it’s worth the effort to tote the ladder around? Do those with ladders do that much better that the others?
dudley, i was talking to a guy from texas who told me they have taken the ladder technique to the next step (pardon the pun)–they actually attach a chair to the top! seriously! but don’t tell orvis or the store will be full of 'em (selling for $500, of course…)
$500 is for the silver label
The titanium Zero G model will be much more.
but it will add 20 feet to your cast (actually, it probably will)
first time i heard of that ladder technique was in russell chatham’s ‘angelers coast’–his friend, bill schiek (?) used it for salmon…
Ladder tipping is sounding pretty fun right now.
The ladder is not to increase your casting distance but to increase your ability to see down into the water. Being higher up you get a much greater area you can view.
Dave, How about mounting the ladder on your kayak and using your two handed rod. That would be one heck of a fishing strategy in the surf.
jed
jed, it would probably at least get me an article and photo in field and stream, like the recent one of those bozos fishing for makos from kayaks.
Dudley,
Not me, but I have seen the guys at the drop off on South Beach. They usually do not wander too far from the drop off, I guess lugging a ladder around reduces mobility somewhat.
I think it might have been Randy Jones who you saw. [url=http://www.yankeeangler.com/:038e4]http://www.yankeeangler.com/[/url:038e4]
I only tend to fish the drop off when I am waiting for the RipRyder, as it tends to get a little crowded around there. The guys on the ladders and the double handers definitely seem to catch more fish the most, from their vantage point and with the ability to cast big flies far.
I reckon that I can consistently cast over 100’, regularly clearing a 30’ Rio Max Head and 120’ Rio running line through the tiptop, with my 7 weight 12’ double hander, with a lot less effort than a single hander. As with all things though it is about using the right tool for the job in hand.
JME
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jed, it would probably at least get me an article and photo in field and stream, like the recent one of those bozos fishing for makos from kayaks.
Dave, I thought this was a picture of you fishing!! ;o)
Boy that is a big fly that he is trolling
Who has time for stress when there are fish to catch.
Nick