July 10, 2025
Still plenty of strriper season left onthe Saluda, but I am reducing prices on a couple of striper rods (only one remaining of each model), so first come, first served, and you even get to cast it even if it’s raining. No returns on closeout items, but you get to cast it first.
Temple Fork Axiom II 9'0" 8 weight - $365.99 (was $469.99).
Extra fast,so it is better for the intermediate to advanced fly angler seeking to maximize accuracy at distance.
The Axiom II-X series is constructed with high modulus carbon fiber material and an embedded double-helix of Kevlar within the blank all finished in a satin sky blue.
• Extra fast action for distance
• Premium quality cork handles with burl accents, anodized aluminum up-locking reel seats with carbon fiber inserts.
• Alignment dots
• Color coded by line weight
• RECOIL guides by REC and ultra-lightweight chromium-impregnated stainless-steel snake guides.
Redington Predator 9'0" 8 weight - $269.99 (was $350.00)
The PREDATOR is the ultimate fly rod for big flies, heavy lines, and aggressive-fighting fish. It features a powerful, intuitive fast action that commands enough power to combat big game fish and pick up and cast today's heavy lines and massive flies. Its action is designed to perform in both freshwater and saltwater scenarios, and all components are saltwater-ready.
• Intuitive fast action
• Dialed in-hand balance for lightweight feel and responsive casting
• Anodized machined aluminum reel seat, ideal for all water conditions
• Laser-etched model reference on reel seat for quick rod identification
• Section tips epoxy coated to prevent sticking
• Aluminum oxide stripping guides with ceramic inserts and hard wire anodized snake guides for durability
• Alignment dots for easy rod setup
• Durable cordura rod tube with built in rod dividers
• Lifetime warranty
Redington Path II 9'0" 7 weight - $39.99 was ($89.99) (discontinued model)
Graphite blank with a medium-fast action. Brown blank with yellow wraps and alignment dots. Anodized Machined Aluminum rod seat with dual-uplocking system. Cordura rod tube with conveniently integrated dividers. Redington’s Path II Rods are covered by their original owner warranty which is limited to the replacement of the rod only and it does not cover direct, indirect, consequential, or any additional type of damage caused by using the rod. This warranty also does not cover neglect, misuse, theft, fire, loss, normal wear and tear, or loss. Redington also reserves the right to replace discontinued models with newer models if necessary. Replacement tips are available.
June 24, 2025
The striper bite seems to be picking up or is it that only catch and release anglers are the only ones legally fishing on the Saluda now. What ever the reason, stripers are hitting large blue and white minnow patterns , white rubber legged beastmaters, gamechangers, and white loop minnows.
June 16, 2025
June 15, 2025 was the last day to keep striped bass caught on the Saluda. As of June 16, you cannot keep striped bass caught on the Saluda; they must be released. You cannot attempt to catch striped bass on the Congaree or the Broad. Poaching hurts us all, so call a Game Warden at 1-800-922-5431 if you see it.
June 5, 2025
For Father’ Day only get 25% off any purchase of any regularly priced in stock item excluding discounted items, and fly tying materials. That is right, rods, reels, flies, leaders, tippet, lines, terminal tackle, vests, chest packs, lumbar packs, nets, you get the idea. I don’t care if you buy it for yourself, buy it for a family member to give to you, buy it for your child, or buy it for your friend, the deal is still the same. Sale ends Saturday June 14, so hurry up, come by and pick it up or tell them to let me know that you want a gift certificate. I have never enforced the expiration date on a gift certificate yet.
May 26, 2025
The striper run this year is better than last year, but crowds have increased dramatically. Nice fish above 20 inches are being caught mostly around the zoo area with some of the fish moving upstream in increments. Articulated minnow patterns and chartreuse rubber legged beastmasters are working well. A fast retrieve is working better than a slow retrieve right now. However, if your strip retrieve is not working, try swinging your fly downstream and across on a tight line; some of the strikes are violent and some are subtle, thus the tight line to detect the strike.
