Shilton SR Saltwater FlyReel

Shilton SR Saltwater FlyReel range has been designed with the saltwater angler in mind.

Rugged functionality with high grade 6082 T6 aluminium gives you the edge you need in any salt water scenario. The overall cork drag diameter has been made bigger than the the Shilton SL series resulting in less start up inertia and more stopping power.
An extra plunger (from 2 to 3) has been added for extra drag engagement and durability.

SPECIFICATIONS:
SR9 Shilton SR Saltwater FlyReel - Diameter 10.1cm / 4″ - Weight 243g / 8.5 oz - Line 9wt - Backing 250m 50lbs + WF9
Species: Tigerfish, Golden Dorado, Salmon, Bonefish, Permit.

SR10 Shilton SR Saltwater FlyReel - Diameter 10.8cm / 4.3″ - Weight 277g / 9.8 oz - Line 10 - 11wt - Backing 285m 50lbs + WF10
Species: Tigerfish, Golden Dorado, Salmon, Milkfish, Tarpon.

SR12 Shilton SR Saltwater FlyReel - Diameter 11.7cm / 4.6″ - Weight 310g / 10.9 oz - Line 12wt - Backing 350m 50lbs + WF12
Species: Salmon, Arapaima, Tarpon, Giant Trevally, Sailfish, Marlin.
Shilton SR Saltwater FlyReel

See our other Shilton Reels alike the SL and CR series.
Here they are in action catching the 'gangsters of the flats'.

Summer Saltwater Flyfishing with your Shilton SR Saltwater Reel

When summer is on in the Cape, and the seawater temperatures increase, the salt water fishing is starts to pick up.

Big Elf
There is nothing to describe the feeling when your fly gets chased down by three giant elf, who turn away as soon as they see you. It's one hell of a high adrenaline rush, followed by bone crushing disappointment. Especially after days of watching and waiting for the right moment.
The best place to target big blue-back elf with you trusty Shilton SR Reel in saltwater is the Berg River estuary in early summer

Blacktail
While waiting for the correct tide that makes the elf appear, we have been fishing for blacktail. Jimmy the Shark Man (yes, he seems to be diversifying) has thrown his best flies at them, but they only seem to want one fly. Conrad Botes' Steve Austin fly. This was featured in an article in the Complete Flyfisherman in September or August 2009. Recently Jimmy has been successfully catching Sea Bream (Hot....ts).
As you can see below, it worked for me too. The really nice thing about fishing for blacktail is that you have the opportunity to sight fish, which is quite exciting, especially when they are big. But beware, if you can see them, they can see you. Best results are to feeding fish, and forget about shoals moving from place to place. It would be worthwhile to dig out the article and read it.

Shilton SR Saltwater Reel

Big Steenbras
One of the plus sides of waiting for tides is the chance to observe fish behaviour. Sometimes you see unusual things, well, what you think is unusual because you haven't seen it before. While waiting for the elf, I was surprised by a big splash to the side of me, which turned out to be a moerse steenbrass, feeding on the surface. Come on, that's got to be unusual. But someone is likely to point out after reading this that they do it all the time.

To continue.
The fish swam past, and I had a throw at it with a large baitfish pattern, and it chased. Fish fever kicked in, and I missed on of the strips, the fly slows down, and the fish turns away. Wow! What could have been. But I suppose that thought is quite common, like the fantasies of catching the big one you have before a days fishing.

Half an our later the fish comes past again, I have a throw but this time it ignores me. The fish is clearly doing the rounds, so I set up my 5 weight with a floating line and a floating prawn. I know, there was no chance of landing this fish with a 5 weight. But just to hook it would have got me wooping with joy.
And so, when the fish passed again I threw out that prawn, and ... Oh yes, that part didn't happen as it never passed again. Bummer.

Shilton SR Saltwater Reel

Grunter
Headed off to the Breede mouth last weekend for a spot of grunter hunting.
Despite some wel known grunter hunters having caned large grunter on the Friday, Saturday was a dissapointment of note, with a howling south easter and no tailing grunter.
As sod's law works, I tried my best on the sand flats on the incoming tide and saw plenty of good fish, but no tailers.
And just after I gave it up, the grunter hunters managed to coax a few tailing fish onto the flies.
Early the next week, the weather of course got perfect and the grunter were once again tailing everywhere.
On saturday evening I went and threw some flies for cob, and after being spooked by a big bunch of weed floating past me in the semi dark, I hooked a grunter...head.
Someone had practiced a different form of catch-and-release. I checked. No tag.