Posts tagged: Saltwater Fly Fishing

4 Benefits Of Using A Shorter Fly Rod

4 Benefits Of Using A Shorter Fly Rod

This is a continuation of the "4 Benefits Of Using A Longer Fly Rod" article that I published last week. For those of you who read that, it detailed how a fly rod that is longer than (the "standard") 9' can be an advantage. Well, in an opposite way, a shorter fly rod can also have its benefits. It's common to see shorter and lighter rods for small streams and also shorter and stronger rods for saltwater angling. Here are four ways where a shorter fly rod can give you an edge...

  1. Accuracy - For many fly fishermen who are targeting fish where accuracy is key but distance is not, a short fly rod can be a noticeable help. Shorter rods provide better accuracy. So if you are throwing dry flies to wary trout in small streams, or tucking deceivers under mangroves for snook, a shorter rod can give you more confidence in where your fly will land.
  2. Fighting Ability/Power - If one of your main concerns is dealing with the issues that occur after hooking a fish, then a shorter rod might be for you. You will see that the shorter/stouter rods that are on the market, aside from small stream sticks, are mostly geared towards large and powerful fish. This is because a shorter rod tends to be stiffer than it's 9' counterpart and allow you to put more controlled pressure on the fish. Further, a shorter rod allows you to get the fish closer to the boat/hand without having to "high stick" or manipulate the rod too much - which also tends to be a common culprit of broken rods. 
  3. Tight Quarters - When you are fishing in close-cover environments where there are lots of trees, branches, and overhanging obstacles, a short rod can help keep you out of the weeds...literally. 
  4. Sink Tips + Heavier Lines - When you extend a rod, it tends to get softer. For instance a 9' 5wt rod will be slightly faster/stiffer than its 10' 5wt (same model) brother. The opposite is true if you go shorter...they get stiffer. So not only does this give you a better "fighting rod" but also a rod that is better capable at handling sinking tips and/or overweighted lines. Shorter rods can also do a good job of picking line off the water quickly to enable another fast cast towards your target. 

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Video: Fly Tying Using Magnum's Dragon Tails

Video: Fly Tying Using Magnum's Dragon Tails

Jake Nichols stopped into the shop and we filmed a fly tying video of a pattern he's been spinning recently. We named it the Chartreuse Striper Dragon. It is tied using Magnum's Dragon Tails along with bucktail and EP Gamechange Fibers Blend. This has been an effective tie for striped bass here in Maine. Check out the video below!

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8wt or 9wt For Striped Bass?

8wt or 9wt For Striped Bass?

This is a common question that I get a lot in the shop, via email/chat, or on the phone. It makes a lot of sense, as there is a fair amount of confusion surrounding saltwater fishing in Maine and the northeast. Questions regarding which types of lines are most effective, do you need a sealed drag, what pound tippet/leaders, etc. etc. But this is by far the most reoccurring question. So here is what I will usually say: 

If a customer walks in and explains that they already have an 8wt because they go bonefishing in the winter, target redfish in Florida, or have one for salmon, then I will tell them there is no need to purchase another rod. The 8wt will make do. But, ideally the 9wt is the way to go. For "New England Saltwater Fly Fishing" for the big three - Stripers, Bluefish, False Albacore - here is why the 9wt makes the most sense...(this is specifically only considering single-handed rods)

  • Lifting Power - This is exemplified while targeting false albies, but holds true for stripers just the same. The smallest, generally speaking pound-wise, of the "big three" is the false albie. But when those guys sound deeply, you need the lifting power of a 9wt. Ask 10 albie guides and 9 will recommend bringing a 9wt.
  • Bigger Fish - Stripers get big! If you are lucky enough to hook into a 30" or more bass, having a rod with the fighting power to negotiate these strong fish is really ideal. The fight is the best part, but you also want to get that fish in quickly. This cuts down on the possibility of losing the fish and also bringing it to hand in a healthy manner so you can release it without killing it from exhaustion. 
  • Wind - There is no getting away from the wind on the ocean in New England. Most days on the water you will have to be dealing with wind, and a lot of the time it can really effect your cast. The added strength of a 9wt will give your rod the ability to not be as manipulated by the wind. 
  • Heavier Flies - Most fly tyers designing and tying flies for striped bass and bluefish (false albie flies are usually small) are doing so with the desire to keep them light and manageable. When I am tying deceivers specifically, I try to tie them sparsely and easily capable of shedding water so they are castable, especially all day long. But heavy crab patterns and clousers are also extremely popular and effective. In much the same way anglers like to use a 9 or even 10wt for Permit solely to help cast the heavier crabs, this is true for the heavy flies we use here in New England. Can an 8wt cast a lot of these? Yes. But it's much easier on a 9wt.
  • Waves and Current - When fishing for stripers in heavy current/tidal areas like rivers/mouths of rivers, and in heavy surf such as off the rocks, these water conditions can put significant added pressure during the fight. It is much different than fighting them on the flats. After hooking a good sized striper and having it run down current, it can be very difficult to turn its head. They certainly have the advantage here. Also, when fishing off of ledges, large rolling waves can also make it difficult to land fish. The 9wt gives you just that much added fighting power.
  • Heavier Lines - For those that like to fish crab patterns or clousers/baitfish along the bottom, the sinking line is the most effect line to use. The heavier the sinking line, the faster and more efficiently it sinks. For example - a popular setup for those searching along the bottom, is to use Rio's InTouch Level T sinking tips. They are tungsten tips that sink extremely well. The T-11 sinks at 7-8ips, the T-14 at 8-9ips, the T-17 at 9-10ips, and so on.

