I go saltwater fishing once a year, always in the Outer Banks. I TRY to stick to my fly rod when fishing in the sound, but to date, I've caught ONE fish on a fly rod in the salt. And it was a lizard fish, described by one fish identification chart as "an undesirable species that will, unfortunately, bite almost any lure." I haven't ever tried to surf cast a fly rod and am perfectly happy to chuck bait into the waves (or off a pier).

I'd like to learn to fly fish in the salt, but my own attempts have been pretty terrible. I need a teacher I guess (or a flats boat), so until either of those things come into my life, I'll probably continue to give fly fishing in the salt a token effort each year before picking up spin hardware.

yrs-
Evan!

always keep your options open. sometimes it's just not happening with the fly rod. adapting is a natural reaction to adverse conditions.

Oh no! Not the classic bait vs fly arguement.

Deeter, if I ever saw a picture of you chucking a worm I'd me most proud of you. I might even forget your from Michigan.

I say bring the gear & go with your mood. Sometimes catching "junk" fish can be more fun than fishing for the trophy. Catching dinner is always good. And that elusive bonefish on fly will make your whole weekend. OK, maybe you can't really have it all, but it doesn't hurt to try.

I always bring a spin casting reel, I would rather lower my morals and throw out a worm than be skunked. Often I will flyfish, lure fish, whatever I can find on the bank then I will worm fish in that order until I start catching fish. But there is nothing like building a fire and throwing out a worm and kicking back.

I love throwing a fly and I can't stress that enough, but when the time calls to chunk a little meat, I am all for it. I think it's all about enjoying yourself.

I fish bait too, not often, but I do. Surf casting isn't a fly sport, and sometimes most saltwater isn't. I won't throw bait for trout, ever. Don't fish much trout, and when I do its steelies and throwing bait is a sin where I come from.

I wildly prefer fly fishing to any other method. But when conditions call (ie high water), you can bet I'm getting that Powerbait rig ready to go.

Aw, fishing's fishing. It can be done with style as long as it's in context. Floating a fly on a trout stream in the rockies is a fishing classic. Doesn't mean you have to go all snobby and live a life of celibacy from the spinning tackle. Topwaters for Texas redfish? Absolutely. Tarpon taken on the fly or with a number 13 circle hook widened out in the vise are equally thrilling. Spanish mackerel on lures from light spinning tackle... Like I said, it's about context. Soaking bait all the time is lame. Using it as a last resort is OK.

I do both, but my choice usually depends upon how badly I want to catch a fish to eat. It's a fun vs. effectiveness thing, and when catch-and-fillet is the goal, I'm not adverse to dunking bait or even laying out a gillnet or throwing a cast net, which is legal in some places where I live.

In response to flutterfly, I just think that while a fly rod is often best in a variety of situations, that's not always the case, especially with freshly stocked trout, or in high water conditions. That's when you have "broaden your horizons" to be successful. And often that includes chucking hardware or bait.

Just to be clear, fly fishing definitely has a special attraction to me no other form of fishing does. But when it comes to it, I will do what I need to do to give myself a shot to catch fish, provided it's totally legal and ethical.