Getting Started Saltwater Fly Fishing

So, you want to give saltwater fly fishing a try? Well, if you’re reading this there’s a good chance you’re in the great state of Texas, and for that reason I say you’re in luck! There are tons of opportunities here for the coastal fly angler and it goes far beyond fly fishing for redfish from a poling skiff. Although, that is a pretty darn good way to get into the game.

Assuming you don’t yet own a fly rod for fishing the brine, your first step is going to be visiting a fly shop. Don’t be intimidated to talk to the staff and explain your quest. Tell them what you are intending to target and they will help you get the right tool for the job. Make sure to express that this is your first saltwater fly rod, so they can help you select a rod that will make casting much easier for you. While you’re there, inquire about casting lessons, as most fly shops offer them or know someone local who does. Don’t wait till you’re in front of fish to try and learn to cast a fly rod. Especially if you’re paying big money to charter a skiff guide such as myself. Taking casting lessons will shorten your learning curve tremendously and keep you from forming bad habits from the get-go.

After getting all set up at your local shop, you need to find somewhere to actually go fishing. Not owning a boat is no excuse. Texas has miles and miles of beach front and jetty systems accessible by vehicle. Anywhere you walk-in-wade with conventional gear is likely fly-fishable, but try to stick with your shallower, harder bottom spots. That way you can easily cover ground as quietly as possible to stalk fish. Another often overlooked scenario for landlocked fly anglers is lighted piers and docks. This is a great way to stretch a fly line and undisturbed redfish in a green light will readily take a wide variety of flies.

Let’s say you do have a boat, but it’s more of a traditional Texas wade-fishing boat. Not to worry, because wade fishing remote, shallow areas is a great way to fly fish in Texas. However, one issue you’ll have immediately is rod storage going from spot to spot, as these boats aren’t equipped with horizontal rod holders, as are poling skiffs. When I was getting started I would bring my rod on the boat unassembled, in 4-pieces inside its cloth case, stored in a hatch. Then once a good opportunity for fly fishing was discovered, I would assemble the rod and rig the reel. When I was done fishing the spot, the rod was disassembled and back it went. This was quite the pain as you can imagine. Later, I discovered that once the rod and reel were assembled, I could place the butt section of the rod under the console and the top half could rest on the leaning post. This made it much easier to move between spots and stay in the game with the long rod.

Besides rod storage, one thing that you might struggle with upon making this gear transition is just that – the gear. You probably wade with entirely too much of it when conventional tackle fishing, and one of the first things you’ll learn is that fly line catches on EVERYTHING. So, less when wading with fly equipment is more. Ditch the bulky wading belt with your tackle bag, and absolutely leave the net behind. All you want to wade with is a good pair of pliers on your hip, a couple extra flies hooked to the bill of your cap, and a spool of leader material (or bite tippet as it’s called in the fly world) in your pocket. This minimalist style of wading will keep you fishing more and untangling yourself less. You can thank me later.

Speaking of leaders, I would recommend when you’re first getting started to simply use the pre-made tapered leaders from the fly shop. Try and buy some that are 8- to 9-feet length and 16 or 20-pound rated. With these leaders you will connect them in a loop-to-loop fashion directly to the factory loop on the fly line. You may come across articles or YouTube videos where experts talk about cutting off the factory loop for a more direct connection. And it’s true, when getting your line/leader setup dialed in to fight large gamefish and throw the tightest loops into the wind, its best to delete that factory loop and tie direct. However, for just starting out, it’s totally unnecessary, and you’re better off leaving it for the ability to quickly change the entire leader when you get multiple wind knots. In the last couple years, I have witnessed a large jackfish and a couple of black drum in the 30-pound class landed with factory loops. So don’t feel under-gunned by fishing with the factory loop for inshore species.

In between trips to the flats, I would recommend regular casting practice, as saltwater fly fishing is of the highest difficulty level and is not something you can master overnight. Fifteen to thirty minutes of casting a few days a week will rapidly increase your ability on your next trip. If possible, find somewhere to practice casting on water such as a pond at a nearby park. If no water is nearby, that’s OK. I have found casting a fly line on a freshly mowed lawn to be equally as good. What you want to avoid however, is casting a fly line on pavement. This will quickly destroy the exterior coating making it rough and reduce your casting distance. If this is your only option, keep a “practice” line that is dedicated for this purpose, switching back to your “good” line for fishing. Also, another thing worth noting is that it’s important to practice casting with a leader of similar length that you will use when fishing. On the end of the leader, you can do one of two things; either knot a small piece of yarn, or tie on an old fly and remove the hook point. When practice casting, set out some targets. Start at short distances such as 20-30 feet and build confidence from there. It also helps to practice throwing into different wind directions.

If you’ve become slightly bored with the ease of catching fish while “blindly” throwing soft plastics, then this is the next step. Fly fishing will humble you very quickly, but damn it’s so much fun. From watching the loop of your fly line unfold into the wind, to watching the fly you crafted by hand get inhaled by a trophy gamefish; fly Fishing in saltwater is the epitome of sport fishing. Give it a try, I’m betting you’ll be glad you did.