David Lee
12-16-2011, 09:15 AM
(The usual disclaimer - I'm not sponsered by anyone , and I don't get shit for free . If it works for me , I use it . Your results may differ .... )
GEAR -
Took my usual stuff , only used my two 6 wts. (a Sage SP+ and my Smallmouth rod , a Fenwick WC 8 footer) , my old Sage RPLX 7 wt , the same model in 8 wt. , and the Talon Double . No rod issues . Reels were two Stutz Estuarys , a Teton 7 LA , and a TFO/Hayden NS-1 loaded w/ Sufix 40 Lb. braid . No reel issues excent one of the Stutzs' high-pitched screamin' that frightened the local Mexicans whenever I stuck a big one ...
It's fun to use little rods on the hordes of small fishes there . The problem with this thinking is ..... sooner or later , something terrible is going to eat your fly . When it does , you had better have your act together , and have luck and skill on your side . I am very confident using a 7 wt. w/ 12 or 15 Lb. tippets , but I DID have an issue w/ the Ladyfish at the lighthouse - they were HUGE this trip , and I stuck one that was over 5 or 6 Lbs. and had it spank me badly . I doubt an 8 wt. would have tamed this fish very well ...
Used mostly shooting heads , had major running line issues until I switched to 30 Lb. Sufix . The only full line I really like for beach fishing is the old Rio Outbound (long head) , sadly discontinued ... my Hipshooter basket/nylon windbreakers were used every day . Leaders/tippets were Trilene Big Game , 12-40 Lb.- cheap and tough !
I used Cabelas flats boots the past few trips - they are dirt cheap and saved my feet . They started to fall apart on this trip , so I fished barefooted for the last 1/3rd . No problems until I managed to drop a Sierra (open-mouth-down ...) on my bare foot ..... lots of fun fishing knee-deep with a bleeding foot at Punta Arena w/ visions of Tiger Sharks swimming up my scent trail ....
FLIES -
Fair amount of Sardina around , all small . By small I mean the average was 1 1/4 inch , with several meatballs made up of 3/4 inch Sardina !! My standard 1/0 Clousers , 3 inches long , didn't get many hits . I went thru a full box (several dozen) #2 Clousers that were 1 3/4 inches long , and had the rare foresight to pack a few #4 Surf Candies that were 1 1/2 inches long - tye one of those on , and it was like flicking the EAT switch ! Flies tyed w/ synthetic hair were prefered because I could taper them down if they were too long and bulky . Color didn't matter , only size and speed .... Sierra were thick in the wash for several days , and I donated a LOT of flies to them . I don't bother w/ wire because they usually won't eat a fly on wire when they can see . The 12 Lb. tippets I used most of the time didn't even slow them down ...
Halfbeaks were present at Punta Arena on the open beach just North of the lighthouse , they averaged 3 3/4 to nearly 5 inches long . I fished a Clouser-'Hoo and couldn't keep the large Ladyfish off of it there , but no Sierra would bite it . If you go ..... do NOT neglect the small bugs , bring 3 times as many as you think you will use because , if you didn't bring it .... it doesn't exist .
On to part 3 - fishing and fish stories ....
GEAR -
Took my usual stuff , only used my two 6 wts. (a Sage SP+ and my Smallmouth rod , a Fenwick WC 8 footer) , my old Sage RPLX 7 wt , the same model in 8 wt. , and the Talon Double . No rod issues . Reels were two Stutz Estuarys , a Teton 7 LA , and a TFO/Hayden NS-1 loaded w/ Sufix 40 Lb. braid . No reel issues excent one of the Stutzs' high-pitched screamin' that frightened the local Mexicans whenever I stuck a big one ...
It's fun to use little rods on the hordes of small fishes there . The problem with this thinking is ..... sooner or later , something terrible is going to eat your fly . When it does , you had better have your act together , and have luck and skill on your side . I am very confident using a 7 wt. w/ 12 or 15 Lb. tippets , but I DID have an issue w/ the Ladyfish at the lighthouse - they were HUGE this trip , and I stuck one that was over 5 or 6 Lbs. and had it spank me badly . I doubt an 8 wt. would have tamed this fish very well ...
Used mostly shooting heads , had major running line issues until I switched to 30 Lb. Sufix . The only full line I really like for beach fishing is the old Rio Outbound (long head) , sadly discontinued ... my Hipshooter basket/nylon windbreakers were used every day . Leaders/tippets were Trilene Big Game , 12-40 Lb.- cheap and tough !
I used Cabelas flats boots the past few trips - they are dirt cheap and saved my feet . They started to fall apart on this trip , so I fished barefooted for the last 1/3rd . No problems until I managed to drop a Sierra (open-mouth-down ...) on my bare foot ..... lots of fun fishing knee-deep with a bleeding foot at Punta Arena w/ visions of Tiger Sharks swimming up my scent trail ....
FLIES -
Fair amount of Sardina around , all small . By small I mean the average was 1 1/4 inch , with several meatballs made up of 3/4 inch Sardina !! My standard 1/0 Clousers , 3 inches long , didn't get many hits . I went thru a full box (several dozen) #2 Clousers that were 1 3/4 inches long , and had the rare foresight to pack a few #4 Surf Candies that were 1 1/2 inches long - tye one of those on , and it was like flicking the EAT switch ! Flies tyed w/ synthetic hair were prefered because I could taper them down if they were too long and bulky . Color didn't matter , only size and speed .... Sierra were thick in the wash for several days , and I donated a LOT of flies to them . I don't bother w/ wire because they usually won't eat a fly on wire when they can see . The 12 Lb. tippets I used most of the time didn't even slow them down ...
Halfbeaks were present at Punta Arena on the open beach just North of the lighthouse , they averaged 3 3/4 to nearly 5 inches long . I fished a Clouser-'Hoo and couldn't keep the large Ladyfish off of it there , but no Sierra would bite it . If you go ..... do NOT neglect the small bugs , bring 3 times as many as you think you will use because , if you didn't bring it .... it doesn't exist .
On to part 3 - fishing and fish stories ....