Description
Firstly, Fly Fishing for Pollack in saltwater, ranks as a unique and exciting experience. Pollack can be caught from the shore or boat, throughout Scotland. A 20ft to 30ft depth is ideal for the Pollack, with plenty of hiding places for a predator to ambush prey. Ideally, you should look for areas in the sea with abundant kelp and steep drop off points.
The Pollack is the ultimate predator and a hard fighting fish. Indeed, the first few runs when hooking a fish, will make you think you are into something bigger.
The Pollack prefers to hunt in areas with rock features, and abundant kelp. This offers cover from predators like seals. This also gives them a perfect environment to attack baitfish and sand eels.
Locations throughout Scotland
We offer sea fishing close to Edinburgh Fly Fishing in The Highlands and Fly Fishing from a boat in Galloway, South West Scotland. We offer fishing from a chartered boat. or from the shore, using spin casting (lure fishing) or fly fishing. On some occasions you can fish in the sea with a float and a strip of mackerel.
There are also large numbers of Coalfish, in these waters, it is similar to the pollack, and equally hard fighting.
Best Tackle for Pollack
The ideal rod for fly fishing, is an Orvis Helios3 9ft 10 weight single hand rod with a line tray. Also the line tray is perfect for avoiding the running line (the line that you shoot on the forward cast) getting snagged on rocks, and seaweed.
There are a few shore fishing marks, where the fish are bigger. Longer rods work more effectively here. In this situation, we use a 14ft or 15ft double hand rod, with a short scandi head and fast sink tip. This is an ideal set up to spey cast a long line out, where there is a shelf or ridge under the water.
We use quality fishing tackle, even for saltwater shore fishing. We have a selection of Orvis Helios Rods for single hand casting. For double hand Spey Casting we use Mackenzie Perflex 14ft and 15ft rods, these are extremely durable and highly effective at casting long distances.
Finally, an inexpensive sealed, and saltwater proof fly reel is the best choice. Fly fishing tackle will get abused and corroded in a boat, especially the reel. I wouldn’t bother with expensive fly fishing reels for fly fishing for Pollack. In fact the fly reel becomes redundant, as the fish are played by hand 90% of the time.
Sea Fishing Techniques for Pollack
Firstly, the ideal rod for Pollack is a 9ft long AFTM 8 or 9 weight. Marry this with a short, aggressive sinking head line, this will help with casting from the boat. At the business end a 7ft length of 25lb shock leader, with a Rapala knot to the fly, to allow it to articulate.
Also a varied and erratic retrieve is highly effective. When fly fishing or spinning, don’t be afraid to pause your retrieve and allow the fly/lure to dive. Often a fish will attack the fly on the drop.
When a Pollack takes a fly, its first instinct is to dive deep to the safety of the kelp. In fact, you need to be forceful when playing these fish. Pollack come from deep positions, attack the lure and then dive quickly. If you are not quick enough, or allow the fish too much slack, it will “kelp” you. In other words, drag you deep into the seaweed, to try to shake the hook.
Finally a rapid retrieve of the fly, followed by a sudden stop, is a good way to induce a take from an angry Pollack.
