gverholek
03-02-2009, 04:54 PM
We, as in two couples, went to Florida for a week to thaw out and, of course, I wanted to fish a little. Early on, the weather was a bit cool and windy. We waited until Wed when the wind finally eased and the temperature rose into the high 70s. We quickly booked a half day with Tom Stephens of Top Notch Fishing Charters out of Deep Pass on the southern tip of Longboat Key. I was the only fly slinger; my friend and the guide were throwing jigs. I threw a chartreuse Clouser using an 8-wt Orvis Trident and a Lamson LP-3.5 with a sink tip line.
I got into the fish first and for quite a while was the only one catching anything. The Clouser attracted several Ladyfish, a Bluefish, a Spanish Mackerel, a Pompano and a whole lot of Trout. Jig fishing finally picked up, but the Clouser was the most consistent lure.
After a few hours of slinging an 8-wt sink tip, the guide noticed I was slowing down my retrieve. He commented that the fly needed more movement, more hop, so I put a little more strip into it and the catching success returned.
I can't remember a day with more variety of fish on a fly, and overall numbers were really good. The fighting strength of saltwater fish is something to behold. In all, it was great.
I got into the fish first and for quite a while was the only one catching anything. The Clouser attracted several Ladyfish, a Bluefish, a Spanish Mackerel, a Pompano and a whole lot of Trout. Jig fishing finally picked up, but the Clouser was the most consistent lure.
After a few hours of slinging an 8-wt sink tip, the guide noticed I was slowing down my retrieve. He commented that the fly needed more movement, more hop, so I put a little more strip into it and the catching success returned.
I can't remember a day with more variety of fish on a fly, and overall numbers were really good. The fighting strength of saltwater fish is something to behold. In all, it was great.