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 in Sarasota Bay, snook and bluefish in the ICW near Venice and trout and reds in Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande on CAL jigs with shad tails and flies during the past couple of weeks.
With a negative low tide on Tuesday morning 1/20, Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, FL and Mike Perez, from Sarasota, FL, waded a couple of shallow flats in Sarasota Bay with me and Nick caught and released a nice trout on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly. Anna Maria Island winter resident, Bill Morrison and Sarasota winter resident, Gary Marple, snook fished with me in the ICW near Venice on Wednesday evening, , 1/21. We fished lighted docks and they had some action catching and releasing a snook, bluefish and ladyfish on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly.
Keith McClintock, Dan DiCaro and Chuck Hempfling, all from IL, fished Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande with me on Thursday, 1/22. They caught several slot size trout up to 20" and a couple of reds on CAL jigs with shad tails. Tony Merlis, from NH, and Chris Messick, from DE, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday morning, 1/23. With an approaching front, winds were above 20-mph by noon. We fished deep grass flats where they managed to catch and release a few ladyfish and trout on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly and a CAL jig with a shad tail despite the tough conditions.
I had some company last week and weather conditions weren't that great, so I only fished a couple of days. Action on deep grass flats slowed but we were able to catch and release a few trout by focusing on channels, troughs and edges of flats.
I gave presentations on Friday and Saturday on "Inshore 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.
You may find trout, blues, pompano or founder in channels, troughs or edges of flats, particularly when the tide is low. Look for reds and big trout mixed with mullet schools on shallow flats and edges of bars. Afternoons may fish better than mornings when water is cool.
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
*New web sites now online, www.snookfinaddict.com and www.flyfishingflorida.us
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.snookfin-addict.com
