THE ULTIMATE ANGLING BUCKET LIST

Opportunities to realistically and successfully fly fish in saltwater here in home waters are limited by
water depth, water clarity, and the fact that most home waters species tend to feed at or on the bottom.
Mackerel, bass, coalfish, and pollack are the most likely targets when suitable conditions can be found,
though there may well be others.
Fortunately, four names there which rate amongst the hardest fighting and most sporting home water
species we have, so a bonus there too of sorts.
Pollack and coalfish in particular are very powerful fish. I remember acclaimed salmon angler Ally
Gowans getting his first pollack on a standard salmon outfit and being amazed at the small size of the
thing after the scrap it had put up.
Size for size, far better than any freshwater species. And therein to some extent lies a problem,
particularly when trying to break IGFA world tippet records.
A typical weight seven outfit around the Mull of Galloway would very probably get destroyed. Based
on experience, Allan and his party had brought along rods in the AFTM ten to twelve weight range.
Reels too need to be up to the mark. Suitable capacity to take plenty of backing is a must. But of far
greater importance is having a good braking system and anti-reverse to save your knuckles getting a
battering from an uncontrollably fast rotating handle.
Allan's choice was a penn 4AR saltwater fly reel with a number of spools carrying a range of line
options, from intermediate through to an orvis 600 grain fast sinker. But it's water clarity and speed of
drift that will have the biggest say in which line ultimately to choose.
The remaining items are a selection of
quality, reliable, IGFA rated spools of
monofilament for use as tippets, and of
course, a selection of large sandeel
pattern flies up to maybe four inches in
length, which I personally find difficult
to cast.
Fortunately however, fishing on the
drift, you don't have to cast far if you
are happy to snake out the remaining
length required using the ground
coverage of the boat. It's a personal
thing. Allan and his party were all
proficient casters. I on the other hand
prefer to use a combination of the two.
Pollack & Coalfish patterns
No need for much if anything in the way of retrieve rate either. Again, the drift of the boat can provide
much of the fly movement required.
Watching the salmon lads, they would use a combination of the drift and a very slow figure of eight
which they would speed up a little if or when the drift died away, and in particular when they felt a fish
nipping at the lure to try to induce a more positive take, which when it comes, will see the fish grab and
kick for bottom in one continuous movement negating the need to strike.
Striking runs the risk of pulling the lure away from the fish. When a pollack is ready it will hook itself
as it grabs and dives, so why not just leave it to get on with it.
IGFA tippet record categories go from one Kg through to ten Kg, which in imperial measures is roughly
two pounds to twenty pounds breaking strain.
495