NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing Zone => Kayak Fly Fishing => Topic started by: Scurvy on March 04, 2017, 08:45:27 AM
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I'm thinking about flying for Surf Perch, never tried it, but now seems like a good time to start. Any guidance is appreciated!
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http://www.zenflyfishing.com :smt003
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http://www.zenflyfishing.com :smt003
Great informative webiste for fly and for regular grub or bait fishing. I have learned a lot fro this guy and continu to save it as a reference.
Bushy
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Lots of fun! I used to do it when I lived in So Cal. with a 5 wt.
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Fish a shooting head (10-30 ft) backed with mono. You dont need a terribly long leader in the surf. Try streamers and wooly boogers. Hope you get the hang of it, the stripers will be here soon.
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What Vermillion said, but try sand lance flies. The perch act like they can't get enough of them.
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I'm thinking about flying for Surf Perch, never tried it, but now seems like a good time to start.
Think this to will be my next hobby... :smt010
Going to the store to buy me some 5/6 wgt gear; already have a reel (a gift from our departed brother Mooch :smt007) that I have not used.... Maybe it will give me some good mojo!! :smt003
I will be following this thread.....
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You could fly to Eureka, and fish for Redtails.....Just sayin'......
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Scurvy,
I didn't read the link that lightfoot provided, so sorry if this is redundant. One of the biggest considerations will be the excess line as you are stripping in. Manageable on a river, but prone to chaos in the surf. Consider a container that attaches to your belt to drop line into as you strip back. I'm sure you can come up with something cheap and easy, like a gallon milk jug cut in half...might want to smooth out the edge to protect your line. Have fun with it!!!
Josh
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Here's my 6wt setup; but after talking with the guys at Cal Fly Shop, they said this might be too light for perching...
They said my 8wt setup would be more ideal...
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In the pass long long time ago I used to fly fish off the surf (Monterey Bay)I tried rods from 6wt to 10wt it all depending on the surf condition. It's fun if you like to work the fly rod constantly . In my old tire!d self I emulate the feeling of flyfishing with my current perch rod and reel...12 1/2 foot medium/ light action with a 4000 spinning reel loaded with 8 lb mono.
Flyfishing the surf could be real fun but takes a lot of practice and a lot of walking to find that sweet spot. Enjoy!
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Here's my 6wt setup; but after talking with the guys at Cal Fly Shop, they said this might be too light for perching...
They said my 8wt setup would be more ideal...
Wow! I use a 6wt Boost SW for steelhead since it's so stout that it's more like a 7/8wt than a 6wt. I use a fast action 5wt for surf perch and it will cast a length of T-18 sink tip on an integrated S3 line quite nicely.
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Lots of good intel guys, thx. I cruised over to the zenflyfishing link provided by Lightfoot and found it to be very helpful. That guy's suggestion is to get good with spotting likely holding areas and what the hits feel like with a spin or casting setup, then move over to the fly setup. That's how I'll proceed, then I'll follow up with whether my 5/6 wt or the 8 wt has the mojo.
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Lots of good intel guys, thx. I cruised over to the zenflyfishing link provided by Lightfoot and found it to be very helpful. That guy's suggestion is to get good with spotting likely holding areas and what the hits feel like with a spin or casting setup, then move over to the fly setup. That's how I'll proceed, then I'll follow up with whether my 5/6 wt or the 8 wt has the mojo.
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use it as a "guide", remember, some of the information is old and new technology may supercede some of his suggestions..... that's what someone of great "fly knowledge" told me...
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In my opinion, a 6 weight is only too small when you hook into a striper. Then you will be bummed if that striper takes you for a ride a 6 weight can't handle.
Perch can be easily caught and landed on a 5 weight, but it is a matter of line weight, fly weight, and how far you can cast. Most perch flies I throw have weight to them that is not fun to cast with a 5 weight through the surf.
