FLY FISHING MYTHS

DEBUNKING THE MYTHS

Fly fishing isn’t just for the backcountry.

By Tom Schlichter

The big, white fly rod popper landed perfectly between two huge boils just 20 yards off my port bow leaving little doubt it would soon be crushed. A mix of teen-sized blues and huskyshouldered school stripers were tearing into a pod of peanut bunker and the surface was erupting with each encounter. It took but four sharp pops to infuriate one of the choppers and the morning’s battles were underway. Before the dropping tide drained fully some 90 minutes later, I would tame and release another three bluefish plus a keeper bass.

I’ve had far more impressive salty fly-fishing outings in the days since that early morning excursion, but few have proven more satisfying or fun. Turns out it wasn’t the number of fish I hooked or their size that mattered on that jaunt. Instead, it was anticipating and intercepting such a feeding frenzy armed with nothing more than a beat-up, eight-weight fly rod that seared a memory I still hold dear.

Like many anglers, I was initially intimidated by the thought of saltwater fly fishing. Oh, I had dabbled with freshwater panfish, bass, and trout on a meager five-weight outfit, but the belief that serious financial investment, long casts, and a steep learning curve were needed to entice bigger saltwater predators made the prospect seem more trouble than it might be worth. Still, I always wanted to give it a try and finding a bargain-bin starter outfit at a yard sale left me little choice but to take the plunge. Within a week, I was casting from the deck of my sharpie-style clam boat. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Have you been putting off your saltwater fly fishing baptism? Many anglers believe it will be difficult to learn, costly for the initial setup, and less productive than other methods of fishing. Truth is, myths like these keep would-be beginners on the sidelines. Expose these falsehoods for their misinformation, and you’ll quickly realize there’s no reason you can’t join the fun right away. Heck, you’re probably already familiar with the basic premises of saltwater fishing, like timing the tides, matching the hatch, and selecting retrieve speeds that entice various game fish species and that puts you ahead of the game before you even pick up a fly rod.

Quelling the Myths

So then, let’s shed some light on the subject. Perhaps the myth I hear most frequently repeated by would-be fly-anglers is that you need to be an expert caster to reach your quarry. Truth is, it helps to be proficient, but you don’t have to be a master caster to achieve success. If you can cast accurately to 20 yards, you’re ready to give it a try.

“There are times when it helps to get your line far from the boat, but you don’t need to throw your offering a country mile to get your feet wet,” says Capt. Vinny Catalano, a highly respected saltwater fishing guide (longislandflyfishing.com) who probes the Long Island coast during the warmer months and the Florida Keys through the winter.

Catalano points out that dealing with factors such as the wind and positioning your boat to intercept fish without spooking your quarry are half the battle. “Knowing how to put yourself in position to succeed is the most important thing,” he says. “As a beginning fly-rodder, you’ll need to get closer to the fish than when spin fishing, but that can be overcome with a slow and quiet approach or the foresight to fish quiet water in the lee of a shoreline, building, or bluff.”

Also, advises Catalano, be aware that sight-fishing—casting to fish you actually see in clear water—is more difficult than probing areas that are slightly stained, shadowed, or located around structure like docks, bridges, and bulkheads. In clear water, the fish get a really good look at your offering, but might spot you more easily, too. Water with a little less visibility helps level the playing field, especially in locations you already know from previous fishing trips.

Bob Popovics and Paul Dixon teamed up to catch and release this hard-fighting false albacore, a favorite target of fly-casters along much of the East Coast.

Bonefish, tarpon, and striped bass may get most of the glory, but a simple bluefish can bring smiles to fly-casters of any experience level.

While practice is what it will take to extend your casts, there is also a simple shortcut. “Take a few casting lessons with a casting instructor, guide, or fishing school,” suggests Catalano. “That really cuts the learning curve. Take them right at the start, if possible, to prevent forming bad casting habits that you’ll have to unlearn later.”

A second myth with a substantial following is that salty fly-rodding is expensive. Yes, top-end rods can run $1,000 with reels costing several hundred more, but there’s no need to break the bank while holding novice status.

“As a beginner, you wouldn’t even know the difference between a top-shelf and a mid-level rod,” says Catalano. “Start small and grow bigger as you get more comfortable with the sport. There’s no need to stick with bargain prices, but something in the mid-range is generally a safe bet. Figure you can start out with an eight- or nine-weight rod, decent reel, and weight forward floating fly line (the best choice for beginners because it’s easier to cast than intermediate or sinking lines) for between two hundred fifty and three hundred dollars.”

Fly-tying legend Bob Popovics agrees. He’s been at the head of saltwater fly fishing for more than 50 years and has invented patterns that are used successfully the world over. He introduces beginners on a regular basis to the sport he loves.

“Another great way to get started is joining a salty flyfishing club,” advises Popovics. “Members there can point you toward the best rods, reels, and fly patterns for your area or skill level, which instructional videos to watch, which casting instructors to hire, and which fly-fishing books to check out.” (We suggest Popovics’ Fleye Design: Techniques, Insights,

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Patterns if you want to learn how to tie flies like the pros. bearsden.com)

Indeed, the club route might even help you find someone who is getting ready to trade up and, therefore, willing to depart with some intermediate gear for a reasonable price. “I’ve seen guys come out of such situations with a good rod, decent reel, floating fly line, and a stripping basket for a hundred dollars,” he says. “Whether you buy from a store, online, or a friend, get the best rod you can reasonably afford and save on the reel if you must. The rod does all the work in this game; the reel just holds the line. Be sure to get a stripping basket, too. It makes life easier while helping minimize tangles.”

As you can imagine, there is an overwhelming assortment of flies to choose from, but you don’t need dozens for your initial forays. Simply try to match the size, profile, and movement of the baitfish on which predator species are keying as you would with any other fishing methodology.

“Each fly pattern excels at a specific task,” notes Popovics. “As you grow to better understand the sport, you’ll want flies to cover very specific conditions. For starting out, however, a basic Clouser Minnow to imitate small baitfish or shrimp will probably work about eighty percent of the time. Add to that an Epoxy Minnow for a little larger profile, a Banger Minnow for surface action, and a Semper streamer to imitate big baitfish or squid. That assortment should cover most of the bases.”

Catalano points out that one important element for beginning fly-casters to keep in mind is that there’s no need to try for the most prestigious species right out of the gate. Down south, he notes, bonefish, permit, and tarpon are the top attractions, but jack crevalle, barracuda, and mutton snapper fight hard and are a lot easier to entice. Up north, striped bass and false albacore are the top inshore prizes, but bluefish are super-aggressive and will give you all you can handle upon setting the hook.

“As for being a fence-sitter, don’t deny yourself this great fun and enjoyment,” says Popovics. “Your first days are the most fun you’ll ever have with this sport. That I can guarantee. You only catch that first fish on a fly rod once in your life, and you are constantly learning new things your first season or two. It may sound like a lot of work to get started, but once you do, you’ll find a deep love and respect for this sport is certainly no myth.”

Thinking back to my first fly rod hookups on the bow of my clam boat some 40 years ago this month, I couldn’t agree more.