01-02-2004, 04:49 PM
[cool][size 1]It's not so much specific patterns as what colors and sizes. Much of what the surf fishes feed on is in shades of greens, greys, browns and some orange highlights. Big green nymphs, small green wooly buggers (with some sparkle) and some small streamers in gold, silver, white or even black.[/size]
[size 1]If you are trying to simulate the small green sand worms, they are a pale translucent green. Candy for perch and corbina. A lot of the fish are in hunting the little sand crabs...which are from a half inch to an inch and a half...light grey with some orange egg sacks in season. [/size]
[size 1]A six weight with a full sink line will get the job done. No fancy leaders...just six feet of level four or six pound test. No long casts either. If the fish are in, they will be within a few feet of the water's edge a lot of times. Sometimes you might have to roll out a thirty or forty footer, but usually a couple of rod lengths will do it.[/size]
[size 1]It is interesting to play with flies in the surf. Sometimes you just let the waves move the flies around and wait for a freight train to pick them up and run off. Other times, in slower moving water, you use a nymphing strip, and the hits will be anything from a tick to a smash.[/size]
[size 1]When imitating sand crabs, a good tactic is to just let the fly hang in the current, as a the surge goes out. Sand crabs hang there and try to dig back in when they have been dislodged. The fish are used to eating on the run, as they move in and out with the waves. They will grab the hanging fly going away and just about take the rod out of your hands.[/size]
[size 1]Don't be afraid to try some exotic colors...like bright whites, chartreuse or hot pink. Sometimes these colors are necessary in murky water...or in the cooler waters of winter. [/size]
[size 1]I used to throw a lot of spinners and small spoons in the surf too. Caught lots of nice barred surf perch on hardware...and bunches of halibuts. These days, some of the new plastic "swimbaits"...like Big Hammers...are very popular with the surf fishing crowd. It is amazing how many species you can rack up sometimes fishing an area that has both sand and rocks within casting distance from shore.[/size]
[size 1]I have lived and fished along the entire California coast...from San Diego to Crescent City. Let me know where you are going to be based, and I can make some specific recommendations on places to go. Of course, as always, the potential is going to be affected by the weather. You will have to get JapanRon to take care of ordering good weather for you.[/size]
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[size 1]If you are trying to simulate the small green sand worms, they are a pale translucent green. Candy for perch and corbina. A lot of the fish are in hunting the little sand crabs...which are from a half inch to an inch and a half...light grey with some orange egg sacks in season. [/size]
[size 1]A six weight with a full sink line will get the job done. No fancy leaders...just six feet of level four or six pound test. No long casts either. If the fish are in, they will be within a few feet of the water's edge a lot of times. Sometimes you might have to roll out a thirty or forty footer, but usually a couple of rod lengths will do it.[/size]
[size 1]It is interesting to play with flies in the surf. Sometimes you just let the waves move the flies around and wait for a freight train to pick them up and run off. Other times, in slower moving water, you use a nymphing strip, and the hits will be anything from a tick to a smash.[/size]
[size 1]When imitating sand crabs, a good tactic is to just let the fly hang in the current, as a the surge goes out. Sand crabs hang there and try to dig back in when they have been dislodged. The fish are used to eating on the run, as they move in and out with the waves. They will grab the hanging fly going away and just about take the rod out of your hands.[/size]
[size 1]Don't be afraid to try some exotic colors...like bright whites, chartreuse or hot pink. Sometimes these colors are necessary in murky water...or in the cooler waters of winter. [/size]
[size 1]I used to throw a lot of spinners and small spoons in the surf too. Caught lots of nice barred surf perch on hardware...and bunches of halibuts. These days, some of the new plastic "swimbaits"...like Big Hammers...are very popular with the surf fishing crowd. It is amazing how many species you can rack up sometimes fishing an area that has both sand and rocks within casting distance from shore.[/size]
[size 1]I have lived and fished along the entire California coast...from San Diego to Crescent City. Let me know where you are going to be based, and I can make some specific recommendations on places to go. Of course, as always, the potential is going to be affected by the weather. You will have to get JapanRon to take care of ordering good weather for you.[/size]
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