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In my opinion, a 6 weight is only too small when you hook into a striper. Then you will be bummed if that striper takes you for a ride a 6 weight can't handle.
Perch can be easily caught and landed on a 5 weight, but it is a matter of line weight, fly weight, and how far you can cast. Most perch flies I throw have weight to them that is not fun to cast with a 5 weight through the surf.
Scott, that's funny, because I had the same thought: While the fish may be a particular size, the critical piece of the puzzle isn't landing that fish, it's getting the fly way out and against the wind to where they are waiting for my fly. That means we need the V8, not the 4-banger.
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It depends on the 6wt, doesn't it? Most saltwater rods are quite a bit stronger than freshwater rods and their actions are designed to punch through the wind.
I own an Echo Boost 690-S (saltwater), and in my opinion, it's comparable to a 7/8wt freshwater rod, despite what Tim Rajeff printed on it, and it casts a 350 grain RIO Outbound Short integrated sink tip without a problem.
We have different surf-fishing conditions up here in Oregon and I'm not likely to hook into a striper from our beaches, so my opinion on suitable rods may be (most certainly will be) different than the opinions of folks in California.
But I'm thinking that if I'm having lots of fun catching rainbows with a 5wt in an area that also has silvers, and I hook and lose a silver, I'm not coming back the next day with an 9wt to fish for trout because trout aren't anywhere near as much fun to catch with an 9wt rod.
I like to use a rod suitable for the fish I'm trying to catch, not a rod for every fish that might be in the water. Just saying.
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Yah the 5wt is definitely gonna be on the light side. Like these other guys said, if it's only perch you're catching, 5 is fine. But the best part about fishing in the surf is there are many different species that feed in and around the surf zone. Striper, halls, croakers (cali redfish), and if you are in the right place and time you can even get salmon and steelhead.
When I first started in the surf I was told to go no smaller than a 7wt. And I was told right. Some of those striper and halibut in the surf zone are pretty big and will take you for a ride. I use a redington voyant 10ft 7wt. It's fast action so it works well casting a sink/intermediate line. And I also use an echo SR 7wt for those long casts when I wanna get past the break zone to target bigger fish.
As far as flies go, small to medium size bait patterns with light lead eyes work well for everything. And of course the sand flea patterns work for pretty much everything also. If you're just looking for perch, tie some grub style patterns with some sparkle to it. I like using orange chenille for the body and orange saddle hackle spears for the tail. Or you can use the rubber leg for the tail also.
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I can't even catch surf perch on a spinning rod! But I joined the Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen club and they have an outing once a month where you can go out with some experienced guys and gals and learn. Good group of people.
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I can't even catch surf perch on a spinning rod! But I joined the Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen club and they have an outing once a month where you can go out with some experienced guys and gals and learn. Good group of people.
The surf is tricky to learn. But once you can read the water, you up your percentage. I'm still looking for my first striper in the surf after years of trying. They just keep evading me!
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I heard they were getting striper in the surf at Manresa beach.
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My go to spots for Perch and Stripers is Seascape Beach or Beer Can beach. If you go under the wooden train bridge walk down about a mile to the left there is a nice about 100 yard hole with perch, the stripers are mainly hitting past the second break. Also if your closer to Santa Cruz Sunny Cove beach from 23rd-26th never fails me with perch. Nice fatties there. New to fishing Santa Cruz County but so far those have been my successful spots this year. Good luck out there.
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I'm sure you know this already but this can become very addicting.
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Nice fish and flies!
I like a 6 for perch. But my 6 cats as far as any rod.
But as stated earlier, you could tie into a 20lb striper. You could land it but would wish for a heavier rod.
That 2 hander is good for distance, mending and lifting line off water and iover incoming breakers.
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In addition to what ScottV said, keep the 5 weights for trout fishing. Its not fair to the fish to have to fight them so long through the surf.
Dont get me wrong, I like to fish with small stuff, but use tackle that is meant for the situation.
