HOW-TO: Catch Even MORE Bream On Fly Part 3 - Everything You Need To Know!

[@StarloGetsReel]

If you enjoy this video and my channel, please consider shouting me a beer (or buying me a coffee) so I can continue producing worthwhile content like this for YOU! To do so, simply go to: www.buymeacoffee.com/starlo

[@adamgrassodesign]

Great video Starlo. I really appreciate your videos. That last bream was an absolute stonker. What a serene fishing spot!

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thank you for the great feedback!

[@sonnyjimm23]

That last Bream was so fat and happy, she was the perfect representation of the species. As thrilling as it is when I land these mumma Bream, it's so much more rewarding to the experience when I watch them swim away. Great video mate thanks for sharing your skills.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks! And agreed - nothing like seeing them swim off!

[@stuarthunter4552]

Thanks Starlo, that was a great watch and reminder of how good the fishery is wher you are. My heart fluttered at the wonderful country down there, my old stomping ground is 30 kms south from you but now alot further away in Nth Qld.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Glad you liked it, Stuart!

[@malcolmlau1351]

Love it how fly fishing is becoming more accessible in australia, no longer the domain of trout snobs. Would love to see you continue on and make more tutorials on insta/youtube etc on fly fishing for bread and butter species.

[@StarloGetsReel]

That's the plan! :)

[@brianrowland9993]

Love your low key honest videos - great to see flys being used for bream. As a trout fly fisherman it’s inspiring to see the art used for salt water fish - Next time I will give it a go! Subscribed!

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks Brian! Tight Lines.

[@PeachyFlyFishing]

Love it Steve, great session!

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks mate!

[@markhoffman9655]

Although I am a Kiwi swoffer there is something about your Aussie bream that is fascinating - sort of like snapper with a bit of trout thrown in. I watch your videos and then look at employing similar tactics and flies on the harbour snapper over here in Auckland for next summer. May even give some local tidal river stretches a go with a shrimpy pattern and see what bites. Lately I've taken a leaf from the trout fishing guys and been drifting flies under an indicator in shallow water and getting snapper on my 3 weight outfit. Great fun and less snagging!

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks Mark... good description of bream. I'm very jealous of your shallow water snapper.

[@desausfish4076]

Great vid Steve thanks

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks!

[@GlobalFLATTSman]

Forty two years ago when I was opening the PNG Black Bass fishery with Gary Wright and John Mondora as guests, the very concept of using a fly on those monsters would have been unthinkable … but having watched you here Starlo I reckon it would be an amazing exercise to try. Are you aware of anyone having success at such? I haven’t been involved in fishing for many many years now but Gary is an old and dear friend still.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Good stuff, Steve. Yes, black bass on fly has definitely been done by true pioneers of the sport, including the likes of Rod Harrison and Left Kreh, as well as others. Far from easy, but definitely do-able... if you don't mind breaking a bit of gear!

[@GlobalFLATTSman]

@@StarloGetsReel … Well here’s a challenge for you mate … and I reckon it would make great content here too. I’m taking a great deal of interest in Tenkara fly fishing and I suspect this might just be productive on bream also … in hands as capable as yours. My first rod should be here soon

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@GlobalFLATTSman tenkara is good fun! I've caught decent mullet on it in the salt. Bream would be a challenge for sure, especially getting close enough to them in most settings, but I'm sure there are places and times where it could work.

[@peterm6199]

Great vid Starlo! No one explains a topic as well as you! 👌 👌 👌 🍺

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks!

[@frillylizzard]

another great video Starlo, love catching bream on fly.

[@StarloGetsReel]

It's so good, isn't it?

[@markhoffman9655]

It's taken a while, but since seeing you waving the extra long rod in this video I have gone out and got a 10 ft rod - a 3 weight Euro nymph rod for my shallow saltwater work. I've made up a skagit head from a DT7F line and it can chuck a good sized clouser out 18-20 meters with little effort. Much easier than the 8ft small stream rod I started out with. This will be my summer weapon for Kiwi "brim" (aka snapper) in the local estuary. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@StarloGetsReel]

Great to hear, Mark! Would love to see your results.

