Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action catching and releasing snook, trout, bluefish and jacks on flies in Sarasota Bay and had shots at tarpon with a fly in the coastal gulf during the past couple of weeks.
Conditions were poor during the week of July 1st for tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf. A trough of tropical moisture hovered over us for a few days early in the week, dumping more than 6 inches of rain. A stiff onshore wind made it rough in the coastal gulf and visibility was bad due to dirty water. Conditions improved later in the week as the system shifted west and we began to dry out, although it was still too rough to tarpon fish in shallow water.
I was the speaker at the Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club on Wednesday evening, 7/3. I gave a presentation on late summer fly fishing and demonstrated tying a couple of my fly patterns. Fly angler Lynn Skipper, from Brandon, FL, snook fished before dawn with me on Friday morning, 7/5. We fished lighted docks on Siesta Key where he had good action catching and releasing 8 or 9 snook on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. Snook were picky at first, but we got dialed into them after we downsized our fly. With snook and many other species it is often important to "match the hatch" by duplicating the approximate size and profile of the baits they are feeding on.
Terry Antoniuk and Cornel Yarmaloy, both from Calgary, Alberta, fly fished for tarpon in the coastal gulf several days during the week of 7/8. Although action was slower than expected, they had a few shots each day. We also spent a morning in Sarasota Bay where they caught and released trout, bluefish and jacks at Stephens Point and near Buttonwood Harbor on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and had a few shots at reds and tripletail. Sight fishing, casting to a fish that you can see and working a fly or lure to entice a strike, is one of the most challenging yet rewarding ways to fish! Although tarpon weren't very plentiful in shallow water last week, I'm still seeing schools of large tarpon in the coastal gulf which should mean at least a few more weeks of action.
Capt. Ed Hurst and I were instructors at CB's Saltwater Outfitters "Orvis Fly Fishing 101" clinic on Saturday, 7/13. More than 30 people attended the clinic which included fly casting with premium Orvis fly tackle and fly tackle rigging basics. It was great to see such a turnout! The group consisted of men and women of all ages, including a youngster brought by his mom, most new to the sport of fly fishing. Students received free International Federation of Fly Fishers and Trout Unlimited memberships (a $70 total value). Look for information on future Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing schools, "Fly Fishing 101"clinics and other events at www.cbsoutfitters.com .
Tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf should be good next week depending on conditions. Beat the heat by catch and release snook fishing before daylight in the ICW and then look for reds and big trout in shallow water early in the day. Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and more should also be a good option.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF 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.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com