April 26, 2025
Is Fly South ready for striper season? What do you think? (see picture to the left). We have 7 and 8 weight single hand and spey rods in stock with prices ranging from $59 to $470. Lot's of flies which actually work. I have been keeping meticulous striper fishing records since 2015 listing the date, the places fished, the water level, the weather, the flies used, the fish caught, and other notable occurences like otters, catfish, shad,, turtles, encroaching boats, etc. The best striper fly - the beastrmaster and a variant - the rubber legged blingmaster - (Fly South exclusives) have been responsible for landing me in the last 4 years stripers of 16 pounds, 11 pounds, 19 pounds (watch the video above) and last year - the king - 40 pounds - and hundreds of smaller stripers! I By way of disclosure, it is the fly I use most, especialy after dark. We also carry flies that even a novice can cast with an 8 weight rod tied on saltwater hooks in sizes 6, 4 and 2. Many people like to sell you large flies that are difficult or dangerous to cast. I ask people all the time about casting large flies, and often they respond it was no fun, the fly was too heavy to cast, and I almost hooked myself in the back of the head. Don't get me wrong, we have large flies, but they are not for everyone, and you can catch plenty of fish, including large ones, on smaller flies, have lots more fun, and not end up wearing involuntary stainless steel ear jewelry. We have cast and machined reels from size 7/8 up to sizes 10 and 12 that will not break the bank. In stock we have Rio fly lines starting at $40 on up and bakcing up to 65 pound gel spun to put on a reel. We have monofilament and fluoro tippet material from 12 pounds up to 25 pounds. We have leaders heavy enough for stripers. We have saltwater and big game hooks up to size 4/0 and lots of materials for large and small striper and trout flies. Just let me know when you want to drop by.
April 23, 2025
Stripers are being caught on the Saluda on large minnow patterns just above the zoo. Some are thin whch is to be expected after the spawn and as they recuperate by eating minnows, shad and trout. As the weeks go by some of them will be moving upstream in search of baitfish and cooler water.
April 17, 2025
Water levels on the Saluda are holding steady at 1070 cfs. Striper iseason s in full swing but there is some slow down due to spawning activity. Stripers are being caught in smaller numbers around the zoo with most of the action being centered at the confulence or a litte above. As the weeks go by, the stripers will be moving upstream. Larger minow patterns are working. While trout action is slow some stockers are being caught on a black bead head black sparkle wooly bugger. Some caddis hatches have been seen with fish rising to the naturals.
January 25, 2025
Water levels on the Saluda have dropped to around 800 cfs which is wadeable with care. One stocking occurred in December, but the next stocking was delayed by the snow and will occur soon. A few srockers have been taken on leech patterns and fewer holdovers have been taken on cdc jig patterns.
December 14, 2024
Around Christmas time peple ask me about getting into fly tying. So it seems like a good time to reprint my article found in the Learner's Corner of my website.
Fly Tying?
A lot of people ask me this question. It seems pretty daunting to get started with all the patterns, materials, tools, techniques, etc. Well the best way is to just get started.
First realize what fly tying will not do for you.
It will not save you money or room in your house
It will probably will not allow you to tie flies as pretty as the ones you see in the store
It will not raise your blood pressure (most of the time)
It will not make you spend more time with your family
It will not keep your kitchen table uncluttered
What will fly tying do for you?
It will make you a better problem solver
It will make you better with your hands
It will improve your patience
It will make you a better fisherman fisherperson(?)
It will help you tie flies you cannot buy
It will help you tie flies in the size, color shape, etc. you cannot otherwise find
It will help you look forward to the trips you take
It will let you forget about things while you are tying.
What do I do to get started?
Buy a fly tying kit, throw the vise away, and buy a decent vise
Get a fly tying friend to help you; you really cannot learn from a book; you can sort of learn from videos especially more advanced techniques, but the best way is in person with the instructor helping you every step of the way
Watch videos and practice the techniques
Set aside a dedicated area for tying. If you don’t, it is unlikely you will tie flies on a regular basis
If you stick with it, buy more and nicer tools and buy materials for specific flies you want to tie
Start off simple and work your way up to more difficult patterns
Tie several of the same fly at one time, repetition is your friend
Buy a recipe book (we call it a pattern book in fly tying). Put the materials on the hook in the order listed in the pattern.
Keep notes of what works on certain patterns
Realize there are a lot of ways to do something, so don’t be afraid to experiment. That is part of the fun.
First, learn to use a half hitch tool and then learn to whip finish as soon as possible.
Buy several bobbins, so you can keep several types and colors of thread ready
Realize even ugly flies can catch fish, so can simple flies, so can complex flies
Learn to improvise, otherwise the bit above about your blood pressure not going up will not be true.
