Getting Started in the Sea?

surf12foot got me chomping at the bit to take a fly rod to out to sea.  Other than watching shows about people fishing the Florida flats, it didn't occur to me to take a fly rod out in the PNW.

I'm about an intermediate in freshwater (still wishing there was a fly shop or an instructor near the south coast).

What does someone need to fly fish offshore?  I don't know enough to know what questions to ask, so feel free to answer me as if I'm the dummy that I freely admit I am.  About this.

How heavy are the rods you're using?  What size reels are best?  What are you using to get the flies down to the fish?

I won't be very far from shore, so, for now, my targets would be bottom fish - rockfish, maybe a flounder, and ling cod - possibly salmon near the mouths of the rivers.

- Kevin

Getting started- That a hard one. if I just one rod to choose from I would go with a 9/10wt it kind of puts you in the middle of the pack. You can fish for rockfish all the way up to albacore plus its heavy enough to punch through the wind. Remember that we are fishing from a kayak in the ocean so god knows what type of beast you could dredge up from the depths. Reels should be saltwater resistant and have a good drag system-with 200yds. of backing. Fly lines- lines that are designed for cold water. You'll want a fast sinking line, weight forward heaviest weight that your rod will handle and intermediate fly line for and when the fish are near the surface. Flies- Baitfish patterns from 2" up to 12" will work to get started with. (remember that everything in the ocean has teeth) If your unsure about diving into the world of saltwater fishing and want to maybe just dip your toes in first, Out of Pacific City there is a really cool guide(Jack Harrell) that does saltwater fly fishing guide trips for bottom fish, salmon and albacore *PACIFIC CITY FLY FIASHING GUIDE SEVICE* and also runs FLYMAN'S Fly Tackle.

Thank you, Scott.  I'm not saying I'd buy a truckload of new rods, but if I were to have more than a single 9/10wt rod, what are your thoughts?  Do you use a different rod for lings than for rockfish?

Do you like 9ft rods or longer - or shorter - rods?

And no, I'm not tentative about saltwater fly-fishing.  I'd already be doing it if I'd have thought about it before you posted pictures of your flies, so either you're to blame or it's to your credit.  I think the latter.

 

I Would go with a 9wt. you'll be able to handle everything in the ocean up to a point. 9ft. is pretty much standard length. I use one rod for everything( Beulah 9/10 11ft. surf rod) from searuns, surf perch ,rockfish, bottomfish, salmon, stripers, shark, and albacore.I Got my rod before I got my kayak so was primary fishing the jetties and beaches for bottomfish, rockfish, salmon and stripers and surfperch.

Thank you, Scott. I ran across your post in the thread "Lings on a Fly" last night (http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=8965.0) and that - plus what you've told me here - is the most complete information about saltwater fly fishing I've been able to search out in NWKA.

I appreciate the time you've spent trying to help me get started.  The information?  It's all good.