| Saltwater fly fishing is all the rage these days. | | | | pinch pennies. Also be sure to keep your lines |
| This excitement is quite understandable because | | | | clean and dressed with a good line dressing if you |
| there's hardly anything more thrilling to a saltwater | | | | expect top performance from your lines.Keep |
| fly rodder than a bluefish blitz, a tailing red drum | | | | direct contact between your rod tip and fly. |
| off the coast of NC, or a bonefish battle on the | | | | Beginning saltwater anglers often do not realize |
| flats of south Florida waters.If you are just | | | | the lighting speed at which a marine game fish is |
| getting started in saltwater fly-fishing, there are a | | | | apt to strike. Every little bit of slack from our rod |
| few tips that will make your conversion from | | | | to the fly means a greater chance your hook-up |
| freshwater easier and more productive.Get some | | | | will be unsuccessful.Keep your rod tip pointed |
| gear just for fishing saltwater | | | | toward the water |
| You're best bet is to get another fly rod and reel | | | | Your best chance of hooking a saltwater game |
| for your saltwater fishing adventures. Your | | | | fish is by not lifting your rod from the water and |
| freshwater gear is undoubtedly going to be lighter | | | | setting the hook by stripping the line, keeping the |
| than may be necessary to deliver that big fly in a | | | | rod pointed down before lifting it. Eliminate as |
| stiff offshore breeze, and you're better off | | | | much slack as possible between your rod and the |
| leaving your high-dollar equipment out of the | | | | fly and you will find your attempts will be more |
| punishing salt air.Get a good 10 weight rod | | | | successful.Try the shooting head system |
| There are a number of reasons you need to use | | | | Because of the heavy head section, a good |
| heavier tackle. One is because you will need to | | | | caster can achieve a good 80 to 90 feet of |
| make longer casts with larger flies in typically | | | | distance with only one false cast. You may often |
| windy conditions. Another is because when you | | | | find yourself in a situation where an 80 foot cast |
| see that fish you need to deliver the fly | | | | is sometimes not enough for open water fishing |
| IMMEDIATELY. Doing that will be considerably | | | | so a long cast with a shooting head is what is |
| easier with heavier equipment.Put your money in | | | | needed.Fabulous flies |
| the rod | | | | Keep in mind what your game fish eats and |
| If you have to make a choice between spending | | | | mimic it (most of the time). Sometimes the fish |
| money on rod or reel, choose rod. You can get | | | | will only bite the bizarre, but usually you're better |
| away with a less expensive reel but you will not | | | | off with flies that look like minnows, shrimp, crabs, |
| get the control you need with a cheap rod | | | | worms, and various other small saltwater |
| because it will flex more when you try to cast. | | | | creatures.Whether you are just getting started |
| The rod is more important than the reel.Buy a | | | | and testing your fly-fishing "wings" or are a |
| reel made for fishing saltwater | | | | veteran who simply loves the sport, give |
| You will still have to clean it after use but it will | | | | saltwater fly-fishing a try this fall or spring. You'll |
| hold up better than one designed for | | | | be hard pressed to find a more exciting fly fishing |
| freshwater.Buy the best fly line you can afford | | | | adventure than a saltwater one.E. A. Edwards is a |
| More expensive fly lines last longer and perform | | | | free-lance writer with a variety of professional |
| better than cheaper lines, it's as simple as that. | | | | and personal interests. |
| Your lines are the one place you can't afford to | | | | |