Fly fishing in the Florida Keys

The Fishing
home

sightfishing

Fly fishing in the Florida Keys... Casting to trout on Golden Pond is far removed from the intensity encountered on a bonefish flat.
The initial phone conversation with a prospective client typically go something like this. "Say, I'd like to come down there and catch a few bonefish, perhaps a permit and some tarpon if we have time. At about this time, these little red flags might pop up in your guide's head. It is obvious to me that this poor soul is a bit unfamiliar with the sport of sight fishing in the Florida Keys. In an effort to be realistic with the angler, I'll tell him that for most folks catching one or two bonefish is considered a great day in the Keys. The usual response is. "What, they ain't runnin down dere?" On an average day, we should get between 20 and 25 shots at fish that average 8 pounds or more. Sight fishing for bonefish, tarpon, permit or redfish, is one of the most demanding fly casting challenges there is. The casts are often long, they must be accurate, and conditions are rarely ideal.

Sight fishing for our game fish requires three things from the angler. Good casting ability, "flats" vision, and a bit of geometry. The ability to cast quickly and accurately is above all, the most important aspect of saltwater fly fishing. In the salt, learning to cast at all angles into the wind, very quickly and accurately with a minimum of false casting at some distance from the boat, is very important to the success of your day or lack thereof. In addition, the ability to present a fly on the back cast and to perform a double haul and a water haul cast will have a profound effect on your catch ratio. Learning to spot the fish can be tricky, especially for a novice flats fisherman. Unfortunately there really is no way to practice your flats vision. It does however, get easier as your time spent on the water and the sun's height on the horizon increases. Your guide will certainly help you in this area. Finally, if one is able to pull it all together and take the direction of the wind, the water and fish into account, AND make the proper cast, hookups increase dramatically.

on preparation...

    What can you do to prepare before your trip? PRACTICE! Get out into the wind and practice your accuracy. Don't just blindly cast, pick a target and hit it. Most casts for are within 50 feet of the boat. Trouble is, the fish are always moving, making the window of opportunity a very small one. You have to be able to cast quickly to the fish where you expect them to be, not where they are. Fly casters, practicing the aforementioned techniques (quickness and accuracy of cast) is highly recommended. Focus on casting 50 feet. Get out into the wind and learn to throw into it, across it and a backhanded presentation into it. That 50 foot cast might only make it only 20 feet into a 15 knot wind.
    Although most guides do enjoy showing someone the finer techniques of saltwater fly casting, this is often at an expense of time searching for fish and opportunities missed. Better to practice before your trip or at least get with a class, before your charter for a quick lesson. Find a fly shop that has experience in salt water fishing. on selecting a fly line...     Selecting the right fly line greatly increases your chances for success and makes the fishing much more enjoyable, but which line is the right one? Most bonefishing is done in very shallow water with sinking flies, so a floating line is all that is normally needed. I am partial to the 3M, Scientific Angler's Mastery Bonefish/Tarpon taper or the SA Ultra Bonefish taper. While the heads are a bit smaller, harder running lines shoot like rockets for longer casts and they are also stiffer so they are more tangle resistant than any other line. These lines are great for good casters, but the extra head length can be a problem for beginners and intermediates or for anyone not accustomed to long-range casting.
    To make these work best, you need to be able to carry at least 40 feet of line outside the rod. Suggestion? Consider the Ultra Bonefish or SWT lines. These have shorter, 30 foot heads that shoot well with less line in the air, which is a good thing for less experienced anglers. If you choose one of the Ultra lines, you should buy it one or two sizes heavier than your rod's rating as the short head doesn't load the rod the way it was designed to load. Although perhaps a great line for other fishing situations, steer clear of the Wind Cheater line and learn to cast properly. the presentation...      When on the flats, it's important to properly choose the weight of your fly. The fly must get down to the level of the fish before they pass over it. Or, it may be too shallow and a heavily weighted fly may foul deeply in the turtle grass. Also, with any strong tidal currents, it may get swept away from their feeding path. It is very important to pay attention to the direction of the water flow upon the flat. Look at the direction the seagrass is bending or stir up some mud with your push pole. fly selection     Your guide will certainly recommend and have available the most productive flies for you. Most are willing to try the patterns you've tied personally, but if the situation demands a better choice, might bow to the guide's selection. If you are tying up a few at home, best to tie in various weights and with weed guards on the lighter flies.