IN THE SALT FLY FISHING - Issue #2

ISSUE#2

APR-JUNE ‘17

CUBA

TREATED JONATHAN JONES PREPARATION JAMES LAVERTY CAPTURING

YOUR CATCH STU DODD IN THE SALT

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SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

QUEENFISH

DR JULIAN PEPPERELL

TIE ‘N FLY

BOX CAPT. GAVIN PLATZ

PHOTO GRAEME COX

PRE-TRIP FLATS

Hail to the Queen!

Photo: Allan Donald

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Precision Crafted

Precision Crafted

Precision Crafted

T-50

GUIDE II

CLASSIC II

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• Precision crafted fly rods • Built with the highest quality components • All 4 pc rod constructions • Moderate fast to ultra-fast actions • Protective Cordura Rod tubes • Covered by our unique No Fuss Lifetime Warranty • Outstanding service and support EXCLUSIVE OFFER: GET 25% OFF XPLORER FLY RODS & REELS TACKLESAFARI.COM.AU Use code: GETBENT25 at check-out www.inthesaltflymag.com.au

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ISSU

CONT WHAT’S INSIDE THE BOX PAGE 16

PAGE 52

CUBA TREATED

THE TIE ‘N FLY BOX

PAGE 36

PAGE 62

IMPROVING YOUR FISH PHOTOGRAPHY

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN

A PLACE OF SMOOTH CIGARS, SWEET RUM & CRYSTAL CLEAR, WHITE SANDY FLATS.....

CAPTURING YOUR CATCH

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HOW TO TIE CPT. GAV’S FAVORITE FLIES

PRE-TRIP FLATS PREPARATION

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UE #2

TENTS

PAGE 84

PAGE 109

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

FINAL OFFERING

QUEENFISH

FROM THE EDITOR

PAGE 94 STUFF YOU NEED

GEAR AND PARAPHERNALIA

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ISSUE #2

IN THE SALT

FLY FISHING MAGAZINE THE ED JUSTIN WEBBER THE ADS JUSTIN WEBBER THE EYE DAN CALLISON JUSTIN WEBBER GRAEME COX

CONTRIBUTORS JONATHAN JONES JAMES LAVERTY STU DODD GAVIN PLATZ WEBCOX FLY FISHING DR JULIAN PEPPERELL

THE WORDS DAN CALLISON THE LOOK JUSTIN WEBBER

SUBMISSIONS IN THE SALT WELCOMES ALL SUBMISSIONS, CONTENT OR PHOTOS. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO PUBLISH THE ARTICLE OR CONTENT.

PHOTOGRAPHY GRAEME COX PETER BEHRENS GAVIN PLATZ JUSTIN WEBBER NICK MOORE ALLAN DONALD PAUL DOLAN TIE ‘N FLY OUTFITTERS GRANT ZIETSMAN JOSH HUTCHINS VINNIE VERSVELD ROB FERGUSON ADAM ROYTER CHRIS RIPPON STU DODD JONATHAN JONES CONTACT US

info@inthesaltflymag.com.au www.inthesaltflymag.com.au @inthesaltflymag

THE OPINIONS EXPREESSED IN THIS MAGAZINE ARE NOT ALWAYS OF THE MAGAZINE OR ITS OWNERS. IT IS ILLEGAL TO COPY OR REPRODUCE THIS MAGAZINE.

FISHART BY CAPT. JONATHAN JONES A.K.A. REDBEARD FOR MORE LIKE THIS ONE JUMP ONTO HIS INSTAGRAM @REDBEARD

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IN THE SALT

Australian Saltwater Fly Fishing & Travel for everyone!

“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after” ~ Henry David Thoreau With that quote firmly etched into my mind I find myself thinking back to a time when fly fishing was not only an escape from the day to day life most of us find ourselves in, but also a way to connect in a deeper way to our environment. It has changed slightly for me these days having to think about photos, video, social media & magazines. However, I often find myself standing on a remote flat looking around thinking “Man, am I not the luckiest guy alive to be doing what I am doing?

Seeing the places I get to see. Fish with the people that mean so much to me, but best of all enjoy every moment and, as a bonus, I get to share those experiences with the world!”

We are so proud to bring you Issue 2! It’s been a super exciting past 3 months with the magazine growing in popularity and gathering more and more subscribers and followers. We have some awesome articles in this issue from some very prominent and passionate fly fishermen and by the look of things this will be an issue to remember!

We’d like to thank our current advertisers for their continued support and to our newest advertisers, welcome aboard.

It’s been amazing to see how well the Australian fly fishing and world wide community has got behind this project and it just proves saltwater fly fishing is alive and well and growing daily!

We have such great opportunities right here in Australia and with the strength of our dollar saltwater fly travel has never been at a more exciting frontier. From waters in Far North Queensland to Sydney and further south. The Great Barrier Reef has endless opportunities to those who make the voyage out there. There are exciting overseas destinations such as Saint Brandon’s Atoll in the Indian ocean, to Anaa Atoll in the Pacific which are just starting to be explored by Australian fly fishers.

Other destinations like New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Christmas Island and Papua New Guinea are within a short flight away from any major Australain city.

The USA and Cuba have superb fly fishing opportunities that will continue to attract fly fishermen from Australia and around the world alike. There has never been a more exciting time to be involved in saltwater fly fishing!

Welcome to IN THE SALT a fly fishing magazine dedicated to Saltwater fly fishing.

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Flies are single use when trigger fishing!

Photo: Joshua Hutchins

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Match the hatch! The most fundemental rule.

Photo: Paul Dolan

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CUBA TREATED A PLACE OF SMOOTH CIGARS, SWEET RUM AND C R Y STA L C L E A R , W H I T E S A N DY F L AT S . . . . .

by Jonathan Jones Photos: Jonathan Jones & Mark Welsh

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Cuba Bound I had just started a 1,500 km drive home after ten days of Barramundi madness when I received an email from my good friends at Smith Optics about the possibility of doing a new film in Cuba. Let’s just say that made the drive a little less draining.

Within days of being home I was airborne and headed to Salt Lake City to link up with the crew and make our way down to paradise a.k.a. Cuba. After 18 hours I had landed in SLC and was in the truck headed to the house. After a few days of hanging out and then a few drinks later I was headed back to the airport for the flight to Miami. The plan was to hook up with the Smith Optics crew. With a few minor flight hiccups we were in Cuba and it was like stepping back in time by 40 years.

After spending a few hours getting through customs and explaining over and over what the cameras and all the gear were for we were good to go. So we stepped out of the airport and let’s just say we lost our minds within minutes from old school American muscle cars, amazing food, cigars and beautiful Cuban women everywhere. I think the first day was spent just coming to grips with how cool this place is. We had only been in Havana for a few hours and we headed off on foot to have a look around town and find Cuban cigars. After getting lost and ending up down some dodgy laneway a gentlemen

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asked if we were looking for Cubans. We all looked and said yes can you show us where to get them. He replied yes yes come with me.

After following the man for a few minutes we were at a hole in the wall shop filled with every type of cigar. After spending a few hundred dollars US we were set. We walked around the city a little more. As soon as the sun fell behind the old Havana city this place really comes alive with night life. There were people everywhere all dressed for the clubs, restaurants and cafes. The streets were lined with people dancing to music.

It was amazing to see the Cuban culture in full swing. Cubans are so happy despite what is going on around them with politics.

