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Post by ctroy36 on Feb 1, 2006 20:29:44 GMT -5
Took my first shot at fly fishing salt water today. Went to a spot called Clam Pass, which is an inlet that leads to, you guesed it, Clam Bay. It's one of the three or four places down here that you can wade as opposed to using a boat. Unlimited water if you have a boat or a kayak.
Fished a rising tide, which is supposed to be a good time, but had no luck other than one bump from an unknow fish. Met a local who was working spinning tackle and he allowed that a cold front that came through had the fish either back in the mangroves or out off the beach where water is warmer.
Used some flies that I tied at a tying session one of the llocal fly shops runs. Clousers and big furry things with humongous eyes. Not so easy to cast with my 6-weight, but I'm not about to buy an 8 or 9 just for here.
Local guys suggested another pass further up the coast and I'll give that a try when the water warms up a little
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Post by jlibs on Feb 12, 2006 19:27:27 GMT -5
Hi ctroy36,
Do you think you should try a clam pattern at Clam Pass/Clam Bay? I'm a wise guy!
Anyway, I'll be down in Miami soon. How far are you from Miami? If you're near, would you like to fish from shore in an evening one night? I have a couple of 9 weights I could bring.
Let me know. I hope all is well for you in FL.
JLIBS
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Post by ctroy36 on Feb 13, 2006 10:43:08 GMT -5
JLIBS:
Unfortunately, I'm on the other coast in Naples. And, even if we were closer the cold weather is killing the fishing from the beaches. I've tried a couple of other spots recently with no luck. Even the bait and hardware guys were not getting any responses.
A freeze is predicted for the interior tomorow morning which will make matters worse. Fishing reports in the local paper say that charter boats are having to go out 20 -25 miles offshore to find fish and action in the backwaters and rivers is slow -- and fishing them requires a boat. Depending on when you get to Miami, it may have warmed up. However, I'm told that it will be late March or so before snook and other fish can be found off the beaches.
The good news is that you will be warmer than up North and free of snow.
Have a good trip.
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Post by ctroy36 on Mar 9, 2006 8:34:13 GMT -5
The water has finally warmed up -- Gulf temps in the 70s -- and the fishing is finally getting better. Sea Trout, small Snook and others are now in the inlets and can be caught. Bait fishers are out in force and doing well. I've only run into a couple of fly fishers working the beaches as most are still out in boats.
I'm going to try and send a picture of a good sea trout I caught up at Clam Pass yesterday. Fortunately, one of the beach goers watching me was a fly fisher from the Midwest and agreed to take the picture. Unfortunately, he wanted to get lots of scenery in and did not get in close on the fish. They look a lot like a brown -- similar color and spots -- but have two large teeth in their mouth which you try to avoid when unhooking them.
The bad news is that now that the fishing is getting better, we will be headed back up north in a couple of week.
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Post by JoeOverlock on Mar 9, 2006 9:56:12 GMT -5
Isn't the Tarpon run coming up also?
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Post by ctroy36 on Mar 9, 2006 10:04:07 GMT -5
 Best I can do for the picture.Sorry "bout that. Joe: Yes, it's getting near Tarpon time. By the end of the month they should be all around. I'm told that there are "baby Tarpon" in the canals now but have not found any. I've mainly fished the inlets -- or passes, as they are called here -- looking for fish that come and go with the tides chasing baitfish. Talked to a bait fisherman at Clam Pass the other day who said he was taking Permit on crabs now and then. See you in April. |
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Post by JoeOverlock on Mar 9, 2006 10:12:08 GMT -5
It looks cold down there  You should try those baby tarpon with that 6wt. I bet that would be one hell of a fight! |
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Post by ctroy36 on Mar 9, 2006 15:45:10 GMT -5
Sorry, Joe. But that white stuff in the picture is sand, not snow.
Frankly, tarpon scare me. Saw a video at one of the fly shops where a guy hooked one about 5-foot-long and all hell broke loose. Jumping, running, rolling -- real nasty stuff. Eventually he just ran out the backing and broke off.
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Post by ctroy36 on Mar 14, 2006 20:13:24 GMT -5
Switched gears today and fished pond on golf course outside the condo for bass. Caught and released several nice fish. Only flies I had were salt water streamers but the bass didn't mind. Bass down here look different from those in lakes up north. Northern fish are lighter in color with distinct black markings along their sides. Down here they are almost all black. Talked to guy in fly shop about it this afternoon and he says it's the tannin in the water plus the Florida bass is a seperate sub species.
Probably all the fishing I 'll be doing before heading back north.
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Post by JoeOverlock on Mar 15, 2006 9:21:06 GMT -5
The Florida strain of bass grows larger and is less aggressive then the bass we're used to catching. I was in Orlando about 2 years ago and the time share I was staying at had a stocked pond with fish feeders. I snuck out early one morning before the family woke up for Disney and caught a 12 pound bass on my first cast! It was on a spin rod and he didn't even fight. I reeled him in like a dead log.
I brought my wife out to that pond later in the week and we didn't catch a fish under 3 pounds. Good time!
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Post by ctroy36 on Mar 15, 2006 15:47:42 GMT -5
The bass I've been catching don't even come close to those. Most are in the 2-3 pound range, though I heard that a 7-pounder was taken last year from one of the bigger ponds. It's probably like brookies in a small stream -- not enough food to eat.
I agree about the fighting quality. Some will jump a few times and make one strong run, but then seem to give up. Sometimes a released fish will just sit there for a while rather than scooting away to cover. Admitedly, a 6-weight rod and saltwater leaders are not a fair match for small fish, but bass back home seem to be stronger.
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