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Ok, this thread is old, but trying to keep it alive :)
When I go out for perch, I take my 5 weight and these sort of flies I made which are trying to resemble sand crabs. Very few times I have been completely skunked and it's just good fun. Perch are a strong fish for their size. !I'm primarily fishing in the city at Baker Beach, where the surf isn't that far out. The good thing for perch is that you don't have to cast that far and often a 20 foot cast reaches most of the fish there. This is also assuming the surf is mellow that day. 2-4 feet. Any larger surf days, and it's just a lot harder wading and the fish are somewhere else.
A stripping basket is mandatory or some kind of container to catch all your line, otherwise the line will get easily wrapped around your feet.
I have yet to accidentally catch anything other than a perch on a 5 weight, but prey for me if a striper comes along... lol!
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Ok, this thread is old, but trying to keep it alive :)
When I go out for perch, I take my 5 weight and these sort of flies I made which are trying to resemble sand crabs. Very few times I have been completely skunked and it's just good fun. Perch are a strong fish for their size. !I'm primarily fishing in the city at Baker Beach, where the surf isn't that far out. The good thing for perch is that you don't have to cast that far and often a 20 foot cast reaches most of the fish there. This is also assuming the surf is mellow that day. 2-4 feet. Any larger surf days, and it's just a lot harder wading and the fish are somewhere else.
A stripping basket is mandatory or some kind of container to catch all your line, otherwise the line will get easily wrapped around your feet.
I have yet to accidentally catch anything other than a perch on a 5 weight, but prey for me if a striper comes along... lol!
Heyo Brandon! We should both probably be working, but im here for the thread! Do you use a 5wt 2 hand rod or single hand? i have a 9wt single hand i haven't taken into the surf yet but would like to give it a go... What sort of line do you run? I just have an sink 3 on it
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Keep it alive! I just got my echo boost beach, beach boost? 8wt. Two hand over head rid and am stokeed!!!!!!@!@!!!@@!!!
Cant wait ti try it but to poor to get a line for it.... what to do what to do. Maybe my 14 shooting head from my 8wt. ... any thoughts? Granted this is for stripers and bycatch perch. My perches rod is my 7 or 8wt. 10'ers single hand.
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Ok, this thread is old, but trying to keep it alive :)
When I go out for perch, I take my 5 weight and these sort of flies I made which are trying to resemble sand crabs. Very few times I have been completely skunked and it's just good fun. Perch are a strong fish for their size. !I'm primarily fishing in the city at Baker Beach, where the surf isn't that far out. The good thing for perch is that you don't have to cast that far and often a 20 foot cast reaches most of the fish there. This is also assuming the surf is mellow that day. 2-4 feet. Any larger surf days, and it's just a lot harder wading and the fish are somewhere else.
A stripping basket is mandatory or some kind of container to catch all your line, otherwise the line will get easily wrapped around your feet.
I have yet to accidentally catch anything other than a perch on a 5 weight, but prey for me if a striper comes along... lol!
Heyo Brandon! We should both probably be working, but im here for the thread! Do you use a 5wt 2 hand rod or single hand? i have a 9wt single hand i haven't taken into the surf yet but would like to give it a go... What sort of line do you run? I just have an sink 3 on it
It's a 5 weight single hand and I just prefer single hand for the double haul action I get to do. The line is sink 6, that along with the weighted fly it gets down fast. Oh, here's the fly picture I was supposed to add:
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Keep it alive! I just got my echo boost beach, beach boost? 8wt. Two hand over head rid and am stokeed!!!!!!@!@!!!@@!!!
Cant wait ti try it but to poor to get a line for it.... what to do what to do. Maybe my 14 shooting head from my 8wt. ... any thoughts? Granted this is for stripers and bycatch perch. My perches rod is my 7 or 8wt. 10'ers single hand.
Curious to know how much better you like the two hand. Lines are expensive, but ya gotta pull the trigger :)
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I will post a review.
Better.....
