TheFin.com

Northeast fly fishing surf setup

As a continuation of my surf fishing setup post, I wanted to post my gear list for fly fishing the Northeast surf:

Rods: My G. Loomis Cross Current GLX (9' 0", 9 wt.) is my go to rod for fishing from the surf (or boat for that matter) in the Northeast.  I have been a loyal user of the GLX series for about 6 years. I upgraded from a GL3 which is a wet noodle compared to the GLX.  It's a very light, fast, and powerful rod. The G Loomis warranty program can't be beat.  If you break a rod you can have a new one in 24hrs!  (There are a few negatives to mention but they are not deal breakers in my opinion.  First, and this may have changed in the last few years, the line occasionally wraps around the bottom guide when casting.  The way the titanium guide attaches to the rod is straight as opposed to having the angles of a traditional guide.  I believe its a problem unique to this type of guide.  The second negative is that the tip is very thin so if your not careful it will snap.  I have never broken a tip on a fish but have broken it several times off the weather.
My second go to rod: is a Sage XI2 (10 wt 9'0", 4 pc) While it's a great rod I don't love casting a 10wt for hours from the surf but there are obvious advantages.  I have a few 9 wt 9'0", 4 pc XI2's but they do not see anywhere near the amount of time my GLX does.
Reel: The Tibor Riptide is the only reel I have ever owned and can't imaging anything better.  It has a super smooth drag, can stop any fish , and is basically maintenance free.  So why try something else?
Lines:  Unlike my reel, I don't think I have found the perfect line.  I am currently using Scientific Anglers Mastery Series Saltwater Lines.
Leader: I rarely tie my own leaders, instead I use a pre tapered one an replace the tip as needed with Seaguar Leader Material.
Stripping Basket: As I posted before in my opinion the Orvis Stripping Basket can't be beat.

Video: 4 fishermen rescued from Breezy Point jetty in Queens, NY

Four fishermen were rescued by an NYPD helicopter today (August 22, 2007) from the Breezy Point jetty located in Queens, NY. A popular spot for fishermen targeting bluefish and striped bass, the 500 foot Breezy Point jetty has claimed several lives and has seen countless rescues. Last October, 21 year old Karl Heinzen was swept off the jetty and died while fishing with his father. The father tried to rescue his son (an experienced fisherman and jetty veteran) but had to be rescued himself.

Northeast saltwater surf fishing setup

  Montauk, NY is one of the most demanding places to fish from the surf.  Its monster striped bass and bluefish along with its big surf and legendary Nor'easters will test your gear to the limits.  The following list is my current surf fishing setup.  It has been tested by me in all conditions and so far has stood up to the Montauk challenge.

Rod-  Lamiglas XS 101 MS I started fishing with this rod at the end of last year and love it.  It throws 1oz bucktails very well and can launch a 2oz pencil popper a mile.  It has plenty of power to throw into a stiff breeze too.  The 101MS is a 10' one piece rod.
Reel- Shimano - Spheros 8000FA Spinning Reel While there are certainly much fancier reels out there I have been very happy with the Spheros.  I have been fishing it since last Spring and have not had any problems.  It casts far and has no problem stopping 30lb fish in the surf.  I use my rod as a cane while wading in the Montauk surf so my reel spends a lot of time underwater.  So far, with moderate maintenance (full cleaning and packing with SuperLube) I don't see any signs of corrosion.
Line- PowerPro Moss Green Line- 50lb/ 300 Yd I have tried a few different braided lines but always seem to end up with PowerPro.  There is a great debate as to which is the best braid.  PowerPro works for me.
Swivel- Spro Power Saltwater Swivels Size 4 130lb
Leader- Seaguar Fluorocarbon Leader Material Pound Test: 30-50 pound I only use floro leaders.  Seaguar seems to be the most common at the shops I frequent so has become my go to.  I have not had a problem with it. 
Plug bag- Deluxe Bronco Bag The Bronco Bag is a very bare bones surf bag.  I have had mine for 5 years and would not trade it for anything. 
Waders- Cabelas Roaring Fork 3.5mm neoprene waders I basically buy a new pair of waders every year.  With the amount of use my waders get I don't even want to be in the same room as them after a year.  The Cabela's roaring fork waders are a very solid neoprene wader.  They are tough enough to handle climbing on rocks yet inexpensive enough that they don't break the bank when it comes time to replace them.
Wading Sandals- K-5000 Buckled Fishing Sandals Korkers are a necessary evil when it comes to fishing any rocky coastline or jetty.  Anyone who uses them regularly can attest to the fact they are not great but get the job done.  Korkers are simply not durable enough to handle a place like Montauk (and they are expensive too).  When is someone out there going to build a wading sandal specifically for climbing on rocks in saltwater?
2nd Rod- Lamiglas Ron Arra Surf Pro Rods Model: XSRA 1203-2 (10' 0") I got the Ron Arra around the same time I got my XS 101 MS and because of my love for that rod the Arra has not had a ton of use.  I know it gets great reviews and the few times I have used it I have been impressed.  I like casting a one piece rod better so this one has been my backup.
2nd Reel- Penn - 560 Slammer Spinning Reel Before I bought the Spheros I only used Penn Slammers.  My experience with this reel (both the 460 & 560) has not been great.  I have had the gears strip on all of them.  I would not recommend this reel, especially if you fish in saltwater.

