![]() The client false casted wildly with no idea that his fly was hooked in the stripping mat. A guide told me last week that he had a client who had a thirty foot shot at a school of permit. Simple stuff like line management often spoils shot after shot. While keeping up with light and water movement is somewhat advanced skill, it’s the simple things that are the most common problems. ![]() The thing I see kill opportunities more than anything else is a lack of situational awareness. I spend a lot of time on the boat with anglers who are new to flats fishing. You may need to react quickly and instinctively. When a fish appears, their may not be time to think about whether you should cast forehand or backhand, or how far you should lead the fish. Keeping up with current speed and direction, boat movement, water depth, lighting and the changing structure of the flat. Below the surface, a good angler is keeping up with a laundry list of variables, planning, and calculating their best response to every possible scenario. Standing on the bow of a skiff looks peaceful, and once you are comfortable with the process, it is. ![]() An angler’s timing is often the single most important factor. That window opens and closes quickly, and when it closes, it rarely opens again. For every fish you see, there is a window of opportunity where you have a chance to make a good presentation. They are constantly on the move and highly aware of changes in their environment. ![]() Generally, the fish you are pursuing are hunting as well. Things happen quickly on the flats, and it’s the prepared angler who catches fish. That’s a luxury saltwater anglers can’t often afford. Trout anglers revel in taking their time, analyzing the feeding patterns of fish and planning a successful presentation. Photo by Louis Cahillīy Louis Cahill Fly-fishing saltwater flats requires many specialized skills, but none are as important as situational awareness. ![]()
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