Redfish have broken out of their large wintertime schools and now wander the flats in search of their next meal in singles and smaller packs. Most groups have consisted of less than a dozen fish. At lower water, they can be found in potholes on the grass flats, but as the tide comes in, they will push toward the shoreline, mangroves, and oyster bars. Flies that have worked well for the redfish are redfish toads, sliders, and again the clouser minnow.

Last week, Capt. Nick Angelo and I fished the 2012 SaltFly Tournament. As of now, it is the largest fly fishing tournament in Florida. There were 65 fly fishing teams competing this year, and the format consisted of 1 speckled trout and 2 redfish with the total inches combined being your score for the team. The weather was tough on tournament day (typical right??) with north winds at 15 to 20 knots and variable clouds. Nick and I didn’t do to much scouting. In fact, we each only got out one day the week before the tournament to fish on our own between charters and bad weather. I was able to locate an area that held some really good trout and Nick located some redfish in a few spots. Unfortunately, these two spot where about 30 miles away from each other. Our gameplan was to hit the trout first during the low light in the early morning hours since it was a blind casting situation, and then pull the skiff and trailer to where the redfish where and hope we had some sun to sight fish with.

After the mandatory captain’s meeting, we raced to our first spot. We got there, anchored the skiff, put on our waders and slipped over the side. The trout that I located were in a very small area and on my first cast, I scored an 18 incher. On the next cast I caught a 23 inch trout which turned out to be our biggest. We caught about 10 more good trout in the 20 to 22 inch range, but couldn’t improve on the 23 incher. Once the tide went slack we ran back to the ramp to put the skiff on the trailer to relocate to our redfish spot.

After re-launching the skiff, it was a short run to our redfish spot. Fortunately, the sun was out, and we were able to sight fish from the skiff right away. I quickly scored with a 21.75 inch redfish and Nick followed with a little guy. At this point, we were happy to have 3 measured fish for the tournament. Now it was time to get some better fish to give us more inches. After locating an area that had many fish, we elected to bail out of the skiff and wade once more. By jumping out of the skiff, we get 2 flies in the water instead of just one. Mathematically it doubles our chances to catch fish. We slowly improved our total inches with a few middle slot fish, but there were a bunch of great teams we were competing against, and I didn’t have a good feeling that we had enough to win. Nick hooked a mega redfish in the low to mid 30 inch range and after a short run, the fly popped out. That wasn’t a good feeling for the team. A short time later, however, I helped our total by landing a 27 inch redfish. Nick spotted a 30 inch redfish belly rubbing along the shoreline, and after making a delicate cast out in front of the fish, he fed the fish his fly. He strip struck the fish, but the fly just stung the fish before falling from the fish’s mouth. Again, doubt crept in our minds about having enough inches to win. That doubt quickly vanished when I connected with the previous fish’s twin. That fish was also exactly 27 inches in length. Now with 77 total inches, we felt good about being in the top 5 given the conditions we were fishing in that day. We quickly packed up, ran back to the ramp and drove to the weigh in location. After what seemed like a long wait, Nick and I were announced as being the winning team of the 2012 SaltFly Tournament.

Smaller flies have been the ticket due to the clear water and spooky fish. Small redfish toads tied with extra small lead eyes have done the job. Despite the small size of the fly, these redfish have come to the fly from 10 feet away. It just goes to show you how good their senses really are.

Trout have been abundent in the deeper channels and on the edges of the grass flats. Most of these have been on the small side, but one can rack up a good body count in a relativly short period of time. The larger trout have been found in skinny water and have been spooky and hard to catch. We did manage to get one the other day close to 25 inches fishing out of Chassahowitzka.

We have had a few opportunities to throw at snook, but they seemed more interested in getting warm in the mid day sun. We had several perfect casts into these groups of lethargic snook and all they would do is slowly move away from the fly. A few more degrees warmer water temps will get these snook feeding.

