Ok, class no more screwing around – you know who you are.

The next few articles will detail how to fish for stripers on coastal flats, both when you can and when you can’t sight fish.  Of all the ways a person can fly fish, flats fishing is one of the ways I find most enjoyable.   The challenges are many, but unlike many other forms of striper fishing, this is one of the few – perhaps the only – where the fly rod is the best means to success.  I think too much that has been written about flats fishing borders on the realm of myth.  I’m not sure if this is intentional to build up egos or to discourage participation, or just a product of exaggeration that is common in our fellowship.  If you know how to fish a trout stream (something far more challenging in my opinion) you know everything you need to know.  You just have to Super-size it.  Finding success on the flats is not like finding the G-spot – it’s actually possible.

If you learn nothing else in this series learn this: Fly fishing for stripers is simple.  Understanding the whims of the ocean, however, is not.  The toughest challenge you will face will come from finding the fish…once found they can be fairly easy to catch – especially with flies.  You can have a fantastic tide and then 12 hours later, despite similar circumstances, find the same area as empty as a skid row trashcan.

That’s the challenge of this game.  It is a challenge I enjoy.

Wait a second…an introduction that actually introduces a fly fishing related subject.  This will never do.  Need some sort of meandering story that serves no point or at the very least a fun fact of unrequested wisdom.  The fact that I have learned to actually cook food – like 4-real food in a crock pot – can’t have changed me this much.  Or has it?

Well let’s see where this road goes. I’m sure the “Nameless Feeb” will turn up or I’ll have some misogynistic rant to share.  The one thing I have always appreciated with my random bouts of maturity is that they never seem to stay for too long.

“Men have become the Fools of their Tools.”

Henry David Thoreau

Winter – in addition to sucking – is a time when fly fishermen gather and more often than not talk about gear.  New gear and flies are constantly appearing on the market.  Even though we pride our sport on its ancient traditions, most of us would like to think we can find some edge, or some new toy to play with.  Sometimes these talks can become heated (more on this later.)  I am dreading writing this article…I dislike the subject matter.  I mean seriously, use whatever you want as long as you can get it to do what you need it’s a-ok.  Still, this is to be your recipe for success and all good recipes start with the list of ingredients.  As is always the case, don’t take my suggestions as anything more than suggestions, sure there is a lot of experience behind them, but ultimately a great deal of the enjoyment of fly fishing comes from playing with our toys.  For example, my buddy Dave loves to fly cast, and takes a great deal of enjoyment from the delicacy and accuracy of a fly rod.  He fishes an intermediate line most of the time because that is what he enjoys.  I, on the other hand, prefer to get my flies to the bottom as quickly as possible and use a fast sinker most of the time.  It’s all good.

Also the price of things has little to do with their value.  It just has to work.  I spend a lot on reels because during the season I’m on the water 5-6 times a week – and living on the Cape the air itself is pretty salty.  500 bucks for a reel that lasts 10 years is cheaper than 200 bucks for a reel that barely lasts one season.  You know your needs.  Actually this reminds me of an amusing aside.

The Flyosopher is not exactly the most fashion conscious guy in the world.  His Brother-in-Law, however, is the Best-Dressed Man in Nashua NH.  One time he decided to take me shopping for a jacket that didn’t come from the Paul Bunyan collection – I do love my red and black plaid jacket all wool and all warm.  The jacket he picked out was nice, though pricey – about 300 bucks.  When he saw me frown at the price-tag, he encouraged the purchase by saying a jacket like this shows the world that you are the successful guy you truly are.  Dress to impress…

So a three hundred dollar leather jacket is note-worthy.

But draping yourself with several grand worth of fly fishing equipment does not get the attention of any of the bikini-babes.  Life is so unfair.

Kim – you need to wear the sunglasses to spot fish…

A rod

A line

A leader

A fly

I STRONGLY encourage the use of:

A stripping basket

A kayak

If you want to do it again the next day:

Sun Protection

Water

A compass

Sight fishing will require:

GOOD Sunglasses

Flies and kayaks will each have their own articles in this series.

I do think that a kayak is a game changer.  I understand that they aren’t for everyone, nor are they truly necessary, but I think they make flats fishing a gazillion times more fun.  For a gear perspective, you can easily carry several rigged fly rods and switch off as the need arises.  Another benefit is that a couple gallons of water are easily transported by kayak – would be annoying at best to do that on foot.

Rods

A good flats rod is not a big trout rod.  I think the biggest mistake made when it comes to rods is the one dimensional thinking many anglers (and sales folk) have when picking them.  That dimension is distance.  The distance you can cast at a fly show or on the lawn behind the shop is mostly meaningless.  Control is what you need.  Most often you will need to cast directly into a strong head wind (the best days to fish are windy and the best spots are where the wind will drive the baitfish.)  The rod also needs to control the fish.  Consider the classic Orvis image –

This is something you should never do on a flat.  In addition to not really setting the hook, the guy introduced slack, and probably broke his rod.  My favorite rod is the GLX Crosscurrent.  It is NOT my favorite rod to cast.  I like it because, like me, it has an incredibly strong butt.  On windy clear days that I can sight fish I can over-line it for accurate quick casts, and on foggy days I can zing a line a country mile.  When I fight a fish with the cork I can bring even very large stripers to hand quickly.