 I hope that helps! If you have any other questions, shoot me an email: josh@allpointsflyfishing.com

Written by: Josh Thelin

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My Disastrous First Season Fly Fishing For Stripers In Maine And What I Learned...

My Disastrous First Season Fly Fishing For Stripers In Maine And What I Learned...

Hi, I’m a 16-year-old high school student living in Falmouth, Maine. This past summer I decided to try fly fishing for striped bass. I have been fly fishing for trout for around three years and have completely fallen in love with the sport. From the second I caught my first striper on a spinning rod I was eager to chase them on the fly. The fight that a striper gives is incomparable to trout’s fight. I thought my first season was going to be full of these incredible fights. But boy was I wrong. Like it says in the title, my first season fly fishing for stripers was truly a disaster. I caught a whopping total of zero stripers. That’s right...zero.

My goal in this short article is to share my experiences and what I learned from them. By doing so, I hope that you will take something away from this that will help you to avoid making the same mistakes I did.

Here’s what I learned…

1. Cast Cast Cast...

What was probably the biggest adjustment I needed to make when starting to fly fish for stripers was getting used to casting the new setup. Before getting my saltwater rod and line, the only rods I casted were 5wts and 6wts with the appropriate line for each. It was a big change going from light trout rods to a 9wt with the heavy front tapered Rio Coastal Quickshooter line. I knew before I could go out and fish I needed to get some casting in. The first couple casting sessions were tough. I wasn’t getting nearly the distance I should have been getting and I was also getting repeatedly whipped in the back of the neck/head by the thick end of the line, which was not pleasant at all. But the more I casted, the better I got. I was using fewer false casts and getting more distance. I learned from my mistakes and tweaked my technique.

When I finally got in the water, I faced yet another problem with my casting. The line I was using was nothing like the light floating trout line that you can pick up out of the water with a small flick of the wrist. The line sinks and it’s extremely hard to get out of the water without using the correct technique. I had to do several roll casts to flip the fly out of the water. I was then able to cast effectively.

This whole experience taught me that taking time to practice casting can only make you a better fly fisherman/woman. I’m nowhere near an expert caster but I’m getting better and that's all that really matters. So I advise any beginners or just anyone looking to improve their casting to spend some time in their yard or in a calm body of water and just practice.

2. Go Prepared

Being prepared can make or break a good day of fishing. I learned this the hard way during my first season. On my very first outing, I regrettably didn’t bring a stripping basket. For some reason, I didn’t think I needed one. Once again I was horribly wrong. I waded out and got set up for what I hoped was going to be a great day’s fishing. My first cast went a pathetic 15 feet. I was sure my line was caught on something. When I looked down to see what it was caught on I noticed that it wasn’t caught on anything, but was instead sitting underwater next to my feet. I made a couple more casts but I couldn’t shoot any line because it had all sunk to the bottom. It was then when I realized that my first outing was officially over. I sludged back to shore feeling defeated and called my mom to come pick me up.

I learned from this experience that wading out and fly fishing for stripers is nearly impossible without a stripping basket. I decided to attempt to make my own out of a wash bin, hot glue sticks, and paracord. When melting the hot glue sticks to the bottom of the wash bin the adhered section of the hot glue stick was not completely smooth. This ended up causing the line to sometimes get caught, ruining the cast. Yet another fail. Feeling bad for me, my Dad bought me a real stripping basket for the holidays and I can’t wait to give it a go. I advise any saltwater angler who doesn’t already have a stripping basket to learn from my mistake and either make one (which hopefully turns out better than mine) or purchase one.


