Sponsored by iFly Fly Rod Holders
By Erick Carpenter
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of fly fishing in the salt for striped bass and bluefish is sight-casting. Stalking through the flats and anticipating your target and hitting your fly is incredibly exciting and compliments the hands-on mindset that fly fishing has over other styles.
It is in this spirit that the Gurgler holds a special place in my heart. Somewhere between a Crease Fly and a Popper, the Gurgler requires finesse and patience to coax a strike out of a reluctant fish during the dog days of summer. The core strength of the Gurgler is its ability to cast a big shadow from the surface and throw a little water around â imitating something wounded or having just landed on the surface.
From the beach, itâs best fished slowly with a little pop over rips, and at the top and bottom of a long slow wave. The Gurgler can be particularly deadly in the back bays and rivers when drifted over a hole or drop-off where fish are prone to stack up waiting for prey.
Learning to tie it requires some time and patience. Getting the foam to stay in the right position will take a few tries, so be patient when youâre getting it secured. If you put in the time, youâll be rewarded with a pattern that can show you an experience you wonât find anywhere else.
iFly specializes in making products for fly-fishing. As fly-fishers, you can guarantee that when you buy from them, you’re not getting some strange “proof of concept” device that someone in engineering came up with. They hold up to the abuse and are made to last a lifetime. iFly stands behind every product 100%. Visit iFly for more information or to purchase the only fly rod holder you’ll ever need to buy.