Rick Grassett, 2/26/2017

Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout in Sarasota Bay and trout and snook in Gasparilla Sound on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms during the past week. The best action was in shallow water, where long casts with spinning tackle paid off.

Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL and Jim Pociask, from Sarasota, FL, fished the backcountry of Gasparilla sound near Boca Grande with me on Monday. They caught and released trout to 21” and snook to 26” on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms.

Siesta Key and Longboat Key winter residents, Joe Brinkmeyer and Jim Brady, and Ray Brinkmeyer, from Indianapolis, IN, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. We worked deep grass flats on the west side of the bay and they had steady action with trout to 18” on CAL jigs with shad tails.

Capt. Ed Hurst and I were the instructors for a CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School on Saturday. Students received instruction in fly casting basics, line control, shooting line and the roll cast. We also covered leader construction, fly selection and saltwater fly fishing techniques. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 or info@cbsoutfitters.com to make reservations for the next school on Mar 25th.

You should find snook, larger trout and reds in shallow water when conditions are good. Wading with a fly rod or making long casts with spinning tackle are good tactics for fishing shallow water. Catch and release night snook fishing around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW with flies and DOA Lures continues to be a good option. Trout should also be a good option on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay.

Tight Lines,