Salt water gear vs Fresh water??

[geedavell]

New guy here, both to the forum and to fly fishing.
Thanks for letting me join.

I live down in So Cal so I don't have the rivers you guys have up north.
I only get up to the Mammoth/Bishop area a couple of times a year.

I bought a Sage 6wt with sinking line for throwing streamers out of my float tube in the Sierra.
I caught a few small trout on my first trip with a guide on the Owens River.

Me living 5 miles from the beach, can I use this same rod and reel combo to fish the beach and harbors?
Or should I buy a rod that's made more for saltwater?

I have a small boat and have fished the bays in the past using bait casters.

[tcorfey]

Welcome aboard! You can use your 6wt just be sure to wash it down good and dry then lubricate the shiny parts of the reel after each outing, hopefully the reel has a sealed drag? If you start getting in to bigger fish then an 8wt setup is very useful for bays etc... Get some clousers and give it a shot. Let us know how you do!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

See if you can find a local fly club.

Sometimes you can meet up with folks who will take you along.

Sometimes they have outings and maybe clinics.

Go to some fly shops to see if you can find someone interested in helping you.

Try to get a surf casting seminar or a half-day guided trip in the surf.

I think summer is best in the SoCal saltwater.

[Larry S]

geedavell,
I recommend you getting an extra spool and lining it with a sinktip like Rio's 250 gr
Striper line. I'm assuming your present line is a full sink. For the beach, learn to
read the water; often a visit at low tide will clue you in to its profile. We look for
rips, holes, troughs and places where there are changes in depths and currents.
These are often the feeding zones. When wade fishing San Diego Bay south of the
carriers, we'll use an intermediate or floating line to keep out of the eel grass beds.
If you want to target corbinas, an excellent source is Al Q's "the Corbina Diaries"
@ $25. The Fliflicker web site warrants a look; I believe you have to be a member
now to even lurk.
Best of luck,
Larry S
Sun Diego