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Walter & Group....
[GH] Many ways to describe these issues ! Some golden bits of advice from these experienced anglers who have logged many hours wading salt flats as well as fishing from skiffs. Admittedly MUCH more here than candidates need to know for the salty tasks on the exam. Hopefully helpful to those of you who may be planning a bonefish trip.
Also, some stuff which may just be of general interest. Fun to share.
Or.... if you want a PhD. in flats fishing.
Gordy
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[GH] From Gary Davison. My comments in red :
Questions on the quick casts made while wading a flat :
1. Name some of the problems encountered when using the quick cast when wading a flat.
Not as much room depending on water depth to make the cast.
Obstructions in the water such as weeds or grass that may impede the cast.
The angler is stationary for the most part and must address the cast based on the fish movements around his or her position 360 degrees. Wind direction will become a major concern for evaluation on all casts.
Stance and footing may be uneven at times and cause problem with foundation to make the cast.
Visibility is reduced based on proximity and eye level to the water for sighting the fish, may loose visual more readily on the flat.
Strong currents can be a problem also wave action due to windy conditions which can interfere with line control.
2. How (if ever) would you change your quick cast method to help solve some of these problems.
Reduce the amount of line out of the reel to maintain better control of the line and cast.
Adjust your casting to a higher plane depending on the water depth.
Hold more line in your hand to avoid tangles with grass or weeds present in the water.
More leaning into the cast may be possible when wading to provide better weight shifting for the cast if the conditions are favorable.
3. Are there any advantages to wading rather than fishing from a skiff when going for bonefish on a firm, shallow flat ? If so, list them.
Allows you to be more stealthy in your approach to the fish.
Allows you to provide a different presentation then on a skiff, with regards to providing more enticing retrieves. Example placing your rod tip in the sand when retrieving a crab simulated fly. Provides a more realistic presentation to obtain a strike.
[GH] All skiffs ,when moving, even when slowly poled, produce a subtle pressure wave which many wary fish can sense even when it is calm. This can keep very spooky fish from striking even though it isn't enough to send them fleeing.
Some skiffs are much "quieter" than others when there are waves. Water slapping on the hull can turn fish off. Most flats guides stake out at times to make the skiff stationary on the flat in certain key areas when they anticipate that schools of fish may be traveling past. They often stake out with the push pole in the sand or marl from the stern. The caster is on the bow platform. Sometimes the skiff turns so that the bow is down wind, which is often OK for the angler. If windy, however, the waves slap on the stern which can be a problem. For this reason, when I'm fishing alone in my skiff, I anchor or stake out from the bow. The skiff turns bow into the wind and the slap is minimized by the sharp bow configuration. I, then, cast from the stern. THAT is the reason I've constructed the net you saw in the picture a couple of days ago. The net keeps the fly line from blowing overboard or into the outboard motor. I'm convinced I get more tarpon strikes that way.
Highly specialized stuff !
Gordy
4. Are there any advantages to fishing this flat for bonefish from a skiff ? If so, list them.
Height advantage to see the fish and make the cast.
Cover more area in less time.
Safer.
You stay dry and do not have to worry about critters in the water.
Not fighting the currents or waves.
Plus you have a guide in a prime position to find the fish. Two sets of eyes to find the game.
5. When fishing tropical flats, it is rare to have to wade water which is more than mid-thigh depth. Once in a while, we do that for permit in water waist deep. If you did that, how would you modify your line handling and casting methods ?
As stated this would require an upright cast and a cast similar to that of casting from a Kayak. High and restricted based on the rod plane and conditions.
[GH] Yes. Sometimes a vertical rod plane alone will spook very wary fish, especially permit. Then I find it best to aim high, but keep the rod more horizontal and low.
Line handling would depend on what is in the water and tide movements, if weeds or grass then line handling would be very constricted and confined in the hand and released as needed for the cast. Very controlled and precise line control in a higher plane.
If not major tide movement or obstructions in the water I would hold a 50 % ratio meaning I would cut the line out the reel in half and cast.
As we say, it would depend.
6. You are wading a flat with a tidal current running in a down-sun direction. You have chosen to work in that direction because the visibility is better, and you have spotted a few fish there.
Would you consider a modification to your casting and line handling technique ?
It would depend on the wind direction!