Another piece of equipment that I realized I should have had during my first season was a good pair of gloves. With all the practice casting in and out on the water, my hand started developing some pretty nasty blisters. At one point the blisters on my hands were so bad that I could barely grip the rod to make a cast. Going prepared with a pair of gloves could have solved this problem. I recently got a pair of the Simms Solarflex Sun Gloves and I can’t wait to try them out this spring. I am sure they will make a big difference.

3. It's A Marathon Not A Sprint

My biggest take away from my first season fly fishing for stripers is that you shouldn’t expect to be an expert immediately, or anything close to it. Learning something new takes time. I made the mistake of thinking that fly fishing for stripers is just like trout fishing and that I’ll go out they and catch fish after fish. I very quickly realized that I was wrong and that I actually really sucked. But honestly, it’s okay to suck because all that matters is that you are out there having fun. And one day if you put in enough time you will realize that you don’t actually suck anymore. Looking back on what a disastrous first season I had, I realize that making mistakes and sucking is all part of the process, and that the more I go out and just fish, the better chance I’ll have of having a great season.

Words + Photo By: Nick Shapiro

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Do You Clean Your Fly Reels?

Do You Clean Your Fly Reels?

We've had multiple snow storms here in New England with plenty of white stuff around. Unless we have a warm January or February, we will most likely be blanketed at least until trout season opens on April 1st. Although there is still plenty of trout fishing to be had around here in the winter, most of our saltwater gear for stripers, bluefish, and albies is slumbering until spring.  After months of salty endeavors, our reels need some TLC.  Saltwater is brutal on everything that it touches and a fishing reel that has been essentially swimming in the Atlantic ocean for months will need a refresh. Buying good quality gear is a big factor in how long it will last. But, taking care of this gear is the only thing proven to keep gear even longer...

Whether you have a trip booked in a month for bonefish and tropical flats or you are putting your saltwater gear away for the winter, here are some tips for keeping your fly reels ready for whatever you have planned next...

Taking The Backing Off

Cleaning Your Fly Reels - Saltwater Fly Reels

This is something that I think gets overlooked quite a bit by anglers. A lot of people treat and clean their fly lines, but ignore their backing. Dacron backing specifically breaks down much quicker than the higher-end gel spun, braided, or similar types of premier backing. The main reason for this is that dacron gets damaged by UV rays much easier and also absorbs and holds water much more than other backing materials. This causes saturated/salty backing to sit on your reel throughout the season and slowly degrade on itself and also potentially your reel. The only way to tell if dacron has gone bad is when you watch a fish swim away because your backing broke. Dacron is also inexpensive enough where it is very much worth changing it out every season. Plus it gives you a clean slate to clean your entire fly reel. 

Take A Closer Look

Cleaning Your Fly Reels - Fly Fishing

The above picture shows a very common issue. If you look in between the backing and the spool, you will see salty/mineral build-up. This happens all the time to almost every reel especially if fished in the salt regularly. This is piggy-backing on another reason to strip your backing off...if that were to sit like that for extended periods of time it will only cause degradation to the reel and problems in the future. Check all screw holes, corners, and any other small spots that would collect/trap salt.

Rinse - Scrub - Repeat

Cleaning Fly Reels

After you have been able to take a good look over your reel, it's time to get it clean! Running some warm (not hot) water in the sink and applying additional scrubbing with a tooth brush can be a great way to fully clean off your fly reel. Get all the hard-to-reach areas and leave no spot left for corrosion. 

Cleaning Fly Fishing Reels

Let Sit In Water

After you have gone over the entire reel and done some cleaning with a brush - it's a good idea to let the reel sit in some warmer water for a little while. This will help to break down any additional salt/minerals that have built up which didn't come off already. After a short soak, make sure to give a thorough rinse! I do not advise people to leave their reels in the sink overnight as I believe reels sitting in (borderline) salty water doesn't help much nor has it provided any additional benefits. 

Dry + Store 

It's important to make sure that your reel is completely dry before storing. Putting a damp reel back into a case/box/etc and allowing it to sit like that for months will certainly kickstart entropy! 

I hope this helps! I will be posting up more "cleaning and maintenance" blog posts soon, so keep an eye out!

Words + Photos: Josh Thelin

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