“AFTER TAKE-OFF ALL WE COULD SEE WERE SAND FLATS & MORE FLATS & CLEAR WATER”

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After spending the night and a day in Havana it was time to head back to the airport to catch our flight out to the airstrip near the mother ship. After takeoff all we could see were sand flats and more flats and clear water. My mind was starting to race and my blood was starting to pump just with the thought that we were going to be fishing these amazing waters for the next week.

After a short 45 minute flight we had landed and a van met us at the airstrip to take us to the boat.

Little did we know it was over two hours away.

So the driver took us to get some beers for the ride out. After a crazy ride we had made it to the marina and we loaded the skiffs and headed off into the distance to meet the mother ship. As we pulled up we were greeted by the ship’s crew.

They had drinks made and lunch all set to go.

We spent that afternoon just hanging out on the mother ship drinking and shooting the shit.

After a good dinner and a few more Cuban rums it was time to get some rest with some rain starting to fall. We all passed out in our cabins.

CIGARS,RUM & BONEFISH After a great night’s sleep we all made our way up to the top deck for breakfast. After a few coffees and a feast fit for a king we were loading the skiffs and getting ready to set out. With everything set we hit the clear water with speed heading to a vast remote flat in search for bad ass Bones. Once we rolled up on where we wanted to fish the camera boat was set and we moved down the flats. After just a few minutes we had a nice Bonefish coming our way. Ross took up position and made his shot with hands shaking he stripped and stripped and after a short stop it was fish on. Ross had his first Cuban Boner screaming down the flats and it was all smiles.

After getting his fish to hand it was my turn to step out and within a few minutes there was a nice school of Bones moving my way. I made one hell of a shit cast so I quickly picked my game up and remade the shot. Within two or three strips I had two fish chasing down my fly and wouldn’t you know it the big one ate the fly and took off faster than a bullet. I went into my www.inthesaltflymag.com.au

backing twice, with super light tippet I had to play her gently. After a crazy morning on the Bones it was time for some lunch and rum then work on a game plan for the afternoon. After an hour or so of just hanging out after lunch we loaded the skiffs and set out to look for some Tarpon laid up in the channels. After a short boat ride we were deep in the mangroves and within minutes we saw some nice sized Tarpon rolling way down the back. So we cut the motor and poled our way down to the fish. We were seeing more and more fish roll so we got close enough and Ross sent in a nice cast. These fish were super spooky. After a few dozen casts we changed the flies over. Within a few shots Ross was hooked up and losing line fast. The fish was jumping like crazy. After about 15 jumps the hook pulled and that was that. He was shaking at the knees with excitement. We moved on to look for a fresh school of fish. As the sun started to fall we found another school of Tarpon laid up. I blew up the school with my first cast and often with Tarpon that means, game over! So we packed up and headed back to the mothership where we had a nice bottle of Cuban rum waiting for us.

The next day we all woke up to the sound of rain so I headed up to see what the weather man had dished up for the morning. It was a nice front full of rain, just what we ordered...NOT! After a lazy morning we regrouped and decided to pack the skiffs and head out. The rain had started to move on and the sun was starting to show. We had a 45 minute run to the flats we wanted to fish. As we came around this rather large sand spit it was all sun and blue sky. It was time to get our permit game faces on. We stopped and I got set up. Then we poled down the flat for a few hundred meters and we spotted a sting ray with a tailing Permit. I made the shot and things were looking good. The fish was keyed in on my fly until Bang the fish spooked and blasted off.

I could only laugh as I have always had a very up and down relationship with these fish. I told myself this is nothing new so it was Ross’ time to step up to the plate and get the job done. We had moved down a few hundred meters and within minutes we had another ray with two nice looking Permit. As we got into casting range Ross made his shot. The fish turned and wouldn’t you know it the fish ate and it looked like a very nice fish.

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After a large opening run we knew Ross had a fish of a life time on the line. After about 45 minutes the fish was to hand and holy shit what a fish. It was the first Permit and it was a beast.

After some beauty shots the fish was set free.

After all the excitement it was time for some lunch and a few beers to celebrate. We stuck the push pole in the sand and pulled the skiffs up to hang out for an hour or so waiting for the tide to change. We could tangle with some more Cuban Bones to end the afternoon. Once we had some tidal movement we started to see some tails and a few cruising fish. So we pulled up. I manage to steal the bow and made a sneaky cast just left of the school. Then Ross lay a nice cast off to the right of the school and within seconds I was hooked up and the fish where headed Ross’ way and not long after it was a double hook up on a nice pair of Bonefish. We managed seven or eight really nice Bones each for that afternoon.

With smiles all round we headed back to the mother ship for some late afternoon Mojitos and a few Cuban hand rolled cigars. After dinner we hatched a game plan for the morning. The plan was to see how many Permit shots I could f@#K up.

After a magical night’s sleep it was time to get up and refuel for the day ahead. It was good vibes all round and time to hit the flats. We loaded up and ran out to the Permit flats. I was trying to get my mind right as I knew this was going to be an intense few hours. The pressure was on for sure with the camera boat not far away and cameras locked and loaded we spotted two nice fish hanging around a ray.

I made the cast, let the fly sink, made one short strip and the fish keyed in second strip ahhhhhhh spooked them both. I could tell this was going to happen all day. We moved on and found a single fish happy as hell and feeding.

This time I put the fly just in front of the fish. As soon as it hit the sand I was tight and line was peeling through my fingers. It was fish on! After a few nice runs and about 25 minutes later we had the fish boat side. I jumped in and tailed the fish. I was lost for words. Time after time these fish blow my mind. Just how smart and powerful they are is incredible. With the skunk having washed off, it was time to chase the grand slam.

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GRAND SLAM DAY We packed up and rushed over to some other flats to chase a Bone. As we pulled up all Ross and I could see was cruising Bonefish. Straight up we manage to get a nice double hook up. Little did we know that the next hour was going to be off its head. After getting the fish to hand we were back on the bow rolling down the flats. Within minutes Ross was tight to another nice Bone. We pulled up so he could fight the fish. While all this was going on we had a school of fish heading our way so I got set and made a few casts. I put the fly just short of the school and they all turned on my fly. With another nice fish on it was double trouble again. 15 fish later and it was time to leave these Bones. As hard as that was it was time to go and chase some Tarpon. We pushed way back into the mangroves to a nice deep channel. We didn’t see anything for an hour or so. We pulled up and moved and as we rounded a large bend we saw some nice size Tarpon rolling in the distance. So we cut the motors and just drifted towards the school of fish. Within about 15 minutes we had the school just within casting range. So I made a few casts and got the fly in front of a nice fish. After two attempts at eating the fly it was third time lucky and I came tight with the fish airborne and peeling line. Jivey Tarpon are just so much fun. We managed a few smaller fish around the 30 pound mark and we were left shaking as the fish we were seeing roll were 100 pounds and up. With a few jump offs on the big fish it was time to call it a day with a grand slam in the bag. It was day done and we had one more day on the water before we were headed to Havana for two days of hang time.

I think everyone was looking forward to being back on land as we were all keen to see what the Cuban life was like.

4 bottles & 7 russians After a few rums on the back deck watching the sunset it was time for some chill time. After a few hours catching up on uploading photos and video back to the US we all rolled out www.inthesaltflymag.com.au

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on to the top deck of the mother ship and sat back to enjoy the stars. At dinner we are told about a record that really interested us. So we asked what was the most Cuban rum drunk in a night. The captain laughed and said four bottles by seven Russians. Mmm so it had us thinking and the five of us said let’s do it! Five bottles later the sun wasn’t far from poking its head up. So it was coffee with a touch of rum for breakfast. Let’s just say the captain could not believe it.

