Vpass Helps the new guys....And other thoughts for Saltwater Fly Beginners......

Hi JB I'm not a fan of wire for fly fishing. I like using 80 pound test line around 6 inches, I also use straight 15 pound test line for my leader for my 7wt and 20 pound test for my 10wt. The lenght of the leader should be around 8 to 9 feet for floating line and 4 or 5 feet for sinking line. anywhere in the middle for intermidiate. Your rio 7ft is fine, just be aware that your flyline breaking point is around 20 pounds also. so put a tippet between the leader and the wire or heavy mono.

I like using the albright knot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyoayxB6D7M

I also use the Alberto knot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J56O3CZVu7M

For tying the fly to the leader/tippet I use a Homer Rhode Knot, so the fly could pivot and have more action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJva_lJJ1BU

For the 8wt. you should have no problem handling the fish. once you get some experiance. Use the butt of your rod to fight the fish, and palm the reel to add drag when needed. The weight rating of the rod is more for the size of the flyline. The flyline is what carries the fly. If the fly is to heavy for the flyline it won't cast well. you will have to match the fly to the flyline. good luck

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Originally Posted by vpass

The flyline is what carries the fly. If the fly is to heavy for the flyline it won't cast well. you will have to match the fly to the flyline. good luck

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nice vpass. What wt rod or size line would you use for some of the bigger bunker flys?

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Originally Posted by hookset

nice vpass. What wt rod or size line would you use for some of the bigger bunker flys?

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I use a 10wt. for that size fly. It also alters your timing due to drag. You have to slow down your foward and back cast (Longer pause between the two. you still need the speed/acceleration part of the cast), the same thing with a larger popper. it takes alittle time to get use to.

Great info vpass thanks for sharing.

VPass, thanks for sharing what I am sure is a lot of hard earned knowledge over the years.

I will practice the Homer Rhode Loop knot tonight; I am already familiar with the Alberto knot.

My fly line has a welded loop (RIO Outbound 8WT floating) on the tag end and I made some spare 20lb leaders with a perfection loop knot on the tag end. Is this where you would use the Albright or Alberto knot instead of a perfection loop?

The other day when I was out I realized first hand why steel leaders are no good for flies. It curls up and even a slight curl combined with a light fly ruins the presentation.

I am just thinking out loud here to better understand why these are the preferred methods. Teach a man how to fish analogy…

For floating line a 8-9ft leader will help in not having a bunch of heavy fly line hit the water and spook any nearby fish and it will also let the fly sink a little for a better presentation.

With a sinking line we no longer have to worry about the above two issues and it now becomes a reduced visibility and chaffing leader.

I fished from 3-10pm with the fly line in deep moving water. Small blues to about 5lbs but not for me. My casting is not holding me back as I was well within range but I believe the full floating line was. My buddy was catching all of his blues down deeper. I am going to put the fly rod away for a few days and will pickup a sinking line sometime next week after doing some research. On the way home I made four spots in the bay looking for activity and just saw the same thing....small blues everywhere.

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Originally Posted by J Barbosa

My buddy was catching all of his blues down deeper.

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JB as dark and others have said they have been hard to hook on artis. Dudes throwing chunks are catching them regularly. Very frustrating.
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Originally Posted by J Barbosa

I. I am going to put the fly rod away for a few days and will pickup a sinking line sometime next week after doing some research. .

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Try a sinking line. Early season up here it takes a long time for the water to warm up. The fly guys do pretty well with sinking lines.

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Originally Posted by dogfish

Try a sinking line. Early season up here it takes a long time for the water to warm up. The fly guys do pretty well with sinking lines.

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Good call dogfish there is a local guy the average angler he was reccommending that too and said the fish were on the bottom lately.
"The fish are low, and sinking lines with Clousers taking the mixed bag of fish the last couple of days. "

very cool thread thanks vpass!

Fished from 6:30 to ?. LOL :)

Thanks again for all the help Vpass :HappyWave:...the pressure is now off the fly rod and I will probably put it away until we see an abundance of small bait around.

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Originally Posted by J Barbosa

Fished from 6:30 to ?. LOL :)

Thanks again for all the help Vpass :HappyWave:...the pressure is now off the fly rod and I will probably put it away until we see an abundance of small bait around.

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No Problem, J Barbosa. I had a great time. Wait to you get a bigger one.

