So I hit my local beach yesterday in the morning and didn’t catch absolutely anything, the tide was low and there was a lot of salad (kelp) everywhere. Other than the few fish I’ve caught with the fly (about 5) I haven’t been very successful, what am I doing wrong here, could it be that with a fly setup you are more limited when fishing the surf?
Thanks
In order for the game fish to stick around there needs to be food, good water temperature, oxygen, some structure, plus a safe place to hide.
If one or more of those things is lacking, the less likely it is that the fish will be there.
I don’t think your problem is with using the fly rod, it’s that the fish aren’t always sitting there waiting for you. It’s a big ocean and there’s other maybe better places that they can go.
That makes total sense but the problem is that they are catching fish (spinning setup) and I’m not. Is it probably because they can reach farther out.
Are you able to wade out into the water a bit. I like to wade out to the next sandbar if I’m not getting anything in the first trough. If you have one, or can get access to one, a kayak could be a great tool to get out there too.
Fly depth might be the issue too. Try fishing the different water columns too. I would start close to the top using a clouser weighted with beadchain eyes, and if I don’t get anything I let it sink for about 30 seconds and then strip it fairly slowly so I don’t bring it up too close to the surface. By slow I mean I strip the line quickly, but I let it set for a few seconds to sink back down after each strip. If that doesn’t work then I’ll put on a clouser with lead eyes and do the same thing by letting it sink all the way to the bottom before I start stripping it in.
Just like with any type of new water, there will be a bit of a learning curve until you figure out some of the native species…especially when it comes to fly fishing. Don’t get too frustrated just yet. Keep at it, and before long you’ll be posting pictures for all of us to enjoy.
Good Luck!
TT
There will be days when you are flyrodding in the surf surrounded by spin anglers and you’ll be catching fish while they are getting skunked. That’s why it is called fishing and not catching. There have been many days that the stripers are right at my feet while I watch surf casters throw sluggos 150 feet past them. Don’t give up.
I guess I desperately needed to hear “don’t give up”, I have used a spinning set up before but I like fly fishing a whole lot better.
Don’t give up. There are things you can do to improve your distance if you truly believe that the fish are out of your range. Getting a stripping basket to hold your running line can add to your reach. If you are using a standard weight forward line, consider a shooting head line. My personal favorite is an Airflo 40+ and from my Puget Sound area beaches I use both a floater and an intermediate. There are other options of shooting head lines like the Rio Outbound, Outbound short and the Wulff Ambush. I have used them all and prefer the Airflo, but the Ambush is growing on me fast. These lines have their weight concentrated in a very short forward section and then tapers quickly down to a fine running line. I like all the heads but the ridge running lines on the Airflo have been most effective for me. A stripping basket and shooting head line will add distance with practice. Improved casting, stripping basket and shooting head might make you reach 20+ feet further. Another option that I started from the beach two summers ago was going to a switch rod. I now fish from the beach with a 11’ switch rod using a two handed overhead casting stroke and can really put line out there…and I’m a horrible caster. I can not cast as far as the best buzz bomb and spinner slingers, but I can outcast many of them with my switch rod, shooting line and fly. Best of luck.
Thank you Mumbles, I appreciate the info. I do use a stripping basket and throw a Rio Mainstream 24ft sink tip (300 gr) I am able to get the line out there, that’s what is what is getting me all frustrated, other fly anglers are catching and I’m not. Everybody uses nothing longer than a 9footer.
I do have to accept the fact that they know how to locate structure out there and know when the tide is more productive. I’m still learning.
Hey Martin,
Don’t think you’re doing anything wrong. When there is salad around it’s tough fishing any type of lure or fly. How often do you see a bait fish or sand crab pulling kelp around? Don’t give up and enjoy yourself out there, the weather is great right now.
Beaver
I love to get my feet in the cold water and I do enjoy going to the beach it was just got really frustrated with no catching fish. You fish the Ventura beaches Beaver? I like Zuma (point dume) and the Santa Monica area.
Thanks
I had a long learning curve when I started fishing So Cal beaches. My logs show that it was not unusual for me to make a half dozen or more outings with no fish. I love the beach and the surf so I stayed with it. Over time I became more consistently successful has I learned how to read the water and tides and learned how to handle the flyline in the surf and where to swim the fly. I have also had plenty of days where I have been into fish and a buddy with me is struggling and vice versa. I also fish light spinning gear in the surf with plastic grubs or live sand crabs. I don’t cast any further than I do with fly gear but am often more successful. Last time I went surf fishing I was casting flies and my brother was fishing live sand crabs on light spinning tackle. We found a hole where he got bit on every cast yet I caught nothing. Its just like that some times.
Nice, thanks tailingloop. I guess patience is the name of the game here. I do enjoy casting to the waves, it’s very challenging but rewarding when you catch fish.
Martin,
I usually fish the Oxnard - Ventura area. I’ve been spin fishing though. Trying to learn how, where and when the fish are feeding before I try fly fishing the surf. Planning to try fly fishing the surf next year. Tailing loop is right the learning curve for surf fishing is totally different from trout fishing. I’m still trying to figure it out. It’s been fun though.
Beaver
I started fishing red and camo sandworms on # 6 and 4 mosquito hooks and was very successful. I caught my first corbina on a sandcrab so I was expecting around the same level of catching on the fly. I did catch my fist fish on a fly tho. Yes, it is lots of fun. Maybe Saturday night I’ll hit Zuma for some leopard shark fishing, I heard they go for squid.
Thanks
Good luck. Stay away from those teeth!!!