To increase your odds of hooking up, get the sun at your back, and the wind at your back or at least off your casting shoulder, and be ready to execute the speed cast. Fish a 9- or 10-weight rod, floating line (you might try one of the clear-tip varieties), a 9- to 11-foot leader, depending on wind conditions, and always tie a light wire tippet between your class tippet and fly. The idea is to land that fish after all. Go with coffee-colored wire, and use a haywire twist to give your fly freedom of movement while you’re at it. Don’t overdo the length of the wire bite tippet. You will cast a 5-incher much easier than a 10- to 12-incher, and the shorty will provide ample tooth protection, unless the fish inhales it.

Speaking of things with teeth, Spanish mackerel are the big day saver on both coasts from roughly the Tampa-Canaveral latitude south. This is hands-down the surefire winter bet for fly fishers of all experience levels. Keep an ear out for where the schools are parked, then get out there with your 6- to 8-weight rods, sinking lines (though floaters suffice when the macks are tearing things up on top) and a selection of your oldest, beat-up white streamers. Or, tie up some simple baitfish patterns—Clousers are all you’ll need. And it’s best to tie with durable synthetic fibers rather than bucktail or hackles for obvious reason.

Lately many mack fans are tying their streamers “tarpon style,” that is, with the head of the fly at the bend so that there is some bare hook shank up front to provide a smidge more bite-off protection. Also, the entire wing is located behind the hook gap, so the fly will not foul during casting, though bloodthirsty mackerel will smack even a fouled fly in my experience. If you are really serious about this, carry one rod rigged with a clear mono fly line, one with a fast, full sinker, and one with a floating line for fishing a popper. This way, you’ll be covered and will catch macks throughout the water column.

FS