For many anglers, the appeal of a saltwater fly fishing trip is too much to ignore. Your daydreams of rising trout are replaced with sight fly fishing for permit and rolling tarpon. You long for cool beverages and smoldering sun. And, before you know it, your next saltwater fly fishing trip is a matter of “when” not “if.”
Our Missoula fly shop owner and saltwater fly fishing fanatic, Brendan Bannigan, is one of these people. Brendan draws on years of experience traveling and fly fishing around the globe– introducing beginners and experts alike to once-in-a-lifetime saltwater fly fishing destinations. Whether you’re headed to Southern Louisiana or the Seychelles, we have the intel and saltwater fly fishing gear you need to make the most of your bucket list trip.
We sat down with Brendan to discuss his top tips to those embarking on their first, or next, saltwater fly fishing trip and what gear, flies and equipment they should bring.
Q: Brendan, how did you get into saltwater fly fishing and why do you love it?
A: I started off saltwater fly fishing when I was in highschool. I had a buddy whose dad had a skiff and so we would sneak down on weekends and go fishing in Galveston Bay for Redfish and Speckled Trout. That’s where I got my feet wet. In 2009, I went on my first flats-style saltwater fly fishing trip in Ascension Bay, Mexico. That’s where I got really into saltwater fly fishing for bonefish, permit, and tarpon.
Q: Let’s start with gear that anglers need when they are embarking on their first saltwater fly fishing trip. What are the qualities of a good saltwater fly rod and what are the appropriate sizes for the species they could be targeting?
A: For saltwater fly rods, the thing that I always look for in a good saltwater stick is something that is really lightweight and super responsive so that it will track well when you’re casting it. The Orvis H3D fly rod and the Scott Sector fly rod are two of the fly rods that are up there as top performers for me.
When our guests are gearing up for their next saltwater fishing trip, we tell them that for bonefish fly fishing, you want a 7 or 8wt fly rod. For permit fly fishing, you want a 9 or 10 wt fly rod. And for tarpon fly fishing, depending on the size of fish you are targeting, you’ll want anywhere from a 10 to 12wt fly rod.
Q: For strong fish you will need a strong reel. What are the qualities of a good saltwater fly reel and which are your go-to’s?
A: When it comes to saltwater fly reels, I look for something with a really nice sealed-drag to keep out saltwater, dirt and grime. We often tell people it’s the opposite of investing in a trout rod and reel. The importance of having a good drag system in a saltwater reel is paramount in order to put the brakes to flats fish. Your trout reel is effectively holding the fly line. Not to say a good fly rod isn’t critical for saltwater fishing, but you shouldn’t cut corners on a saltwater fly reel. Some of the ones that I fish and that we have done really well with in the shop are the Hatch Iconic, Nautilus CCFX2 and the Abel SDS.
Q: You head out on the skiff for a day of fly fishing for bonefish, permit and tarpon. What saltwater flies do you have in your box to cover what the day might throw at you?
A: For bonefish, I keep it fairly simple and straightforward: I bring a couple GOTCHAS, some Crazy Charlies and some Squimps. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the Bahamas, the Seychelles or Belize, those are three bonefish flies that are pretty much going to have you covered.
For permit, my top three right now are the Contraband Crab, the Strongarm Merkin, and just your go-to, standard Raghead Crab. Those are three flies that you could be just about anywhere, with the exception of the Seychelles where you would want the Alphlexo Crab that is more geared to that region. That selection will at least get you started when you’re hunting permit.
Finally, for tarpon flies, I like the EP Peanut Butter in black/purple or black/red. Then, a Tarpon Toad in either black/purple or chartreuse/yellow. Those are my go-to’s for tarpon fly fishing.
Q: What saltwater fly lines do you have rigged up on your rod and reel?
A: It’s really similar to trout fishing: having the appropriate fly line on your rod and reel can make or break your day. Two of the lines that we have been fishing a lot over the last couple years are the SA Infinity Salt-Smooth and the SA Grand Slam. The Infinity has a longer, more narrow head. While the Grand Slam has a more aggressive taper geared towards casting in windy conditions or with bigger flies. I would argue the Infinity is a better line for the more experienced caster. It allows you to carry a lot more line while making a longer cast.
