False Albacore -- Tackle?

[David Churbuck]

Tom,
What's the best all-around general set up for false albacore fly fishing? Can you also recommend what you'd carry in reserve either for a change in conditions or, if the first rig goes ka-boom?

My personal preference is a stiff 10-weight with a Tibor Everglades, 250 yds of 30 lb. Cortland Micron dacron backing, a 350 grain sinking line, and six feet of 20 lb. flourocarbon.

I'll ask about your preferred fly patterns in another thread.

I love the Sara Gardner line you quote in your chapter about fishing in North Carolina -- "Where Ten Weights Go to Die"!

DC

[Tom G.]

Tom,
What's the best all-around general set up for false albacore fly fishing? Can you also recommend what you'd carry in reserve either for a change in conditions or, if the first rig goes ka-boom?

My personal preference is a stiff 10-weight with a Tibor Everglades, 250 yds of 30 lb. Cortland Micron dacron backing, a 350 grain sinking line, and six feet of 20 lb. flourocarbon.

I'll ask about your preferred fly patterns in another thread.

I love the Sara Gardner line you quote in your chapter about fishing in North Carolina -- "Where Ten Weights Go to Die"!
David, your outfit is right on the money! I fish from 9 to 11-weights, but my favorite is a 10-weight. I fish an 11 in Florida where I often have blackfin tuna, kings and on rare occasions sailfish in with the albies. Anything lighter that a 9-weight and you might have to play the fish too long for it to have a good chance to survive. For lines, a 350 grain sinking line is the number one choice when I have any current. If I am fishing shallows or slack water then I'll fish a clear intermediate.

For reels, buy the best your budget allows. Islander and Tibor reels are great, but I have taken a lot of fish on SciAngler System II reels. For backing as much as my reel will hold, 250 is my target and I don't use anything less than 30 pound test. As for leaders, when I used to fish mono I'd use 12 and 15-pound test. Now I fish 100% flourocarbon and like you, I use 5 to 7 feet of 20-pound test. I never go out with fewer than two outfits!

"Where Ten Weights Go To Die"

David, that is my favorite line in the book. For your readers its in the Chapter on North Carolina on page 187. On page 188 there are two great stories, one from Capt. Paul Dixon and one from Capt. John "Spot" Killen.


Tom