I fished last nigth from 5PM to 10:30PM. I caught 3 short Fluke, sh*t load of Sea robin. and Many blues from 1 pount ot about 4 pounds. Had a great time. Used gulp on a jig head for the fluke, and 1 oz. Crippled herring for the Blues.

I used my new rod a bought for fluke. called wild river from St. Croix, it's a 8.5 foot rod rated for 3/4 to 1 1/2 oz. I love this rod. and would recommand it was fun fighting blues with it.

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Originally Posted by vpass

I used my new rod a bought for fluke. called wild river from St. Croix, it's a 8.5 foot rod rated for 3/4 to 1 1/2 oz. I love this rod. and would recommand it was fun fighting blues with it.

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I wonder if I could ask you about this rod vpass. If it says 3/4 to 1 1/2 oz would you only throw 1 1/2 as the max or would you feel comforable throwing something bigger.

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Originally Posted by basshunter

I wonder if I could ask you about this rod vpass. If it says 3/4 to 1 1/2 oz would you only throw 1 1/2 as the max or would you feel comforable throwing something bigger.

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The knuckle head popper was the heaviest lure I casted last night, and it handle it with no problem. I'm not sure of the weight, I think the weight is around 1 1/2 oz. It would make a great schoolie rod.

The jig head I was casting weight about 5/8 oz and could believe how far I casted it.:heart:

I just saw this and would like to ask you a question too. If you threw something that was 2 oz or 2 1/2 oz could you break the rod with it. I know the answer is probably yes but was wondering what basshunter said how much bigger could you throw without chances of breaking the rod. Thank you

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Originally Posted by porgy75

I just saw this and would like to ask you a question too. If you threw something that was 2 oz or 2 1/2 oz could you break the rod with it. I know the answer is probably yes but was wondering what basshunter said how much bigger could you throw without chances of breaking the rod. Thank you

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:don't know why: I wouldn't go over 2 oz. The next time out with the rod i'll try it an report back.

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Originally Posted by basshunter

I wonder if I could ask you about this rod vpass. If it says 3/4 to 1 1/2 oz would you only throw 1 1/2 as the max or would you feel comfortable throwing something bigger.

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Originally Posted by vpass

The knuckle head popper was the heaviest lure I casted last night, and it handle it with no problem. I'm not sure of the weight, I think the weight is around 1 1/2 oz. It would make a great schoolie rod.

The jig head I was casting weight about 5/8 oz and could believe how far I casted it.:heart:

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Originally Posted by porgy75

I just saw this and would like to ask you a question too. If you threw something that was 2 oz or 2 1/2 oz could you break the rod with it. I know the answer is probably yes but was wondering what basshunter said how much bigger could you throw without chances of breaking the rod. Thank you

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Originally Posted by vpass

:don't know why: I wouldn't go over 2 oz. The next time out with the rod i'll try it an report back.

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I have owned the exact rod for a while now as well as the heavier rated version (...lets say that mine are most likely outside the five year warranty period already).

Its a great schoolie rod as Vpass mentioned and it really excels with the light stuff. Throw on a 4000 sized reel with 20lb braid and its a casting beast for lures in the .5oz - 1oz range. Its also a great rod for fluke fishing as well and my goto surf fluking rod. I regularly cast 2-3oz plus a clam in the spring or a gulp rig in the summer. 3oz is really pushing it and its just a soft lob but thats okay as I don't need distance. The key with the heavier weights is to start winding up slow and finish fast. I wouldn't recommend going over 1.5oz unless you are highly confident in your casting ability. I have caught bass up to 20lbs on this rod in the back bay with no problems.

I will say that since they are steelhead rods they have a lot of give (they were built with this intention) and I feel at times can lack the backbone to set the hook into the jaw of a bigger bass.

Vpass, I know yesterday was the first day with the rod but don't be afraid to tighten that drag a little more and really drive those hooks home on the hookset.

Now for the heavier version of the rod - I don't like it that much, I find it to be too stiff but my brother loves it but he likes fishing heavier lures while I prefer the lighter stuff. The only thing I like this rod for is snagging bunker but I have a friend who swears by it and throws stuff as light as 1/4 oz.

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I recently got my hands on a St. Croix 8' surf avid and I am in love with it for light to moderate sized plugs. It handles the light sub 1oz stuff incredibly well yet launches a 2-3oz metal out of sight. I really wish St. Croix made the same rod in a 9ft model.

With all the talk about light plugging rods I should also mention the two older standbys that will forever be the "bomber" rods of NJ IMO: Lami Ron Arra 1083 and GSB1081L

Very informative gents thanks!