Bob Popovics: Tips for flying fishing in the surf

On November 1, 2024, the fly fishing community lost one of the best known and most respected fly levels in the history of sport. Bob Popovics is often reminiscent of flying fishing and especially for fly fishing, the surf after striped bass. His renowned patterns such as the Biest Fleye have influenced a new generation of fly levels to continue its legacy. Forever, he is seen as one of the greatest fly fishermen ever and as a family man who has inspired so many. (This article was originally published in October 2017 edition by On The Water Magazine) – Matt Haeffner

Many coastal flying rodder consider surfing as the ultimate challenge. Pumping on a Guatemala sailfish, throwing a fly to a sum of Tarpon or wading a pretty grass flat for a bone fish are high on the dead recommendation, but they require a fat wallet and many hours drive. No surf fishing. We all live in a coffee mug-mug drive from some of the largest fly fishing that are found to the world, and the chance to catch one of the largest game fish, striped bass.

One of the best in the Surf Fly Fishing game is Bob Popovics. He has been there since the late 1960s and only lives from New Jersey's Island Beach State Park a few minutes. Surrounded by good buddies and good surf fishing options that are so close to home, his experience also includes days that were spent in remarkable surfing fishing skins in New England, Montauk and the outer banks. BOB is known as much for his skills for flying and fishing as for his patience, which teaches everyone who will listen to his tips and strategies.

“Surf-Fly fishing is a very visual experience,” says Bob, “and to be good, the type of beach, the beach structure and the beach structure that happens everywhere, look at the water to find signs of bait, the formation of beams and points, the location of white and calm water as well as the birds. You need patience to be a observer, ”he believes,“ but it makes you a better fly fisherman.

Bob likes to keep things straightforward. He may have enough equipment and equipment in his beach buggy to store a Tackle shop, but he only has the necessary essential in a shirt or jacket bag when it is on the water of the water. “I always have my stripping basket and love a Velcro fastener, which is so much easier and from the buckle than a buckle.

When larger baits are in the surf, Bob Popovics' go-to-pattern Bucktail-Decever, The Beasts and Spread Fleyes include.

He also holds a coil of 16-pound tips and another £ 12 for really clear water. Usually he does not use a heavy mono bite. When blues appears, it has a screw tubter in his pocket (such as the species that holds cigars) with 8-inch wire ladder, which are bound at one end with a hay-wire loop to attach to the tip. The open end is then wired on the fly.

“Most of the time I know what I can expect when I hit the beach. I want to have a color selection at hand if I have to switch from a light fly to a dark change, and the same applies to short and long patterns. “

BOB prefers a 9-foot pole, and although some Surff bang chisers go longer with a 9½ to 11 ½ foot rod, he says: “Although I have tried it, I did not get into the two-hand casting style and use one hand rods most of the time that is not an ultra-fasting design.”

“In my advisory work with Temple forklifts, I have the Flip-Palot-Mangroven series and the Bob Clouser rods, which have a bending in the button, in comparison to a stiff, ultra-fast taper flying.”

“A floating line is my first choice when choosing a fly line.

A floater with a short stem head is his second choice. “You want to be able to record a line if necessary, and to cast it again, and this is still possible with an intermediate flushing pilot line. You have to do this if the fish pulls away from you after making a line -up or when the fish rejects at an angle from its original swimming direction. “

“A floating line behaves badly and makes a bad presentation in the surf when you have it taken away by a wave of break. You can make a nice presentation in this quiet water. “

BOB recommends learning management skills. This fast, circular flip movement of the rod tip fits the position of the line in a current or a wave to track the fly well. If the wave campaign makes it impossible to control the fly, it uses a roller caste, then drives for a back and shoots a forward cast to re -position the fly in calm water. Bob says: “After a while, dealing with Rod becomes second in nature.

We all dream of catching a fish so big that we do not fib, but typically surfed with a striped bass from schoolies to teenage size and maybe in the 20-pound range. A 30-pounder is an astonishing catch. Even the biggest striped bass will not take too much line, so Bob prefers light large burbor rolls that can hold support about 150 meters. “You don't need a big role.

“Most roles are salt water today,” he says, “and it is probably more important which hand is used in the line.

It is of course to go to the surf, but Popovics prefers to be higher in the sand, since the bass is often directly in the laundry. When flying a beach, the currents and the structure are important. The basic current takes place from the incoming and back waves, but there are also beach currents that are generated by wind that can walk along the beach. These areas can be processed by swinging the fly in the current and having the line repaired as needed in order to stay in contact with the fly and not to steer the waves, which leads to an irregular call and slack line.

Bob suggests how a trout fisherman surgically throw along the beach structure in a small stream. The bass is not everywhere; They keep structure and travel along the structure, such as: For example, a slough between the beach and a sand bar, a cut in a sand bar, a beach point with white water on the sides, the edges of clear and cloudy water and also the quiet water. “Working everything,” he says.

“Use wind and currents to your advantage if you let the beach walk.

Bob's good friend, Lou Tabory, once told him: “There is no substitute for the time on the water”, and Bob repeats this with other good advice. “Even a fishless morning can still be a great day because experience and knowledge get the hours and not the fish. Be an observer, look for things, think about what is going on around you, edit the structure and build on this time on the water.

When the leading autumn surfing fishing approaches, BOB uses certain fly patterns based on what Kader spreads from September to November in the run-up to the season. For the early autumn, he usually throws Siliclone and Bobs Banger to imitate seacase, as well as jiggies and surf sweetness to imitate the rainy bait. When larger baits are in the surf, his contact points include Bucktail Decevers, the beasts and widespread fleyes. Later in autumn, when the Sande invasion penetrates hordes of the slim bait into the beach, it changes to longer (but thin) joke.

One last tip: One of Bob's favorite autumn periods for flyfish is the beginning of a fresh nor'eaaster when it is still clear before the water is all upgraded and cloudy. “The bass makes a binge feed,” he says, “and if the water is really rough, I will use a 300 to 400-grain flushing peak line to cut the turbulence.”

The Atlantic Saltwater Fly Rodders meet every month on the second Tuesday. Bob is usually at hand and ready to speak to members and guests with fly fishing. Stackpole Books has released its two must-read flying books. Pop Fleyes With Ed Jeworowski's photos and Fleye design With Jay Nichol's photos. Both are extraordinary books for every Fly angler.

Bob Popovics: Tips for flying fishing in the surf

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