flatsguide fishing blog for the Florida Keys flats and backcountry

Just tons of redfish 2011-14-11

2011-11-14T17:46:00.000-08:00

With strong winds and a bright moon, the tides have been very strong and providing us with very low water levels. This is good for us, but bad for the redfish. It corrals them into very limited areas, allowing us to catch them much easier. We've had days catching 25 or more during the past two weeks. Bonefishing has been good on the East wind.. as long as the sun cooperates.

nearly tarpon time....

2011-03-18T04:29:00.000-07:00

Arron releases his bone

We've just had what hopefully is the last coldfront of the season... and things are looking very good for the upcoming months.. As the water temperatures slowly rise, so do the fishing possibilties. We've had a great week on the bonefish and tarpon. The bonefish have been plentiful during the last few weeks of Winter (ok, so maybe 80' doesn't count as Winter in your part of the world) and the tarpon are on the move. It'll soon be time to pull out the 6 frames a second Canon and get them dancing on the surface.. here are a few pics to pacify those still in the snow... B

Must Catch Fish!

2011-01-23T04:22:00.001-08:00

Having just finished 7 of 8 days on the water, we've experienced 4 major changes in the weather. From a day with winds exceeding 20 mph, another with tumultuous rain squalls with imbedded waterspouts, a slick calm steamy hot day and one with thick fog having less than a 1/4 mile visibility. Though we were able to catch fish (plenty of redfish) on most of the days, it sometimes pains me to have an angler want to pursue a target species though the weather conditions don't allow it on fly tackle. A greasy shrimp would have surely closed the deal. Guess I feel they should get back to the dock having caught something for their expense of a day on the water with me. I had the pleasure of having had a very patient angler on the bow during my last day. I struggled immensely to see the fish and allow enough time to get my fly angler to get a shot. A few fast moving showers overcame us during the morning as we blew out redfish on a leeward shoreline then draped us in a high veil of clouds during the afternoon as the bonefish scooted out from under the bow of the skiff as i overran them. For they had the advantage in the blinding glare. The day however flew by for me as Bruce and I chatted about the fishery, the strategy of catching these ghosts we could not see and life in general. After my day with my new friend, I'll have to rethink my "must catch a fish" tendency as I had the most pleasurable day with him, sans fish

They're baaacckkk!

2011-01-20T02:39:00.000-08:00

After a long hiatus from the flats, the water temps swung greatly in our favor and had the bonefish swarming the flats once again. I'd been forced to fish the backcountry the past several weeks for redfish, due to the cold water. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it, but the brisk boat ride (freezing cold for us southerners) was getting old. I had a striper fly fisherman on the bow and though we hooked only one, it was good to see the fish mudding recklessly in schools of 20-50... Come on Spring!

expect the unexpected, even when it's expected

2011-01-18T03:15:00.000-08:00

With ominous clouds overhead, but perhaps a very short possible window to fish, I gave them the options..
1. return home to a warm cozy bed, deposit refunded no questions asked.
2. make the run across the bay, in the rain, fish in the rain, run home in the rain before the bad stuff cuts us off from option 1, and make it a very short day.. My customary glance at the computer's radar before I leave each day, told me it wasn't going to be pretty.
They choose...... door number 2
As we slid across the placid bay, we were treated to this beautiful vision of a double rainbow, but they don't call them RAINbows for nothing.. I ran em back to a few spots i'd been fishing the past four days and caught a number of redfish, drum and sheepshead, but it wasn't long before the heavy stuff descended upon us. Twenty four miles through the rain and two whiteouts (one a possible waterspout as the boat blew sideways at one point while running along at 25 mph) later, we made it back to the marina.
One was not too happy with "my" decision to take them out, as he was soaked and chilled to the bone. But it was in fact their choice.... Dropped them off and I opted for option #1

Just another day in paradise...

2011-01-12T13:36:00.000-08:00

Well, sort of. Once again the winds are howling and the temps plummeting. It's at 47 degrees this morning. Winds 20-25 out of the NE. My charter for the day backed out (can't say I blame them) and tomorrows not looking to good either. This past weekend I attended a running event with a group of strangers from around the US. It got me to thinking about my time spent on the boat with new clients every day. I've once heard another seasoned guide say, "Taking a guided trip on a backcountry skiff is akin to spending eight hours in a locked bathroom with a stranger". You've got to make the most of the time with your new best friend or its going to be a very long day. Luckily I enjoy people (the fishings just an added bonus for me) and the experiences they bring onboard. Hopefully the five other folks I spent 191 miles with in a sweaty, smelly cramped van while running, eating and sleeping in for 36 hours to Key West, felt the same way. Here's hoping your next charter doesn't feel like its spent in a jiffy John.

Choosing an inexpensive fly rod...