We all pulled it together for the last day of fishing. After some fresh scrambled eggs and bacon we were good to go. We grabbed the gear and loaded up a little shaky.

Nothing a few fish wouldn’t fix. Well as we thought it was a fish filled morning of shenanigans with some big Barracuda falling to Ross’ fly and another one destroying my fly. After some crazy runs we got his fish to the boat, what a pig of a fish and with a head to match.

OUR GEAR For all you gear heads out there, we were running Nautilus 8 wt, 9 wt & 10 wt CCFX reels loaded with Scientific Anglers line. We used a combination of Tropical floating warm water lines and some intermediate lines for the channels and the deeper water.

Our rods were Sage Salt and the Sage X series in 8 wt, 9 wt & 10 wt. These rods have amazing power and performance and are a dream to cast with. Leaders - I always have a full page packed with Scientific Anglers fluorocarbon leader spools ranging from 10 lb right up to 80 lb for tangling with the local Tarpon and Barracuda.

We came to Cuba in search of fun, laughter, fish and rum. We found them and more. What an amazing place!

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Golden Trevally are as tough as they are beautiful.

Photo: Allan Donald

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Join Aussie Fly Fisher, Joshua Hutchins, for an unforgettable adventure chasing trophy trout and kingfish on the North & South Islands of New Zealand.

From the rugged back-country to the wide-open saltwater flats, these trips encompass the best of New Zealand’s fly fishing.

2018 NZ HOSTED TRIPS

SOUTH ISLAND

TRIP 1 & 2: February 2018 NORTH ISLAND

TRIP 3: March 2018

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Poling the flats NZ style Photo: Joshua Hutchins

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Exmouth Spangeled Emperor.

Photo: Allan Donald

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Ghost of the Anaa Atoll flats.

Photo: Joshua Hutchins

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Vinnie doing some deep water “dredging� for Nannigai.

Photo: Vinnie Versveld

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Battle scared tuna makes for the best fly targets!

Photo: Adam Royter

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CAPTURING YOUR

Catch IMPROVING YOUR FISH PHOTOGRAPHY Words by Stu Dodd Photo’s by Stu Dodd & Greg Walker

Natural Colours - The blue shirt helps tie together the natural tones and creates a tropical feel to this Pilbara Island Spangled Emperor.

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CAPTURING YOUR CATCH If you were to ask any fly angler what draws them to the sport you’d be likely to hear a range of answers that could be almost endless. Then include the vast range of species available around the world in everything from blue water to billabongs and you’ve got more fish than you could catch in a lifetime. There is often just that fleeting moment when a magic fish comes to the net or boat side and you stare in awe while extracting the fly so you can get it back to the water and give it the best chance of a quick recovery.

My conundrum is I’m obsessed with details on the fish.The electric orange stripe on a blue bastards face, the broad angry head of a Giant Trevally or even the delicate yellow fins on a school whiting. When the fish is released its just a distant memory. It was these very details which made me decide to buy a camera so I could paw over the images long after a fishing session had ended.

Whether you have just ducked down for an afternoon fish at your local spot or flown to a remote corner of the world chasing something exotic, a well captured photo is a simple way to relive that mind wrecking battle or brilliantly coloured personal best fish. It’s not to say that every photo is going to be a wall hanging in a gallery or blown up on a canvas print for your girlfriend to begrudgingly receive on Valentine’s Day, but it is always nice to look back on a quality image. Many out there share their images on fishing forums or social media such as Instagram. Others send these images to mates at work to drool over.

When it comes to photography gear (like fly fishing) there is no end to the possible set-ups that are available. If you were to hand an amature fly fisherman a state of the art rod and reel combo would it instantly make them able to accurately roll a whole fly line out in two false casts? I highly doubt it! Camera gear is the same, whether it be the camera on your phone or the most expensive camera on the market. If the basics aren’t right the results will be the same. With a few easy techniques which are commonly overlooked your photos can improve immensely.

Good Grip - Greg Walker displays a perfect grip on a Blue Bastard, with hands tucked behind the fish and the tail in a light finger hold.

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SHOOT BIG

DRESS TO IMPRESS

If your camera has the option to shoot RAW (under ‘Quality’ settings in camera) and you have the software capable of editing these large files go ahead and bump it up!! These files will allow you to maximise light and colour settings when editing and really give that pop to your images. It may take a while for your eye to become trained to see the difference, but once you do, you’ll never go back. If RAW isn’t an option; e.g. phone pics, select the highest quality available, these take up more file space but it’s well worth it. Grainy pictures on the high resolution screens of today look worse that your parents dodgey old wedding photos.

Now while you may love your Hi-Vis during work hours, wearing it in fishing pictures is a cardinal sin.Having your photo taken while holding a fish with a fluro yellow shirt on detracts from anything else in the frame. The eye is instantly drawn to it and away from the main event, the catch! Generally, from what I’ve seen, fly fisherman tend to have a better dress code on the water. Subtle colours are favourable for not scaring your quarry away particularly when fishing shallow water and it will also hugely improve a photo. A well colour matched angler in neutral or natural colours will make fish and landscape photos spring off

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Low to the water - Mark Davis crouches with a Blue Bastard, the camera is low to create a view with depth and a nice reflection.

the page and bring it all to life. Save the tweed sitting horizontal and balanced on one hand jacket and tartan hat for the trout streams. while the tail rests on a few fingers on the other hand. Avoid having the “wrist” of the fishes tail gripped in a full fist. Constantly GRIP AND GRIN dip the fish in the water as they dry quickly.

This retains their rich colours and obviously While it’s nice to see the face of the angler minimises stress if you intend to release it. A it’s not imperative that their face is in focus. neat close up of a staunch fish still dripping One rule of thumb to always strive to achieve looks amazing!! For smaller fish the “comfort is to have the fish’s eye in focus. The eye is a grip” is optimal. This is a single hand hold where simple focal point to lock onto. The fish is the the thumb gently grips the top of the fishes head “centre of attention” so having its features while the body rest’s on the four fingers. This sharp is vital regardless of how close or far style grip relaxes the fish and is ideal for spikey away the rest of the objects within the picture critters like bream and bass. are. This creates a nice depth to the image.

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WORK THE ANGLES Have the angler hold the fish at a comfortable distance from the body. Too close and the frame can become rather crowded looking. It’s the job of the cameraman to move about the fisherman and capture a variaty of different angles. Sunlight shining on wet scales or back lighting the dorsal fins are great features.

If your fishing in shallow water or an estuary environment, having the angler kneel in the water or hold the fish’s belly in the water creates beautiful reflections and really sets a scene. In the confines of the boat its not as easy to get good angles on shots. When taking photos in the boat one point to remember is the background. The outboard motor or bright blue esky (cooler) can easily rob a good photo by lurking in the back drop. Have the angler sit or stand close to the gunwale midway up the boat while the photographer shoots from a slightly lower position. This opens up the sky and watery horizon and captures less of the clutter within the boat. One of the most common mistakes seen in this situation is the horizon. Line the horizon up inside the view finder or keep it parrallel on the camera screen to avoid the ocean sloping unevenly in the frame.