[@rockfly8384]

Great video, very informative. I appreciate all the tips, would love to see more fly fishing on your channel.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks! Definitely more fly stuff coming!

[@trevorgreen2370]

A good video Steve. Thanks for sharing.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers!

[@TheXStreamFly]

Awesome clip mate thanks for sharing.

[@StarloGetsReel]

No worries!

[@iamamt]

Thanks for the video. You are really lucky to be able to fish for these. If they are anything like the red sea bream we have to buy here on the west coast USA, they are delicious and expensive.

[@TEAMCATCHIN]

Thanks heaps Starlo, some awesome tips mate, now time to put them into practice 🤙🏼.

[@StarloGetsReel]

No worries!

[@tazwhitefeather]

Great stuff as always Steve

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks!

[@jensbaufeldt7543]

Great video mate,

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks!

[@wasntPete]

Good informative video Steve

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks for the feedback, Pete.

[@mickanderson3593]

Cheers Starlo could yo do a vid on the problems a newbie will encounter ..ie leader set up , and the all important how to break off a snagged fly without breaking the flyrod

[@StarloGetsReel]

Good topics, Mick! Will definitely address them in future clips.

[@mickanderson3593]

@@StarloGetsReel Steve thank you for the reply message , have always enjoyed your work on the Telly and your writing cheers Mick Anderson

[@feartheduck6664]

Great bream!

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers!

[@Kearnesy]

Awsome tips and video do you use any scents on your flys

[@StarloGetsReel]

Very occasionally in dirty water I will put a little touch of S Factor on the head/eyes of the fly. Don't really like putting scent on flies though, as it clogs up the fur and feathers and reduces their natural action... it also upsets the "purists" who don't see it as kosher. ;)

[@ngocpham8129]

Seeing you do this i wanna try.. that line going through as you wade that rod. (Derno if i said that right but im hope you know what i mean) seeing fail and success is the best, i dont like the full-on “firstcast”

[@StarloGetsReel]

Give it a go!

[@ReelFishing765]

Hey starlo, Just a quick one you mentioned the witching hour being sunrise and sunset on closed systems to the ocean. Is this for all systems on the south coast. As in would this be basically for all year round?

[@StarloGetsReel]

Hi. Yes, change of light periods tend to be very good everywhere although in open, tidal systems, the tides can be more important.

[@bobb2183]

Thanks for the tips, wondering if you tried top water flies for whiting.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Yep, but only with fairly limited success. I need to put more work into it.

[@simonvpongas3862]

i tried once polaroiding whiting in the flats of a Sothern NSW estuary lake. Saw quite a few cruising but no takes (popper fly and on clouser patterns). Id be keen to have some tips thrown my way here.

[@rorymuller8156]

Great little video mate-loved it!

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks mate! I need to come down and catch some Tassie bream with you when we get through COVID.

[@rorymuller8156]

@@StarloGetsReel at least you think we are going to get through it now. soon i hope!

[@alleycat8483]

Is that your best bream Steve?, mine was 3.5 lb caught in the Macleay river in 1979, dont know what it was length wise but it was a horse..

[@StarloGetsReel]

Hi alleycat. I've been lucky enough to catch a few bigger than that one in the video. My best to date so far on fly weighed 1.87kg (4lb 2oz) while my best on conventional gear went 1.92kg (4lb 4oz). But any bream over 3 pounds is a bloody ripper in my book! My Holy Grail is 50cm and 2kg (around 4.5lbs)... hopefully I'll get there! :)

[@alleycat8483]

@@StarloGetsReel Sorry Steve but what was the length of the 1.87 and 1.9 kg bream, just to give me an idea on the length of my biggest..thanks

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@alleycat8483 pretty sure the 1.92 was around 48 or 49 to the tail tips. Yours was most likely a yellowfin and I'd expect it to be between 45 and 47 to the tips to weigh 3.5 pounds. Nice bream!

