07-28-2003, 11:53 AM
[cool]Hello again, myu. You make an interesting point, about the difference in the lines of reels sold in the U.S. by Japanese manufacturers. Apperently they are smart enough to know that they must offer reels that meet the needs of American anglers and not necessarily those of fishermen in other countries. We see this a lot in our computers and other electronics we buy from Japanese factories. The components sold here are often different than the same models sold in Japan.
Do you ever use plastic lures? I have fished all around the United States, in every ocean and gulf that touches our coasts, and down into the Sea of Cortez, in Mexico. I use plastic tubes, twisters and swimbaits...on paited lead heads...more than any other lures. They are not expensive, and they are extremely effective when fished anywhere from shallow inshore waters to vertical jigging for deep water fishes. With the range of sizes, shapes and colors, you can go after any fish that will normally hit any kind of lure.
I know many of the beautiful works of art made in Japan, and sold as lures. Some of our top fishermen in this country are proud of the collection of such lures they have acquired, and use them to catch lots of fish. But, whenever they lose one, it is like losing a member of the family. And it is almost as expensive to replace it.
I also carve and paint lures from different kinds of woods. But, I do not use fancy lifelike paint jobs on them. Many of my lures incorporate either prism tape or glitter paints for extra sparkle and attraction. The fish bite them so I guess they work okay.
If I could not use more than one kind of lure, it would be a leadhead jig, with some kind of plastic bait on it. I have been making all of my own jigs for many years, and I have about 30 molds for making different types of heads, in many different sizes. I also have just about every color of paint and glitter available for decorating my jig heads. I have proven to myself that the colors and styles of the heads can make a big difference in the effectiveness of them.
If you do not have a ready source of jig heads and plastics, I would be happy to send you an assortment of the sizes and colors I have found to be most effective for salt water fishing. I think you will enjoy using them. And, if a big fish breaks one off, it is not nearly so expensive.
I might also suggest that you would have greater success and enjoyment in fly fishing if you had a system designed for salt water tackle and species. As you have found, it is not wise to use the same tackle that you use for catching fresh water trout. I have two systems I use for salt water. Both are 9 foot rods. One is a fast tip rod, rated for 8/9 line. It is ideal for the small to medium fish inshore. My other salt water outfit is a fairly heavy action 10 weight. I have landed salmon and stripers up to 50 pounds on this tackle.
There is also a difference in the types of lines to use. I mostly "shooting heads", backed up with a heavy monofilament shooting line, and three hundred yards of dacron backing. You can also use full lines...sinking or floating...with either a shooting taper or double taper.
For catching big aggressive salt water fish, you also need big flashy flies. They do not have to be fancy and expensive...just large and colorful, and possibly good representations in color and size to the bait the fish are chasing. Whites...with blues, browns, golds and silvers...are usually all you need for most salt water fly fishing.
You will also need a "stripping basket", in which to pile your loose line on the retrieve, between casts. It needs to be coiled neatly so that it shoots out smoothly on your next cast...or when a fish grabs your fly and goes off on a long run. Until the fish takes out the loose line and gets "on the reel", there is the potential for having a loose loop of line tangle on your clothing, other equipment or in a line guide. If that happens, you will be lucky if the only thing that breaks is your tippet.
One of the things most new salt water fly fishermen do incorrectly is to strip in the flies too slowly. After making a long cast, and letting the fly sink to the proper depth, you should tuck the rod under your arm and then strip the fly in with both hands, very rapidly, with little jerky motions. You cannot possibly strip the line in faster than the fish can swim to catch it, and they respond better to fast retrieves in most cases.
If you enjoy fly fishing in fresh water, you will enjoy salt water even more, if you acquire the proper system.
About pictures. We would simply like pictures of the species of fish you catch, showing the colors and shapes, and perhaps some of the natural beauty of your favorite fishing areas. You might also put up some pictures of some of the lures you make. We would like that.
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Do you ever use plastic lures? I have fished all around the United States, in every ocean and gulf that touches our coasts, and down into the Sea of Cortez, in Mexico. I use plastic tubes, twisters and swimbaits...on paited lead heads...more than any other lures. They are not expensive, and they are extremely effective when fished anywhere from shallow inshore waters to vertical jigging for deep water fishes. With the range of sizes, shapes and colors, you can go after any fish that will normally hit any kind of lure.
I know many of the beautiful works of art made in Japan, and sold as lures. Some of our top fishermen in this country are proud of the collection of such lures they have acquired, and use them to catch lots of fish. But, whenever they lose one, it is like losing a member of the family. And it is almost as expensive to replace it.
I also carve and paint lures from different kinds of woods. But, I do not use fancy lifelike paint jobs on them. Many of my lures incorporate either prism tape or glitter paints for extra sparkle and attraction. The fish bite them so I guess they work okay.
If I could not use more than one kind of lure, it would be a leadhead jig, with some kind of plastic bait on it. I have been making all of my own jigs for many years, and I have about 30 molds for making different types of heads, in many different sizes. I also have just about every color of paint and glitter available for decorating my jig heads. I have proven to myself that the colors and styles of the heads can make a big difference in the effectiveness of them.
If you do not have a ready source of jig heads and plastics, I would be happy to send you an assortment of the sizes and colors I have found to be most effective for salt water fishing. I think you will enjoy using them. And, if a big fish breaks one off, it is not nearly so expensive.
I might also suggest that you would have greater success and enjoyment in fly fishing if you had a system designed for salt water tackle and species. As you have found, it is not wise to use the same tackle that you use for catching fresh water trout. I have two systems I use for salt water. Both are 9 foot rods. One is a fast tip rod, rated for 8/9 line. It is ideal for the small to medium fish inshore. My other salt water outfit is a fairly heavy action 10 weight. I have landed salmon and stripers up to 50 pounds on this tackle.
There is also a difference in the types of lines to use. I mostly "shooting heads", backed up with a heavy monofilament shooting line, and three hundred yards of dacron backing. You can also use full lines...sinking or floating...with either a shooting taper or double taper.
For catching big aggressive salt water fish, you also need big flashy flies. They do not have to be fancy and expensive...just large and colorful, and possibly good representations in color and size to the bait the fish are chasing. Whites...with blues, browns, golds and silvers...are usually all you need for most salt water fly fishing.
You will also need a "stripping basket", in which to pile your loose line on the retrieve, between casts. It needs to be coiled neatly so that it shoots out smoothly on your next cast...or when a fish grabs your fly and goes off on a long run. Until the fish takes out the loose line and gets "on the reel", there is the potential for having a loose loop of line tangle on your clothing, other equipment or in a line guide. If that happens, you will be lucky if the only thing that breaks is your tippet.
One of the things most new salt water fly fishermen do incorrectly is to strip in the flies too slowly. After making a long cast, and letting the fly sink to the proper depth, you should tuck the rod under your arm and then strip the fly in with both hands, very rapidly, with little jerky motions. You cannot possibly strip the line in faster than the fish can swim to catch it, and they respond better to fast retrieves in most cases.
If you enjoy fly fishing in fresh water, you will enjoy salt water even more, if you acquire the proper system.
About pictures. We would simply like pictures of the species of fish you catch, showing the colors and shapes, and perhaps some of the natural beauty of your favorite fishing areas. You might also put up some pictures of some of the lures you make. We would like that.
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