I don't know maybe just different the single handed with a four haul is a thing of joy and when you shoot that line and it all goes out the basket and pulls hard on the reel it's a thing of beauty.
The 2H OH caster is for distance. I've been getting frustrated with my.casting lately big dukey dumps of line piled up aways gm out not not far enough....
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I will post a review.
Better.....
I don't know maybe just different the single handed with a four haul is a thing of joy and when you shoot that line and it all goes out the basket and pulls hard on the reel it's a thing of beauty.
The 2H OH caster is for distance. I've been getting frustrated with my.casting lately big dukey dumps of line piled up aways gm out not not far enough....
Yeah for sure, when the cast turns out right, I'm just happy and don't even need to catch a fish. A fish would be welcome as icing on the cake
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We should plan a meet up and do some fly fishing for perch next month. Weekend day for me.
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We should plan a meet up and do some fly fishing for perch next month. Weekend day for me.
That would be a blast especially with big perch season upon us!
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I'm in!
Lets plan for it. Good to trade out jewelry for feathers now and again. Just to keep it interesting.
Weekend please
J. Ice
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I'm good the 9th or 16th.
If any of those dates are no good for anyone, say something and we can change it.
We need to pick a beach to meet at, and ideas? Stinson can be good or Kehow is good for reds.
Once we pick a date and beach, I'll make a post to see if anyone else wants to join. Keep the meet up post in the fly fishing section?
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I'm disappointed. From the title, I thought this was going to be about using drones to catch surfperch...
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Yeah....
I'm pretty sure that's illegal in CA
CHECK YOUR REGS!!!
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I'll check with the boss for the 16th. With the crab opener this weekend I'm sure she'll want a weekend in between.
And yup my shooting heads should work on the new rod. Time to prove it.
J. Ice
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I'll check with the boss for the 16th. With the crab opener this weekend I'm sure she'll want a weekend in between.
And yup my shooting heads should work on the new rod. Time to prove it.
J. Ice
16th sounds good to me! I usually fish the SMC beaches but am open to ideas. not wanting to drive all too far though.
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I'm with you lets see the interest and go with majority for the final destination. I'm fishing Santa Cruz County and San Mateo mostly but have been itching to hit the Monterrey beaches as well.
J. Ice
Right now
3
2 - SMC
1- Marin
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I'm with you lets see the interest and go with majority for the final destination. I'm fishing Santa Cruz County and San Mateo mostly but have been itching to hit the Monterrey beaches as well.
J. Ice
Right now
3
2 - SMC
1- Marin
Yeah, I'd be good for the 16th too, and casting my preference for SMC as well, here's the new numbers
3 - SMC
2 -
1- Marin
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What and where is SMC? Not living near the coast I don't know the abbreviations.
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What and where is SMC? Not living near the coast I don't know the abbreviations.
San Mateo County beaches: ie, half moon bay, pacifica, montara, san gregorio.
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What and where is SMC? Not living near the coast I don't know the abbreviations.
San Mateo County beaches: ie, half moon bay, pacifica, montara, san gregorio.
Got it, thanks. Pacifica can be real good.
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Fished a one mile stretch of San Gregorio beach today. Three hours of continuous casting, only caught two. It was kinda weird. At least a dozen fishermen on the beach, no one caught any perch using traditional methods. One guy got a small striper. Perhaps the tide was not ideal?
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That's a nice perch!
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All right fellas and folks,
I got the beach h pass for the Sat. The 16th!
Tide looks good on the SMC in HMB low tide is 6am high at 11:57.
Let's make a plan I'm fishing!
Let the official location poll begin!
J. Ice
P.S.
Thanks Bushy for the PM I'll be on and in it for sure!
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Gorgeous fish Lucky13!! I usually fish San Gregorio or Pescadero beaches. I am very open. Pacifica could be fun too!
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Anybody in the Santa Cruz/ Monterey areas hitting the beaches this weekend? Looks good for for me
J. Ice