Striped Bass: Flatwing Swing

Swinging flatwing flies for striped bass consists of traditional techniques borrowed fromsalmon and steelhead fishermen. Flatwings are a style of fly adapted to saltwater byKen Abrames. They are tied with long saddle hackle, sparse bucktail, topped with peacockherl and finished with jungle cock eyes. With these natural materials flatwingsmove and breath in the water’s current and look alive. These flies can be cast andstripped but they are designed to be fished on the swing. Stripers in current can befound not only in rivers but in many areas including the surf, near points and out on thereefs. These fish use the tides to bring them food and a properly presented fly will catchthem. Greased-line and wet fly swings and dead drifting that are usually associated withfreshwater fishing in rivers transfer well to presenting flatwings to striped bass that arefeeding in current. These swings are done by casting across or slightly downstream andmending up current to take tension off the fly. The line is continually mended to keep astraight line and is fed into the drift while staying in contact with the fly. The river and itscurrent will dictate how the line will be mended and thus how the fly will swim. At theend of the drift the tension on the line swings the fly across into a wet fly swing and canbe led to the bank by the rod. Dead drifting a flatwing over stripers that are set up infeeding lanes can be also very effective. These stripers want a fly brought to them driftingdown the current just like a baitfish. They are like trout sipping dries and won’t oftenmove. A well presented fly on a drag free drift will take these selective fish. When thefish are holding deeper a split shot or sink tip can be added while still maintaining thecontrol of the floating line. Its amazing how deep you can get with a single split shot anda long leader. Casting across and mending upstream lets the fly sink as it drifts downcurrent. Feeding line while maintaining a slight pressure helps you feel the fly withoutletting it rise up. At the end of the drift the fly moves up and across into a wet fly swing.Stripers often hit when the fly is on the rise and they can be some of the most incredibletakes. Their are many ways of catching striped bass on the fly but when they are in currentusing flatwings and traditional techniques can be the most effective way of gettingthem to hit.