Beach fishing for cutts

**Rick Baerg** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:50 AM

Hey guys was looking for some help on beach fishing tactics!!

I have been out a few times on the beaches here in the QCI with no success. Up until then I have never done any beach fishing, so it is all new to me. I have tried all kinds of flies without a single take. Its hard to get any confidence in a fly and I find myself changing flies to often. My main question is, what types of patterns should a guy focus on, size, color etc. Thanks in advance, cheers

D · February 2nd, 2009, 02:26 PM

My limited experience:

Epoxy minnows
Gurglers (for top water action)
Spider flies
Sticklebacks

Fish on an incoming tide or at flood.

Patches is the master, he will probably come in here and give us the skinny

Dean

**tbar24** · February 2nd, 2009, 04:33 PM

my favourtie would have to be a pink clouser with some form of painted eyes, maybe its just me but i find a fast retrieve to be the best and incoming tide for me is the best

**SalaR** · February 2nd, 2009, 05:43 PM

Hi Rick...it has been so windy here the past few days I can't get out so instead we are getting the store ready to open early....
Here are several pics of Sea Runs...One fly is a small epoxy head(white /Green/flash Polar Bear) Salt Water Coho pattern that works exceptionally well for cutties and also a rolled muddler . The best results for Cutties this time of year wiil come from smaller flies like the green one. Also a great fly is the good old Mickey Finn....
How is the Y doing
C

**SalaR** · February 2nd, 2009, 07:11 PM

Whats interesting about this time of year when chasing Cutties,once the fry enter the estuaries,Cutties chase the fry into a panic and often have then jumping out of the water,floating weeds adn weed lines are especially good///of course any stream mouths entering the beach areas. High Tide is generally the ebst time,but low slack can also be good...when these agressive preditors follow your fly ,like in fresh water,they follow for quite a ways before deciding to attack...if you see One following keep the speed of retreive the same...you can also turbo retreive for a change..it can be very effective.

C

**tbar24** · February 2nd, 2009, 08:37 PM

the book "west coast flyfisher" has a good section on sea run cutty fishing, explains stuff in good detail, you might want to pick up a copy of that

**Rick Baerg** · February 2nd, 2009, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by tbar24

the book "west coast flyfisher" has a good section on sea run cutty fishing, explains stuff in good detail, you might want to pick up a copy of that

Thanks for the info guys, unfortunately its not as easy for me up here in the QCI. I just cant go to the local shop and pick up a copy, not a big selection of those types of books or anything fishing related here.

But I could get it online. Cheers.

**knotnot** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:28 PM

Thanks for the answers/info SalaR,and others, and your question Rick.
My minnow in the cuttie swap is like the epoxy head one .
I used my binoculars alot when out (as time/family permits).

**Bottom Rod** · February 3rd, 2009, 01:18 PM

Hi Rick-- I am new to the forum but not to chasing sea-run cuttrhoat. I fish quite a bit up Jervis Inlet on the Sunshine Coast. Generally I fish from a cartop boat because it makes it easier to find the fish. I then drift or anchor the boat and commence casting. Sometimes I go ashore if the terrain allows for it. Some general observations are as follows:
1. Sea-runs generally give themselves away by jumping or breaking the surface. They like shallow water and I normally find them in 2-8 feet of water. If you don't see any surface action for an extended period they probably aren't there so move on. In your case, you probably aren't getting action because they just aren't there-- not because you are doiing something wrong.
2. Sea-Runs are very aggressive and are easy to fool. Best flies for me are epoxy minnows and rolled muddlers-- gold or silver-- it doesn't matter. Just strip about 6-8" per strip
3. They love to eat chum fry so any stream that has a good run of chum is a great place to look for them in the estuary. Down here, the fry hit the chuck during April so that is when the best action near the estuary occurs. They will likely be within a half mile of the actual stream mouth at that time. Later on they move farther away.

Hope this helps.

Dennis