St. Vrain Angler Presents

Helpful Flats Fishing Tips

As many of you know, over the past several years, Mark and I have done lots of saltwater fly fishing. We're asking ourselves who has who, as a matter of fact. There are a few tips that should help you if you're going to go to the flats in the near future. We've got plenty more information, too, and would love to share that.

How to get started is a question we're often asked. First, you've got to pick a place to go, and that will be dependent on your budget, the time of year you can travel and the type of fish you want to catch. There are areas throughout the Caribbean that have lots of flats that nurture bonefish, permit, tarpon, jacks, barracudas, sharks, snapper and many other species. Other areas have lots of red drum, sea trout, snook and so on. All of them are fun to catch, and all offer unique challenges.

I've always held to the idea that fly fishing is hard, at first, but not impossible. Flats fishing offers and new challenge, but basic keys of fishing still have to be followed. Here are a few: fish eat flies that are in the water (flies hanging in mangrove trees, stuck in the back of necks or hats, or ones that are being waved about above a person's head while casting do not catch fish). You have to get the fly in the water. A fly in the water has a chance to fool a fish. Second, scared fish usually don't eat. Even though some of the above, such as 'cudas, sharks and jacks, are very aggressive, a sloppy, splashy cast will still spook them. Casts on the flats don't often have to be delicate like presenting a midge imitation to a feeding trout, but it does have to be more delicate than an anvil falling off the back of a wagon. While fast, accurate casting is often necessary, hitting fish on the head is not a great idea. Third, when the fly is in the right place - presentation - and is stripped properly - presentation - a fish is pretty likely to at least take a swipe at it. Once the fly is in the water and the fish has not been spooked, keep stripping and trying for it, as long as it is following. (In the salt, the fish move more than they do in streams.) Fourth: don't be too proud of a cast or a fly: if they don't work, try again. But, don't give up. If the fish is in sight and it's not spooked, keep casting and stripping.

A guide on the flats is almost a requirement when you are getting started. A good guide is worth plenty more than you will pay them. They'll help you spot hard-to-see fish, they'll coach you on casting, timing, fly presentation and retrieves and they'll help you build memories that will last for a lifetime. After a trip to Belize, a fellow from the shop came back with the report that he'd caught some fish and had a fine time, but one of the funniest and most memorable aspects had been the guide's response to his question concerning why a certain fish wouldn't eat the fly:  "I don't know, he just didn't want to took it." Before you go, be sure you've got a good guide lined up.

Some guides will have gear, while others will not - or should not. I never trust a trip to someone else's gear. We rent lots of stuff to folks who are going to give flats fishing a try, and we sell lots of stuff, too. What do you really need? It depends on the species, but the beginning rod for the flats - good for bones, permit, small tarpon, jacks and so on - is an 8-weight system. The line and the reel are more important than the rod, which is opposite trout fishing stuff. The reel is what fights these fast denizens of the shallows, and a good reel with a good drag is required. The fly line should be designed for the salt, and a fairly fast rod of 9 feet or less works bests. A few leaders that taper to 0X, some tippet in 0-2X, some wire if you want to catch fish with teeth and a few flies for the species you're going to catch is about it. The odds and ends you use trout fishing, such as nippers, hemostats and pliers are useful, too.

Protect your skin, eyes and feet. Wear clothing that is light, but covers as much body area as possible to avoid sunburn: good sun screen is a necessity. Great polarized sunglasses are needed to cut glare in order to see fish and to protect your eyes from harmful glare and rays. If you are going to wader, use a boot that has a hard bottom and covers your ankles to protect for coral and critters that live on the flats. This is not a time to be brave: not taking care of these few things during one part of one day can ruin the remainder of the trip. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.

As I add to this, I'll talk about specific tips for presenting flies for bonefish, permit, tarpon and so on, and I'll add a section on fly selection. If you like this and find it helpful, will you please let me know by dropping a line? If you want to head to the flats, why not join us? We go in March, April, May and November every year, and we're always adding new spots to the itinerary.

Good fishing.

If you have any questions about the above information, please give us a call at one of the shops: we'd love to help you!

Thanks for reading!

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or call 303-651-6061

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