The Tampa Bay Times
Winter saltwater fly fishing is a favorite of mine because most fair-weather anglers are home. The clear water flats are free of floating grass and make sight-fishing for trout, reds, sheepshead, and occasionally snook a perfect venue. Wind can help or hinder. Perfect calm makes it easier to see fish, but they spook easily, making long casts necessary. A little surface ripple from the wind hinders the ability to see fish, but the fish are more relaxed, meaning you can get closer. A 9-foot fly rod, the ideal length for most of our fishing, should keep the fly and hook at least that far from you. If the wind is blowing into your non-casting side, the only problem is casting accuracy. Wind into your casting side is easily corrected by casting horizontally and close to the water, giving the wind little chance to affect the cast. A tight loop in your line created by having the rod tip travel in a straight-line path will be almost unaffected by the wind. A large loop is a disaster, especially if thrown high. A strong wind into your casting side is problematic, easily corrected by casting on your line-hand side using either a cast with your arm across your body or tilting your body away from the wind and “brushing your hair” with your casting hand as you have the rod tip travel on your leeward side. Learning to cast with both hands is ideal.
Fly fisherman Pat Damico charters Fly Guy 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
