THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409220180
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 34 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Ford Reid
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
If you own a fly rod, now is the time to start slipping it into the boat or carrying it to the beach.
As the days get shorter and the winds shift to the north and east, the interesting fish begin to feed closer to shore. If you are a beach-bound angler who has ever dreamed of hooking a big fish on a little rod, now is your time.
We anglers can be a perverse lot, and the thing that makes fly fishing in saltwater so much fun is that it can be so difficult. In fact, it can sometimes be impossible.
But it can be done and when you have hooked a big bluefish, a false albacore or even a trout on a fly rod, you will know fishing joy that is hard to match.
Just don't make yourself crazy in the process.
There are fly fishing days and there are not fly fishing days and you will see the difference very quickly. If you think it is hard to throw a one ounce lure into a 20 knot wind, try casting a fly line into that breeze.
Even if the wind is down but the surf is still roaring, it is best to stick with the more conventional gear.
This is the voice of experience talking. I have had the wind spit flies back at me and I have had rolling waves wrap thirty feet of 9-weight line around my ankles faster than you can say ``Lefty's Deceiver.''
That is not only infuriating, it is embarrassing. Especially embarrassing because fly rods are still rare enough around here that you are likely to draw at least a small crowd when you begin using one on the beach.
Just pray that no one in the crowd starts to giggle.
Try to appear as if you know what you are doing. Granted, that is not easy when you are bound with your own fishing line, but try anyway.
When you do get a good day for fly casting, it is best to start by doing more looking than fishing. You might eventually catch something by casting blind - blind hogs finding acorns and all of that - but it is not the best approach.
Begin by finding spots were fish are likely to feed, including breaks in the bar, underwater points or any other place were an obstruction will cause a small tidal rip.
Watch the water very carefully. Sometimes feeding fish, and the bait that they are chasing, make quite a commotion. But sometimes they do not. One small splash, or even a ripple at the surface where you would not expect to see one, is worth a few casts.
But don't wear yourself out. This is a waiting and watching game, nearly as much like hunting as fishing.
When you do see fish, get the fly in the water as quickly as you can and keep it there as much as possible. Vary your retrieve until you get some idea of what the fish want.
And try not to succumb to buck fever.
As I said, this is not the easiest thing in the world. But when it works, the sense of accomplishment makes up for all of the frustration.
Catch one fish on a fly rod and you'll never come to the beach without one again. by CNB