Have just read an excellent article from Jersey, but written to help us on the mainland, it discusses various topics including drift fishing the fly into the surf which I'm going to give a try next time out plus a host of other ideas and tactics.

Here's the link:

http://www.myfishcasting.org/approach.htm

Enjoy

Starvinmarvin

Really good read, very interesting!

I haven't read it fully but it looks interesting and perhaps a bit to in depth for me.
Why oh why do the rods used have to be Sage and so expensive? Personal choice is fine but the cost of these rods is way out of most ordinary anglers reach. There are plenty of rods out there that will do the same job just as well and at a fraction of these ridiculously high priced rods. I suppose some people feel that just because it costs a lot it's got to be good??

Colin

I've been using an 8 weight Orvis Clearwater for the last 12 months, but have recently tried a n 8 weight TLS along side it, the extra stifness and Tip Action made a real difference casting into the wind making my old Clearwater feel like a soggy bit of straw, but the full price is too high for me. Will be looking out for one in the sales, they are usually half price!

Having said all this Mike Ladle uses a cheap old rod with a plastic reel seat and he doesn't go short of a fish or two.

SM

The guy who wrote that article is a regular poster on the forum over at http://www.ukswff.co.uk

He certainly knows his stuff - he posts under the name 'My Fish'

He's a bit clever with Mullet as well, have you read any of his other articles?

Clever with Mullet must ge a great thing to be. I tried and tried in Crete with absolutely no look whatsoever. Threw in some bread which they fed on avidly, until i put a fly line on the water then they stopped, every time.

Also on a sight seeing boat trip I watched with awe as a large fish 80cm to a 1m chased at high speed 4 to 6 oz fish and caught one or two which is wolfed down. Very forked tail, a bit Milk fish like in terms of profile. This whilst the boat was beached for a BBq and took place right at the shore. That was a day of coarse that I did not take the rods.

Oh well it was absorbing viewing.

Just found the Mullet article, it's on Chippy's site:

http://www.chippyjersey.co.uk/mullet_on_the_fly.htm

He knows his stuff.

SM

yep, they are out of my price range too but if you fish a real lot and are good at it, they along with scott and Loomis are the top rods and over the 5-10 years they should last, they are probably worth the money.

its a lot to lay out intially i agree( just like £400 quid for a reel), but if it lasts 10 years, thats just 16.4p a day !

as far as i know Keith has been SWFF for over 10 years in Jersey, and he fishes a lot so its a worthwhile investment for someone of his outstanding ability.

i myself 'make do' with a £140 Redington and a Thomson MPX (£70) as back up which work just fine - i've had a few fish and the casting is coming along nicely. In a few years i'll gradually move up but for now its not worth it.

i'd always go for the best you can afford - once you know what you want, and that you can & will use it !

GB

"its a lot to lay out intially i agree( just like £400 quid for a reel), but if it lasts 10 years, thats just 16.4p a day !"

Try telling my wife that!

I fly fish one hell of a lot and have rods that have lasted me 20 years but they didn't cost 2 arms a leg and a foot.
Things have moved on with technology and my old rods might be heavy by todays standards but they still catch fish.

I recently bought my most expensive ever rod at £179, where was it made? Korea! and it handles just like a Sage. It has good quality fittings etc and as I become more accustomed to it my casting is almost on par with the older rods. Time will tell if rods do actually help improve my casting.

Tight Bass lines,

Colin

Colin,

my experience is that an expensive rod will add 2 or 3 yards to anyone's casting, but that a good caster will do much, much more with it - i was saying i'm not good enough to make the most of it really.

i have tried rods by redington, cortland, snowbee, sportsfish and Greys and they all do the job for under £150 - IMHO for the average FF, the extra cash is probably better spent on casting lessons.

GB

[ 01. October 2004, 04:58 PM: Message edited by: guernseybass ]

I totally agree with casting lessons, had a couple and what an improvement, trouble is when you get out in the surf, it all goes to pot, especially when those little fins start breaking the surface.

SM

I'm in agreement also that casting lessons is money well spent, basically after fishing for very many years....I took casting lessons and after the instructor had got rid of my bad habits..i learned how the rod worked and now I am STANIC and APGAI qualified in Salmon / Trout and other speices / Flydressing.
If you decide to have a go at it take a look at www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk and you will find all the qualified instructors listed there.
Gwilym Hughes

^^^
bringing this back to the top.

GB