“Big fish. 11 o’clock about 40 feet facing left. Wait, he turned around. Recast. A little more to the right this time. Good shot…Strip, strip, strip…He ate it. Yes!!”

Who would not be excited about seeing a huge snook or redfish charge down a fly in mere inches of water? Or better yet, a laid up tarpon that seemed to be sleeping now has devoured the fly and is going wild!

Fly fishing in Southwest Florida is full of rewards for anglers of all skill levels. It can provide the ultimate challenge for the expert fly fishermen. The diverse fishery also allows a novice angler the chance to learn on the water and get the line tight. Snook, redfish, and tarpon will test the ability of an angler to place the fly in the strike zone and then create the proper action to trigger a strike. Trout, jacks, ladyfish, mackerel, snapper and more will jump at the opportunity to grab a fly and provide steady action when targeted.

Fish lurking under or around mangrove limbs or moving along oyster shorelines looking for food are tough targets. Being able to cast quickly and accurately is essential for maximizing your catch of snook, redfish, and tarpon.

The length of your cast is not as important as the accuracy. When practicing before your trip, shoot at a small target at various lengths of 30, 40, and 60 feet. Many clients find that the short, quick casts to snook, redfish, and tarpon are tougher than the longer casts. Minimize your false casts so you can pick up line after stripping the fly and present the fly right back to your target at once. Remember the fish won’t eat when the fly is in the air.

Typical backcountry fly fishing outfits are 7 or 8 weight mid or tip flex rods rigged with light reels that hold 200 yards of backing. Tarpon fishing requires heavier gear. 11 or 12 weights rods are used along with a reel that can withstand the pressure applied when fighting fish that regularly weigh over 100 pounds.  I use floating lines the majority of the times but a clear sink tip or intermediate line is appropriate for certain situations.

Fly selection comes down to profile and shade. Assessing the water quality and color and the types of forage the fish are feeding on is paramount to determining which fly to throw. Or you can just forget all that and go with any dark colored EP Minnow. Over the years, these flies have produced more fish than any other bar none. Baitfish imitations in white and chartreuse take up space in my fly box as well. Mangrove bunnies, Schminnows, Deceivers, and Seaducers all are excellent choices. Crustacean flies like a Clouser minnow, Kwan, Borski Shrimp, and others take snook, redfish, and tarpon throughout the year as well.