Try to keep your fly tying area tidy. Come up with an organization system that works for you.
Tie regularly, at least at first. After you have been tying a while you can pick it back up easier if you take a break.
Download the hareline app at Apple App Store or Google Play, Fill up your cart and forward it to me for easy ordering. You cannot buy it direct you must go through a Hareline Dealer.
Remember if you are a beginner and buy a kit from me, I will give you a free 45 minute fly tying lesson (actually it will probably go longer than that)! If you have questions about buying a kit for yourself, getting a kit for a gift or giving a kit for a gift, call me at 803-466-8162 and save yourself a lot of stress and confusion. Available only for kits on hand
November 20, 2024.
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, lo and behold this is lurking in the depths searching for something to devour.
It might not look like too much until you understand the scale. The rod is a 13'5" spey rod, and the stripping guide you see is 36 inches from the butt of the two handed grip. If you lay the fish at the butt and go beyond the 36 inch stripping guide to the tip of the fish's mouth, it is 48 inches. The girth was 31 inches. If you go to the striper length/weight/age chart https://twinlightsmarina.com/Striped-Bass-Length.htm a 48 inch fish is 17 years old, and the minimum weight is 37 pounds, the median weight is 44 pounds, and the maximum weight is 51 pounds. While it felt like 51 pounds to me, I am estimating 40 pounds. Now for the details, I used a size 1/0 gamakatsu B10s hook for the black rubber legged beastmaster. I was using 20lb Rio Fluoroflex plus leader. It was a 25 minute fight, with up to 80 yards of fly line, running line and 30 pound backing; I finally beached it, popped the fly out easily which was a little disconcerting, took a few pictures for posterity, and revived and released it.
Before you ask, I was on private property with very limited access which I cannot share. Let's just say it was somewhere above Gervais Street Bridge.
Now for tonight's lesson. I post it time and time again, when you are reeling your fly in for the last time, do it intentionally, reel, stop, reel, stop, and always be ready. I was doing this on my last cast and about 20 feet from me the the mega beast hit the fly. I call it the mega beast, because last year's fish pictured on this page was a beast - 36 inches and 20+ pounds. Back to the narrative, I had been fishing for about an hour and a half with no luck and on the last cast, the only bite of the evening. I tell people this only works about 5% of the time but you do not know what 5%. I caught a 40 inch striper doing this in 2022 and this in 2024. Always be ready for the unexpected, because you do not know when your chance will come.
September 3, 2024
For all you trout nuts. I have not forgotten you during striper season! During my nightly forays, I am often swarmed by insects, some bad and some good. Lots of gray caddis sizes 14-18 and light cahill duns sizes 12 and 14. Not a bad thing to remember.
August 22, 2024
For what else could you wish
Smaller crowds yet still large fish
Caught this 27 incher on a size 1/0 black rubber legged beastmaster on the swing in really fast water. Quite a fight dragging it upstream. BTW for reference, on my 13.5 foot spey rod, from the butt of the cork handle to the top is 24 inches, the first gold ribbing is 25 inches and the second gold ribbing is 30 inches.
August 19, 2024
As Don Henley said "Long after the boys of summer are gone." At 8:08 p.m. this 28 inch 10 pounder shows up, hits my size 1/0 black rubberlegged beastmaster and rips off 60 feet of running line and another 50 feet of 30 lb backing while all the time I am palming the reel and hoping for the best in the strong current. Finally, I can stop him and start raising the rod and reeling down to recover line. I was sure glad to get all the backing on my TFO BVK IV reel and then start getting all of the 110 feet of running line on the reel, then the 40 feet of 600 grain skagit head, mow tip and 20 lb leader, so I can beach it, wrestle the Gamakatsu B10S hook out, and revive him to swim away and fight again another day. Four others all under 22 inches but who cares, USC students are back in school and so are the stripers.
