The fall and winter is the time when many fishermen are putting away their rods and getting ready for hunting season. Well that’s not the case for many saltwater fly anglers who travel to far off destinations to pursue many types of saltwater game fish.
There is no substitution for preparation when planning a saltwater fly fishing trip especially if it is your first. It is unfortunate that many anglers, for one reason or another, neglect this most important detail when making provisions for their initial fishing trip on the briny, an error that often results in ineffective casting, poor fly selection, painful sunburn and/or itchy bug bites, and a big bite out of your bank account.
Here are a few hints to the fly-flinger about to embark on his/her first saltwater fly fishing trip:
- A week or so prior to your trip, spend a half-hour each day, or as time allows, casting into the wind, a practice that will prepare you for those unforgiving, blustery winds you will encounter when fishing the flats and offshore. Work on distance. Casts of 40 to 50 feet with no more than two false casts are a must.
- Research which flies you’ll need at the specific location or if your guide will be providing them for you. Far too many anglers allow ego to take over their thinking in the selection of flies, resulting in the purchase of flies better suited for catching bluegill, but ill-suited for saltwater species. If you have engaged the services of a guide, ask him or her flies are appropriate.
- Be in shape. Hit the gym. Get a physical. Many saltwater fishing destinations place extreme physical demands upon the angler especially those locations in the torrid zones, where sun and wind can sap the strength from an unfit fisherman’s body during the course of a day spent on the water. Get off the couch and go for a brisk walk. Your body will be glad you did.
- Pack and Repack: Bring only what you need on these trips. Pack you bags then repack them to eliminate items unnecessary to you trip. Pack only those items you will absolutely need: tackle, clothes, and a toothbrush, leaving the razor, shaving cream and aftershave on the bathroom sink. But above all, do not duplicate if it’s not necessary. On most trips no one else on the trip will be doing laundry either. Remember this: Excessive baggage can ruin the most promising fishing trip.
- If your trip involves fishing in a foreign country, investigate the culture, customs, and perhaps the language spoken by the natives. Doing so will most assuredly ensure your trip’s success and impress the natives. Don’t forget you passport and an extra copy placed in another piece of luggage or carry on. Leave a copy of it at home just in case!
Remember, if you are prepared you will have a much more enjoyable trip!
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