I know this is a Rod Building Forum..... But I recently had to sell my offshore boat and got myself a Kayak :) Big change but I will make it work. I am totaly new to saltwater fly fishing and was wondering if any of you knew of A DVD or a place I can read up on it. Built myself a nice rod and purchased a reel, but have no clue what to do. I know it sounds crazy but the only way I was gonna learn was to throw myself into the mix. If this is off topic for the forum and it gets deleted I will totaly understand just wanted to ask the advise of fellow Rod builders.

Thank you
John

John, Lefty Kreh has a couple of good books that are beginner related for the salt.

Hi John,

The best advice I got when I started out many years ago now, is to join a local Fly Fishing Club. I would suggest the same for you. It allows you to draw experience from many seasoned anglers and also some newbies who have gone through what you are going through now. They will also teach you how to cast.

And also as Bill said above, Lefty has several books and casting DVD's, which are great.


Good luck.

Richard

The only thing you want to be careful of is the "purists." The main thing is just to have fun. Fly fishing is tremendously productive for nearly any type of fish. But you just have to fish and overlook a lot of the typical fly fishing mindset. A fly rod is just another fishing rod. It's not magical and it's not an art. It's just fishing. Approach it from that standpoint and you'll have a lot of fun.

In a kayak, you'll either be getting out and wading, or casting from your seat. Learn to sit sideways in your boat and find the tipping point so you can comfortably fish all the angles. A kayak and a fly rod is a fantastic combination.

..................

Go to Google search, type in "saltwater fly fishing forums"

There will be a bunch of stuff for ya!
Kyle Robinson

This time of the year on the Chesapeake Bay and the rivers that feed it kayak fishing with a fly rod is a killer combination. Lots of breaking fish (bluefish and stripers) - and mostly in shallower waters where the larger boats (charter boats) can't really get to. The kayak fishermen have to get to know the local waters a little better. Have to know where there are sand bars, shell banks or rock piles that bait fish get pushed against during tide changes but that's really just "knowing where to go" since you are limited by speed over ground to chase birds diving on breaking fish. However there is NOTHING like being close to the water with fish breaking and birds diving. Another author you might want do check for striper fishing is Joe Bruce - another Maryland native like Lefty.

I'm not sure from your post if you are new to fly fishing or new to fly fishing in salt. If you are new to fly fishing, the first thing you need to learn is how to cast with distance and accuracy, then you can adapt it to kayak fishing. If you have fly fished before, fishing in salt is similar to throwing big streamers. All you need to do is adapt your style to kayak fishing. Practice fishing from a sitting position. It is really not hard, you just need proper technique.

Are you in Florida by any chance? If so, I can hook you up with some good local fly fishing and kayak fishing websites.

A great place to get good insight is at [www.texaskayakfisherman.com].

I already flyfishing for years in the Great North West growing up. But moved to South Padre Island, Texas and had to learn a whole new fishing technique. These guys were great in how to properly set up a kayak for fishing both beyind the breakers and the flats. They also have a fly fishing section and traditional saltwater section.

Here is a link to a photo of me with my 5wt FT Dan Craft, my first rod built by myself, specifically for fly fishing in my Kayak on the flats. Casting in a kayak is similar to casting in a float tube, cast up on the back cast.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Yes I am In Florida Bob. I am also totaly new to fly fishing. Never even had one in my hands until Last Saturday..

Kayakfishingstuff.com is a great resource. They have a separate section on their forum dedicated to fly fishing.

Tight lines.

First of all, don't try to fly fish from the kayak at this point. You will just get frustrated. Using a light to medium light spinning rod from the kayak. Take the fly rod on the kayak, but use it when you get out and wade. I would recommend you get a stripping basket to hold the line. It will be very helpful in your casting. I am in the Tampa Bay area. There are several websites that will be helpful to you.

[www.paddle-fishing.com] This is a Florida kayak fishing site that has a fly fishing forum.

[forums.floridasportsman.com] This is the Florida Sportsman site, it has a fly fishing forum and a kayak fishing forum (No Motor Zone)

[capmel.websitetoolbox.com] This is Captain Mel's website forums. There is a paddle fishin forum and a fly fishing forum.

I would highly recommend you get someone to teach you how to cast. I learned on my own and it was a long process. I ended up having to unlearn some bad habits.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/30/2009 02:53PM by Bob Riggins.

I have witnessed on all knids of days a fly rod whip a spinning rod fished out of a kayak. Go have fun and fish the fly rod as mush as you want. A basket may be nice but it's just something else to get in the way.