2009-10-01T02:37:00.001-07:00

Roger Simon emails me from Michigan with this question.
Can you recommend a "reasonable" flyrod or blank in 9-10 wgt? I'm currently using a St.Croix 7-8 and can't seem to get the 50-70 ft range with this rod.
Great looking website. Rog Simon

Hi Roger.. glad to help.. While I'm not familiar with that rod blank personally... there shouldn't be a problem getting the distance you're looking for from that blank.. At the risk of sounding a bit pompous, I believe a slight change in your casting stroke would make a dramatic change in the distance you can throw. Learning a "power" stroke during the cast and stopping the tip higher at the end of each cast (watching that the flyline is cast in a direction that is parallel to the water) should help.. I've still got my first flyrod, an old fiberglass rod, that though it is a very slow action, 60 feet is easily obtained with it, provided i take the time to allow it to load. I seem to have the same problem in my golf game, distance and accuracy. I purchase new clubs, hoping each will straighten the ball path and gain distance, but without the technical aspects of my golf swing mastered, even the new equipment fails me.. That being said, I have had clients with St Croix, Redington, Temple Fork and even Cabelas make a few that should please you.. One quick note, feel is an important thing and with the wind or slick calm days we have here in the Keys, a faster (stiffer) flyrod helps to transmit the energy at the base of the rod to the tip.. making for a more powerful, longer cast. But taking the time to master the cast technically is paramount. Hope this helps! Best Regards, Barry

Great new flybox from Cliff!

2009-01-30T02:16:00.000-08:00

I've just received my new justin case.. from Cliff Outdoors.. This thing holds everything! I've utilized the "Beast" box from Cliff for a couple of years and it has worked perfectly. For those that may pursue a variety of fish during the course of a day, this box will allow you to take enough flies for two or three species. The new "Justin Case" is also waterproof.. Check em out at www.cliffoutdoors.com

A new "secret" fishing spot

2008-12-30T17:22:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since my last post here.. but had a regretfully notable event occur... I've just been informed that one of my most enjoyable clients, Tom Cook had suddenly passed last week. His love for the water and fishing was evident in his pursuit of the most sporting of gamefish with me. Tom worked for NASA's space shuttle program and now has the opportunity to find the fish waayyy before me from his new vantage point. Now if i can just get him to show me those hot spots...... We'll miss ya Tom.. B

a good read... and a must see dvd

2008-06-28T03:13:00.000-07:00

Rarely having to been able to get thru a whole book, (short attention span?) .. this is one of the few that i have read more than once.. If you were a fan of "A River Runs Through it".. you 'll enjoy this one... "The River Why". I just found out it will soon hit the theaters next month..

A good friend "Nate" who shares my addiction to the salt water, loaned me a copy of "Tarpon". For those who have been on my skiff and have had to listen to me lament about the way the fishing was years ago.. I apologize. Watch this video and see why. Filmed in Key West in 1974, it offers a glimpse of what fly fishing for tarpon was like in the early days. Jimmy Buffet performs the background music for it.. The film never made it to market in the U.S. and the original footage sat in a barn in the French countryside for 35 years. "Tarpon" (UYA Films, 53 minutes, $34.95 plus shipping) from The Book Mailer in Helena, Montana: order online (http://www.thebookmailer.com/Tarpon/Tarpon.html), call 1-800-874-4171, or email orders@thebookmailer. After a hectic day on the water (or land based vessel) slip this sucker into your dvd player and unwind with a rum and coke. Just close your eyes during the permit carnage...

new FlatsGuide T shirts!

2008-05-17T15:38:00.000-07:00

One of my clients has made arrangements with me to produce our new t shirts.. Great artwork on em... They're Hanes long sleeve tagless shirts and have our 4 color logo. Order yours before your charter and I'll have it for you after you catch your tarpon!

An albino tarpon!

2008-05-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

Well I wouldn't have believed it if i hadn't seen it.. Today.. in the largest string of tarpon we saw today (300 fish) an albino tarpon! It was about 40 pounds and had an eerie peach/orange back and as it passed, it's sides looked white.. I'd heard of an albino permit down in Key West... but this was a first for me.. I gave a friend a call, Capt Duane Baker, who was near me fishing and he confirmed the sighting.. pretty cool stuff!
6-8-2008
got this email from Capt. Ed Walker last night:
I am a guide here in West Central Fl and for the first time in 20 plus years of tarpon fishing saw what I would have to call an albino tarpon yesterday north of Boca Grande. I Googled it to see if anyone else had ever seen one and your blog came up. This one was about 125 pounds. After seeing something odd down deep in the big school we hooked up and the most bizarre creature I have ever seen gave us one full jump before throwing the hook. It was orange, bright orange and had several dark spots the size of scales on its side. I had never heard of anything like it. I am so disappointed that we lost it. I was glad to read your post and prove to myself that I was not losing my mind.

Let's hear from you!

2008-04-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

Got a question on tackle, fly selection or like to share a fish story? Here's your chance.. If you'd like to post a comment on your fishing trip with me, or perhaps a restaurant or hotel you found while here, have at it! I'd love to hear from you! Just hit the "Let's hear from you" link just below!