3 Tips For Fly Fishing Exotic Locations From Shore
Shore fishing often gets a bad rap among veteran anglers, but the truth of the matter is that an approach from the banks of the stream can be just as effective, or even more effective, than floating along in a drift boat. However, this style also necessitates a couple of small pointers to optimize your time on the water. Here are three tips to observe when you're fly fishing from the shore in an unknown location.
Lay Low
Trout are well known for their excellent eyesight, so if you'll be chasing these trophies, you're going to want to lay low physically when approaching the stream or pond. This includes keeping your rod parallel to the ground so that it doesn't act as an antenna broadcasting your party's location to the fish. Another good idea is to approach the stream from the opposite side that the sun is on, so as not to cast a shadow on the otherwise unsuspecting fish.
Tread Lightly
All fish sport a lateral line that acts to sense vibrations around them in the water, and so-called "educated" fish that receive a lot of fishing pressure are particularly attuned to their environment this way. For this reason, it's important to make sure that heavy footsteps are avoided at all cost when you're near the stream. If you can approach from a spot on the river that has a lot of grass to dampen your footsteps, all the better. If rocks are your only way to the stream, then it might help to wear waders or boots with a rubber sole rather than a studded one that will click on the rocks and alert your target fish to your presence.
Pay Careful Attention to Your Line
Many exotic fly fishing destinations receive a lot of fishing pressure from visiting anglers, so most of these fish that have been caught once or twice have learned to only strike at the most convincing offerings. This presents a particular challenge to shorebound anglers since the issue of mending your line will be more difficult than if you were floating along the river in a drift boat. In order to prepare for this challenging situation, practice mending your line on your local stream or even your backyard. You should practice even if you have the perfect mend on your home stream so that you'll be able to adjust to different stream features and current on your fly fishing trip. The perfect mend will flip all of your line upstream, reducing the amount the line drags on the water, without moving your fly itself.