trolling flies offshore

[josko]

I know, I know, it's frowned upon, but has anyone had any luck trolling flies ofshore? I've seen a couple of articles on trolling flies for bonito/albies, and some vague references to trolling flies offshore 'for practicing landing fish on a fly rod'. OK, that's good enough for me. My trouble is that all flies I know have the thickness of a pencil lead at 7 knots. Perhaps when slow-trolling for giants, you can make a fly look alive, but a giant on a fly rod???
Are rthere such things as offshore trolling flies?
On a good side, I noticed a fast-sink line does get below the surface, and a fly is positioned just where it should be.

[Adam-Albino]

Oh stop. Blasphemer!
<IMG align=baseline alt="" border=0 hspace=0 src="http://photos.netclubs.com/live/photos/v/9/t/2/t2c710a3839h31nr004cfcdhuo/flyman2.gif">

[bassman]

Josko...7 knots eh?!!...Would a 20lb class tippet hold and set the hook at that speed when Mr. tunoid or what have you hits?!..;-)

[BillySalmonhole]

I'M WITH ADAM. YOU REALLY SHOULN'T GO THERE, BUT IF YOU MUST KNOW. I USED TO RUN A CHARTERBOAT OUT OF POINT JUDITH RHODE ISLAND AND EVERY YEAR I HAD A GROUP OF GUYS FROM CONNECTICUT THAT HIRED ME TO TAKE THEM OFFSHORE TO TROLL FLIES FOR TUNA. I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FLY FISHING THEN, SO THESE GUYS PRETTY MUCH TOOK CARE OF THEIR OWN GEAR. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT WEIGHT RODS, TIPS, ETC. BUT THE FLIES THEY USED WERE TIED BULKY WITH LOTS OF HAIR. THE FLIES WERE ALSO VERY BRIGHT BLUES,REDS, AND GREENS IN COLOR WITH WHAT I WOULD CALL LARGER THAN AVERGE SIZED EYES. THEY ALSO VARIED IN LENGTHS, BUT I REMEMBER THE 5"-6" FLIES WERE PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL. WE TROLLED AT A SPEED OF 6-8 KNOTS DEPENDING ON THE WIND AND HOW THE FLIES WERE RIDING. TYPICALLY WE FISHED THREE RODS FROM THE STERN OF THE BOAT LIKE YOU WOULD FISH A FLAT LINE WITH CONVENTIONAL GEAR. YOU KNOW, UP FAIRLY TIGHT (3RD-4TH WAKE) I WOULD ALSO RUN SOME TEASERS UP TIGHT OFF THE OUTRIGGERS AND A REALLY LARGE "BOONE BIRD" OFF THE CENTER RIGGER SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE 5TH AND 6TH WAKES. THIS CREATES QUITE A COMMOTION BEHIND THE BOAT, THEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS RUN OVER SOME FISH. WE HAD SEVERAL GOOD TRIPS WITH SMALL BLUEFIN TUNA, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE HOOKUPS. ONCE WE VENTURED SOUTH A LITTLE FURTER IN SEARCH OF SOME WARMER WATER AND YELLOWFIN TUNA, NO LUCK WITH THE YELLOWFIN THAT DAY. HOWEVER, WE HAD A DOUBLE HOOKUP WITH A COUPLE LONGFIN ALBACORE. THE ANGLERS DID A NICE JOB WITH THESE FISH ON THE FLYRODS LANDING ONE FAIRLY QUICKLY, UNFORTUNATELY THE SECOND ONE LOST IT'S LOWER HALF COURTESY OF A MAKO SHARK ABOUT TWENTY FEET BEHIND THE BOAT.
I HOPE THIS HELPS; HOWEVER, FOR THE RECORD I'M NOT ADVOCATING THIS TECHNIQUE. NOW I AM A COMPLETELY PSYCHO FLYRODDER AND WILL CONTINUE TO EXPERIMENT ON ONLY THE PURIST TECHNIQUES TO HOOK AND LAND THESE TROPHIES.

