Met up with a couple of guys who had travelled down from Norfolk to sample the delights of SWFF in Dorset. The first mark I fished produced mainly Scad ( to about 1lb 8oz )with a few Mackerel. Garfish were seen 'topping', but out of range of the flyrod.Sparse clousers in chartruese and white fished on a floating line was my weapon of choice.

The second spot I fished proved a bit more productive for me, taking a dozen or so Scad, a couple of Mackerel and 3 Bass to about 1lb 8oz. A black and orange clouser on a ghost-tip line fished on the drift/swing was the killer method here.

Fished a third mark that usually produces a few Bass, but really struggled and only managed one small, but spirited fish of about a pound. I think that the really big tides and the current that came with them forced the baitfish out to deeper water, taking the Bass with them.

[ 21. September 2005, 07:59 PM: Message edited by: MJB ]

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Thanks for the report, whereabouts were you Kimmeredge?

dan

All over the Purbeck area. All the known spots.

Dan,

Never ask where someone catches bass from the purbecks, because you will never get a straight answer, believe me i've tried. And thats fair enough.

The fish are everywhere, you need to get out there mate. In for a penny in for a pound and all that.

Scotty

MJB - good report

And I've read others of yours with interest.
I'd dearly like to get into saltwater fly fishing one of these days. My only experience of fly fishing thus far has been catching some rather docile and sulky rainbow trout from a pond in sussex and little bit up in Scotland after brown trout.
Any advice on some kit to get me started ? Bear in mind budget a bit tight right now
Also my local area is Hampshire beaches, which I'm not at all sure lends itself well to the method, or I am wrong about that ?
I do however know the Purbeck area quite well and have fished such areas as Kimmeridge a few times, and its 'just up the road', so would be viable for me to try out the method.

Richard,

The kit for SWFF needn't be expensive.

Rods: 9', 8 or 9 weights are ideal for UK use.At a push you could use a 7 weight. I use a Greys GRX which costs £95, but Fulling Mill do a decent rod for about £65.

Reels: Large arbour models capable of holding the flyline + 100yds of backing. For £30 you wont go far wrong with an Okuma Airframe.

Lines: Weight forward (WF) lines to match the rods rating. Floating or intermediate all you need. Get both if you can afford it, but it would pay to get a good floater and just add an intermediate polyleader if you want to get the fly a bit deeper.I rarely use a full sinker.

Backing: 20lb dacron will suffice. I've only had fish take me into the backing on 4 occasions in 4 years!

Leaders: I use Orvis 'super strong' mono in 1X and 2X strengths ( 13.5lb and 11.5lb ) although any mono will do. I make 6' singapore leaders from the same and add 3' as a tippet.

Stripping bowl: Essential piece of kit. Various ones available. I prefer a rigid bowl and it's possible to use a washing up bowl held round your waist by a bungee.

Flies: Clouser minnows, Sparse clousers, decievers, gurglers in sizes 2 - 6. Even trout lures like cats whiskers and dog nobblers will work.

Other bits and bobs: Chest waders (essential IMO), hat ( with a brim or peak) and glasses to prevent wayward flies taking your eye out!Small torch ( mini-maglite type) for changing flies in the dark, Forceps.

The eastern side of the solent lends itself to swffing very well. I wont give any specific marks away, but the Labngstone, Portsmouth and Chichester harbours all have a number of spots worth fishing.

After reading the above, it makes me want to give SWFF a go.

Thanks for that Martin.

MJB - Thanks very much for some excellent information