what am I doing wrong?

[jazzinflyer]

I didn't know where to put this so here looked good. I went fly fishing inshore, my grandparents live on the beach and I just go out infront where I have seen people catch specks on live shrip, but when I go out there at 7:30 in the morning untill 9:00am, I dont the most I get are a few needle fish bites, and lose the fly (blacknosed dance) that got the strikes, I got no strikes from a charteuse and white clousers, which I was told would work well, and none from my shrimp imitations. I am getting beaten by people with spinning gear, very emberassing. Was it from the freakishly hot weather, or what am I doing wrong?

[Sagebrush]

The good thing about fly fishing is your presentation can be delicate. The bad part is if you are doing a lot of false casts and the fish are close by, you might be spooking the fish. As to what flys are best you'll have to figure that one out. A good search pattern, plain deciever, moderately sized an inch to 2 inches, light colored. Provided it is not too shallow, or grassy.

A basic shrimp pattern and clouser might be good too. A slim jim type fly might give you some insight if the fish are game fish or mullet. line selection is also very important. Do you want to fish a very light clouser on a floating line, or a slim jim. Do you have current and depth which might make a moderate sink work better. Is you line the right size for making a delicate presentation. Is your leader long and tapered enough.

I'd focus on stealth, visual signs or good structure. Presenting a basic fly efficiently, one or two backcasts. Without bait and limited casting distance you'll need to become better at reading the water and locating fish. However, half the fun is learning new things and cracking the code. Once you get it down, the bait and conventional guys will stop asking silly questions and you will truly be a better fisherman.

Just some thoughts.

[Sagebrush]

Here is an idea that might improve your odds. Go to Stripermoon.com and find a how to on building a tandem fly rig. Sounds like you need a fish finder, attractor.

I'd suggest you use the knots and leader formulas as a starting point. You may have to experiment in order to come up with the best non fouling, castable combination.

My idea would be to tandem a light but noisy popping fly with a light but neutrally bouyant/weedless shrimp pattern. This will allow you attract scattered fish to your offering, similarly you can work it as slow as you would like. You can also experiment with different flies at one time. You don't have to lead with a popper. This setup comes with it's own fouling problems but you can vary system and your casting style to reduce this.

[Sagebrush]

http://www.stripermoon.com/archive/arc11.html

Here is the general idea. . Also a captain I know uses a small float. It won't please the purist but as the article says you'll increase your odds. A simple way to create one is not altogether different from a speck rig. Also the popper might work better as the rear fly.

P.S. The specks won't care if this this method is more popular for striped bass and freshwater trout.