Our seasonal shallow water fishing may be challenging with conventional tackle, but limiting yourself to fly fishing can be even more difficult. Wind, clear water, cold fronts, low tides, heavy boat traffic, especially on Holidays and weekends, all give us more reasons to stay home and wait for conditions that are more favorable. Instead of thinking about the issues that appear to be negative, concentrate on how they are helpful. Go out on the very low tide days and explore flats you are familiar with noting where fish are showing. This requires absolute stealth. Recently, we watched several gulls diving and catching baitfish in a few feet of water after not seeing any surface activity or baitfish earlier. Using the electric motor at a slow steady speed to get reasonably close, we sat patiently letting the tide and wind move us closer. It took almost 10 minutes before the surface looked like rain as the baitfish began to dimple the surface and trout began to feed. Making long casts with a baitfish pattern the size of the bait we saw gave us immediate hookups. Pay particular attention to where there is a nearby deeper section that can hold a concentration of fish. As the tide leaves, redfish, trout and sheepshead will occupy these safe havens and leave when the tide starts to flood the flats becoming more scattered. The number of catchable fish concentrated in a small area will amaze you. Keep a daily fishing log to record your success as well as failures and use it as a future reference.
Fly Fisherman Pat Damico charters in lower Tampa Bay and can be reached at captpatdamico.com and (727) 504-8649.
- Capiains Corner. Damico - December 26, 2023
- Pat Damico - December 21, 2023
- CaptainsCorner: Pat Damico - November 27, 2023
