Michael Rescorle is a Level 2 Licensed Angling Coach and has fished the Solent and other south coast venues, since the early 1990s. He knows the best marks, hot spots and tides to give anglers a very good chance of success. He is committed to delivering great fishing experiences with a sense of adventure to instil a wonder of the outdoors. Interested in Bass fishing? We highly recommend hiring a guide for your first few outings to understand the safety elements to sea fishing and also to discover the best places and times to fish. So please take a moment to explore Michael’s website here or drop him and email.

Saltwater Fly Fishing for Bass

Having grown up in Cornwall within sight of the sea, fishing for saltwater species has been a hobby of mine since I was 8 years old. My first fish, a small bass, came to hand on a night out with my late father while sitting beside a tilly lamp near Copperhouse Pool in Hayle. Dad fished until dawn, but I fell asleep just after midnight.

Those early days were dominated by bait fishing with rag or lugworm suspended under a float, spinning with Abu Tobys, Red Gills or frozen sandeels, and feathering for mackerel. Bass, pollack and wrasse accounted for most of the catches, interspersed with chasing Mullet with Mepps spinners baited with Maddies. A few boat trips produced big pollack, larger bass, and species such as Ling, but I never did, and still do not, enjoy that type of fishing.   

That trend continued during my career in the army, but since I spent many years in Germany and other countries, fishing was restricted to my holidays back home. I managed to sneak out to the coast several times while based in Northern Ireland, where a 7 g Abu Silver Toby accounted for sea trout in Dundrum Bay. The Mountains of Mourne, where the mighty Slieve Donard rises to 2,790 feet, provided a spectacular backdrop—fishing barefoot wearing a pair of shorts, casting an eight-foot Shakespeare rod, made for memorable but straightforward fishing.   

Things took a dramatic turn after I retired from the army in the early 1990s. I discovered that most of my ageing tackle did not suit the shallow waters of the Solent or the rest of the Hampshire coastline. The Abu Toby worked, but the massive decline in species resulted in one-dimensional fishing, primarily for bass, with the occasional mackerel or garfish. Things had to change, or it was back to holiday wishing in Cornwall.

Fly fishing had been on my radar several times, but it wasn’t until I realised I had retired to one of the world's fly fishing meccas that I took notice. A trip to the famous Rod Box in Winchester saw me heading for Stillwaters and Chalk Streams, followed shortly thereafter by saltwater and bass.  

Things progressed to the point where I was being asked again and again about what was a new discipline, saltwater fly fishing, so I qualified as an Angling Coach and now spend a lot of time guiding for Orvis and private clients.

There are several myths surrounding the pursuit of saltwater species. I don’t know why anglers continue to perpetuate them, but they can have a negative impact on those who want to try this rapidly growing discipline of recreational angling. The need to double-haul is probably the most common one. It’s a helpful skill to have, but it is not required and is certainly not essential for fishing UK saltwater marks.

I have now been fishing for many decades, so here are a few of my do’s and don’ts for Saltwater Fly Fishing, primarily for bass.

Time On Reconnaissance is Seldom Wasted.

Do conduct a proper reconnaissance of potential marks, ideally on a low spring tide, as this will provide the opportunity to assess the extent of the shoreline, the size and location of rocks, and the structures where fish may congregate to feed. It will also highlight deep channels and pools that fish may swim in and, as they often fill up quickly, pose hazards to your safety.   

Do check the weather forecast for wind strength, overall conditions, and, of course, tide times. Even a moderate wind can make fly fishing difficult and dangerous, so have alternate marks up your sleeve. De-barbing hooks, which I do all the time, reduces the risk of anglers hooking themselves in strong winds.

Do keep a list of successful spots within each mark. I divide them into Bass Catching Areas (BCA), which are where fish swim into and feed, and Bass Catching Transit Areas (BCTA), which are typically at the entrance to harbours and estuaries where fish do not stop but feed on the move. BCAs are often no larger than a tennis court, sometimes half that size, while a BCTA may be a thin strip of water close to shore. Either way, the Bass Catching Time Window (BCTW) for each is often measured in minutes, not hours. The only way to find good marks and spots within them is to spend time on the water. Despite using some marks for decades, it's a pleasure and often a surprise to discover new spots every year.

Do search the water – fan casting is crucial, as is moving regularly, even if that means getting in the car and trying another mark. Successful anglers often visit two or three different marks in one session. I keep waterproof seat covers in my car to prevent wet or muddy waders from fouling the car seats.

Do think about where and what you plan to fish from to ensure you don’t scare fish away. Standing on rocks or structures may seem like a good idea, but it creates a silhouette and shadow on the water, leading fish to stay out of range. Even a fly line makes a shadow on the water. It is best to cast alongside a structure, whether man-made or natural, rather than at right angles.

Maximise Fly in the Water Time

Too many false casts, poor line management, and poor organisation often lead to the fly being airborne or in a tangle, rather than doing what it’s meant to do - catching fish. One or two false casts should be enough to get the fly out to twenty or twenty-five yards; mass moves mass, so overlining the rod or using a shooting head can help move large saltwater flies. Also, having flies, spare tippet, and the like in wader pockets or otherwise close to hand, rather than in the bottom of a rucksack, saves time.

Do keep the fly looking as near as possible to the way it was tied. As I tell all my clients, “Bass do not eat salad”. Even a tiny bit of weed will result in the fly being ignored. Tail Wrap, where the tail wraps around the hook shank, is another issue that needs to be checked. As is the presence of a hook. A Blinding Glimpse of the Obvious, it may be, but it is all too easy to bounce a fly off rocks or even shingle, and break the hook.

Don’t fret about double hauling. This is one of my bugbears; it isn’t essential for saltwater fly fishing in the UK. It can be helpful in windy conditions, but it isn’t as important as many make it out to be. If you are catching on stillwaters, you are good to go on any saltwater mark.

Don’t overcomplicate the choice of fly colour – most flies, particularly Chartreuse-coloured ones, will catch predators such as bass, throughout the season. Be sure to strip them with alacrity to induce the take.   

Don’t wade out too far, as it just pushes the fish farther out. Move out and/or along the mark, casting ahead and to the side as you go to search every square metre of water.  

Don’t go Blankety Blanking; fishing the same mark at the same time on the same tide again and again. Keep mental or written notes and experiment with different combinations until you find one that works.

Good luck and tight lines when you go out next.

Michael Rescorle

www.solentsaltwaterflyfishing.co.uk

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