[BillySalmonhole]

I'M WITH ADAM. YOU REALLY SHOULN'T GO THERE, BUT IF YOU MUST KNOW. I USED TO RUN A CHARTERBOAT OUT OF POINT JUDITH RHODE ISLAND AND EVERY YEAR I HAD A GROUP OF GUYS FROM CONNECTICUT THAT HIRED ME TO TAKE THEM OFFSHORE TO TROLL FLIES FOR TUNA. I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FLY FISHING THEN, SO THESE GUYS PRETTY MUCH TOOK CARE OF THEIR OWN GEAR. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT WEIGHT RODS, TIPS, ETC. BUT THE FLIES THEY USED WERE TIED BULKY WITH LOTS OF HAIR. THE FLIES WERE ALSO VERY BRIGHT BLUES,REDS, AND GREENS IN COLOR WITH WHAT I WOULD CALL LARGER THAN AVERGE SIZED EYES. THEY ALSO VARIED IN LENGTHS, BUT I REMEMBER THE 5"-6" FLIES WERE PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL. WE TROLLED AT A SPEED OF 6-8 KNOTS DEPENDING ON THE WIND AND HOW THE FLIES WERE RIDING. TYPICALLY WE FISHED THREE RODS FROM THE STERN OF THE BOAT LIKE YOU WOULD FISH A FLAT LINE WITH CONVENTIONAL GEAR. YOU KNOW, UP FAIRLY TIGHT (3RD-4TH WAKE) I WOULD ALSO RUN SOME TEASERS UP TIGHT OFF THE OUTRIGGERS AND A REALLY LARGE "BOONE BIRD" OFF THE CENTER RIGGER SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE 5TH AND 6TH WAKES. THIS CREATES QUITE A COMMOTION BEHIND THE BOAT, THEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS RUN OVER SOME FISH. WE HAD SEVERAL GOOD TRIPS WITH SMALL BLUEFIN TUNA, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE HOOKUPS. ONCE WE VENTURED SOUTH A LITTLE FURTER IN SEARCH OF SOME WARMER WATER AND YELLOWFIN TUNA, NO LUCK WITH THE YELLOWFIN THAT DAY. HOWEVER, WE HAD A DOUBLE HOOKUP WITH A COUPLE LONGFIN ALBACORE. THE ANGLERS DID A NICE JOB WITH THESE FISH ON THE FLYRODS LANDING ONE FAIRLY QUICKLY, UNFORTUNATELY THE SECOND ONE LOST IT'S LOWER HALF COURTESY OF A MAKO SHARK ABOUT TWENTY FEET BEHIND THE BOAT.
I HOPE THIS HELPS; HOWEVER, FOR THE RECORD I'M NOT ADVOCATING THIS TECHNIQUE. NOW I AM A COMPLETELY PSYCHO FLYRODDER AND WILL CONTINUE TO EXPERIMENT ON ONLY THE PURIST TECHNIQUES TO HOOK AND LAND THESE TROPHIES.

[artb]

I didn't get out there too much last year, but I did have fun. Didn't catch any big fish, but I did catch almost a 20 lb dolphin casting a fly around the high fliers. I have been developing a fly for tuna. I did get into a yf when it hit in the wake when I was trolling it behind the boat. How do I know was because one of the other guys hooked one about the instant I had one on, and he had his line and lure out about the same distance as I which was about 25 ft. He landed his on a boat rod, about 40 lbs. I didn't on a flyrod. I feel for the bigger fish one needs an anti reverse reel if he wants to keep his fingers. The fly is about 6 - 8 in. long, made like the paraket fly except I used blue, white,red yarn,white saddle hackles, and a few strands of flash. It makes a heavier and a bulkier fly that made a pretty good rooster tail when trolling it. When I find out how to show pictures I will put it on.

[RavellingTangle]

the Are Rule fishkin Bug and fishskin Flyer (a mini flyingfish imitation on a sort-of tube fly) can behave trolling at those speeds, or higher.

They are castable, too, of course.

Area Rule is now owned by Pro Soft (I think) but if you put "area rule" in a search engine, ou'll get there anyway.

[Saltydog]

JOSKO, CHECK OUT www.NetSense.Net/~prowler captain AL ANDERSON
if that helps.
GOOD LUCK GOOD FISHIN.
P.S. will be w/ him for TUNA this SEPT. on the fly --127-3-

[rhodyflyguy]

I'll be with Capt. Al in Oct, get some SBFT on the 9 wt. Let's see if Orvis will honor the warranty :brow

[wittich]

If you just want to catch fish on a fly rod you might as well troll bait on a fly rod.

[rhodyflyguy]

I imagine putting out poppers, fished on a sinking line in place of one of the flat lines would be effective. try cupping the face of a Big Bob's Banger, or drilling some small holes in it to create a jet head.

[LeeG]

Josko-we've had decent luck on skipjacks and longfin tuna with small (3-0) deceivers on intermediate lines close to the boat-in the wash and a bit further back. The longfin were up to 45-50lbs.

Except for the longfin experience we troll the fly in addition to everything else-more for something to do when it's slow than anything else.

[Mark Cahill]

and I'm closing it...