Preparing for a Saltwater Fly Fishing Trip

If you have a saltwater fly fishing trip planned for sight fishing the flats for bonefish, redfish, permit, tarpon, drum, or more, I would like to offer my advice as a full time fishing guide for over 15 years. Many freshwater fly fishing anglers who make thier first trip to the saltwater arrive drastically unprepared for the differences. Unfortunately, too many anglers find out in the first five minutes they do not posess the skills or techniques needed for a successful day on the flats. While many guides can offer terriffic advice, it is too difficult to remember multiple new techniques and wathc the fish.

In this saltwater fly casting video tutorial below, I discuss the flats fishing top 3, distance, speed, and accuracy. Nearly as important, I address other differences in saltwater fly fishing that can make the difference between just seeing fish and catching them. Even if the cast is far enough, fast enough, and accurate, there are other issues which arise over and over either before or after the cast which cause fish to be lost. Practicing these differences whether physically casting or simply just going through the motions with your hands will have a significant impact on your ability to perform quickly under pressure. Preparing the mind and body before your trip, will make for a much less frustrating experience.

If possible, borrow a rod the same or similar size to what you will be using on the trip. Practice your speed and accuracy for distances from 20-50ft. Shorter quick casts are often much more important than the occasional 75ft cast. Speed + accuracy = more chances to get a bite. When sight fishing in saltwater, you generally have only a few seconds to make the presentation and get the fly moving before the fish see you or the boat. Once that happens, the chance of catching them is significantly reduced if not gone all together.

Practice such things as the hookset and stripping the fly to move it, both of which are not commonly done in river or stream type fishing. get used to using a stripping basket to keep the fly line from getting stuck inder your feet. Prepare yourself to immediatly point the rod at various clock positions called out by your guide. Also be ready to make casts both to the right and left with ease and without having the fly or line going over the boat and guide.