RIDE THE LIGHTNING Light is your best friend and your worst enemy. Quality camera’s come into their own in low light situations and this is where they’ll leave point and shoot cameras and iPhones for dead. There are incredible after market lenses for phones like the ZEISS Aspherical lense or Moondog Labs Anamorphic lense which gives a fantastic arty wide angle quality to the phone images. However in low light the images will be grainy and lack detail as the phone sensor is too small to cope with low light conditions. The same applies for the middle of the day. The bright light can burn away strong colours on your p hotos leaving them flat and two dimensional. This can be adjusted later on in edit by “cooling off” the highlighted areas using the “exposure” and also “contrast” settings. A polarised lense is a very worthy

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investment for any keen photographer shooting near or on the water. Just like sunglasses, the polarised camera lense will cut glare off the water and add depth to the water and sky, particularly still water and clouds. Ideal lighting is generally one to one and a half hours after sunrise and the same before sunset. This time is know as “the magic hour”. The shadows are long and the light is soft which creates the most vivid colours and shades. Fortunately this time normally coincides with great fishing, however I often find myself torn between fishing or taking pictures!

“GET RIGHT IN CLOSE & FOCUS ON THE SMALL DETAILS” WRAP UP

Its not uncommon for me to come home with 2000 images after a four day fishing trip. I’m ruthless with the keep or cull process. By keeping only the ‘prime cuts’ its easy to decide what techniques and angles worked and which shot is the sharpest. Fish can be difficult models when they are wriggling about and sometimes only one shot out of ten will be a keeper. Allow yourself to be experimental. Get right in close to the fish and focus on the small details or capture a great silouette as the sun sits low on the horizon. It’s only virtual space that is taken up so be liberal with your shutter count and enjoy reliving your fishing sessions through stunning images.

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In the boat - have the fisherman standing up and the camera angle low .This opens up the horizon and eliminates clutter in the frame (note the horizon is dead level).

Eye in focus - Having the fish’s eye sharply focused allows the rest of the image to fall away creating a striking look.

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The awesome & amazing Triple Tail.

Photo: Paul Dolan

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Electric Blue-fin.

Photo: Joshua Hutchins

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A good sized Aussie Tarpon.

Photo: Vinnie Versveld

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The Atrifecta...great gear, great flies, great location. beautiful underwater Mahi Mahi (Dolphin fish) Photo: Jonathan Photo: JonoJones Shales

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THE

FLY BOX FLIES BY

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Sea Habit Bucktail

By Capt. Gavin Platz

MATERIALS Hook Gammakatsu .SL12 s Body Diamond Braid Silver Underwing Pseudo Hair Lateral Line Flashabou Pearl Overwing Pseudo Hair Head Epoxy Eyes & 3D Stick on Eyes Thread Mono Thread

Step 1 - Lay a bed of Flat Waxed Nylon thread the length of the shank. Tie in from behind the eye of the hook a small bunch of pearl Flashabou to a length of two hook lengths behind the hook.

Step 2 - Tie in a small bunch of white Flash ’n Slinky the same length as in Step 1 and a small bunch of long white Bucktail which will extend no less than ½ the length of the tail.

Step 3 - Advance the shank point, rotate th and tie in a small bun tail. Push down with y tie in and splay the B the shank.

Step 6 - Rotate the fly upright and tie in a small clump of long white Bucktail along the midsection of the fly. You’ll notice that it already looks like the 3D profile of a baitfish.

Step 7 - Tie in a clump of UV blue pearl Sparkleflash over the back and then tie in a small clump of yellow Bucktail (the yellow Bucktail should extend approximately ¾ of the fly length) followed by a clump of olive pearl Sparkleflash followed by another small bunch of chartreuse Bucktail. The chartreuse Bucktail should be slightly shorter than the yellow Bucktail. Follow this by a small bunch of peacock Krystal Flash over the back. Tie in a small bunch of red Krystal Flash on each side and tie off.

Step 8 - Using Mono small length of Pearl Tubing (about the len shank) over the tie in forward. Fold backwa tie off with the mono t

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This is a great pattern that was developed by Trey Combs while fly fishing off Baja’s Cabo San Lucas on the now famous Royal Star. Trey believed that you would induce an eat from a shy predator if the fly had the flash internally so as to produce a unique internal glow to his flies. Especially if you substitute some of the UV and Glow in the Dark materials that are now available.

Trey has tied this pattern from #4 for Salmon

e thread to the ½ he fly upside down nch of white Buckyour thumb as you Bucktail around ½ of

to #10/0 for Billfish and everything in between.

I’ve had a lot of success fishing them, mainly for Tuna & Wahoo in the bluewater, Tailor and Kingfish in the washes and Mangrove Jack in the mangroves in the Solomon Islands. This is my version of his tie. I’m sure you’ll love tying Sea Habit’s and most of all fishing them. I always have a couple in my box.

Tight lines, TNF Team

Step 4 - Advance the thread forward to ¾ shank point and tie in a generous clump of pearl Flashabou, as in Step 3 splay the Flashabou around ½ the shank.

Step 9 - Using Mono thread tie 3D eyes Thread tie in a on each side of the head.

X-­large Mylar ngth of the hook n point so it extends ards over the fly and thread.

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Step 5 - Tie in a small clump of white Bucktail, this should extend just past the bend of the hook and splayed around ½ the shank.

Step 10 - Epoxy Head (Front profile showing cross section.)

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Finding gold in Exmouth is always a welcome sight!

Photo: Allan Donald

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That awesome feeling when you head straight to the backing.

Photo: Joshua Hutchins

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It’s been said many times before that the only thing more exciting than actually experiencing a new fly fishing trip, is preparing for one. You can’t control the fish, the weather or the tides once you get there. However you can do everything possible before you depart to ensure that you are as well prepared as you can be, both on and off the water.

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I

t may sound pretty bland and boring to some who prefer to wing it and see what happens, but the reality is that a little bit of well spent time in the weeks and months leading up to a fly fishing trip away with your mates, can be the difference in the end between a good trip and a great one.

For me it’s also about the excitement generated reading fishing reports, articles, tying flies, checking out maps, tide charts, moon phases and weather forecasts. The list goes on. In fact, it probably starts when you write down the words “fishing trip” on the family calendar at home and your other half has to acknowledge the golden rule - that if it’s on the calendar it’s a lock.

For newcomers to Saltwater fly fishing there is a bit to cover in terms of the variety of species to target and prepare for, however once you have experienced it, walking crystal clear sand flats in the tropics and sight casting to fish with the fly rod is very hard to beat. For fly fishermen in the southern states, getting some sunshine and escaping winter on various Pacific flats ticks a lot of boxes. It also appeals to those from up

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north who probably spend more time in the boat or land based to avoid being eaten by various toothy critters.

While we have some very good flats to fish in Australia on foot, there are plenty of reasons why fly fishermen, and those new to the salt, head to the Pacific Ocean to hone their craft in exotic locations. Kiribati, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Cook Islands and Palmyra for example all have fantastic flats to fish with a range of species to target including Giant Trevally, Bluefin, Striped and Golden Trevally, Triggerfish, and of course Bonefish.

Scratching the head The most frequently asked question when guys are deciding on heading away or planning a trip is when should I go? It’s been thrown around plenty of times before, but the fact remains that any time is a good time to get away fishing. It really can be a simple roll of the dice at times in terms of what weather and fishing conditions you are going to encounter.

