Mullet on the Fly Using the Indicator Method

Mullet on the fly is one of the areas of noticeable growth within the UK fly fishing scene and beyond. Although there are articles dating back as far as the late 1800s and blog posts going back over twenty years on how to catch mullet on the fly, they have become increasingly mainstream due to the stellar efforts of Hampshire based Scotsman, Colin McCleod. Colin has popularised mullet via his blogs, magazine articles and book (Mullet on the Fly).

Much of the existing literature relating to methods and flies revolves around dead drifting or retrieving shrimp and wet fly patterns, however a young Kent based fly angler named Josh Allen devised a highly effective method that under certain conditions can outperform most of the well known methods, especially for thin lipped and golden grey mullet. This article will explain Josh’s deadly method which is being used to good effect by a growing number of mullet anglers.

Mullet

The mullet family is a global group of fish of about 120 species which are mostly marine. A large proportion of the mullet family are euryhaline, meaning they can move between fresh and saltwater environments. The UK has three mullet species: the golden grey mullet, thin lipped mullet and thick lipped mullet. 

The vast majority of the species are detritivores, consuming vegetation, diatoms, algae, decomposing matter and the like. Mullet have very long digestive tracts which keeps food inside the gut for longer periods than fish that consume richer fare which helps mullet extract nutrients from a relatively poor diet. The trade off is that unlike the prey of predators of a similar size to mullet (bass for example), food is readily available throughout the summer months in the same areas. For example a colony of single celled algae covering the surface of a mudflat can likely double its size over a short period, meaning that there is a relatively plentiful supply of (admittedly low energy) food. 

If we look at the animal kingdom many of the world’s most numerous and largest animals (basking sharks, blue whales, elephants) generally feed at the bottom or near the bottom of the food chain where food is plentiful, but poor in nutrients (grass, plankton, decomposing matter, krill). This diet explains why mullet sometimes gather in schools that number in the hundreds.. It stands to reason that diatoms and detritus cannot be replicated with a fly easily, however because mullet will occasionally take live organisms, shrimp and worm patterns will catch fish. Josh’s method seems to be ultra consistent at getting takes because the static presentation accurately imitates food that is dead or appears as ‘matter’.

Locating Mullet

The season to target mullet on the fly is typically the back end of April through late October. Finding good access and fish is one of the hardest parts, especially for the newby mullet angler. For thin lips any estuary or tidal river with extensive mudflats will be prime. Golden grey mullet often gather near sandy beaches, but they also venture up river mouths. Golden greys will never move as far up a river system as the other two mullet species.

The static indicator method is best deployed over soft ground, which this is exactly the ground type that thin lips and golden grey mullet prefer. Trawling through internet posts and reading sea fishing content is one way to gain tips as to where to find fish. Any gullies in the mud, outflows or bays are great places to start. Head to a likely area at low tide and scout the area for feeding track marks. In our waters, mullet are the only marine species that leave sign of their whereabouts. Once you find signs off feeding mullet, wait for the incoming tide. If the planets align you will see the telltale signs of mullet such as swirls, boils, and fins poking out of the water.

Thin lips and golden greys generally feed on the incoming tide. That said, there are a few locations where they may feed on the ebbing tide. In any case you will find that some areas come alive at different stages of a tide. Some tides (spring, neap and intermediate) are better for fishing whilst some may see fewer if any fish turn up.

Safety 

Given that all three species of mullet in the UK will feed over mud personal safety when scouting and fishing areas is paramount. The risk of sinking into mud is very real and potentially fatal. Some mudflats have relatively compacted mud deposits that can take the weight of a human, however there are mudflats which cannot support the weight a person. I would suggest wellies for initial forays as they will limit how far you can walk out and easy to ditch should you get stuck. 

Never wear rubber waders. I learned this the hard way, which had a friend not been present at the time I might not be here writing this article. Rubber has too much stretch in the material so you cannot pull your legs up easily if you wade too deeply. Breathable waders with separate boots are the best but even so never go above boot height. And always have a fully charged mobile phone on your person just in case. 

