Read the reports and ask the local guides and fly shops when halibut return to the shallows to spawn.
Britt Phillips, who owns the Hole in the Wall Fly Shop in San Luis Obispo, fly fishes for halibut on the Central Coast of California when he can’t stray to far from the shop.
For West Coast flatties, Phillips recommends squidlies, anchovy look-alikes, clousers, various bead-heads and wraps that are tied to resemble the seasonal baitfish halibut pursue in the flats and protected bays.
A lot of these same flies are popular with other surf species such as perch.
Off the California coast, the halibut bite typically picks up in the summer on into the early fall.
When fly fishing for halibut, it’s best to use a fast-sinking line with a heavy leader to get it down where the fish are, although hungry fish will come off the bottom to attack flies that resemble baitfish if they’re well presented closer to the surface.
Because halibut are bottom feeders, sinking line and a heavy leader are a must. And when you feel a strong bite, set that hook. The halibut is a finicky species that likes to snack on a bait and won’t commit if it feels any tension on the line, which is why a lot of spinning-reel anglers leave their lines in fee spool when fishing for halibut, setting the hook four or five seconds after the bait is taken.
With a fly rod, the hook sets are obviously quicker, so once the fish is on, be sure to raise the rod and set that hook. Be patient and expect to lose a fish or two before you get hooked up. Once you do, you’ll forget all about previous misses as halibut often fight with the best of them.