The wet season in the Pacific is generally anytime from December to February, coinciding with the hottest and most humid www.inthesaltflymag.com.au

times of the year. Seasonally, with weather patterns all over the place and as unpredictable as ever, sometimes the easiest and simplest time to plan a trip away is when it actually suits you best.

However, each fishery is unique and any perceived rules around tides and moon phases certainly don’t apply uniformly across all flats fisheries in the Pacific. For example, some Bonefish flats may have more numbers on a rising tide as the fish move up onto new ground to feed, while other flats that experience an increase in water depth also experience an increase in predation risks by sharks. In these areas where shark numbers are higher, fish can prefer to feed on a falling or low tide in skinny water and are generally seen in greater numbers during these times.

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Aitutaki in the Cook Islands has essentially no black tip reef sharks inside the lagoon, while Anaa in French Polynesia is full of them so the Bonefish’s behaviour can be distinctly different in terms of feeding, relative to tide or water level height.

Most flats close to the equator such as on Christmas Island see good tidal variation and water movement while flats within atolls further away from the equator see small amounts of tidal variation. Here they rely on swell heights which dominate and determine water movement in and out of a lagoon, so the cues for fish feeding can again be entirely different.

Spring tides around new and full moon phases may trigger better bite periods and activity of both fish and prey items, but they also result in greater water movement, poorer water clarity and make it more difficult to present your fly accurately due to drift. As such your optimal fishing windows for Bonefish are much smaller than fishing neap tides when the water variation is much less.

Sometimes success really depends on working out what your main or preferred target species will be, and planning around making the most of the conditions you have to target them at

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the right times of the day. For example, if you have a rising tide early in the morning you may target Bonefish and then at high tide switch over to tailing Triggerfish which have moved up onto coral beds and flats to feed. As the tide is falling in the afternoon you may then switch to chasing GT’s on drop offs as they target baitfish that are drawn back into the deeper water.

On atolls with small tidal variation, large water movement caused by big ocean swells outside the lagoon can be great for providing cooler ocean water onto a flats system, attracting Bonefish into these areas. Big Bluefin and Giant Trevally also fire up during these events as they ride the swell in from the ocean, using it to their advantage to smash baitfish seeking refuge. So, it really pays to be prepared to target a range of species and switch up what your targeting depending on the conditions as well as the tides.

Of course, all of these tide and moon phases change throughout the week and you will always have a mixture of conditions when heading away for a full weeks fishing.

With once weekly flights to many remote destinations you often can’t pin point the exact tide or moon conditions you are after, that happen to also coincide with when you can get leave pass and pack the bags.

A Fly Odyssey When preparing to head away on a saltwater flats fishing trip for the first time, there are a huge amount of questions that come to mind.

It’s probably easiest at this point to talk about the gear preparation aspect and then look at how you can maximise your chances of success once you are out on the water.

While it’s great to have the latest & greatest fly rods, reels, boots, backpacks and camera gear, many of us when planning often work from these high-end items and progress through to the preparation of perceived lower value items such as leaders, tippets and flies. However, when the number one thing that’s going to catch you that fish of a lifetime is the fly, then surely, we should be putting it front and square at the top of the list when it comes to our pre-trip planning.

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If you are not tying your own or you are new to tying saltwater patterns, it certainly pays not to skimp on good flies that are well tied and have great movement in the water. Yes, they may seem expensive off the bat at $10 or more each for Bonefish or Triggerfish custom ties, however they are often proven patterns. They are also well balanced on strong hooks, with good materials and finished properly so that they will catch you fish after fish.

Many fly fishing retail outlets have a decent range of commercially tied and custom tied flies to help get you started or give you inspiration when first hitting the vice. Do your research on the destination you are travelling to and while many of us have the same affliction, it’s always better to have more flies with you than you will actually end up needing.

If purchasing custom tied flies for a trip, you will need to plan several months out to ensure they are ordered, tied and delivered on time as many of these suppliers have backlogs of orders to process during busy times of the year.

If predominantly Bonefishing, get a good range of different weighted flies from small 1/8” bead chain right through to heavier 5/32” and 3/16” dumbbell or real eyes in a range of colours, sizes and styles. Gotcha, worm, crab and Crazy Charlie style flies will all work well on the flats.

When bonefishing, you generally need to match the over-wing or the top of your fly reasonably closely to the colour of the sand, while at other times you actually want your fly to have some contrast so that it stands out a little. “Less flash is more” is a general rule for Bonefish, however orange thread or UV colours including the addition of rubber legs at times for extra movement can all work well.

While I won’t be going into details and specifics of different patterns, well tied shrimp style flies can be great on darker broken flats with some coral or rubble, while also being dynamite on Triggerfish and bigger Bonefish near drop offs.

Size #8, #6 and #4 would be the most productive sized Bonefish hooks, however it www.inthesaltflymag.com.au

pays to also have a selection of larger #2 in heavier weights, while 1/0 generalist sized patterns are also great for mid sized Trevally. Fish can be very size selective at times and it pays to be prepared.

It’s good to be aware that saltwater hook manufacturers, such as Gamakatsu, have different Bonefish hook styles and sizes. Meaning a size #4 bonefish hook in a Black SL45 is much smaller and therefore more similar to a #6 hook in a Silver SL11-3H… Confusing? Yes, it can be if you are just starting out however both are great choices and in the end as long as you have a variety of strong hook sizes I don’t think it really matters which colour or specific style of hook you choose.

The great thing about bonefishing on the flats is that there are no hard, fixed rules on fly styles or sizes, but it’s certainly important to get the weight of the fly correct for the conditions and ensure it stays on or near the bottom.

Similarly, baitfish patterns such as deceivers and brush flies and even poppers for larger flats Trevally should swim well and fit the size profile and colour of the fish you are imitating. 4/0 flies are a good size for bigger Bluefin and mid-sized GT’s before stepping up to 6/0 and 8/0 flies for the trophies. Smaller Trevally can be targeted with #4 Bonefish flies through to 1/0 for bigger Golden or Bluefin Trevally.

Make sure to rinse your flies at the end of the day in fresh water and continually check your hooks for sharpness and how your fly swims and sits in the water after landing fish.

Start-up Inertia If you’re putting an outfit together on a budget, I would recommend investing in the reel and line more than the rod. Sand, saltwater, and hard fighting fish - all combine to create an environment where low-cost reels simply fail. You could write an article on this topic alone, but the basics such as a sealed drag are essential, and a large arbor design also enables you to get your line back onto the reel quickly after a big run and stay connected. www.inthesaltflymag.com.au

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The other important factors are range of drag adjustment, smoothness of drag and ideally a low start-up inertia… it can get as technical as you want it to be.

In terms of the drag, you will hopefully learn quickly that a big Bonefish can certainly rip out a lot of line, very quickly. For this reason, a low start up inertia is great when the coil of line getting ripped from your hands and feet hits the reel, and your drag kicks in. In an ideal world, you basically want a reel that engages the drag very smoothly when going from zero to hero in the blink of an eye. You also want your drag to be smooth and I generally prefer a wider range of drag adjustment for newcomers to the sport.

I’ve seen plenty of times when clients with small ranges of drag adjustment overtighten them in the heat of battle, resulting in bust offs or straightened hooks.

#Big Dogs It depends on the flats destination but ideally, you’d take an 8, 10 and 12 weight outfit to suit all applications you’re likely to encounter.