Smaller flies have been the ticket due to the clear water and spooky fish. Small redfish toads tied with extra small lead eyes have done the job. Despite the small size of the fly, these redfish have come to the fly from 10 feet away. It just goes to show you how good their senses really are.

Trout have been abundent in the deeper channels and on the edges of the grass flats. Most of these have been on the small side, but one can rack up a good body count in a relativly short period of time. The larger trout have been found in skinny water and have been spooky and hard to catch. We did manage to get one the other day close to 25 inches fishing out of Chassahowitzka.

We have had a few opportunities to throw at snook, but they seemed more interested in getting warm in the mid day sun. We had several perfect casts into these groups of lethargic snook and all they would do is slowly move away from the fly. A few more degrees warmer water temps will get these snook feeding.

Snook have shown from time to time on the flats in between cold fronts once the weather stablizes. At low tide they can be found just off the edge of the flats near deeper water. As the tide comes in, they quickly go shallow to warm up and feed. As long as they aren’t spooked during the initial cast and the landing of the fly, they have been very aggresive and will chew most offerings put in front of them.

Speckled trout are in good numbers in the moths of creeks and deeper holes in Tampa Bay. Most of these fish are on the small side, but you can catch a ton of them if your heart desires. Sinking tip lines on a 6wt rod make it a little more sporting. There are some large trout on the flats in the 20 to 28 inch range. These fish are usually a little harder to fool and can be very spooky at time. We have encountered them while searching the flats for redfish. We usually see them in tiny pothhole in the grass flats. A quick cast before they notice you often is rewarded with a bite.

Snook have shown from time to time on the flats in between cold fronts once the weather stablizes. At low tide they can be found just off the edge of the flats near deeper water. As the tide comes in, they quickly go shallow to warm up and feed. As long as they aren’t spooked during the initial cast and the landing of the fly, they have been very aggresive and will chew most offerings put in front of them.

Speckled trout are in good numbers in the moths of creeks and deeper holes in Tampa Bay. Most of these fish are on the small side, but you can catch a ton of them if your heart desires. Sinking tip lines on a 6wt rod make it a little more sporting. There are some large trout on the flats in the 20 to 28 inch range. These fish are usually a little harder to fool and can be very spooky at time. We have encountered them while searching the flats for redfish. We usually see them in tiny pothhole in the grass flats. A quick cast before they notice you often is rewarded with a bite.

Now that the water temperatures have begun to drop, the fishing on the flats has gotten much better. Gone are the days of hot water on the flats in the middle part of the day. With the more moderate water temps, the fish are up on the flats most of the day, and they are feeding to put on weight before winter’s lean times. Clear skies following cold fronts combined with our winter low tides make for excellent sight fishing conditions.

Snook have been aggressive over the past few weeks as they feed on the young of the year baitfish. The snook have been found laying in ambush in sand holes on the flats. They have dark backs and can be seen fairly easily against the sand-bottomed holes.

Redfish are around in great numbers, but most are in the 22 inch range. As the water temps continue to fall, the bigger fish will start to invade the shallows. We’ve caught anywhere from 5 to 16 redfish per trip during this last tide cycle. The redfish were so aggressive that the majority of them had the fly back in their crushers before you could strip strike. Next week’s new moon should have them on the feed again.

Speckled trout are on the flats in good numbers. During low tide, they congregate at the edges of the flats near deeper grass. It isn’t uncommon to catch a couple of dozen in no time if you are in the right place. Larger individuals can be found in skinny water as they push in with the rising tide. Several trout larger than 20 inches have been taken while sight fishing for redfish.

Little tunny or bonito are still around and blitzing the millions of baby baitfish. These speedy footballs will crash the bait schools with reckless abandon. Throwing a small minnow imitation will draw immediate strikes. These fish will get you into your backing in a blink of an eye. Most of these fish are around 5 – 7lbs and are awesome to catch on a 7wt.

