I’ve recently moved down to Brighton and although I have joined the ranks of sea fisherman throwing feathers and lugworm off the marina wall, it just doesn’t do it for me like the fly.
I’ve been out twice now with the fly rod after bass. The first time was at the hot water outlet from the powerstation in Shoreham which I’d been told was a hotspot (apologies for weak pun) and I managed to pick up quite a few schoolies. The second time was to the East of the Marina wall where the ground looked like it might be the right sort of place from what I’d read, but I’m really not sure. Watched by several quizzical onlookers, I blanked.

I know when a river feels fishy, but just don’t yet have this sense with the sea.
It’s always good to fish with other people, but I just don’t have any fishing contacts locally. Does anyone know of any clubs or groups that I might be able to join to help in the learning process? Even advice on some places to try would be good.

It really is quite intimidating to look out to sea wondering if you are in the right sort of place, have got the right tide, are using the right fly, retrieving at the right speed etc. etc. so any advice you can give a clueless man and his flyrod would be much appreciated.

Hi. On my hols in Spain at the moment, will give advice when I get home at the weekend.
Cheers.
Colin

Hi MDLB64.
Sorry for not replying earlier.
The salt water fly fishing column in this months FF & FT concentrates on Bass fishing and should hopefully provide the answers to most of your questions, at least in relation to locating Bass and flies to use. You can’t go far wrong with Clousers.
The mark you visited at Shoreham is worth persevering with. Its necessary to visit a mark on several occassions to really gain an understanding for that particular location. Try different stages of the tide, times of day and weather conditions for comparison. A pattern should begin to emerge and your confidence will grow.
As for meeting people, if you fish that mark regularly I’m sure that you will bump into fellow fishers and make contacts.
Best of luck.
Colin

Hi Colin,

Thanks for your reply. As advised, I’ve bought the magazine and read the article and found it very useful.

Judging by the large number of views, but few replies, that saltwater posts on the forum seem to attract, there may be an information deficit! People are keen to learn, but there isn’t a great deal of information out there. More, and regular articles focusing on UK saltwater fly fishing would certainly encourage me to become a subscriber to the magazine.

Thanks again for your help on this.

Hi MDLB64.
You have a point regards the general scarcity of published information regards swff, so hats off to FF & FT for being the first magazine to dedicate column space to this branch of the sport.
Cheers
Colin

MDLB64 - 06 August 2010 12:42 PM

Hi Colin,

Thanks for your reply. As advised, I’ve bought the magazine and read the article and found it very useful.

Judging by the large number of views, but few replies, that saltwater posts on the forum seem to attract, there may be an information deficit! People are keen to learn, but there isn’t a great deal of information out there. More, and regular articles focusing on UK saltwater fly fishing would certainly encourage me to become a subscriber to the magazine.

Thanks again for your help on this.

I havent tryed beside the East arm at Brighton, but have had great success on lures there, there are Bass there so keep trying, I have caught up the Adur by the Bridge.

Well done. Keep it up. Still time for a few Bass before winter arrives.