Sure, fishing for smaller Bonefish on 6 weight rods is great fun, but an 8 weight investment will cover your bases better when catching bigger fish near coral. Being able to lean on the fish a bit harder in areas where there are a lot of sharks and landing them a bit quicker is also an advantage. Flats throughout the Pacific Ocean can get windy at times so fast-action 8 weight rods will certainly assist with casting heavier flies in these conditions and hopefully have you connecting with more fish. If you are just getting started and you already have a suitable 7 weight, then by all means stick with it.

I prefer a 10 weight rod as an all rounder for Triggerfish, Golden Trevally and Bluefin which again allows you to cast larger profile flies and helps stop those big Triggers from reaching their holes. 10 weights are also fine for smaller GT’s but for the Big Dogs, I want a 12 weight in my hand so I can try and turn the fish in in the initial stages of the fight and improve my chances of landing them. Large 6/0 or 8/0 brush flies and poppers also need a bit of grunt behind them for extended casting periods, and it always pays to have one rigged, ready to go.

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“FOR THE BIG DOGS I WANT MY 12WT IN MY HANDS!” It is advisable to take back up fly rods because even experienced anglers have the occasional mishap, however if you’re travelling in a group or on a hosted trip, then you could potentially share back up gear. The important thing to remember when putting gear together for the first time is to be open minded about brands, as no one brand makes the best of everything.

Match your bonefish outfit with a tropical floating fly line and smooth PE/braid backing.

Braid backing is thinner, stronger and more abrasion resistant than Dacron, however you will pay more. If you’re an average caster you may be better suited to a more aggressive front tapered fly line to deal with the wind and weight of the flies being cast. If you’re a good caster then a general purpose Bonefish taper will enable more delicate presentation. Sink tip or intermediate fly lines are fine for waist deep flats or drop offs but as a general rule a standard floating line will be good for 90% of the flats fishing situations. And make sure to carry some spares!

Shorts and Slings Decent footwear is well worth the investment if you are spending a big week on the flats. While neoprene or dive style booties are fine on clean flats, the advantage of them really lies with being light-weight and easy to get on and off.

However, they can have a tendency to allow in

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small bits of coral and sand which can cause cuts and abrasions that will give you grief.

Destinations vary in the type of flats that you will be walking on and the main downside with booties is the sole which simply doesn’t provide decent support from sharp coral, and can affect your comfort levels as the week progresses.

For this reason, I always advise to get a proven pair of lace-up flats boots if you can afford it.

They provide great ankle support and have solid soles which means that your back, legs and feet will thank you for it after a long week of fishing. They are far more comfortable and great if you are fishing a mixture of flat types or walking ocean reef areas throughout the day.

Generally, a thick pair of socks will do the job or you can buy a size bigger boot and wear neoprene gaiter socks with them.

In terms of carrying your gear on the flats I like to keep it fairly simple. I prefer a waterproof sling if I’m not carrying too much weight. If lugging camera gear, then a bigger waterproof back-pack is preferred. Some guys like the ease of access that a hip pack or bum-bag style can provide, in terms of getting to your flies and gear. However, you will most likely still need a backpack of some sort to carry items like water, sun cream, camera, spray jacket, and bigger flies etc.

A lot of the hip packs available are not that www.inthesaltflymag.com.au

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hip, or waterproof. I personally don’t like anything that my fly line can catch onto when a big bonefish takes off, so I stay clear of anything hanging around my waist. Some people love them, but not for me, particularly on deeper flats where your fly line is floating a lot closer to your waist than on an ankle deep one. Yes, you can use stripping baskets but again I like to keep it simple and carry as little gear as possible. If you want something small, try a chest pack.

Rounding off the gear, spare leaders and tippet in a range of sizes, clippers, pliers, and sunglasses cleaner to wipe the salt and spray off your lenses is very handy. If you are chasing Trevally and Triggers then a box with your bigger flies and leader sizes, including cutters and nail knot tool will also need to fit in your bag. Small snacks are good while I also throw in some hydration electrolyte tablets to add to your water and keep you ticking along.

The advantage of a sling is that you can swing it around from your back to your chest very quickly, and it sits at a nice eye height to enable you to quickly access your fly box or anything you need for that matter including water, or a large SLR camera. The downside is if you are carrying a bit of weight, you will get a sore shoulder on the side supporting the sling after a few days.

Long sleeved shirts or tops in breathable, quick drying materials are advisable up top and if you are wearing gloves, don’t forget to put some sun cream on your wrist where your glove ends and your shirt sleeve starts!

Decent backpacks are certainly the most comfortable option, however they aren’t great for quick access, so having a small selection of flies in a waterproof box and tippet and tools in your shirt pocket or chest pack can overcome this. If you are not fishing with a guide, then backpacks also allow you to secure spare rods at your back and out of the way.

For some reason, I just can’t bring myself to wear anything but a pair of shorts when wading flats in the tropics, particularly when escaping the winter back home. Provided that you are sun smart then I don’t think it matters what you wear, but a decent hat, gloves, buff and pair of good quality polarised sunglasses are non-negotiables. Spotting Bonefish on some days or particular locations can be very difficult, and they are certainly harder to see once there is intermittent cloud cover, wind or if you are fishing deeper flats.

Waterproof packs also double as buoyancy devices if you are ever fishing reef areas or deep drop offs, but just remember they are only good if you pull the zipper right to the very end!

Polarised glass lenses in a blue or green tint with a copper or amber lens are both good, but make sure to have them connected to your neck with a retainer to ensure you don’t lose

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them. Buffs can take a bit to get used to but aside from protecting your face and making you look like a gangster, they also enhance your vision by blocking out side glare, if fitted up high over the sides of your glasses.

fishing and designed to transfer the power needed to deliver your fly. You can then tie a 3 - 5 foot length of fluorocarbon tippet to the leader via a Double Uni Knot, and then Loop knot to your fly.

The bottom line is that you definitely don’t want to get badly sunburnt in the first few days, as apart from looking like a battler, it can make the rest of the days on the flats very long and uncomfortable.

While tapered leaders are particularly useful if fishing into the wind, its highly likely that for most of the time you are going to be positioned with the wind and sun over your shoulder. You can therefore get away with tying a 12 - 14 foot length of fluorocarbon straight to your fly line, eliminating the need for a tapered leader and tippet section.

On the water You’ve done all the preparation, caught a few flights, changed time zones and possibly had one too many whiskeys the night before, but the day has finally come. You get to go fishing. At this point it’s important if it’s your first time heading out on the flats chasing Bonefish or being guided for the first time, not to put pressure on yourself. It’s just fishing after all and you are on holidays so make sure to take the time to relax, soak it all up and enjoy it when you are out there.

At the start of the day, have your fly rods rigged and ready to go. While you can tie your own, 9 foot tapered leaders out of the packet are a simple and convenient way to get started. They are made with a perfection loop so that you can easily and quickly attach to the loop on your fly line. Generally thick and stiffer in the butt section they are formulated for saltwater fly

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You can fish longer or shorter but as a guide this will get you going and still leave you with a decent length after a few fly changes. You should carry fluorocarbon tippet in 12 lb, 16 lb and 20 lb depending on the location and average size of the Bonefish. For big Bonefish destinations like the Cook Islands, New Caledonia or French Polynesia I’ll generally fish 18-20 lb so that you can put the brakes on them and land them in a decent amount of time. For Triggers, the same is also fine. For the 10 wt I’ll fish 10 foot of 40 lb and for the 12 wt 60 - 80 lb fluorocarbon straight through on the flats.

