Belize Flats Advise

[SullyTM 0]

Hoping to be vacationing in Belize in March/April, probably Ambergris Caye. I'm an average caster and have not focused on distance casting. I've googled "speed' casting for flats fishing and have started practicing. Question...is a stripping basket a good thing to have, especially if your long distance casting skills are lacking? Any other advice is appreciated. My fly box is getting full and I'm buyinig the necessary clothing for flats fishing.

 

Thanks.

 

Thom

 

Should have been posted as Belize Flats ADVICE.

[Peterjay 0]

A stripping basket is always a good thing to have unless you enjoy untangling a mess and stepping on your line every two minutes. I wouldn't fish in salt water without one. You can make one yourself for a few dollars, or if you're image-conscious, Orvis sells some nice ones.

[Panama Red 0]

A stripping basket is always a good thing to have unless you enjoy untangling a mess and stepping on your line every two minutes. I wouldn't fish in salt water without one. You can make one yourself for a few dollars, or if you're image-conscious, Orvis sells some nice ones.

 

X2, makes life much easier.

[spider4 0]

Have been to Belize at El Pescador on Ambergris Caye. At no time did I need a stripping basket to fish. Most of the fish where only 50 to 60 feet cast. You will need to learned to hit a spot, so that I did was to put paper plates out in the in front at unknown distance and cast at then. This helps me get ready to go. Enjoy it and if you would like to talk more let me know.

[SullyTM 0]

Thanks for the comments guys. Practice makes perfect.

 

Spider, PM sent

 

Thom

[Capt Bob LeMay 0]

Here's a practice routine I recommend for my anglers who'll be fishing with me in the 'Glades... Take your hat or any small object and practice hitting it with the fly (use any similar fly to what you'll actually use but bend the point back in on itself with pliers so that it can't hook anything...). Start at about thirty feet and go at it until you can hit the hat every time. Here's the difficult part - the less casting strokes you use the better your actual results will be on the water.... Three casting strokes is all it should ever take (less is better). Many freshwater anglers have difficulty with this, but lots of casting strokes mean many missed opportunities on the flats... Once you're on target then increase your range gradually out to about sixty feet. When you're comfortable making as few strokes as possible and hitting (or at least getting within two feet of) your target then you have to change things a bit and learn to hit the mark from every wind angle (not so easy...). I'd want to be able to hit the mark from upwind, downwind, and across the wind.

 

 

Now for the graduation test. Take your hat, put it next to a chain link fence and hit the hat without hitting the fence (an Everglades necessity - not a necessity on the flats, but you get the idea....). Hope this helps

 

Tight lines

Bob LeMay

(954) 435-5666

[Peterjay 0]

Yeah, what Bob said - that's great advice. Another method is to take your outfit down to the local baseball diamond, (not Little League or softball) stand on second base and try to hit the pitchers' rubber. (67 feet) Then try to hit first or third base. (90 feet) Forget about second to home plate. (127 feet) Pitchers' rubber to home plate is 60 feet, but remember, you have the advantage of being slightly elevated, as you would be on a skiff. Try to imagine doing it with the wind blowing, as it often is on the flats, or better yet, do it on a windy day. Then try it from your knees, which is what you'll have to do if you're in knee-deep water. If you're an "average caster," you might be surprised how far "only" 60 feet is under average conditions. IME, most weekenders can't hit the broad side of a barn at 90 feet, even if they can reach it, which most can't. (There's a huge difference between internet casting distances and real-world distances.) Being observant, stealthy, and accurate at short distances is much more important than throwing a line a country mile and hoping to get lucky. Like Bob said, practice, practice, practice. You might be surprised how good you can get at this if you take it seriously and keep at it. Just like golf - the best players spend as much time at the range as they do on the course. BTW - Can you make do without a stripping basket? Of course you can. Would it make life easier and protect your line from damage? Absolutely. Will it be easier to shoot your line with just a couple of false casts? Absolutely. If I were spending a lot of dough within a limited time frame, I'd want to give myself every advantage possible, and a stripping basket is definitely an advantage.

[SullyTM 0]

Capt. Bob and Peterjay...Thanks. I mostly fish stream and creeks and distance casting isn't always needed. I think a lot of fly anglers loose focus of the different types of casting and get locked into a certain style. I guess it took a trip to an exotic locale to get me off the couch and out practicing...

 

I appreciate the interest and will keep everyone posted...

 

Later...

 

Thom

 

PS...I practice at golf more than casting and I still can't make that 3 footer for par! LOL

[Peterjay 0]

Sully, you're gonna do fine. My guess is that once you're out there for an hour, you'll be tossing it like a pro. Hey, if you have any shallow ponds nearby, that'd be a great place to practice with your SW rig. If you get any funny looks from passersby, just tell them you're after the world record for western horned trout - very rare and extremely dangerous. They ain't gonna believe you, but I'll guarantee you get plenty of casting room. I know I'd keep my distance.

[FlyFishin'Jam 0]

PJ is pretty spot on with the casting, practice your double haul and make sure you can execute 60 ft in as few false casts as possible. I know when i fish for permit you are lucky to get one shot before the bastards figure it out and swim away, and you have to get that shot off really quickly. I know speaking to the guide he says most fly anglers that go out with him spend too much time back casting when the fly has to be in the water quick and fairly accurately. Trying to get a permit to eat is another thread all together.

[Capt Bob LeMay 0]

An additional small item that many have difficulty with is just plain line control. Resist the temptation to let go of the line when you make that final casting stroke -simply allow the line to slip through your fingers with little resistance. Then, when the fly lands, you're actually in position to strip it properly and won't be un-tangling things from around your stripping guide or reel or rod butt, etc (and I won't even mention the places a fly line can tangle around your person). Line control, whether wading or on a the bow of a skiff is a pretty important part of a day on the salt....

[SullyTM 0]

Capt. Bob, Peterjay and FFJ...I'll be practicing this weekend. With no rain in sight here in Northern California I'll have plenty of days to toss a line. I'm tying up flies and getting some necessary accesories. Believe or not, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and haven't given saltwater/surf fishing much thought. I'm thinking that is going to change.

 

More later...

 

PS...FFJ, Nice avatar photo.

[Peterjay 0]

Hey Sully: Dan Blanton has a pretty good message board, and a lot of the discussion concerns your neck of the woods. There used to be some great striper fishing in the Bay Area - don't know if there still is, but it might be worth finding out. Striped bass are a great fly rod fish, and highly addictive.

 

http://www.danblanton.com/bulletin.php

[ditz2 0]

.....3 footer for par.....Some might say "choke'...get out on that practice green for those shorties.....Then go to one of the water hazards and work on your double haul....a double haul will also help you on the creek. I use a double haul probably 80% of my creek fishing. It makes some tight loops and helps you get under some of those low hanging branches. Be careful with Peterjay's info. If you follow all of his advise he will have you wearing tutu's while on the casting platform.

[Peterjay 0]

I'd love to have some three-footers for par - with me, it's usually a 30-footer for triple bogey. I've spent so much time in the woods that I threw away my #5 wood and replaced it with a machete. Besides, my best wood was always my pencil. Amazing how many strokes you can shave off your score by mastering that one.