[@Fishing31South]

Hey Starlo, Have you done any wade fishing with your switch rod on a flat for flathead ? I'm thinking of getting an 11'6" and trying scandi casts etc where the water has flow to it as it crosses the flat. Have you played around with this? Thanks mate

[@StarloGetsReel]

Sure have! Caught my biggest flatty on fly exactly that way. Have a look at this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHfEgp-Prdh0aM0

[@Fishing31South]

@@StarloGetsReel awesome thanks mate, I'll check it out and get inspired

[@JamesMcCutcheon]

I love to fish for bream. We have them here where I live, we call them bluegills

[@StarloGetsReel]

Yes, different fish. Ours are a salt/brackish water fish related to your sheepshead.

[@tallaganda83]

I bought a fly rod about 2 years ago. Im still yet to catch a fish on the fly. I would be happy to catch anything carp aside.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Mullet are a great place to start if you're near the salt. Bread berley and bread flies... a bean bag styrofoam bead on a small hook will do the job.

[@williamreddick1384]

The other thing I notice you dont do is keep your left hand in contact with the line, especially on delivering the cast. I do a lot of estuary fishing and so many times I get a hit almost as doon as the fly hits the water around snags. Ive had to learn the hard way to let the line flow through my left hand even if it is at cost of a couple of metres as soon as the fly hits the water, quickly take up any slack to be ready to feel a strike. Bream will either smash a fly straight away of follow it a while before taking the fly. It is almost waiting on a pause as the excuse to attack.

[@StarloGetsReel]

True enough!

[@dannywarren5204]

How heavy with the leader size starlo

[@StarloGetsReel]

I usually run a 6 or 8 pound tippet but will go up to 10 pound around snaggy structure - even 12 in really demanding situations.

[@dannywarren5204]

@StarloGetsReel thanks for the answer.. one more question I've been wanting to ask for years.. do you have and stashed 702 squidgy spin rods in a corner somewhere you might part with.. I loved that rod??

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@dannywarren5204 great rod! I don’t have a spare though. Sorry. 😕

[@dannywarren5204]

@StarloGetsReel all good ... be stupid not to ask... I still have my original.. but it's a bit beat up...and I still use it from time to time.. used it in tassies first ever bream tournament on the dewent River and qualified for the final out of 80 teams

[@goldentwilight1944]

Thank you Steve, I think there are 2 kinds of fly fishers. The first kind is the rare type of person who was lucky enough to be born with the fly fishing gene, it comes naturally to them. The second kind is the person who can get it, they learn to do it, but they have to work really hard at it. Unfortunately, I'm in the second category. I would like to have a go at bream and a lot of light tackle saltwater fish for that matter. However, the salt is a bit of a drive from me (trout are closer) so I'll have to wait to take some holidays.

[@StarloGetsReel]

I'm definitely in that second category too, Paul! I've always had to work at my fly fishing and, because I taught myself to do it almost 50 years ago, I have lots of bad habits and will probably always be a "flogger" when it comes to casting, but I've managed to learn a bit... and the biggest lesson has been to put down the spin rod and pick up the fly. :) You won't catch 'em on fly if you're not fishing with fly. ;)

[@williamreddick1384]

Notice you use the strip strike, which I consider important for estuarine species. If you do pull out the fly can still be in sight for another bite and as the fish usually stay in water the all important contact and line control is maintained to pull away from snags etc. Why dont fishing tutorials such as this discuss the strike?

[@StarloGetsReel]

Absolutely. Strip strike works best in most saltwater scenarios although I must admit I sometimes forget and "trout strike". :) For bream and other targets using reasonably light tippets I like a combination... strip into the weight of the fish and then begin to lift to get a bend in the rod and some "cushion" for the leader. I do mention this in at least one of my clips. Can't remember which one!

[@flyingdutch9818]

Rod tip pointed down so far; no wonder you aren’t setting The hook

[@StarloGetsReel]

Keeping the rod pointed straight down the line and the tip low removes slack and generally allows for a much better hook set, especially when strip-striking, at least in my experience, but each to their own. ;)