It would depend on the obstructions in the water!
It would depend on the depth of the water!
It would depend on the amount of current I am fighting or not!
It would depend on how much casting I have done during the day and to determine what I can accomplish and what may not be a viable option based on the situation. But my nothing ventured nothing gained side of me, would wet the fly because if it's not in the water your likelihood of a hook up is none existent!
[GH] Agree on all counts.
One simple modification to consider, is to allow some line, leader and fly to float with the current and be suspended, ready for a water haul pickup. in order to avoid spooking fish, that pickup has to be done as a Spey cast LIFT followed by a gentle pickup (a controlled, "pluck" so as not to disturb the water any more than necessary. This can be followed by a change of direction up to about 45 degrees if needed for the presentation.
Gordy
While we're at it, let's add a couple of practical flats wading questions -
7. This one has nothing to do with casting. You are wading a bonefish flat which is almost knee deep. Your skiff is staked out about 100' away. A 5' lemon shark is slowly swimming right toward you. What do you do ?
Tap the rod tip on the waters surface briskly between you and the shark to spook it away!
[GH] With aggressive sharks which have gotten close, we've had the critter bite the rod tip. Best to make the slap behind the shark's head to one side or the other. Snapping a loop on the water behind the shark's eye works well too. The way I do it is to make a slow, deliberate delivery cast; then, as the loop unfurls just above the water, I snatch it quickly back. The loop turns over violently and snaps on the water. Works well.
Native guides in the Joulter Keys of the Bahamas wade with the angler. They carry a trident spear. As the lemon shark approaches, they throw the spear which sticks in the shark's back. The handle of the spear turns over. This temporarily immobilizes the shark while the sport lands and releases the bonefish. Then the guide wades up to the shark, removes the spear by pulling the little prongs from the creature and the shark can't wait to leave at high speed. They have to do this. Otherwise the sports would likely never land a bonefish as these sharks are very aggressive. More than once, when poling my skiff in the Bahamas, I've had a big shark sneak up behind me and bite off the end of my push pole. I've never had that happen in the Florida Keys.
Gordy
8. You are wading a muddy flat for redfish. There are many sting rays moving about. Some are partly buried in the marl. How do you avoid accidentally becoming injured by stepping on one of them ?
Shuffle your feet on or along the ocean bottom. Do not make steps or move your feet off bottom and step on top of the rays. If you do not shuffle and step on top of the ray, then the strike or stinger comes your way.
[GH] Good advice. The stinger is on top of the base of the ray's tail. Stepping onto it can yield a very painful injury even through the sole of sneakers or some flats boots. If the stinger (which is bone hard and barbed) gets broken off in the angler's foot, it is a serious matter, usually requiring surgery. It can take months to recover depending upon the length of time that barb has been embedded in the tissues.
When wade fishing on flats in Northern Australia, one day, I was about to step onto what I thought was a rock. My guide yelled at me to back off, explaining that this was what he called a "stone fish" .... capable of yielding a serious injury, even death. * **
Gary Davison
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[GH] Gary, Good additions !
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[GH] From David Lambert. Several helpful hints, here. I highlighted a few of them in blue. :
Gordy, hey -
I'll chime in here. Don't pretend to be a strong bonefish flats wader, done some, of course, but not like you guys in South Fl and the Islands; that said, I've been fishing salt and wading surf and backcountry flats for a good while.
1. Name some of the problems encountered when using the quick cast when wading a flat.
a. Line control. Line control. Line control; of course that means also leader and hook control;
b. Rod flash (from holding vertical rod catching the sun rays) can be a problem as well.
b2. Low angle of vision means you are closer to the fish when you see her (and she can see you);
b3. Low approach may mean holding rod at a more obtuse angle, which sometimes will mean lower loop formation and attendant problems;
b4. Water grass, out of water grass, obstructions, water itself when you are casting to avoid others
c. Water current and tidal flow affect line out-of-reel (but I consider that a line control issue);
d. Wind and wave action on line (also a line control issue);
e. Conventional roll toward fish may spook them before delivery cast.
