If you ask the average angler, most will say they began by fishing freshwater ponds for bass and bluegill. While this is certainly an excellent way the enter the sport, the transition to saltwater can be quite intimidating. Saltwater fishing often requires a boat, making it expensive and less accessible to many. However, with adequate research and a little determination, you’ll be tackling the salt on foot in no time! Here are 5 tips for DIY saltwater fishing.

Do Your Research

While doing your research is easily the most boring part of wade fishing the salt, it’s also the most important. Unlike trout streams where it’s quickly evident where fish are holding, saltwater fisheries are larger, deeper, and far more dependent on the time of day. Be sure to research tide charts online before getting on the water. Typically, an outgoing tide is ideal for wade fishing, as it pushes bait into the mouths of estuaries and creeks. Predatory fish quickly take notice of the tide and position themselves just inside the mouths of these estuaries, patiently waiting to pounce on disoriented baitfish. Avoid fishing slack tides if possible. Unlike incoming and outgoing tides that push baitfish into different areas, slack tides are completely still, resulting in minimal food sources for fish.   

Fish High Probability Areas.

Fishing high probability areas is an excellent way to increase your odds of success. However, this means nothing if you don’t know what these types of areas look like. Jetties are typically very productive, especially during an outgoing tide. Similar to trout fishing, target the water that’s closest to you first. Oftentimes, fish sit very close to the rocks, waiting to ambush prey that enter their territory. Fishing jetties can also be quite visual at times. Depending on the tide, predatory fish tend to push into the shallows, tight to the rocks. Scan the shallows for fleeing baitfish. Most of the time these baitfish are running from a predator, so cast your fly towards the back of the school and prepare for impact! Drop-offs are also considered high probability areas and can be found by simply observing water color. Dark blue areas signify deeper water, while lighter green colors typically represent shallow flats. Casting where the green merges to blue is always a safe bet to trigger a strike.

Change it Up

Varying your retrieve is a great way to figure out what the fish are keyed into. Choose 3-4 different retrieve speeds, and work through each one on every cast. For example, start with a slow retrieve. Once you’ve stripped in all of your line, cast back out, although this time, do a faster retrieve. Continue this trend with several different variations, until the fish respond. This is called patterning the fish. If a fish eats on a fast retrieve, that’s an indication to keep stripping quickly and discontinue your other retrieves.

Get Spooled

Saltwater fishing is all about adaptation. Being able to change up tactics is essential to figuring out the bite. Bringing extra spools with different types of fly lines is a great way to stay prepared. Different water types sometimes require different styles of line. We highly recommend floating line when fishing shallow flats, as the water depth is minimal. For deeper drop-offs, a full sinking line is recommended in order to reach fish that are hugging the bottom. Intermediate lines target fish that are sitting in the middle of the water column. Each line is very different, but it’s best to have a set of each to ensure you’re properly prepared.  

Strip Set, Strip Set, Strip Set

The quickest way to lose a fish is by trout setting. To trout set is to lift the rod straight up in hopes of penetrating the fish’s mouth with the hook. While this is certainly effective when trout fishing, doing so while saltwater fishing will result in a lost fish, or even worse, a broken fly rod. Trout setting pulls the fly away from the fish, and in the event that you do hook a fish, the tension provided by lifting the rod is not nearly enough to penetrate the hard tissue in and around the mouths of most saltwater species. Keeping the rod low and strip setting hard is the best way to ensure that the hook stays in place. We highly recommend positioning the butt of the rod in your stomach. This way, trout setting is awkward, giving anglers no choice but to strip set.  Strip setting also allows a second chance if the fish misses your fly the first time. More often than not, the fish will come back for a second chance, so be prepared!