http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/Captain-s-Corner-Make-sure-the-fly-gets-in-front-of-a-hungry-fish_164460471
Back-to-back winter cold fronts not only confuse inshore fish but the fly fishers who pursue them. The most perfectly tied fly is not effective unless it is in front of a fish that is anxious to eat it. The best daytime tides, very low early and incoming until midday or later, have not been as much of a factor as finding warmer water. A 5-degree difference in the same general area has made slow mornings with good tide take a back seat to slack tides later. Sunny days are perfect for this. Dropoffs where a grassy shallow flat meets deeper water have been consistent hot spots with weighted baitfish like flies. If you don’t have a sink tip line, after casting, count slowly and find the wait time that gets your offering where the fish are before beginning your retrieve. Ladyfish are mixed in with the trout, so using synthetic rather than natural materials will allow your fly to last longer. After each ladyfish, check your leader for frays that require a cut and re-tie. Pompano have been an occasional bonus using these techniques.
Fly fisherman Pat Damico runs charters in lower Tampa Bay and can be reached at captpat.com and (727) 504-8649.
- Capiains Corner. Damico - December 26, 2023
- Pat Damico - December 21, 2023
- CaptainsCorner: Pat Damico - November 27, 2023
