BigBendFishing.Net

Welcome aboard TaxPhd

Look forward to talking about the long rod and readng some of your fishing reports

OK, first report on my first ever saltwater fly fishing trip. . .

I had posted on several boards trying to get some beginner help on St. Joe Bay. Nothing was forthcoming, so I just went for it, armed with my trusty 7 wt., a copy of the Fly Fishers Guide to Saltwater Florida, a box full of Clousers, Deceivers, and crab patterns, and high expectations. I went Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend. Got there in the late afternoon on Thursday, and fished near the boat ramp in the state park (I don't have a boat, so I was just wade fishing). Lots of big rays (could be pretty unnerving, but I grew up around them in San Diego, so I'm used to it). I left at sunset with no fish.

Friday, I'm driving down out of Port St. Joe and I stop on the side of the road at some beautiful grass flats. I was watching a couple of boats about 100 yards out to see if they are into fish, when I look along the shoreline, and what do I see? OMG!! a school of tailing Redfish, not 10 yards off shore! Just like the books say it should be! So I scramble out of the car and gear up (which seemed to take forever, as I'm watching the fish move off in the distance). By the time I get into the water, the fish had moved about 50 yards off, and were still moving away, and I'm thinking Da*n! There goes my chance, when the school turns and heads towards me. So I strip line of the reel and get ready to cast. As the school gets closer, I can see the reddish/brown color of the mass of fish, and when they are 20 yards out, I make a perfect cast (I have about one good cast in me per day, and after that it is all downhill. I was lucky my first cast was the good one.) 10 feet in front of the school. As the fish approach, I start stripping, and the school swims over the fly, and nothing hits. WTF?!?!? Then, as the school passes by about 20 ft. away, I realize it's not Redfish . . ., It's sting rays.

I did manage to catch a couple of Trout off that flat, but it was pretty slow. Saturday I went to St. George Island, But it was blowing like crazy, way to much to fish. So, drove home Atlanta swearing that I'll be back. I have a four day weekend every week, so I should make it plenty of times this summer.

Dang, you had my blood presure up there for awhile, I just knew you hooked into the big one. You shouldn't have trouble getting on a boat with this group, most everyone hear is eager to learn what others know as well as teach.

Barhopr wrote:Dang, you had my blood presure up there for awhile, I just knew you hooked into the big one.

Ya....had me going for a minute...I was out the door almost

I have a large arbor Reddington freshwater reel that I used up in Alaska a lot for salmon, it's great. Like Nole said, a large arbor is key, it allows you to pick up line really quickly.

I'll know what to look for in the future, but man, the tips of the wings coming up out of the water had me totally fooled.