| Are you a seasoned freshwater fly | | | | approximately six hours afterwards |
| fisherman or a saltwater fisherman | | | | return a more diluted mix of water back |
| looking to add a new and fresh dimension | | | | to the Gulf. Flats and estuaries go |
| to your angling pleasure? Why not take | | | | through a cycle of being flooded and |
| up saltwater fly fishing? It is a | | | | almost drained. This serves to provide |
| wonderful pastime although it can be | | | | the food eaten by the baitfish and other |
| challenging. | | | | prey that attract redfish, drum, trout, |
| If you are already doing freshwater fly | | | | and other gulf game fish. |
| fishing, be prepared to gear up for a | | | | This constant flooding/flush cycle |
| different type of fishing. You will in | | | | generates natural channels. All life |
| all likelihood need a heavier rod, reel, | | | | forms use these channels as "roads" on |
| and line. What is the reason for this? | | | | which they travel. These channels are |
| Well, unlike fishing freshwater, the | | | | any number of sizes, depending on local |
| ocean or bay tends to be windier and you | | | | conditions. They can up to a hundred |
| need more weight to slice through the | | | | yards wide and several inches or a few |
| wind. Additionally, the fish tend to be | | | | feet deeper than the surrounding bottom. |
| heavier in the saltwater. | | | | Phytoplankton languidly float in the |
| For example, the best models for all | | | | prevailing current and your baitfish |
| around use would be a rod 8-1/2 to 9 | | | | come along next, because phytoplankton |
| feet long. Line weight? Again, for all | | | | is their primary food source. The game |
| around use a 7, 8 or 9 weight line would | | | | fish you are after navigate these |
| be ideal. It goes without saying that | | | | "roads" and feed on the baitfish, crabs, |
| you need to use a rod and reel balanced | | | | and other prey. You, as a fly fisherman, |
| to your line weight. Of course these are | | | | use these same roads to find and flush |
| just average weights. If you know you | | | | out your prey, which is of course the |
| will be fishing in primarily low wind | | | | game fish. |
| conditions, you can bump your line | | | | So you see, you are just another part of |
| weight down three notches or so and for | | | | the natural cycle of life. By becoming |
| high wind, you can bump it up three | | | | familiar with the local tides (you can |
| notches. Since fly fishing equipment is | | | | buy a chart or just reference the |
| expensive, do your homework and buy what | | | | newspaper) and the whereabouts of your |
| will work for you. | | | | channels, the fisherman can find the |
| The fly patterns used in Saltwater are | | | | areas where game fish are active and the |
| different than the ones you would use in | | | | when their feeding is most likely to be |
| fresh water. This makes sense when you | | | | aggressive. |
| think of it because the food available | | | | Now let's take a few moments to consider |
| to the fish is different. Remember, | | | | how you are going to get to the fish. If |
| match the hatch. Some popular patterns | | | | you are fishing close to shore, say on a |
| are crabs, shrimp, baitfish, and marine | | | | pier or on the shore, you can just find |
| worms. Just as with fresh water, what | | | | a spot where you judge the fish to be |
| works splendidly on one day might be a | | | | and where you can make a good |
| total wash on the next. | | | | presentation. A popular alternative to |
| How does the fisherman find the most | | | | this is wading. If you are wading, |
| productive water? Consider that tidal | | | | stingrays can be a real problem. |
| activity is the device that modulates | | | | Fortunately, some of the newer waders on |
| the entire living environment of the | | | | the market are made of a material that |
| shoreline. Let's consider the Gulf of | | | | deals with this very effectively. One |
| Mexico since that is what I am most | | | | case of stepping on a stingray's tail |
| familiar with. | | | | will ruin potentially a month's worth of |
| Passes and estuaries bring in fresh | | | | fishing as you recuperate. |
| saltwater from the Gulf and | | | | |