St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

The place to discuss the finer points of fly fishing.

Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels

Post Reply
User avatar
Terrier
Posts: 432
Joined: February 21st, 2004, 9:09 am
Location: Tallahassee

St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

Post by Terrier »

Spring is here on the flats - finally had a good day on the St Marks oyster bars for this year. Fished from 8:15 AM to 2:00PM and had steady activity with some good spurts of action. First thing I tried a gartside gurgler and got one, then lost 3 more due to missed hook sets or thrown hooks. Went with a beadchain clouser in olive/chart/white with a hot pink "throat" and got a few more. Also got a 26" red. By noon, had about 9 trout and the red. All trout were mid or upper slots. With the tide just starting to flood, I switched to a chart/white puglisi minnow fly and picked up 5 more trout, plus another on the beadchain clouser. Ended the day with 15 mid to upper slot trout and the redfish.
eightwt
Posts: 315
Joined: November 29th, 2014, 9:11 pm

Re: St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

Post by eightwt »

Thanks for the report. Sounds like it was an excellent outing.
HammerDown
Posts: 16
Joined: June 1st, 2012, 1:10 pm
Location: Tallahassee, Fl.

Re: St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

Post by HammerDown »

Nice work. Sounds like you had'em dialed in. I should probably fish ST. Mark's more since it is closer to my house but my son and wife prefer Econfina. Tight Lines! :D
User avatar
Gulf Coast
Site Sponsor
Posts: 1914
Joined: February 9th, 2010, 3:25 pm
Location: WOODVILLE/MEDART

Re: St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

Post by Gulf Coast »

I lost five Clousers playing with the spanish....fun fun fun :smt004
eightwt
Posts: 315
Joined: November 29th, 2014, 9:11 pm

Re: St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

Post by eightwt »

Hate getting cut off. Blues? May go to wire bite tippet. Its a little spendy, but beats losing fish and fly's.
User avatar
Terrier
Posts: 432
Joined: February 21st, 2004, 9:09 am
Location: Tallahassee

Re: St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

Post by Terrier »

Surprised I didn't run into any spanish yesterday - last week at the refuge I got cut off by one.
User avatar
Gulf Coast
Site Sponsor
Posts: 1914
Joined: February 9th, 2010, 3:25 pm
Location: WOODVILLE/MEDART

Re: St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

Post by Gulf Coast »

eightwt wrote:Hate getting cut off. Blues? May go to wire bite tippet. Its a little spendy, but beats losing fish and fly's.
I'm prob not going to use a wire tippet but I am curious as to how long you make it ?
fishfalcon
Posts: 209
Joined: February 7th, 2012, 5:08 pm

Re: St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

Post by fishfalcon »

Do a 6" length of 50 lb mono as a bite guard or shock tippet and it will reduce your cutoffs.
User avatar
Gulf Coast
Site Sponsor
Posts: 1914
Joined: February 9th, 2010, 3:25 pm
Location: WOODVILLE/MEDART

Re: St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

Post by Gulf Coast »

Yeah, that will do it, a little too much for me....but I can't see the wire turning over in a tight cast ?
eightwt
Posts: 315
Joined: November 29th, 2014, 9:11 pm

Re: St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

Post by eightwt »

I have used TyGer stainless 15 lbs when fishing where pike are present. Knots pretty well. As I recall it was about $11 for 10 or 12 feet. Didn't have too many issues with the cast as I recall. 50 lbs bite tippet for sure is an option as long as what you're targeting is not leader shy.
User avatar
Gulf Coast
Site Sponsor
Posts: 1914
Joined: February 9th, 2010, 3:25 pm
Location: WOODVILLE/MEDART

Re: St Marks NWR - 02 Apr 2017

Post by Gulf Coast »

Gotcha :smt004
Post Reply