August 12, 2024
I have been listening closely, and I thought I heard her, but guess what-the fat lady has not sung yet. What does that mean? It means I thought striper season was over but last night proved me wrong. I was fishing at my friend's house below the zoo, and I had a young friend with me who I was trying to teach to spey cast. He was doing pretty well, but no fish. He was getting ready to leave and handed the rod back to me. On the 1st cast, with a black articulated slumpbuster tied on a salwater hook, I hooked a nice fish on hte swing in the fast water, and it took off like a scalded dog (mixed metaphor). I finally was gaining some line by raising my rod up and then reeling down. About that time the line stopped and would not move. I tried letting some line out to take the pressure off but that did not work. I had to go downstream into the slower water below where the line was stuck, and still, no success. Finally, I decided the fish had wrapped me around something, and I was not going to land it. I laid my rod down on the shore grabbed the line and pulled and pulled, finally the fly broke loose. Here I was standing in the water that I usually don't fish because of the back current that makes it very difficult to control your line, so I tied a black rubber legged beastmaster fly on. The casting was difficult, but I started getting a lot of bites and landed 6 stripers all under 22 inches on the black beast master. The action was hot and heavy, a lot of takes and a good many fish landed but still many missed. After the action slowed down, I went back upstream where I started off and landed seven more stripers, two of which were 26 inches. Finally, my fly was so stuck in one of their mouths, that I had a hard time getting it out and basically ruined the fly and tied on another beastmaster. All of this took place in a 2 hour period between 8 and 10. The action slowed down and there were no more bites, so I happily reeled in my fly and came home, tired but triumphant, and with a beat up thumb. My best night yet this striper season. So don't give up yet there's still lots of good action on stripers
July 30, 2024
Fortunately, I had this dermatological condition before, so I was not too worried. It is called in the Latin “Morone saxatilis digitis,” or in the vernacular - striper thumb (not really). It comes from lipping too many striped bass in a short period of time. I have always said that taking a net striper fishing (unless you're in a kayak) is like taking a knife to a gunfight. The net is fine on lots of the smaller ones, but not so great on the larger ones, and you still have to lip the fish to take the hook out, so why not cut out the middleman. I prefer to grab them all by the lower lip, despite the fact they thrash violently as soon as you grab their lip. It is worth it to be able to immobilize the fish and then fight to get the hook out of its hard mouth. That's what has happened to me the last two nights. I caught 8 stripers on Monday and eight on Tuesday night, thus the sore and bleeding thumb. It was well worth it. Tonight, there was no action until about 8:30. By that time I had switched to the same fly that I used the night before - a black rubber legged beastmaster. I am not talking about the same type of fly, I am talking about the exact same fly I used the night before. I haven't decided whether to retire it or not, because it has been responsible for catching 13 stripers in the last two nights. It is beat up, the inset eyes are gone, most of the rubber legs have been torn off, I had to bend the hook back into shape after one of the larger fish straightened it some (I lost a nicer fish as a result), and the articulated tail is much worse for wear. Tonight, was much like last night except for no early action. That is frequently the way it is with striper fishing. No activity for a while, then while you are using the same fly in the same way, the action heats up, sometimes for a half hour, sometimes longer. Just like Monday night almost every fish was taken on the swing on my 13 1/2-foot 8 weight tfo spey rod. The chartreuse beastmaster that previously worked earlier in the evenings, did not work at all, but the old reliable did, and my thumb is the worse for it. Another good thing about striper thumb is at least my wife knows I have stayed out late fishing and not doing something else!
July 29, 2024
To quote Frankie Valli: "Oh, what a night." Went below the zoo, explosive feeding by stripers, baitfish coming out of the water, and best of all, no one else was on the water. I used my 8 weight TFO spey rod with a full sinking mow tip and a 6 foot leader with 0X Rio fluorocarbon. I tried the same things that I usually do while using a chartreuse rubber legged beastmaster, which has been working very well recently. I picked up 3 20 inch stripers and lost the big one 10 feet from shore on the chartreuse beastmaster. I noticed that the fish were all hitting the fly in almost the same area. Due to the fast water, it was very hard to get the fly to this place in the middle of the river and 80-100 feet downstream. I decided I would cast straight across 60 or 70 feet and then let out additional 30 to 40 feet of running line line and let the fly swing across the current in the target area. Around dark, I switched to a black rubber leg beastmaster and started swinging the fly after casting across and letting line out straight downstream. In the next hour and a half, I landed five more stripers, including 2 28 inchers. All of them on the swing. I did manage to catch one catfish while stripping the fly in. Just goes to show you you can fish the same place over and over again and still improve what you do. Always be willing to experiment and remember what I say, when it gets dark, and there is time to tie on one last fly put on a black fly.
