I've read that bass tend to hold on the 3rd set of waves from the beach and so when fly fishing for them do you guys tend to cast out to the sea or fish parallel to the beach. My thinking is if you are casting at the waves aren't they just going to push your fly line back towards you?

Thanks

Hi Welshy 1

I've only done a little Bass fishing in Scotland whilst on holiday and had to use my reservoir rod and an 8# line . I waded out but not so far as the Bass come in with an incoming tide looking for food.They tend to be in shoals and move quickly. They are only usually about ten yards out or so from the tide edge. I think that may be right in line with your third set of waves. I don't really know about that rule. I cast out beyond the ten yards with a streamer fly, it was all I had, and stipped back so to keep tension on the line. I've caught one or two but no monsters. It was different and I enjoyed the experience.You have to keep moving until you find fish and it's not easy.

BK

Hello black knight, did you use a floating line or a slow sinker?

If there's big surf it's always going to be hard work, and the inshore water will be milky - not ideal for fish hunting by sight.
Ideally you want a warm calm evening, you can wade out a little way and the fish are often behind you as well as out front. If you can fish around rocky marks - the fish will be right in close, and you have access to deeper water - might pick up the odd mackerel if they're passing.
Estuaries are a good alternative if there's too much surf running.
If it's small surf - I wade out a little way and fish along the lines of the breakers as well as out over them - stripping the fly keeps enough contact - no need to strike with bass, just keep stripping till it all goes solid and raise the rod then.
How far you can get out, and how dangerous the waves are all depends on the ground you're fishing, and the conditions at the time.
I'm waiting on another nice high pressure and I'll be out there myself... if you hit a shoal of bass you'll have blisters on your hands from stripping the fly like a madman.