OCEAN BOUNTY
There’s
a growing passion for saltwater flyfishing around the British coast but, like
some aspects of trouting, there seems to be a lot of myth and mystery
surrounding it. Here Chris
Ogborne who now lives almost on the beaches of
Cornwall
, tells us how its done.
A flyfishing lifetime can be
likened to a taste for wine. When you’re young you tend to like the sweeter
things and will probably drink anything but as your taste progresses you find
yourself looking for dryer and finer wines. With a degree of maturity later in
life, and providing the budget permits it, you look selectively for the finest
bottles.
But for me, there is a stage beyond even that,
arguably the final challenge: to take a wild Ocean fish from saltwater on
fly. You may think that you’ve done pretty much all the fishing there
is to do but when the Bass move in on a
big Spring
tide and you wait for them to show as the waves reach shallow water, the old
tingle returns. It’s absorbing, hugely exciting,
very demanding, but supremely rewarding. Which is why we go fishing in
the first place.
Getting started
I don’t know why but it seems as though there’s a bit of mystery and
mystique developing about saltwater flyfishing, almost as if some individuals
were trying to make it sound elitist and exclusive. In fact, nothing is further
from the truth. It’s perfectly
possible to catch Bass on your normal reservoir gear and you can do so on
virtually any beach, anywhere around
Britain
’s coastline. Best of all it’s free. You don’t need fancy tackle or
clothing as on warm days you’ll be fishing in swim shorts and T shirt. The
only on-cost will be the flies. Of course, a bit of study and application will
be rewarded many times over to fully appreciate the challenge, which is what
this article is all about.
I’ve been catching Bass (and other sea fish for that matter) on fly for
many years. I used to use a much heavier nine foot rod with 8 or 9 weight lines,
partly from an in-built assumption that this was what saltwater fly work needed
but also because there tend to be big fish about and there will often be times
when you need to lift off and re-present a long line. Recently though I’ve
taken to using much lighter tackle, with no trade-off in the results department.
In fact, I’m convinced that the
extra delicacy and better presentation of a
6 weight line has actually improved my catch rate.
In the best possible world I’d recommend using a separate set of gear
for saltwater work but as long as you observe the simple precaution of
thoroughly washing all the
gear – rod and line, as well as the reel - in fresh water after use, your
usual reservoir outfit will be fine.
The simple answer to the one
word question is ‘almost anywhere’ but as ever it pays to understand a bit
about your quarry.
Bass are predators and they will eat pretty much anything that moves in
the sea. However, they have a predilection for sand eels which is why most of my
artificials are geared to represent this principal food item. There are other
free-swimming small fish about, but not in the same numbers as the sand eel.
Bass also like to forage for shrimps and crabs and so the ideal Bass
territory will a beach with good drop-off, plenty of sandy areas and plenty of
rock. Just as on a river, you’re
looking for structure and features: rough
rocky inlets and a good mix of weed covered boulders, reefs or Cliffside will be
prime Bass country.
Virtually any beach around the Devon and
Cornwall
coasts (and indeed ALL the British coast) will hold Bass. I only know those
close to home, because they’re so good that I don’t need to venture further!
However, I know from talking to other saltwater fly maniacs like myself that
this is a nationwide sport, and not in any way restricted to the West Country.
It’s just that it’s better down here……….
There is also no doubt that estuaries
hold a special appeal for Bass. The North Cornwall coast has many and even if
you’re not on holiday down here then a weekend trip from the
Midlands
is perfectly feasible.
Depending on your chosen location you then have two basic choices: to fish
from the rocks or from the beach itself and this in turn is where tackle choice
will vary. If you’re off the rocks
then you’ll need sinking lines as well as floaters, together with strong
footwear and the obvious safety aids. You will probably also need a long handled
landing net. Personally I much prefer to be on the beach as it’s an altogether
more flexible approach. You’re more mobile and so you can follow the schools
as they move in with the tide. You’re also less cluttered as for most of the
time you will only need swim shorts and shirt.
You also need to keep in mind the
casting factor when fishing from the rocks. By definition, the cliffs are likely
to be somewhere behind you and its not always practical to get in a decent back
cast. Hit your rod against a bush or some reeds on the river and you’ll
probably get away with it. Hit the same rod against a cliff face and you’ll be
reaching for your insurance policy. There’s not a lot of ‘give’ in Cornish
granite……
On the beach I only use a floater
(90%) and glass intermediate (10%). On the rocks you’ll need all densities,
with fast intermediates probably the favourite all-rounder.
I keep the bare essentials around my neck on a fishing necklace, which
holds a small fly box, leader dispenser, snips and/or pliers.
Because I usually leave all other gear in the car I also use one of the
excellent Aquapac cases around my neck, to keep the car keys safe and dry.
