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 snook, trout and redfish in Gasparilla Sound and trout, bluefish and ladyfish in Sarasota Bay on CAL jigs with shad tails and flies during the past couple of weeks. Cold air and water, wind and rain were an issue, causing the cancellation of a few trips. Flats close to passes were most productive due to slightly warmer, more stable water temperatures.
Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, fished the backcountry of Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande with me on Tuesday, 1/19. A very low tide and cool water had snook concentrated in a few spots. He had good action catching and releasing about 10 snook to 27", trout to 20" and a red to complete his slam on CAL jigs with shad tails.
Dick Striano, from MA, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday, 1/21. We worked deep grass flats where he caught and released ladyfish and trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines.
Action was slow early in the week of 1/26 as water temperatures plunged below 60 degrees following a front last weekend. Action picked up towards the middle of the week as anglers had action with ladyfish and a few blues and trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and Ultra Hair Clouser flies fishing deep grass flats in Sarasota Bay.
I gave presentations on Saturday and Sunday, 1/30 & 31, on "Fishing Winter Tides" and "Winter Tactics with Lures and Flies" at the Florida Sportsman Magazine Fishing Show in Ft. Myers. The show is one of the best around the state and is always well attended. I also spent some time with my friends at DOA Fishing Lures in their booth. It's always fun to talk fishing with people and help them with rigging, color selection, etc.
Look for reds and big trout mixed with mullet schools on shallow flats and edges of bars in Sarasota Bay and backcountry areas of Charlotte Harbor and lower Tampa Bay. Trout, bluefish and more should be a good option on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Catch and release snook fishing around lighted docks and bridges with flies and DOA Lures should also be a good option as long as water temperatures don't dip too low.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB's Saltwater Outfitters
Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
www.snookfin-addict.com, www.snookfinaddict.com and www.flyfishingflorida.us
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
(941) 923-7799
