Al Q casting in Santa Monica bay at sunrise. Photo by Bernard Yin. Click for larger view.

Sometimes after I return from a fishing session I can be totally rewarded by a great photo to remember that perfect moment. I often do not measure the success of a day on the water by how many fish I catch. It can just be about quality time with friends, a beautiful sunrise or sunset, or just time to yourself to collect your thoughts and become a whole person again. Fly fishing the surf does all these things for me and more. Every day on the water is a gift I never take for granted.

sculpin fly at the ready. 2012 © photo by Al Q

Winter Calicos tend to stay deep due to the cold water temps. They don’t like to move far from their comfort zones either, so putting the fly the right depth in the right zone can make the difference in a good day or a slow day. The takes are very slow. A tick, tick, maybe a small bump is all you will get. The fish will often nose the fly before committing to the buffet. But when they do and you set up on them it is game on. Holding these fish off their ambush zones is the key to landing them. Give them an inch and you are done. All my larger fish never landed on the reel, they are all caught by clamping down on the cork grip holding the fly line tight and maintaining full pressure to control their attempt at getting back to their rock, pipe or buoy line.

a sculpin's revenge. 2012 © photo by Al Q

the shimmy fly! © 2011 photo by Al Q

Here’s a nice step by step John Frazier, editor of Fly Fishing In Saltwaters just put together for the new Dec/Jan issue. I have been experimenting around with this fly for a few years now and I am happy with it’s popping on a single strip and movement underwater when stripped continuously. Click here for the video!