When it comes to fly fishing in SA most non-fly anglers wouldn’t look twice. The art of Fly Fishing is often perceived as a difficult skill that requires excessive time and effort for little reward. If you just want to catch a feed of Squid and King George Whiting I wouldn’t recommend it, however, if the thrills of sight fishing, the stealth of stalking and the reward of outsmarting your quarry in every facet appeals then it’s in your best interest to read on.

Below are some of our favourite species to outwit on the fly here in South Australia:

Murray Cod

Our Australian freshwater icon is without a doubt one of the most exciting fish to target on fluff. These green beasts are tempted using BIG flies designed to imitate frogs, rats, lizards, bats, small fish, birds, yabbies or anything else that swims and fits in a cod’s gob. Depending on the size of the flies used, outfits consisting of 8-10wt rods and reels are used and occasionally 10-12wt outfits are needed to turn over huge flies and apply the brakes on a big angry ‘Goodoo’. Couple these with an appropriate floating (surface) or intermediate (sub-surface) line and you’re ready to get to work on our northern rivers and dams!

Australian Salmon

Australian Salmon are capable of reaching torpedo sizes of 5kg and fight like absolute demons on the right tackle. Their tendency to jump, hit top water and swim with speed makes them a worthy sports fish. The sport only increases when you throw a fly rod in the mix! 8-10wt rods are needed to cast equivalent intermediate lines and large 1/0-3/0 sized flies a reasonable distance. Although clouser and deceiver patterns work exceptionally well, popper flies are by far the most thrilling technique used to hook into these speedsters. Some of the best fly friendly Salmon beaches include: Browns Beach (Yorke Peninsula), Morgan Beach (Fleurieu Peninsula), Mount Camel Beach (Eyre Peninsula) and the Beachport Salmon Hole (South East).

Southern Bluespot Flathead

Rapidly gaining a sports fishing reputation in SA is the Southern Bluespot Flathead. These fish are often targeted on flat beaches, fight hard and are willing to take a variety of flies; making them an enjoyable target for beginners. 9ft, 7-8wt outfits are used to present size 1/0 clousers and deceivers on floating lines to the snipers of the sea floor. The Lower Yorke & Eyre Peninsula’s hold rich populations of Flathead and are best visited in autumn and winter.

Black Bream

Adelaide’s accessible estuaries and saltwater lakes are an easy option for a quick Bream on fly mission. Cunning and shy, fly anglers need to be prepared to present flies with stealth to fool the keen eyes of Bream. Tippet sizes of no more than 4-6lb are usually required. Match your tippet and leader to a 6-7wt Floating or Intermediate line and you will be on track. 6-7wt rods provide the perfect balance between presentation and power. Small baitfish, shrimp and crab patterns (size #4) such as crazy charlies, flashback shrimp and baited breaths have worked exceptionally well for years.

Mulloway

A true saltwater challenge, Mulloway are often hard enough to catch on lures and bait at the best of times. Throw fly fishing for them in the mix and you have upped the ante! Whether you choose to throw 1/0 clousers for school fish, up to 4/0 garfish flies for the big guys, 9ft, 8-10wt outfits cover most situations. Appropriately sized intermediate fly lines are used almost exclusively and leader sizes can range wildly from 10-40lb+ depending on location and fish size. Here in South Australia the Coorong estuary system is very productive for boaties, whilst the Onkaparinga River is ideal for land based anglers.

Trout (Stream)

An original fly fishing target, Brown and Rainbow Trout exist in the Adelaide Hills. Although acquiring access can vary as most streams are on private property and generally require permission from the land owner prior to fishing, the action can be insane! Dry fly fishing for Trout is a highly addictive and rewarding form of fly fishing which should be on every keen anglers bucket list. For our small hills streams 7-8ft, 3-4wt rods equipped with floating lines cover almost all bases. Small size 16-14 dry flies work well during the warmer months of the year. When the weather is cooler, size 16-14 nymph patterns are deadly.

Yellowfin Whiting

Not the first species to spark an idea when fly fishing is mentioned, however Yellowfin Whiting provide a fun, challenging and rewarding top water experience. The open environment where these gold bars reside is easy and stress free for all skill levels. 9ft, 6-8wt outfits with floating line and popper flies make up the gear of choice. It may be wise to bring a second outfit with an intermediate line to throw size 8-6 crazy charlies if they shy away from the popper flies. The flats beaches at Thompsons Beach, Ardrossan and Moonta Bay are fly fisher friendly, but most importantly they’re home to huge schools of hungry Yellowfin Whiting throughout spring and summer.