Guide craft It’s no secret that guides that have grown up on islands and atolls in the

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“MIX IT UP AND SEE WHAT WORKS FOR YOU” Pacific have an amazing uncanny ability to spot fish in all sorts of conditions, which at times defies logic. While it can be very difficult when you first start out trying to spot Bonefish, you will have far more success in the long run if you take your time. Spending a moment to spot the fish yourself, once pointed out by your guide, including understanding its direction of movement before casting, will pay dividends.

Distance and direction calls by the guide are of course very helpful when you are starting out, but I would also recommend you ask the guide to point the fish out with one of your spare rods he will be carrying for you to assist with this.

When fishing with your guide, it’s important to stand to their right hand side, if you cast right handed and so forth. You should walk slightly behind them, not in front and allow them to set the walking pace. This will allow your guide to spot fish effectively and prevent you from spooking the fish. Yet

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you need to be close enough on their shoulder to allow them to point out the fish once spotted and give you a better chance of seeing them straight away. You will find that once you get your eye in over the first couple of days, spotting bonefish will generally get much easier.

There will be plenty of times however when you just can’t see the fish at all, so listen carefully and pay attention to their guidance on moving and stopping the fly. If you are not understanding your guides instruction or are failing to see fish, take the time to communicate as best you can with your guide and sort out any issues early in the day.

The walking pace on flats is generally very slow, and casting distance can be anywhere from 10 to 60 feet. It’s important to have some fly line out of your rod tip, holding your fly and tippet in your left hand in preparation for a quick load and cast. You should also have enough fly line already pulled off the reel to then execute with a minimum number of false casts. www.inthesaltflymag.com.au

Don’t let your fly dangle in the water as you walk, as it will only hook onto a bit of coral at that all important moment, and make sure you are managing the fly line floating next to you.

Regularly check that it’s also not wrapped around your legs or the guide, and is drifting out of the way.

Mix it Up When casting to cruising Bonefish you will generally need to lead a bigger fish by a few meters so that you don’t spook it with the plop of the fly hitting the water, with smaller or tailing Bonefish, you can literally try to land the fly as close as you can. There will often be some current on flats and it’s important to understand which way your fly will drift when you make a cast so that you can allow for this accordingly. This is definitely the case when trying to fool tailing Triggerfish or Bonefish and you need to get your fly right under their noses.

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Retrieval style and how fast you move your fly varies from location to location, size and mood a fish is in and what type of fly you are actually using. As a general guide, a few short strips to get a Bonefish’s attention, followed by a longer continuous slow draw once he has moved to your fly can work well. The main reason for this is it allows you to be in constant contact with your fly and feel for any takes. At other times, you will need a quicker, shorter intermittent strip as if the fly is fleeting and trying to escape, however you can miss takes in between gripping and regripping the fly line.

Mix it up and see what works for you.

Triggerfish like very short erratic movements of the fly, while Bluefin like the fly moved very quickly once they have spotted and committed to it. For bigger Bluefin when throwing larger flies, try and get the fly quite close to their head and strip like mad so they do not have time to think and give you a reaction bite. While with GT’s you will need to lead them by a few meters and ensure your fly is swimming away at mid pace.

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Most guides are very patient and they will endeavour very hard to put you onto the fish.

It’s also important not to confuse their direct feedback and guidance with your ability. They are very good at giving constructive feedback which assists with the learning aspect and hopefully connects you with more fish.

Remember, techniques and flies that work on one destination don’t necessarily work on another, so it pays to do your research and get assistance with your pre-trip preparation so you can turn that good trip into a great one!

Quick flats tips: • When a fish is sighted, do not move your feet to cast. The water is clear and shallow, and the fish will spook easily. Keep them anchored.

• If the spotting conditions are difficult, you should be prepared for quick shorter casts or roll casting if needed as fish are often sighted close to the rod tip.

• Try and stay in constant contact with your fly when retrieving. Retrieving your Bonefish fly with a very slow long draw, feeling for the tap, can be very effective.

• Fish your flies all the way to your rod tip. Takes will often occur at your feet.

impart more movement. Ensure your knots are spot on, and don’t trim your tags too short.

• Always check and reset your drag after fighting a fish.

• Fish barbless hooks.

• Minimise fish exposure out of the water, particularly when sharks are prevalent.

• When your guide says strike, strip quick and hard with a long full extension of your arm down and behind you. Strip striking with your rod tip pointed down of course!

• Clear your line with your left hand and wait for it to hit your reel before lifting your rod tip.

• If you hook a big fish straight on and you haven’t had the opportunity to really set the hook, use a couple of short high rod lift movements once its peeling the drag out to ensure its well hooked.

• Use a reasonably tight drag in the early stages - you ideally want to minimise the distance between you at the fish, but back it off a bit once they have turned.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Use small loop knots to your flies to

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In TheSaltwater 77 www.inthesaltflymag.com.au For reservations and more information email enquiries@flyodyssey.com.au or call +61 499 900 816

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Photo: Webcox Fly Fishing

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A “flats style” boat makes fishing shallows a lot more enjoyable & productive!

Photo: Beastmaster Boats

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Chris getting it done on this good size TT. Photo: Chris Rippon

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30/03/17 4:02 PM

Anaa, French Polynesia

In TheSaltwater 83 Fly fishing travel experts

Queenfish

BY DR JULIAN PEPPERELL, PhD.

Dr. Julian Pepperell, PhD, is one of the best-known marine biologists in the world and a leading authority on Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna and Sharks.

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Species

SPOTLIGHT

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Queenfish

Queenfish occur throughout southeast Asia, but it is in northern Australia that these silver acrobats really come into their own as iconic sportfishes. Queenfish are distinctive looking fish, with their large mouths and ultra compressed bodies, leading to their affectionate northern Australian name - skinnyfish, or simply ‘skinnies’. If you look at a queenfish and half close your eyes, you may notice similarities to the trevally family, Caringidae, and you would be right because that is where they slot into the classification of fishes.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES Queenfish can be easily identified by their extremely laterally compressed bodies, and the presence of round or oval markings along the sides of the body in specific patterns.

There are four known species of Queenfish, all in the genus Scomberoides. These can be distinguished from their closest relatives, the darts and pompanos, by their relatively short dorsal and anal fins (those fins being long and swept back in the latter two species).

The Queenfishes are reasonably easy to tell apart. The Talang or Giant Queenfish is the most distinctive. It has a blunt head profile, and a very large mouth, extending back well beyond the level of the rear margin of the eye.

It has a row of 5 to 8 nearly circular blotches on its sides which are darker than the silvery green coloration of the body, and importantly are positioned above the lateral line. The Barred Queenfish, Scomberoides Tala, has a more pointed snout and elongated side blotches, all of which cross the lateral line.

The Doublespotted Queenfish, Scomberoides Lysan, can be identified by its two rows of small lateral blotches, one on each side of the lateral line. Lastly, the Needle-Scaled Queenfish, Scomberoides Tol, has a relatively short mouth, and small blotches above the lateral line which are smaller than the eye diameter.

DISTRIBUTION All four Queenfish species occur in the tropical Pacific and Indian oceans, with three

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of the four concentrated through southeast Asia and northern Australian waters. One species, the Doublespotted Queenfish, is also found in Hawaiian waters. Most Queenfishes are coastal in their distribution, with small fish often entering bays and inlets, although muddy, turbid water is usually avoided. One species, the Needle Scaled, is more oceanic, often occurring on outer reefs.

