zip 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2016 Starting to fill up a SW box and was curious what others keep as a go-to fly.What's that one that always produces in the hard times and what's a favorite! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlatsRoamer 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2016 Well it depends what your going for. Definitely Clousers to start, but it would be very beneficial to know your targets and location etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poopdeck 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2016 That's a very regional question. Out east clousers, deceivers, half and halfs and surf candies would be a good start. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
agn54 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2016 My go to flies when all else fails are these. If I don't get anything on these, I go somewhere else or go home because they aren't biting that day Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saltybum 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2016 C-4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tidewaterfly 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2016 Fly choices for SW should also be based on the type of water & the fish species you'll be targeting. I always carry Deceivers, Seaducers, Clouser Minnows & Half & Half's, some basic bucktail streamers, rabbit strip flies & surface flies such as poppers, gurglers & Crease Flies. These are all general use type flies & work well in a wide variety of places & for many species particularly in open water. However, if for example you're targeting fish such as Redfish on a flooded grass flat, you'll likely want a different type of fly, such as a shrimp or crab pattern. In many cases, the actual pattern or color is not as important as it's size & weight, so it doesn't hurt to have variety. I don't really have "go to" patterns, as what I'm listing have worked well for me over many years, most of the time. I've used some other patterns that were better for a specific situation, but for most SW fishing I'll go back to this list. I've never really found that I couldn't catch something on these if I could locate some fish. These are my basics & I'll add depending on where I might be going, and the type of water & species I might encounter. BTW, I really like those Polar Fiber type streamers that agn54 has posted. (2nd & 3rd pics) They're not a pattern I've used a lot, but when I have, they've been productive, so are now another style I'll always carry. I like a SW variation of the Murdich Minnow that I tie too. Most of the SW fly fishing I've done has been for Striped bass & Bluefish, in the Chesapeake Bay & tribs in MD so my fly selection would be different than in the example I cited about Redfish on a grass flat. SW is no different to freshwater in that regard. Select your flies based on where you'll be fishing, & what you intend to target. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zip 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2016 Edit:Misread Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlatsRoamer 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2016 So zip, where are you going ? I'm gonna guess the shallow waters of Florida Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zip 0 Report post Posted July 10, 2016 Gonna hit the Keys late fall.Got a trout trip before hand,but I want to go to Belize for permit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites