Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout, Spanish mackerel and pompano in Sarasota Bay and trout, redfish and snook in Gasparilla Sound on flies and CAL jigs with shad tails during the past couple of weeks.
A front came through on Monday and Tuesday, 3/17 and 18, with strong winds and rain so we didn't fish those days. Jeff Hardin, from Lancaster, PA and Mark and Sue Arrant, from the Seattle, WA area, fished the back country of Gasparillla Sound near Boca Grande with me on Wednesday, 3/19. They caught and released a few trout, redfish and a snook to complete their boat slam on CAL jigs with shad tails.
Shane Nicholls, from MA, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday, 3/20. We worked on fly casting and fishing techniques and fished several deep grass flats and edges of bars where he caught and released trout on CAL jigs with shad tails.
Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, FL, and his grandson, Andrew Breckenridge from CT, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 3/21. I did some fly casting instruction with Andrew in the morning and then Nick and I waded a shallow flat in the afternoon. Visibility was poor but we managed to catch and release a couple of over slot reds on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly!
Action was steady on Saturday, 3/22 when Keith Johnson and his dad, Fred Johnson, both from Raleigh, NC, fished Sarasota Bay with me in the morning and with Dean Fields, from Indianapolis, IN, in the afternoon. They caught and released trout, Spanish mackerel and a pompano on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails.
A front passed through on Monday, 3/24 with a soaking, all day long rain, so we chose to not snook fish on Monday evening. It was good choice because it rained all night. Venice and Lakewood Ranch, FL winter residents Chub Bortz and Jeff Wagner fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday, 3/25. The rain stopped by late morning and the wind blew 25-mph before the end of the trip, however they persisted and caught trout to 20", including a couple of slot size fish, and ladyfish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies.
Weather was a problem again on Wednesday, 3/26 as cold air settled in and strong winds continued to blow, so we didn't fish. Bill Fox, from Atlanta, GA, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday and Friday, 3/27 and 28. Bill prefers the action and variety found on deep grass flats, so we focused on those areas to keep his fly rod bent. He had good action both days catching and releasing numerous trout and a few Spanish mackerel. There were also ladyfish and jacks in the mix to keep thing interesting.
I was the instructor for a CB's Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School on Saturday, 3/29. In addition to fly casting, students were also schooled on leader construction and saltwater fly fishing techniques. The next class will be on April 12th. Contact CB's Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 to sign up.
Fishing deep grass flats for trout, Spanish mackerel, pompano and more should continue to be a good option Also, look for reds, snook and big trout on shallow flats or edges of bars in Sarasota Bay. When conditions improve in the coastal gulf, action with Spanish and king mackerel, false albacore (little tunny) and tripletail should also heat up.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.snookfin-addict.com