SIZE AND GROWTH The largest Queenfish listed by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), was a whopper weighing 17.9kg caught off South Africa in 2010.

In Australia, the GFAA all-tackle record of 14 kg for a fish caught off Townsville was set way back in 1983 while the Australian salt water fly record stands at 6.5 kg.

Talang Queenfish grow quite rapidly, reaching about 35cm in their first year, and about 80cm by eight years of age. The three other Queenfish species are much smaller. The Barred Queenfish has been recorded up to about 7kg, the heaviest recorded Doublespotted Queenfish weighed just 2.26kg and the biggest Needle-Scaled Queenie weighed in at a rather embarrassing 0.5kg.

REPRODUCTION AND MOVEMENTS Some limited tagging through the NSWDPI Gamefish Tagging Program has shown some limited coastal movements. Female Talang Queenfish spawn when they are about 64cm long (4 to 5 years old) and produce up to 2.8 million eggs.

GENERAL Queenfishes are commonly caught by coastal gillnet fisheries throughout southeast Asia. Elsewhere, they are not regarded as important commercial species, but their value as a sportfish is well recognised. Needle-Scaled Queenfish are highly regarded as baits for Marlin in some regions. Queenfish are particularly popular as target species of saltwater fly fishing, leading to guiding operations through northern Australia and other areas taking advantage of the species’ well-founded reputations.

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TARGETING THESE FISH Queenfishes are suckers for almost any bait fish pattern fished on intermedite lines cast around pressure points and current lines. They also cannot resist a well presented popper and often get aerial straight after the strike.

Clousers, Decievers, large Surf Candies and Poppers are go to flies for these fish among many more.

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Wessel’s Island Queenfish sight cast in 1m of water.

Photo: Chris Rippon

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Hinchinbrook Fly Fishing Challenge 2017 Where: When: What: Prizes: Cost:

Contact:

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Boat Clutter - While most of aspects are spot on in this picture the boat clutters the image! ~ Taken from Capturing Your Catch Photo: Stu Dodd & Greg Walker

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STUFF WE THINK YOU NEED A COLLECTION OF FLY RELATED PARAPHERNALIA

ECHO ION XL 9wt I have never been the proud owner of an Echo rod but recently I got my hands on one and let me just say it’s a pretty sweet rod. I have the 9wt and it has a very strong backbone for a light rod. It has a solid workhorse feel suited for both fresh and salt and its priced very reasonably. This would be a great rod for those just getting into the fly scene or for someone who’s been at it for a while to add to their quiver. To get your hands on one of the rods jump onto https://www.echoflyfishing.co.nz

MARINE ART This stuff is super important to us fly fisherman. Artwork is more than just that, it identifies us as fly anglers to our friends and collegues. I personally have a wall full of fishy posters and prints that spark conversation to anyone stepping into my office. We have a small marine art market here in Australia with Jonathan Jones recently bringing out some very unique pieces. Further abroad in the US especially down in Florida its a thriving business and artists like one of our mates David Danforth is painting up some amazing pieces even bring out clothing donning his artwork.

To check out more visit Jon Jones at http://www.theendlesssession.com.au/shop.html or for international artwork check out http://www.relogear.com

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WIN SOME FREE GEAR WITH FLYWORKS & IN THE SALT FLY MAG

TO WIN: We want to see your best photos but please make sure they are catch and release.

• • • •

Post them on Instagram & tag @flyworkslifestyleco & @inthesaltflymag hashtag #flyworkslifestyleco so we can see your entry Follow @Inthesaltflymag & @flyworkslifestyleco check out www.flyworks.com.au

Its that easy to get some awesome gear on its way to you!

Tight lines

GRIFFIN MONTANA MONGOOSE VICE If you enjoy tying flies then this is one of the true contenders in the vice market. I have personally tied hundreds of flies with my trusty Mongoose and have enjoyed every one. One thing I find with some other vice’s is that the hook hold just isn’t quite tight enough but with the Mongoose’s cam setup everything from #8 - 8/0 holds tight every time! The full rotational head also makes tying that much easier and a lot more enjoyable.

I often get asked by new guys what is the best vice on the market, now while I’m no specialist fly tying guru I love this vice and recommend it every time!

MHX PUSH POLE Having just completed a project flats skiff we were struggeling to find push pole that wasn’t to expensive but also strong and light. The guys from Mudhole were really helpful and we got three of these poles sent over from the US. Shipping was pricey but we landed these poles to our door for under AU$1000.

If you’re in the market for a push pole and want a light weight, tough pole, look no further. For poles and more check out www.mudhole.com

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Diamond trevally are amazing fish to catch on fly!

Photo: Graeme Cox

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Rob Lee & Luke Cutler with an afternoon double on the Red Bass.

Photo: Joshua Hutchins

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That moment of pure adult happiness!

Photo: Chris Rippon

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Golden delight, one of the best Australian flats species!

Photo: Adam Royter

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The award winning saltwater rods from Scott.

The all new Meridian saltwater rods build on our award winning ReAct technology to bring you a series of fly rods that are remarkably light, and generate exceptional line speed and power.

Using increased recovery speed rather than stiffness to more efficiently transfer energy, Meridian rods help you quickly make accurate casts at any distance in demanding saltwater conditions. You’ll be amazed at how fast you can get the fly from your hand to the fish.

And in the salt, that’s often the difference between opportunity and success. www.inthesaltflymag.com.au

Every Scott rod is handcrafted, beginning to end, in our shop in Montrose, Colorado by anglers who understand fly rods.

ReAct

ReAct technology combines our X-Core design with a new complex materials and taper system to create a breakthrough in fast action rod design.

Enhanced feel, incredible stability and unequalled performance. X-Core combines the industry’s leading composite technologies with cutting edge design.

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Some sweet salty chrome!

Photo: Vinnie Versveld

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Good size Dart (surf Trevally) from a beautiful tropical island.

Photo: Webcox Fly Fishing

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Digging deep!

Photo: Vinnie Versveld

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Final Offering

From the editor

I

ssue 2 is out! I can’t believe 3 months have gone by so quickly. The winds up north have been relentless since TC Debbie so I haven’t been able to get out on the water as much as I would have liked. I hope everyone else has had more luck on the fishing front. It has given me time to gather some great articles for this issue and already getting some great articles for Issue 3.

One good thing about bad weather is my fly gear has never been so neat and clean, my fly boxes are full and books have been read cover to cover in preparation for the good weather.

I hope you enjoyed this Issue of IN THE SALT. It has been a very enjoyable journey so far and think it will only get better and better. Thank you very much to all our contributors without them this would not be possible. Your articles are a pleasure to read and the images we have received are nothing less than amazing! Thank you to our advertisers for backing us yet again in and to the new guys who have jumped on board.

IF4 will be in Brisbane on 4th August @ New Farm Cinema’s I can’t wait to see everyone there!

St Brandon in October should be a great trip and hopefully some of you are able to join me on this incredible explortory trip. Dates are 2-11 October, we need to apply 2 months before hand for permission to fish this area so please send me your EOI before the end of July to aviod missing out.

In closing please practise catch and release as often as possible to help sustain our incredible fisheries and also those that we visit.

Be sure to like us on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with everything we are busy with.

Justin Webber Editor & Publisher

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