Fish Species That Defy the Fly

[DimeBrite]

I thought it would be interesting to start a discussion about fish species that are very difficult or have yet to be caught using flies.
Once upon a time Bonefish and Atlantic permit confounded fly anglers, then ingenuity of fly tyers slowly opened the gates. Titan and Yellowmargin Triggerfish were overlooked, but recently have become a favored sight fishing target. Again, observation and innovation turned a side show species into a favorite target.
In fresh water, it is easy to forget that Pacific salmon were not routinely targeted with flies until the latter part of the 20th century. I was routinely scolded "you can't catch salmon on flies" while beach fishing Puget Sound only 15 years ago. In South America think of how many new fresh water species are now caught on flies, Pacu being a good example.

If you have a favorite story of how a new fish species was "figured out" please post it. Even more interesting, what fish species have yet to be solved??

 

[Evan B]

Might be tough to get a sablefish

 

[Bugmeister]

Oh I know this one - carp

(At least that’s how I feel most of time time when targeting them with flies)

 

[Greg Armstrong]

Guppy

 

[DimeBrite]

The Guinean Pompano (Trachinotus maxillosus)

This species lives on the Atlantic coast of west Africa. Not much is known about it, and very few photos are available. On a recent fishing trip a friend of mine was obsessed with catching one. Early one morning I was getting coffee when a local villager walked into the kitchen area with a strange golden fish. "A gift from the chief" was the message translated to me. A few minutes later I snuck into the back rooms of the kitchen to find and document the fish, accompanied by the obsessed fly angler...







It was indeed a Guinean Pompano caught by nets within the lagoon the previous evening! I was told they were rarely caught on gear, usually eating a live crab. Another guy said there may be two sub species of Guinean Pompano, one that stays inside the brackish lagoon and a larger version that feeds along the surf zone. I felt its belly and it was full of something hard. "They eat those hermit crab things that live in those long sharp snail shells." The lagoon shore was littered with these dark shells and at night they tickled my feet as I waded the surf.

Guides said there was a spot about 3 kilometers to the north where they could be seen grazing on rocky rubble in the surf. My obsessed buddy gathered a group of anglers and marched up there early one morning. I opted out due to the group already being too large, thinking I would make my attempt 2 or 3 days later when the tide was higher.



They reached the place and watched for the Guinean Pompano to appear. My buddy thought he saw one briefly, but the sighting was unconfirmed. No casts were made. I never had the chance to visit the location when the tide was higher due to heavy rain changing the fishing schedule. But, I took photos of the hermit crab things they eat and learned about the tides when they feed within the range of a fly rod. I'll add a photo of these critters soon.

To my knowledge no one has landed a Guinean Pompano on a fly yet. Take these notes and continue the story.

 

[Chucker]

Milkfish seem to be the species that are currently in the fly industry hype machine. They are beautiful fish. I have seen some big ones whilst snorkeling, maybe 25-30 pounds - that would be a challenge on a fly rod.

 

[plaegreid]

The bighead and silver carp are tough; the only ones I've managed to catch on a fly I had to basically dap the fly into their mouths as they fed near the surface. Fun, but not really sporting. I've heard of bigheads attacking minnow patterns on occasion, usually near dams for some reason. I reckon a size 16 or smaller fly might be in order to fool these guys, but finding a stout enough hook to wrangle one in will be the struggle; they are strong!

 

[Brute]

Milkfish seem to be the species that are currently in the fly industry hype machine. They are beautiful fish. I have seen some big ones whilst snorkeling, maybe 25-30 pounds - that would be a challenge on a fly rod.


View attachment 186365

They are indeed finicky to land on any type of rod, let alone a fly rod...I speared one off Waimanalo HI about 20 lbs, and it felt like I was attached to missile. Old timer Hawaiians used to anchor and create a chum line with bread, then put a hook into one of the bread pieces...success rate is very low.

 

[Brute]

Basically all deep water snapper & grouper species would be difficult to target with a fly rod...but I'm sure someone will figure it out some day...for instance, Onaga (longtail red snapper) in Hawaiian waters live between 600-1000 feet of water.

 

[jaredoconnor]

I was just thinking about this last night!

In my opinion, flies (and lures) are only effective for fish that either don’t smell their food or can be tricked into a quick reaction that doesn’t give them time to do so.

Australian garfish are basically impossible to catch on flies (or lures). They require scent, so bait is the only thing that is really effective. I have heard of people chumming the water with bread and then using flies that look like bread, but I don’t think this counts.

Hyporhamphus melanochir - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[kmudgn]

Coelacanth (Latimeria)
Been around for millions of years (living fossil) and has seen every fly ever tied

https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/fish/coelacanth

 

[Pink Nighty]

Oh that's the great big Goldfish in my bass pond. Hes over 2ft long now and I see his bright orange ass like half the time I'm out there. He's had literally every fly in my pond box shown to him in a variety of presentations. I can't even snag him.

For me, those deep sea species are only defying the fly on account of their location. They pretty much defy being caught on gear that way too.

The Goldfish is in casting range, near the surface and appears to grow about 6" per year so he's eating well and often. He's the true Gold(fish) Standard of disinterest in playing with me.

 

[Wade Rivers]

I caught a blue cat once, and a walleye, so that's possible.

I've seen TV shows where they catch halibut on a fly but seems like a sturgeon would be a challenge

 

[plaegreid]

Oh that's the great big Goldfish in my bass pond. Hes over 2ft long now and I see his bright orange ass like half the time I'm out there. He's had literally every fly in my pond box shown to him in a variety of presentations. I can't even snag him.

For me, those deep sea species are only defying the fly on account of their location. They pretty much defy being caught on gear that way too.

The Goldfish is in casting range, near the surface and appears to grow about 6" per year so he's eating well and often. He's the true Gold(fish) Standard of disinterest in playing with me.

This one snarfed a leech. Hate seeing them where they're not supposed to be, but it is cool catching something so vibrant. Also they make good flathead bait apparently.

I caught a blue cat once, and a walleye, so that's possible.

I've seen TV shows where they catch halibut on a fly but seems like a sturgeon would be a challenge

Walleye, you say? Clousers around rocks will produce!

 

[Snopro]

Walleye and halibut are fairly easy. It's all location and timing. In the PNW, sturgeon on an unscented fly would be a challenge.

 

[Jim F.]

Photos and Story of An Amazing Catch: Sturgeon on the Fly - Orvis News

Carp are certainly cool, but a sturgeon on a fly is downright amazing. photo by Mark Vandehey [Editor's Note: Oregon angler "John Montana," who runs the Carp on the Fly blog sent me these amazing photos and the story behind them today. All I can say is "Wow."]On Sunday, I was on the flats...

news.orvis.com

 

[Mossback]

Hagfish....

 

[Jim F.]

Paddlefish . . .
Flying Fish . . .

 

[clarkman]

Gotta be short-fin grayling....

 

[Matt B]

Suckers are challenging to fair-catch intentionally on flies. For me anyway. All the ones I've caught were surprise bycatch while fishing for something else.