Kit for Mullet on the Fly

Anywhere from an 8.6ft to 10ft plus rod in the 4-6wt category works well for this method. I recommend using a floating line that you don’t care about as it will get caked in mud. For line management, I recommend using a line tray. You can also rig up a landing net to hang off a belt to act as an improvised line tray. Mullet on the fly is usually a short range game, so don’t stress if you don’t have a line tray.

When mullet fishing, it helps to use a long handled landing net. Lure style extendable handles are perfect for the practicality they offer. Having a lightweight extendable net allows you to mount it on your person. This positioning avoids having to place the net on the mud and having a long handle helps reach over mud. I prefer a net with a micro mesh such as the match style pan nets produced by Preston Innovations. Mullet have pointy edged fins which can poke through nets, leading to split fins. Additionally, you should handle mullet minimally for they shed scales easily if improperly handled.

Flies for Mullet

I generally use a beaded bloodworm pattern with Fulling Mill Flex Floss, tied on a Fulling Mill Czech Nymph Barbless Hook in size 16. These worm flies are easy to tie and can be produced without a vice. You just need a bobbin, thread, and scissors. Josh uses a shrimp on the dropper whereas London based mulleteer Hector Rodriguez likes to use a team of shrimp patterns. 

Methods for Mullet on the Fly

Josh’s method entails using two flies, a flexi floss bloodworm on the point and a shrimp pattern on dropper. Fish both flies statically on the bottom, using a large dry fly as the indicator. The distance between indicator and point fly varies, but about 2ft between flies and anywhere between 1ft and 2ft from the dropper to the indicator will work. 

Indicator Method Diagrams

I prefer to use an adjustable indicator. Although the indicator is less sensitive, this method has the advantage of being able to change depth. It is also less likely to give false eats if there is wave action caused by wind and the flies brush along the bottom. Hector Rodriguez uses a foam bung tied to a dropper. Although we each fish it differently, at the core the mechanics are the same. We rely on a duo or team of three flies fished on 0.19mm – 0.23mm (3x & 2x) Fulling Mill Fluorocarbon or mono (copolymer) either straight through or at the end of a tapered leader. Flies are fished static on the deck although having a dropper fly in mid water does also take the odd fish. 

Applying the Method to Feeding Mullet

Once you’ve located a population of mullet all you need to do is cast right at the edge of a feeding pod, then draw back slightly to get direct contact with the flies and wait for a take. Typically this is only a few feet from the bank as mullet feed in very shallow water (3ft or less). If you’re using a dry fly, a take will typically look like the fly dipping under the surface. Any other small indications like twitching or momentarily sliding across the water’s surface indicates you should strike. If using an adjustable indicator, then takes show as the indicator sliding across the surface. Indicators are more buoyant than dry flies, so it takes more force to drag them under the water. The indicator method requires the angler to pay close attention to slight of movements of the rig!

To set the hook, you only need a brisk, short strip strike. Mullet have pretty tough mouths so the more direct force of a strip strike leads to better hook ups. It is important that the strip strike isn’t too forceful or that the angler does not hold the strip strike… this is not GT fishing. Holding on too hard in the early stages is a recipe for disaster as mullet occasionally put on a blistering turn of speed immediately after hooking but from personal experience holding on to a fish with too much pressure early on in the fight will often result in hook pulls/slips as the often begin to shake their heads after hooking before they get their bearing and begin a dogged fight.

Mullet on the Fly: Get After It

Fishing for mullet is growing in popularity and tactics are evolving to suit the niche needs of mulleteers throughout the UK. If you’re looking for a fun new species to target, mullet just might be for you! Give it a try, wade safely, and have fun figuring out these amazing fish!

More blogs by Tim James

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Tim James

Tim is a London based fly angler of thirteen years who fishes for a wide variety of species from carp in London docks, mullet on the coast to casting dry flies to trout on the Derbyshire Wye. I enjoy the process of trying to catch different species on a fly rod, a by-product of which is that my missions often take me to some amazing places. Because I like to fish at last twice a week I also search out local venues to fish, most of which are off the beaten track as far as fly fishing goes.

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