Fly Fishing The Flats With The Club
The Saltwater Fly Anglers of Delaware club gathers and fishes the Henlopen flats every couple weeks.
This evening some of the members of the Saltwater Fly anglers of Delaware club met at Cape Henlopen State Park at the fishing pier. The topic of tonight’s gathering was fishing the flats for fun. The wizards of the long wand were lined up like opening day during trout season. Nailing more fish than I see surf anglers pull in a few hours, in under an hour. Fly fishing will produce fish, if you have the skills, know how, and patience.
The flats were quiet tonight, a several people on the end of the pier ready to hammer the night time spot bite. Several folks were camped out to catch a sunset, not realizing the California wildfire smoke would change those plans. My first picture of the sun, the camera alert went off, subject too dark. Seriously, the flash went off, while taking a picture of the sun. I can’t think of a better description of how 2020 is going.
I dropped onto the pier beach and said hello to the club. I’m a Member and have been for a while. This is a great club that does a lot of fun things. I missed everyone at the annual tie meetings this year, covid shut those down. It was good to see everyone. I was excited to hopefully get some action shots of fish on the fly. I was not disappointed. At some point when I fix all these broken fly rods I’ll get out with them and fly fish. If you think light gear fishing is fun, wait till you try fly fishing.
Pro tip, when you walk on a beach behind fly anglers keep your distance. That back cast can be brutal if you aren’t paying attention. With the close quarters, these fly anglers are always watching. Roll casts help when you have fish at your feet and people strolling on your six.
The club mascot is now a loon, no not the craziest member. Though that would be a really good choice, I can think of a few I’d nominate. This was an actual loon that was fishing all around the anglers. Popping up between anglers and even behind them, inches away swallowing mullet whole. I hope it likes coffee and donuts. Schools of mullet were jumping all over the place. Being chased by the loon, and short bass, or the speckled trout.
One of the members Conner nailed a big speckled trout, an easy sixteen inches, and fat. He sent it back, catch and release, respect for that, but I would have made tacos.
The spot bite was on fire for many of the members. I saw the club catch at least five species tonight. Spot, croaker, weakfish, speckled trout, and bluefish in under forty-five minutes. Fly patterns were random. When a member caught, everyone would ask what are you using. The standard answer is an “ugly” fly.
If you ever get the chance check out the Saltwater Fly anglers of Delaware.
They meet once a month and have regular outings as well as in club tournaments, tying contests, and events. Great group of people, proud to be a member.
![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean,]()
The Saltwater Fly Anglers lined up along the fishing pier beach in Cape Henlopen State park 
The Saltwater Fly Anglers lined up along the fishing pier beach in Cape Henlopen State park ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean,]()
The loon that popped up between some of the members 
That loon again ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean,]()
Trying to fly fish and not hook up a loon 
The Saltwater Fly Anglers lined up along the fishing pier beach in Cape Henlopen State park ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean,]()
The Saltwater Fly Anglers lined up along the fishing pier beach in Cape Henlopen State park 
The sculpture of ocean debris on the beach made by residents of Cape Shores. ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean,]()
Loon fishing as hard as the fly anglers 
Connor hooking up with a big speckled trout ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
Speckled trout landed 
Speckled trout landed ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
One flip of the hook and the speckled flips back into the water and swims off 
One flip of the hook and the speckled flips back into the water and swims off ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
One flip of the hook and the speckled flips back into the water and swims off 
One flip of the hook and the speckled flips back into the water and swims off ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
Hooked up on a spot or small bluefish 
Hooked up on a spot or small bluefish ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
Spot on the retrieve 
Spot on the retrieve ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
Hooked up! 
Spot on the retrieve ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
Spot on the retrieve 
Spot ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
Hooked up! 
Hooked up! ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
Small weakfish 
Hooked up! ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
Speckled trout hooked up 
Speckled trout hooked up ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
Speckled trout hooked up 
A small speckled trout ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish, cape henlopen fishing pier, east end lighthouse]()
East end lighthouse photo bombing the Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier 
Our mascot the loon ![saltwater fly anglers of delaware, fly fishing, cape henlopen state park, lewes, delaware, sussex county, wizards of the long wand, the flats, yes you can fly fish in the ocean, speckled trout, sea trout, croaker, spot, bluefish, weakfish]()
Our newest member with a cameo
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