Plan ahead for Catch & Release

It's important to plan ahead if you are going to practice catch and release fishing on your next trip.  The following should help give that released fish a better chance of survival:

-Use strong tackle, to minimise fighting times
-Use needle-nosed pliers to aid unhooking
-Use barbless hooks, for quick, easy hook removal and reduced handling times
-Leave fish in the water during the unhooking and release process, to avoid any handling

If fish are removed from the water for unhooking and/or a photo:

Avoid the use of landing nets; if landing nets must be used, specially designed catch-and-release landing nets can make a difference

More C&R info at wikipedia

Youtube: Here is an example of what you should not be doing

This was the first "fishing" video that popped up on youtube this afternoon. It's amazing that they felt so good about what they were doing that they posted it for the world to see. It's sad.

A great guide for fishing knots

A few weeks ago while fly fishing I hooked a big striped bass which took me well into the backing on my reel when suddenly the unthinkable happened. The fly line separated from the backing and I lost the line as well as a huge fish. Needless to say, I was not happy. While researching what knot to use to attach the new line I came across this waterproof guide to the best fishing knots. What an awesome resource it has become. (I have since bought two more). The importance of knowing what knots to use and how to tie them is hugely important in fishing. There are some knots, like a palolmar knot, that you have to be able to tie with your eyes closed and there are other less frequently tied knots that you need when setting up your gear. The Pro-Knot guide is something you should always have at arms reach while you are on the water. It does no good to make up knots while fishing. Learning the correct knots and when to use them can make a difference in landing a fish of a lifetime or not. The knots I use most are the Palomar Knot, Nail Knot, Albright Knot, Perfection Loop, and The Surgeon's Knot.  Click the links for instructions on how to tie these and more. 

Support your local tackle shop today

  I recently asked the owner of my favorite tackle shop in Long Island, NY how business was and he answered... "very slow".  Seems the local tackle shops are getting buried due to increased online sales.  While I agree that it can be more convenient (and sometimes cheaper) to shop online nothing beats the tackle shop experience.  The local tackle shop owner is a key resource to finding out where the fish are, what they are biting on, and how to catch them.  All day long fishermen come into their shops and tell them where they caught fish.  Shop owners  end up with a ton of valuable knowledge about where the fish are.   I remember as a kid going into Barry Thurston's tackle shop in Nantucket to buy a lure I didn't even need just so I could get a line on where the fish were.  Some owners will give the info away for free but some may take a purchase or two.

The local tackle or fly shop is where most of us got started and is a valuable resource to any fishing community.  So this weekend, go buy something there (even if you don't need it ;)   I'm working on a list of the top local tackle shops so if you have one you would like to see on our list drop me a line @ jason@thefin.com

Not new....but essential reads for East Coasters

On the Run: An Angler's Journey Down the Striper Coast is a great book to get you East coasters psyched up for the Fall fishing season. And for fly fishermen, you can't beat Peter Kaminsky's bookThe Moon Pulled Up an Acre of Bass: A Flyrodder's Odyssey at Montauk Point.  David Dibenedetto does a great job of taking the reader on a journey down the East coast in search of striped bass. It's more general in its appeal than The Moon Pulled Up an Acre of Bass, so no matter what type of fishing you do you should be able to relate.

Both of these books are the kind you can read over and over.  Before the Fall to get psyched up and during the Winter to get you through those non fishing months. Don't just take my word for it...there are some great amazon reviews too.  In my opinion both books are a must read for East coast anglers as well as folks traveling there to fish.  Enjoy!

Vladimir Putin fishing again

Vladimir Putin fishing again.  This time with Prince Albert of Monaco.  (Back in July he was in Maine with Bush).  The two went fishing on the Yenisey River.  Current IGFA record of Siberian taimen, was caught in 1993 in Keta river of Khabarovsk region of Russia is measured at 42 kg (92 lbs). There is an unofficial record of 63 kg.(138 lbs!!) from the Yenisey. Photo gallery

The FISHMASTER

This comic from John McPherson appeared in the NY Daily news this past weekend.   While obviously a joke, I suspect at the right price point you could sell quite a few of these during the holidays!