Q: For anglers headed on their next saltwater fly fishing adventure, what leader and tippet material should they be prepared with?
A: We really like RIO and TrountHunter tippet material for saltwater fly fishing. For bonefishing, we always encourage our guests to have 8lbs. to 12lbs tapered leaders and the equivalent fluorocarbon tippet to go with that. For permit fishing, you want 16lbs. to 20lbs. tapered leaders and anywhere from 16lbs. to 20lbs. fluorocarbon tippet. Tarpon are trickier to pin down because it’s very dependent on where you’re fishing and the size of the fish. Typically, tarpon leaders and tippet range anywhere from 40lbs. to 100lbs. for those bigger tarpon.
Q: Now that we have the saltwater fishing equipment covered, what clothing and apparel do you recommend anglers should pack for their next saltwater fly fishing trip?
A: Staying super comfortable while out on a day of saltwater fly fishing is so important. We encourage our guests who are with us fishing around the world to be covered up as much as possible. So having a really nice, lightweight hoody or shirt like a Simms Solarflex, Simms Intruder Hoody or a Patagonia Sun Stretch is important to keep you cool and protected when out in the sun all day.
Having a nice pair of lightweight pants or shorts, like the Free Fly Breeze Pants or Shorts, helps you out in that department. A pair of Simms Sun Gloves and a neck gaiter limits your exposure to the sun while you’re on a long trip. As always, layer up with sunscreen to protect those areas that, for whatever reason, you can’t keep covered.
Q: How important is a good pair of sunglasses for saltwater fly fishing? Can you recommend any sunglasses?
A: I often tell people that a good pair of sunglasses is more important, if not the most important thing to have when you’re fly fishing in the salt. I always carry a minimum of two pairs of sunglasses with me when I’m on the boat. I carry a pair of Costa Sunrise silver-mirrored sunglasses for low-light conditions. At this point, I wear those almost exclusively because of the amount of light they allow through the lens. My second favorite would just be a pair of green-mirrored copper lenses from Costa. Those two lenses will get you through the super sunny days as well as those unfortunate cloudy days.
Q: What other saltwater fly fishing gear do you recommend anglers bring on their next trip to the salt?
A: It’s dependent on what kind of fly fishing you are going to be doing. If you’re spending the majority of your time in the front of a boat, I like to have something like the Patagonia Stormfront Great Divider Bag. It allows me to keep all my flies, leader material, extra sunglasses, my Yeti Rambler water bottle and a lightweight rain jacket protected and stored out of the way.
If you are in a situation where you are doing more DIY saltwater fly fishing or you’re on your feet all day, the Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Backpack protects your gear from the elements and keeps it handy as you’re ripping through a flat. I prefer a nice, lightweight flats boot like the Simms Flats Sneaker when I’m wading all day because they’re comfortable and extremely durable.
I too will have a pair of both saltwater fishing pliers and nippers on me when I’m fishing the flats. The Loon Apex HD Plier is a great bang for your buck pair of saltwater pliers. And the Simms Pro Nipper is also an excellent tool for both freshwater and saltwater.
Q: Do you have any final tips for those embarking on their next saltwater fly fishing trip?
A: I think having the right gear and having it set up correctly is so important. Here at our Missoula fly shop, we are more than happy to go through your gear, rods and reels and make sure you are dialed in. You might, on a given trip, get only one or two shots at a big permit or bonefish. So making sure you have the right flies and right leader is imperative.
That being said, when you’ve invested a lot of money in gear it’s important to take care of it. We travel to and from our destination with the Orvis Carry-It-All Bag to ensure our gear gets there safely and stays organized. Once I return, I rinse all of my flies to prevent rusty hooks. I do the same for my rods and reels, too, and then air dry them before packing them away. All of these little things ensure that your gear continues to perform over time.
Also, I think one of the best things you can do before you go on one of these trips is to spend time on yourself– spend time casting and getting yourself comfortable so you’re ready for those shots when they come up.
Have questions about saltwater fly fishing gear to buy gear from our online fly shop? Give us a call at our Missoula fly shop, our expert staff is happy to help!
