Hi Everyone,

I am looking for suggestions for a fly rod to catch shark off the coast of Nova Scotia. From what I understand the fishing is done in the chum line not far off the stern of the boat. Up here the most common species of sharks are Blue, Porbeagle, and Mako with the odd Thresher thrown in. Average weight for this past season was in the 100-140 pound range topping out around 220 lbs. I have only ever built trout and salmon rods and have no idea about building something like this. Any building tips and suggestions of blanks, components and a reel would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Jeff

Are you looking for a "true fly rod"? or just something that you can drift a fly back out into the chum line on?

About the only advice I can offer....is don't think you need to build on a fly rod blank. Just need a limber enough tip to get the offering out there and a strong enough butt to win the battle.

Back bounce and live bait blanks are a couple of areas to explore.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

[www.youtube.com]

[www.youtube.com]

[www.youtube.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2014 08:13PM by roger wilson.

Catching big offshore fish on fly is more about the water you are fishing.

400 pound Duskys are easy when you find them on the flats, all they can do is run. 400 pound Makos can have 2,000 feet below them and they will use it all.

Lifting big fish in deep water is different than simply fighting big fish in normal situations. Fly rods are typically casting instruments. In Nova Scotia, you may need a lifting tool. Lifting tools are on the short side of 8 feet and you may hate that rod if you are pinned against a transom for any length of time. The two things you learn from doing this are, 1. It can be brutally hard work, be prepared physically and mentally. 2, The best equipment is very specialized equipment.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/2014 04:16PM by steve george.

Steve
Very good advice!!!
Herb

Herb,

I should have mentioned that it is more of a young man's game. Us old guys just sit in canoes and catch smallmouth bass and eat blueberry pie.

:-)))
You think you are old - you don't know what old is.

Old is when you can't eat pie anymore.
Herb

But what do older folks do with their pie, when they have no teeth?

Gum it --- Or put there teeth in and eat

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks for the information so far, definitely some good things to think about. Does anyone have any specific blank, guide, and reel seat suggestions?

~Jeff

Jeff,
As pointed out in the video, many folks use 14 weight fly rods with very heavy duty salt water fly reels.

Use appropriate components to match.

Be safe

I've never fished for sharks so I'm not speaking from experience, but the 14 wt tarpon blanks I have seem a little light for sharks that could go 2-3 times the weight of a tarpon. Have you considered something like the cape fear fly rod blanks? I think they make them as powerful as a 17/19 wt blank.

[www.mudhole.com]

I think they're out of business now, but you might find one for sale somewhere.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2014 01:31PM by John E Powell.