2. How (if ever) would you change your quick cast method to help solve some of these problems.
Lots of the above would be situational changes. I might not use the (conventional) quick cast in some of these situations. If the conditions allow, I often just loop a loose grouping of coils in my hand and drag 20 or so feet of line and fly behind me. The line behind works as a water haul, or I can roll it forward to unloose some of the line, make a back cast, then direct the delivery to the fish. This is usually at 50-60 feet or less. Doesn't work with grass, obviously. And can be less effective if current or tide is moving toward angler.
3. Are there any advantages to wading rather than fishing from a skiff when going for bonefish on a firm, shallow flat ? If so, list them.
a. Less apt for fish to see your profile or a rod flash.
b. Less apt for boat pressure wake to find them before your fly does.
c. May be able to get closer to fish wading. have to make sure not to move too much water in front of you.
d. Don't have to worry about boat orientation or where a guide is when you wade.
e. Certain beaches in Abaco's bonefish can be found right off the road. No boat cost, no guide cost, no gas cost. That's a benefit.
f. Probably many more.
4. Are there any advantages to fishing this flat for bonefish from a skiff ? If so, list them.
a. Access more flats quicker. More fish to throw at. Cover much more ground over the course of a tide.
b. Fish can be much easier to see due to elevated vantage point.
c. See fish farther away. Allows more time to prepare to cast.
d. Guide/buddy can spot additional fish while you're watching a specific fish.
e. Conditionally, poling a flat can be quieter than wading.
[GH] If in an area with no mud, firm sand and clear water ... few easily seen sting rays... the Bahamian Guides have learned to wade stealthily with minimal water disturbance. They do it like the wading birds (herons, egrets, etc.) do it. Each foot is advanced slowly and steadily with the ankle bent down and the toes forward and down. No slogging or true stepping. No "flats boots" or sneakers. Barefoot only. Works great !
f. If protected flats, poling can be more environmentally friendly than trudging and shuffling through delicate grasses.
5. When fishing tropical flats, it is rare to have to wade water which is more than mid-thigh depth. Once in a while, we do that for permit in water waist deep. If you did that, how would you modify your line handling and casting methods?
a. This is one time I'd like a floating stripping basket. Line into the basket before cast.
b. Or, use coils of line in hand, but keep a small amount in water to help control them.
b.1 - A note about coiling from a guy who uses coils a lot: More efficient to practice making the first coils larger by making say, three strips, then forming a coil over your line hand index finger. Next coil, make it a bit shorter and lay coil over middle finger; third coil, make it smaller and it goes over ring finger.
b.2 - This way, when you shoot, the smaller coil closer to the reel releases first, followed by the next larger, and so on. This method is never 100 percent perfect, but with practice, I can make maybe 85-90 percent of my casts without line tangles - and I can get some distance with this method, too. Wind and strong currents can screw this up.
c. I've actually kept coils in my lips.
6. You are wading a flat with a tidal current running in a down-sun direction. You have chosen to work in that direction because the visibility is better, and you have spotted a few fish there.
Would you consider a modification to your casting and line handling technique ? Do not quite understand the orientation of the sun. Does this mean the sun is in your eyes. Or the sun is behind you?
[GH] Sun is behind you = "Down sun".
The term, "down sun" is a local term used by some of us in the Florida Keys. It means that the sun is behind you. Yields good visibility in front.
While we're at it, let's add a couple of practical flats wading questions -
7. This one has nothing to do with casting. You are wading a bonefish flat which is almost knee deep. Your skiff is staked out about 100' away. A 5' lemon shark is slowly swimming right toward you. What do you do?
a. I always just back away slowly, keeping a good eye on the fish. I've had to whack curious sharks on the nose with the tip of my rod. I wouldn't hesitate to ruin a rod on a shark if necessary -- only as an absolute last resort. If you're keeping fish ( which is not a smart thing to do when wading), contribute it to the shark, and throw it away from you.
8. You are wading a muddy flat for redfish. There are many sting rays moving about. Some are partly buried in the marl. How do you avoid accidentally becoming injured by stepping on one of them ?
a. Shuffle slowly and wear good rugged flats boots, not sandals. Shuffling means just barely clearing the floor with the soles of your feet, moving slowly, almost dragging your feet Frankenstein style. Moving slowly and shuffling has the added benefit of reducing wade wake and advance wake, both of which can alert the fish. Also, you're not clumping along, so no impact tremors to alert fish.
David
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