Lines

Sight fishing is often done at knife range.  I know that fishing shows for bonefish routinely tout that 90’ casts are required.  Stripers aren’t bonefish (not sure why folk are always so quick to claim “Hey this is like bonefishing”) also I believe a lot of that is because guys on those shows are often fishing from boats.  Wading or in a kayak most of your casts will be under 50’.  The challenge is three-fold.  You have to cast:  without spooking the fish, with proper timing so the fly intercepts the fish at the right spot, and most importantly that the fly is at the right depth when the fish cruises by it.  Nearly all lines can do this but will vary in the how.  For example, a super-heavy fast-sinking line will get the fly to the bottom (where most of the fish will be) much quicker than a clear intermediate, but the clear intermediate lands softer and thus can be cast closer (but not over) the fish.  Also wind is a factor; thinner denser sinking lines are better in the wind, but difficult to finesse when the fish are very close.

My rule of thumb is this.  When I am flats fishing – casting not directly to fish but to likely structure, bait balls, or swirls, I prefer a fast-sinking line.  When I am sight fishing, casting to pods or individual fish, I will generally over-line my rod with an intermediate.  The reason for over-lining is with a 10wt line on an 8wt rod I can make a 50’ cast with less than 20’ of line at the ready.  Quickness and control are the most important aspect of these casts.  The fish has to see the fly before he sees you.

Leader

Striper fishing is inherently simple.  A 6’ piece of 20# fluorocarbon is generally all you will need.  If you are fishing a small fly like a sand shrimp step it down to 10#.  I don’t think thick leaders spook stripers so much as oddly acting flies do, and your leader does have a direct impact on how the fly acts.  Be mindful that not all fluorocarbon is created equal – in fact much of the product on the market sucks.  I’ve tried a number of brands over the years.  Now, I use Seaguar.

Stripping Basket

The ocean moves in all directions, and so will your line.  A stripping basket keeps it from swirling between your legs and getting caught on that stupid tab on the back of your wading boots.  Baskets also will greatly aid you when you need to cast distance.  They do take some getting used to, and using them properly (Read: So that they aid you rather than simply being in the way) does have a bit of a learning curve.  Bottom line: You may not like them, but you’ll learn to love them.  The hard plastic types are much better than the mesh ones when it’s windy.  It will nearly always be windy on the flats.

Sun Protection

Either use sunscreen or wear stuff that physically blocks it.  I prefer long sleeved shirts, my birth-control hat, and a BUFF.

Compass

Have one, and know how to use it.  Now for those of you, who think that avoiding fog is a good idea, get that out of your head.  When a dungeon of fog comes over the flat the fishing is at its best.  Sight fishing is a joy, but for those of us who enjoy the tug more than anything else, a dark foggy day is the best situation you can hope for.  GPS units are great, but I prefer the simplicity of a compass.

Sunglasses

I never thought pricey sunglasses were worth it…until I tried a pair.  Sometimes you do get what you pay for.  My favorite lens colors are green over amber and copper – these are designed to increase contrast.  Keep in mind that there is no shade on a flat and the conditions are likely to be far brighter than a typical trout stream.  There is not only the direct sunlight but also the reflected light off the water and the sand.  Even on a foggy day, a good pair of shades can help you determine if that tiny triangle thing in the distance is a ripple or a tail.

Glad this is over with.  Gear is one of those things I dislike discussing – but people do it so much, probably can’t be helped really.  Much of the knowledge that is published is done as something of an “infomercial.”  Presentation tips are learned only in the context of a sales pitch for a specific fly, location, or article of equipment.  Pure fly fishing knowledge is rare and precious.

When I tie at an expo, demo night or a show, I find that I’m something of an oddity – now that I think of it I’m pretty odd just in general.  I have no financial ties to the fly fishing industry – Flyosophy is a labor of love I figure if I ever gave up my amateur status people would expect things I’m not willing to provide.  Yet, many folk seem to think that their fly, device or pamphlet will free them from the horrors of their day job.  At least that is the impression I get when they guard there secrets as closely as a Sicilian Grandmother would her gravy recipe.  I look at it this way.  Lefty Kreh, Bob Popovics, and Lou Tabory (among others) have all achieved far more fame, notoriety and success in the world of fly fishing than anyone could reasonably ever hope…and none of them quit their day jobs (retirement doesn’t count.)  I feel this desire motivates the majority of articles that magazines have submitted to them, which is a shame.

There is far more knowledge out there.  Most held by people too humble to fathom its worth.  This is shared only with a chosen few…but I guess that’s probably the way it ought to be.