Recently, I had the opportunity to do some freshwater trout fishing in Arkansas. I stayed with my good friend Chuck Farneth at Driftwood Lodge near Heber Springs on the Little Red River. The trip started out with a bang. The first fish I caught was a 24 inch female brown trout while swinging flies at night shortly after my arrival. During the day, we were nymphing in some of the bigger pools using 7X and even 8X tippet in order to get the takes. I broke off some really nice fish, but I manage to get a few nice fish to 18 inches to hand. We also had some good numbers days where we caught 20 to 30 fish (rainbows mainly) once the sun came out and hatches started coming off. If you want to try your hand at some big browns, give Chuck a call. He knows where they are for sure.

Now that the water temperatures have begun to drop, the fishing on the flats has gotten much better. Gone are the days of hot water on the flats in the middle part of the day. With the more moderate water temps, the fish are up on the flats most of the day, and they are feeding to put on weight before winter’s lean times. Clear skies following cold fronts combined with our winter low tides make for excellent sight fishing conditions.

Snook have been aggressive over the past few weeks as they feed on the young of the year baitfish. The snook have been found laying in ambush in sand holes on the flats. They have dark backs and can be seen fairly easily against the sand-bottomed holes.

Redfish are around in great numbers, but most are in the 22 inch range. As the water temps continue to fall, the bigger fish will start to invade the shallows. We’ve caught anywhere from 5 to 16 redfish per trip during this last tide cycle. The redfish were so aggressive that the majority of them had the fly back in their crushers before you could strip strike. Next week’s new moon should have them on the feed again.

Speckled trout are on the flats in good numbers. During low tide, they congregate at the edges of the flats near deeper grass. It isn’t uncommon to catch a couple of dozen in no time if you are in the right place. Larger individuals can be found in skinny water as they push in with the rising tide. Several trout larger than 20 inches have been taken while sight fishing for redfish.

Little tunny or bonito are still around and blitzing the millions of baby baitfish. These speedy footballs will crash the bait schools with reckless abandon. Throwing a small minnow imitation will draw immediate strikes. These fish will get you into your backing in a blink of an eye. Most of these fish are around 5 – 7lbs and are awesome to catch on a 7wt.

Recently, I had the opportunity to do some freshwater trout fishing in Arkansas. I stayed with my good friend Chuck Farneth at Driftwood Lodge near Heber Springs on the Little Red River. The trip started out with a bang. The first fish I caught was a 24 inch female brown trout while swinging flies at night shortly after my arrival. During the day, we were nymphing in some of the bigger pools using 7X and even 8X tippet in order to get the takes. I broke off some really nice fish, but I manage to get a few nice fish to 18 inches to hand. We also had some good numbers days where we caught 20 to 30 fish (rainbows mainly) once the sun came out and hatches started coming off. If you want to try your hand at some big browns, give Chuck a call. He knows where they are for sure.

In April, as the water temps climb even more, we start getting the early arrivals from the migration. These fish enter the bay to feed and fatten up before they begin their spawn. We find these fish around the deeper flats and at the mouths of rivers where mullet and ladyfish are in plentiful supply. As long as they are in clear waters, we can sight cast to these cruising fish as they look for their next meal. Big, meaty flies will draw their interest. Fishing pressure is low during this time, and the tarpon are usually more than happy to take a fly.

Once we get into May and June, we are getting into the prime times in which to see numbers of tarpon. The tarpon will school up in preparation to head offshore to spawn during the strong tides around the new and full moons. During these peak tidal flows, it is common to see over a thousand fish streaming by the shallow shoals along the coastline. Shots are plentiful during these times, which offers the angler the best chance to hook a few fish during their time on the water.

July through September, the tarpon schools thin out since the spawn has finished. These late season fish come in singles and doubles most of the time, but small pods are encountered every now and then. Shots are usually less than during the prime part of the migration, but the shot to eat ratio goes up tremendously since the tarpon have food on the brain at this time, and not the spawn. One has to put their time in on the water to get those handful of shots, but more times than not, a good cast is rewarded with an explosive eat.