I do like the bigger fish. Makes for a very interesting fight from a kayak. A big enough fish will pull you into the docks and then you have to go in and move though the pilings to land them. Not such a easy job with a 9ft fly rod. Now if I could just figure out how to make the tarpon on the beach eat.
Now if I could just figure out how to make the tarpon on the beach eat.
Typically our beach fish are the most aggressive, but I put in a lot of miles looking for a shot from the sand. Some days I watch fish (and I get the feeling they're watching me too). Skunks come more often than not unless there's a bait migration of some kind bringing them into casting range. Generally from right about now until early November there are tarpon in the surf and they are well within the range of your average 10wt with a density compensated line of some kind. If you're ever in the area and feel like walking/running the beach, let me know. Lately they've been distant. I had 4 feeds and went tight on a 70lb fish about 2 weeks ago, when they were actively feeding on pogies.
Been fishing them for a couple years on the beach. I do really well in Stuart when the minnnows come in thick. Things are like crack for tarpon but only show up thick like every 4-5 years. Most of the time they like to roll too far off the beach for me. 2 weeks back I had a boat and we got into a feeding frenzy of tarpon sharks jacks and snook. No live bait would stay in the water more than 5 seconds before getting eaten but nothing would bite any lure or fly. I'm starting to think they just like playing with my emotions.
When there's a frenzy on.... feathers can get ignored for all of us. Here's a trick that might solve that problem -when all hell is breaking loose near the surface, there will always be quite a few cripples that survive an attack - but just barely... Try working a big fly right on the bottom underneath all the commotion - and work it slowly - you might get a big surprise. That sort of stuff is tough to do when you can see everything getting shredded right in front of you, though.
When there's a frenzy on.... feathers can get ignored for all of us. Here's a trick that might solve that problem -when all hell is breaking loose near the surface, there will always be quite a few cripples that survive an attack - but just barely... Try working a big fly right on the bottom underneath all the commotion - and work it slowly - you might get a big surprise. That sort of stuff is tough to do when you can see everything getting shredded right in front of you, though.
Ok, after your inspiration Bill I got some bear out. First tied on a little length of Icelandic sheep ( very white and silky ) then the rest is bear. Hopefully a beach snuke will like it.
After going to Renzetti's fly expo (or what ever you call it) last winter and meeting an older tier that showed me a nice mullet fly he tied using wig hair. He gave me the fly and I decided after studying it again recently that I would find some wig hair.
Boy did I and is it ever cheap. The whole bunch in the photo cost less than four packs of EP or Farrar's. Notice the small packs laying on top. If you're into tying jumbo baitfish for jumbo fish this is the way to go I think
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Went to the lagoon to see how they swam and immediately caught a 16" trout on the light mullet one. The black one swam nice but I think it's more suited for darker water.
This was my go to pattern for the flood tide redfish this year (and in years past). The body is made of Mylar tubing with the core removed and it's tied in a similar fashion to a regular 'ol kwan but with a couple tweaks.
Even the uglies couldn't resist this guy this year!
I've also been whipping up these fun little skrimps. These are Drew Chicone's Disco Shrimp (or at least as close to them as I can tie). They're great little flies that catch about anything that eats a shrimp. I added a weed guard to mine to fit my fishing conditions a little better and I've really enjoyed fishing them. The top eater action is as exciting as fishing gets, and the longer hook shank eliminates the short-strike epidemic that I suffer when I use a traditional gurgler/slider style topwater.
Here are a few of the satisfied customers the disco shrimp has enticed:
(Sorry for the goofy camera angles, it's one of the drawbacks to fishing solo).
Tied these a while back. Small synthetic baitfish are probably my favorite pattern after a plain seaducer. Not much that won't eat a small baitfish.
Wow, I love these patters! I really like how clean they all are; very well done. I'm a big fan of sparsely tied baitfish for all sorts of environments. Is the third one down just Palmer chenille and marabou with some silly legs? Doesn't look to difficult to whip up, but I can imagine it would be deadly up here in Jax for the low tide reds. Also, I would love to know more about that crab pattern on the bottom. Is there any sort of weighting under the foam that keeps it riding hook up? And is that epoxy on the back of the foam to add weight as well? Sorry for the thousand questions but I really like those ties and would love to try my hand at a few.
Between wind, work, and remodeling the house I haven't found as much time to fish as i'd like but here are some patterns from the past couple weeks that all need some testing. Hopefully getting to fish both day this weekend
Replies
Typically our beach fish are the most aggressive, but I put in a lot of miles looking for a shot from the sand. Some days I watch fish (and I get the feeling they're watching me too). Skunks come more often than not unless there's a bait migration of some kind bringing them into casting range. Generally from right about now until early November there are tarpon in the surf and they are well within the range of your average 10wt with a density compensated line of some kind. If you're ever in the area and feel like walking/running the beach, let me know. Lately they've been distant. I had 4 feeds and went tight on a 70lb fish about 2 weeks ago, when they were actively feeding on pogies.
Bob LeMay
(954) 435-5666
SC15 #1
Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try.
The snook and tarpon can't get enough of this fly. Plus it's a quick tie
There's more than a few. They're still on finger mullet, the real show doesn't start until the big blacks and striped mullet move in. Good tie.
Boy did I and is it ever cheap. The whole bunch in the photo cost less than four packs of EP or Farrar's. Notice the small packs laying on top. If you're into tying jumbo baitfish for jumbo fish this is the way to go I think
.
Went to the lagoon to see how they swam and immediately caught a 16" trout on the light mullet one. The black one swam nice but I think it's more suited for darker water.
Even the uglies couldn't resist this guy this year!
Here are a few of the satisfied customers the disco shrimp has enticed:
(Sorry for the goofy camera angles, it's one of the drawbacks to fishing solo).
grace finds goodness in everything ...
Some deer hair poppers.