Involuntary or voluntary swimming moments are not uncommon and sea water does
not mix well with most car alarm remotes! If
I intend to keep a fish for the BBQ then I’ll take an old fashioned wicker
creel with me, using a shoulder strap to keep
the basket out of the way.
There is one piece of kit
that is absolutely essential to saltwater flyfishing, it costs less than £1 and
you’re wasting your time if you try to live without it: a copy of your local
Tide Tables.
I find that by far the best sport centres around the
big Spring
Tides. A popular misconception is that Spring Tides only take place in Spring
– not true. This is simply the term for the fortnightly cycle of tides which
vary in rise and fall. The slacker tides down here in Cornwall (called neap
tides) will show a low of around 2.5 metres and a high at 5.5 whereas the big
Springs will be down on zero at low tide and up to 7.0 metres or more at high.
For me, Springs are by far the best
for the Bass. The cream of the fishing from the beach is at low tide and the
first few hours of the flow, but from the rocks you can catch almost all the
time on the rise. An ebbing tide is
mostly a waste of time although occasionally the last hour of the ebb can
produce some interest.
A further detail is to look for low tides at midday or early afternoon.
This way, the tide will coming in over warm sand and the fish will be active
looking for food items in the warm water. The
Grey Mullet fresh from the
Atlantic
is almost as good to eat as a Bass and they like the warmer water on an
encroaching tide.
Either way, plan your
trips around the Tide tables. Then factor in the weather and most importantly
the wind direction. Just as on the lakes, wind really matters: it will push the
warmer surface water into or out of a beach, pile up food in a bay,
or simply make it unsafe or impossible from your chosen location. An off
shore wind can also bring up cold water from the deeps and cold upwellings can
kill the sport from the rocks faster than anything.
Again, the two distinct options present themselves.
Rock fishing will depend more on your homework and choice of location for
success, whereas beach wading is a far more visual sport.
Often the first signs of fish will be the grey shapes in the waves.
On flat water they’re hard to spot, but as soon as a wave lifts them
you will see the silver grey shapes. When you’re out on the beach at the very
bottom of the tide it will usually be the schoolies you see first, highly mobile
and almost frantic in their feeding pattern. They can be good sport but should
be released to fight another day.
Remember that there IS a Bass size limit: 37.5cms.
You’ll be in trouble if you’re found with anything under that size in
your possession
Often you’ll think that there are
only small fish around, but then you’ll notice the bigger fish that hang on
the fringe of the schools. Sometimes the best fish will be solitary or in twos
and threes. On one afternoon last year I had a dozen or more schoolies and then
caught a couple of three pounders in succession. It’s wonderfully exciting,
made more so by the visual element.
I also have to say that good casting
WILL affect your catch rate. When you see a good fish in the waves you
absolutely will NOT have time to strip in line, make six false casts, and hope
that you can land a fly somewhere near him – he’ll be long gone in that
time. To exploit the visual element you will need to be able to lift off and
re-present a long line in double quick time, and like as not a change of
direction will be needed in the process.
Spotting fish takes practice. It’s
much easier on a sunny day, though in time you’ll get used to seeing fish in
overcast conditions, once you become familiar with the way in which they move
and feed. It’s great to fish the beaches with a friend, as two pairs of eyes
are better than one and you can call out the shoals as you see them.
Mobility
Beach fishing is huge fun and one of the keys is mobility.
I like to arrive about an hour before low tide and set up a base camp on
the rocks. Ideally this includes the BBQ if you’re having one, but also some
dry clothes and maybe a little liquid refreshment: three hours in the surf can
take their toll.
I then walk to the bottom of the
tide, wait for the turn, and then follow the fish in. It’s quite common to
walk three or four miles in an afternoon, following shoals as they criss cross
the beach moving up with the tide. Whatever you do, DON’T expect to plant your
feet and just fish in one spot, as everything will have passed you by in less
than ten minutes.
Explore the drop offs, the coves and the pools if there are any.
Keep casting, even if you don’t see fish at every throw. Always look
for structure and feature. Keep on the move and don’t worry if you lose a
shoal as, like the proverbial bus, there
will be another one along in a minute.
Above all, be adventurous as it’s
part of the fun. I’m not advocating anything daft or dangerous but if the
tide’s coming in and you’re on an estuary with no big currents or undertows
to worry about then it doesn’t matter how deep you wade. The only way you’re
going is ‘in’. I frequently lift my feet and drift for a while, especially
in the warm water at half tide. It’s a kind of freedom you can’t experience
with many kinds of fishing and the feeling is like no other.
Leaders
I
rarely use anything other than 3X or 4X leaders.
They will be Hardy Copolymer on brighter days or fluorocarbon if it’s a
bit softer. Unless wind conditions are really easy, then I stick
to a single fly on a leader length of 10 to 12 feet
