Success: Whiting on Fly! Sort of...
Does it still count if you use soft plastic, cast on a fly rod? 
This was the first time I've actually used my fly rod to catch dinner, rather than as a novelty. I usually break it out when we already have our catch, or when normal methods are being too successful, for a bit of extra challenge and fun getting the casts right. But this time, standing in ankle-deep water, no weight, no terminal tackle was the only way to go, and man it was some of the funnest fishing I've ever done!! Actually ankle-deep, I was sight-fishing the whiting! Wicked!
Of course a good fly fisho will likely outfish anyone else, but I am more of a part-timer. This trip, I left my box of small flies at home accidentally, so only had some soft placcy worms to work with...and work it did! Got a bunch of the biggest whiting I've ever caught, and a couple of nice black bream, in the estuary.
Man, it was so much fun! Up there with the best fishing I've been lucky enough to experience!
Ewan
Posts: 271
Date Joined: 15/05/06
ooo sheet oops sorry about
ooo sheet oops sorry about the massive picture size, will try to correct...
DieHard
Posts: 1823
Date Joined: 06/10/08
Great fishing! good to see
Great fishing!
good to see you had a bal!
DieHard – The Official “Ray & Shark” Chaser!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18082
Date Joined: 11/03/08
well done. nice size whiting
well done. nice size whiting too. 1 fish and thats enough fillets or maybe 2 , depends on how hungry you are
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Nice work there Ewan
That is a great looking bream, in great condition.
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HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
flyfishing purists
are shakin their head in disbelief Ewan! It's fur and feathers, not reconstituted plastic damn it man!!! But for me, whatever goes is good stuff. There is no feeling quite like a fly rod bent over on a fish. Its a confidence thing, next time you'll get it on a "regulation" fly.
But any catch is a good catch on an artificial bait no matter what the knockers say. Now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum, what might be right for you, may not be right for some. A man is born, he's a man of means, then along come two, they got nothing but their jeans. But they got, different strokes. It takes different strokes. It takes different strokes to move the world.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Ewan
Posts: 271
Date Joined: 15/05/06
actually i never use
actually i never use 'plastic' soft plastic, just the 'natural' ones...I had a taste of it, and it kind of tasted a bit like a fishy prawn cracker! Definitely tasted OK - kind of like those rubbery fish balls you get in asian cooking.
they are pretty much bait I reckon...only just barely to be classified as an artificial in my opinion! still, I'm in it for the fun and the feed, not the glory, and man it was fun, and man, they are a good feed!!
But i was thinking that a bit of red wool might make for a wormy looking artificial...I had a dig on the banks and found these tiny tiny little red worms which is no doubt what they were sucking around for, hence the success with worm artificial baits...Maybe even thick red cotton, twined around a red long-shanked hook. Thats what I'll try next time.
The hardest thing is to feel the pick-up from the whiting. My swoffign outfit is a 8/9 weight, way too big for this kind of thing, but a pretty good all-round size if you only have one outfit.
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
You can make a worm fly
You can make a worm fly pretty easy using a bit of chenille. Just wrap it around the shank and tie it off with a bit sticking out to waft in the water. I used tungsten dumbell eyes but you can wrap lead wire around the shank first. I got lots of KG hits down in Walpole on one in red but couldn't stay connected (needs a bit of work in technique or perhaps hook)
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
try
a crazy charlie (in pink or red to imitate prawns and bloodworms), or even a small wooly bugger. I'd stick to reds and pinks to imitate the natural bait colours. Maybe white with some flash would work as well.
I'll admit that my whiting count on fly is 2 (pink crazy charlie both time), I have found them pretty elusive to be a regular target.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Webby
Posts: 835
Date Joined: 24/09/08
The way i see it mate, if
The way i see it mate, if your having fun who gives a crap, well done
I live with fear every day... sometimes she lets me go fishing.