SALTWATER FLYFISHING
TIPS & TACTICS



Introduction


The first thing you need to do when choosing a flyreel is decide exactly what you want to do with it. By that I mean what fish you are going to target.
Example you wouldn't think of using a Hardy Golden Prince 5/6 to play with sailfish. O.K. thats an extreme example but I hope you see my point.
The second thing you will have to decide on is a budget range. Buy the best reel you can comfortably afford it will pay for itself in the long run. In saltwater flyfishing a smooth drag can often be far more important than the rods action.

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Fly Presentation


In general there are two main ways to flyfish. They are to fish blind, where you cannot see the fish or to sight fish where you can spot fish.
When fishing blind the presentation of the fly is less critical or more to the point you can't see the fish so don't worry about whether you are presenting the fly in a natural way.
The second method, being sight fishing, requires more accurate presentation. Many anglers fail to catch fish by poorly presenting flies. You need to take into account that predatory fish are accustomed to chasing prey and not to being attacked by it. It is simply common sense. A two inch whitebait is hardly going to chase after a 6kg trevally, after all that would be plain suicide. When the fly is cast to a position that when retrieved appears to be attacking, an unnatural behaviour from a prey species towards a predator, the fish will spook. Never in nature do we see a herring picking a fight with a samsonfish.
Shown here are three diagrams that cover most situations and the position the fly should be placed.

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Leaders


Keep a stock of leaders made up in a variety of strengths that you might need. Label them and store them in plastic zip lock bags out of the sun. Most fish will damage your leader eventually so the need to change your leaders whilst fishing is common. Losing 5 minutes of a 20 minute hot bite is both frustrating and often leads to rushed tying of knots and an untimely bust off.
I always carry at least a couple of spare leaders in case one is damaged. Spend an hour or so in front of the telly tying up a few leaders for your next trip.

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Polaroid Sunglasses


It seems almost unbelievable that any fly fisherman would be without a good pair of polaroid sunglasses these days. However I still see the odd angler fishing without them.
Polaroid sunglasses are an invaluable tool when fly fishing. The polarised filter cuts the surface glare from the water enabling the angler to see into the water. Hence spotting fish becomes much easier.
Also the sunglasses offer protection for the eyes from stray hooks and also cut down on glare induced headaches.

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Slip, Slop, Slap


Always cover up when spending any time in the sun. No fish is worth getting skin cancer for. Wair long sleeved shirts, sunscreen and a hat.
There are many brands of quick drying shirt on the market today to suit most budgets. Not everyone can afford Columbia Wear. Also for the fair skinned, it is worth considering a pair of protective gloves. The cancer foundation make an excellent fingerless glove for outdoor use.
Use a good waterproof 30+ sunscreen and re-apply every four hours. Even the best sunscreens wash off after a while. Avoid getting the sunscreen on your fingers, some of the cream may transfer onto the fly. Many fish have very acute senses of taste and can shy away from a tainted fly.
At the very least wear a peaked cap. A broad brimmed or legionaires style is better. The best would probably be the Araphat or Frilled Neck hats. Not only do they keep the sun off your face, but off your ears and neck as well. These are also good against wind burn. Hats also give protection to your head and ears from stray hooks.

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