Many anglers believe that using a flyrod offers a practical advantage while fishing trout streams and lakes. It's true that trout will often take a fly while the lure slingers and bait soakers can't even buy a bite. There are plenty of anglers who use the flyrod on the salt as well. Snook, bonefish and dorado are all hard-fighting fish favored by fly guys in more tropical locations. All respond well to a shallow or surface presentation. In other parts of the world, there are big game opportunities for fly fishers such as tarpon in Florida, giant trevally in the South Pacific, and even sailfish off the Central American coast. 

Most of the sport-caught species in Monterey Bay are found in deep water, closer to the bottom or midway up the water column. One notable exception are the surf fish, namely perch, striped bass and occasionally halibut. Naturally, the water is more shallow where it meets the sand. And, there are a dedicated cadre of surf flycasters that roam our beautiful Monterey Bay beaches, on the hunt for that trophy fish or dinner tonight for the family. Many do quite well, though the learning curve can be steep. As the internationally respected surfcasting guru Mike Fixter from Santa Cruz recently stated, "Anyone who has become successful in the surf with a fly rod has paid their dues and deserves every fish they catch."

Not being a seasoned flycaster myself, I turned to the most expert fly guy on my friends list for more detailed information. Ken Oda lives in Pacific Grove, but fishes all around Monterey Bay. Oda began surfcasting in the 1980's with the usual spinning gear, using sand crabs or grubs. Then he met a fellow who was "really good" at flyfishing the surf. Since then he's been dedicated to the flyrod approach to surfcasting. "It's a challenge to feel everything through your fingers without the gearing and transmission of a spin or bait cast reel," Oda says. While most fly reels have drag systems, the action of pulling a fish in, or letting it run is usually controlled through the angler's fingers and hands as they hold the line in front of the reel and pull or " strip' the line in to retrieve. This not only creates action that attracts fish, but maintains direct contact with the lure, increasing sensitivity to any nibbles or hits. Oda has been surfcasting with the fly for nearly 30 years now. He says, "Some people would call it an obsession." He has a shelf full of trophies from many years of competing in the Sand Crab Classic Perch Derby, and has plenty of 15-16 inch perch in his memory banks, along with striped bass, some weighing in the mid-twenty pound range.

Sharing some technical details, Oda says he uses rods from six to eight-weights for most local fishing. His leaders are a two-stage system, usually incorporating a length of lead core or other fast sinking line off his main, with a final leader of straight 20 to 25-pound mono to the fly. The sinking line quickly brings the fly down towards the sand, where the fish are usually feeding. Oda uses a variety of flies, depending on conditions and target species. "I use streamers, trinkets, or shad flies. Some are fairly small 1/2 inch flies with striper flies measuring up to four inches, about same as river salmon flies. I like flouro orange and reds, they look like eggs on a sand crab. His hook sizes range from #4 up to a #2/0

For those interested in flyfishing from the beach, you might check out the Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show on February 27-March 1 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. On the 27th, the show also includes the California debut of the 2026 International Fly Fishing Film Festival.