July 17, 2024
Took my TFO 13'0" 7wt spey rod and used a medium 5ft t11 5 ft floating mow tip. Since it was overcast, I used a bright color - in this case a chatr/white ribber legged beastmaste. At around 8 pm while stripping it in to change the fly, a schoolie striper grabbed the fly about 10 feet down from me, and I landed it. I then cast the fly about 20 feet down where the water deepens and had numerous hits and landed 2 more small stripers while holding the fly in the current and slowly raising the rod kind of like a leisenring nymph lift, but with a streamer. After that quit working, I caught one more schoolie on a black articulated rubber legged beasmaster stripping farther downstream. What lessons can we learn? Use bright colored flies when it is overcast; always be ready for a fish to hit your fly, especially a streamer, since they will often follow it in and then hit it when the action of the fly changes; when you catch a fish, think about what you just did and rinse and repeat; sometimes just lift your rod and let the fly swing in the current, especially on the Saluda; fish like to hang out where the water transitions from shallow to deep - where they feel safe and the current brings the food right over their heads; when fishing is tough even small fish are welcome; 4 small fish = at least some fun. Thus endedth the lesson.
July 14, 2024
Some small and nice sized trout are being caught on articulated minnow patters andstonefly nymphs.
July 7, 2024
Temperature 99, feels like 105. What’s a man, a woman, a fisherperson supposed to do? Wet wade of course!! Think about 105 degrees and the Saluda is 16.5 degrees Celsius or for us metric/Celsius challenged - 61.5 degrees Fahrenheit. I can tell you if you fish for a while you will get cold and hungry, make that ravenous.
So how do you wet wade? You wade without waders. You still use your wading boots (not tennis shoes unless you have a close friend who is an orthopaedist). You can wear thick socks inside your wading boots, but you can get a lot of sand and rocks in your boots if you do that. The best way is to buy some wading socks. These are neoprene socks with a fold over gravel cuff built in to keep the debris out. The water still gets in your boot but hopefully not as much sand or gravel.
Sounds easy and it is and it is generally safer than wearing waders, because you don’t have to worry about your waders filling up and weighing you down.
Just a few hints. I like to wear long nylon fishing pants and a long sleeve shirt. That helps with briars and rock scrapes, but mostly mosquitoes, gnats, and other things that live to suck your blood and suck your blood to live. It does not hurt to wear insect repellent - deet or sans deet, that’s up to you. If you use deet insect repellent, spread it by using the backs of your hands, not the palms; deet can harm the coating on your fly line.
Happy wading, wet or not.
June 26, 2024
Striper fishing is still slow, at least for me. Took my friend's grandson fishing and had to be extra careful since the water level is a little higher than I would like. We forget, wading is an acquired skill, so we wet waded. He tried a spinning reel for a while. I asked him if he wanted to try the cross cut rabbit strip jig steamer I helped him tie, but he wanted to stay with the spin gear for a little while. So forgetting my manners, I went upstream and cast his fly with my 13'0 7 weight spey rod with a 10 foot intermediate mow tip. I let about 145 feet of skagit line, mow tip, leader and running line and fished a long stretch of fast deep water. Not long after I started I hooked something and started dragging it upstream. I could tell it was not that big and I was using 1x rio fluoroflex tippet, so I hand stripped it in. I was pretty sure it was not a striper. How did I know you ask?The fish was pulling side to side, not up and down. Usually I have found stripers, especially large ones, move the rod up and down (vertically) while trout move the rod horizontally. This is my general experience, so please don't inundate me with contrary encounters. So what was it? A nice stocker rainbow about 12 inches but not too colored up. Needless to say, I let my guest fish the rest of the night, but that was the only action other than being chased by mosquitoes and caddis. Speaking of insects, there were several on my back door and lots of size 20 Dark mayflies (blue wing olives?) in spider webs. At least the insect life is healthy on the lower Saluda.
June 16, 2024
Striper As of June 16, you cannot attempt to catch stripers in the Congaree, and it is catch and release only in the Saluda. There is a lot of poaching going on, so call a Game Warden at 1-800-922-5431 if you see it. I can tell you, it is hurting the striper and trout populations. It's easy, if you see someone with a striper, they are poaching, if you see someone with a trout in the catch and release stretch of the Saluda it is poaching.