[craig]

First Post,
We will be going to the Florida Keys (lower keys) for the winter and I would like suggestons on fly fishing the flats and any other near shore areas.
Suggestions on rod and reel.
Web links and reading materials.
Also what flies I should start tying.
Any other suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks in advance.
cg

[FISHN50]

Hi Craig
I can't give you too much info as I've only been down to Grassy Key & Marathon Key once But I did well with an 8Wt. & a bunch of small chartruse Clousers.
The water was too cold for Bones but the baracudas were eager. The advise I was given was to drag your feet so you don't step on a Ray & I did have one or two spook up right in front of me so I could have stepped right on one easily. Stop in one of the tackle stores for specific info.. the whole chain of keys is set up for fishing so you should have a blast
good luck

[BigCliff]

Welcome to the group man!

Tips:

Shuffle your feet.

Learn how to double haul.

Backcast delivery can be very helpful too.

Buy good boots.

I'd tie Clouser's, Gotcha's, Kwan's, and Jiggies for the deep holes.

Shuffle your feet.

Take some pike leaders with the bite guard built in for those cuda's.

[tbrillinger223]

Originally Posted by BigCliff

Welcome to the group man!

Tips:

Shuffle your feet.

Learn how to double haul.

Backcast delivery can be very helpful too.

Buy good boots.

I'd tie Clouser's, Gotcha's, Kwan's, and Jiggies for the deep holes.

Shuffle your feet.

Take some pike leaders with the bite guard built in for those cuda's.

Craig,

welcome to the forum.

like Cliff suggested learn to do the sting ray shuffle. I would also recamend a good pair of hard soled dive booties or water shoes, as some of the corals you might encounter are very sharp.

Patterns:
#6,4,2,1/0 decievers and clousers in browns, greens, whites, and reds.
crazy charlies, crab and shrimp patterns, merkins and some tarpon flies.

Rod Size: 8wt or 9wt will be fine. you'll want to bring a floating line and a sinking line designed for tropical climates (our weather down here varies). leaders, your best bet are leaders designed for bonefish, redfish, and tarpon.
you also want to get a spool of 30# fluorocarbon.

other necesities: good pair of polorized glasses, sun screen (spf 30), hook hone, also you might want to get a list of local fly shops.

a few other tidbits I can offer up, distance and accuracy, line management if you are going to be fishing the pointy end of a skiff, and most important the double haul (as this comes back to the distance thing). fish down here tend to be very weary, and sometimes only have one chance before you see the your quary putting a whole lotta distance between you and him.

try these guys for some good hard info. they are located in Islamarada

Fly Fishing School, fly shop, rods and reels

[craig]

Thank you for the info. I plan to do lots of fishing, reading and tying before we go. I hope that I can write back if I have questions.
Thanks again,
Craig

[tbrillinger223]

Craig,

All of us here will be more than happy to help answer any or all of your questions. I live down here in south Florida and frequent Biscayne Bay, Flamingo, Chockoloskee, and The Keys. The fishing this time of year is pretty good, depending on the mullet and pilchards.

[dauner]

Craig ,
thank you for asking this question , got all the infos that i need too , i did ask the same question for a diffrerent region , no one answer .

Have a great Fishing .

[craig]

Dauner,
You're welcome.
I guess everyone must have been out fishing.
I'm sure that I'll have LOTS of questions as time goes on.
cg

[tbrillinger223]

Craig,

just wanted to see how your summer was coming and how the fly fishing was going.

[craig]

It's still spring in this area. The fly fishing is going well. Able to get out and fish at least once a week, have plenty of time to tie flies, cut the grass or anything else the 'boss' needs done and still spend some time on and in the water.
Spent some time in northwestern PA fishing for rainbows and really had good luck. Catching browns on the streams and lake trout in the lake.