Maybe you FL guys can help me.
I'll be in St. Petersburg this winter.
What fly rods (length, weight, whatever) should I take with me? I'm guessing I'll mostly be wading, but there is the possibility I'll have access to a boat.
I did my first fly fishing in St. Petersburg back about 1957 when I would visit my grandparents in Dunedin.
I then took vacations there and visited a crotchety old guy (like me) named Carl Hanson and fished a lot with him. He had a weekly fly tying group which met at his house in Pinellas Park. He passed away a few years back.
For the rod, I'd recommend a 9' #8. or better still a 10' if out can handle it. (Most people who get tired when using a longer rod are using their shoulder and upper arm as the fulcrum instead of the forearm and thus the fatigue factors).
If you are going to fish the more protected spots you could opt for a #7. Actually, you can go a lot lighter if you're an efficient caster and are going to use smaller flies.
Try the flats area off Ft. Desoto for sea trout and redfish. You can fish the beaches in early morning for snook with good success.
Look for lighted bridges where you can gain access to the water and fish those for wonderful fun for two to three pound ladyfish. It's just like catching landlock salmon with a death wish.
Of course some of the cuts in the day time early morning should give you some good fishing for jacks.
If you are going to fish the Bradenton area, I'd recommend Capt. Ray Markham as a good fly fishing guide.
Jack
---------- Post added at 09:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 AM ----------
Very Cool......I will keep watching this thread. I may fly in.
Cpt. Frank Bougois??.....I know of him. I used to have an office in Spring Hell...Im mean Hill.
Or if you a masochist and want to get bombarded by a lot of bad humor, try fishing with Frank and me! That's for the truly adventurous.
One poor guy at a club meeting up on the Beaverkill was stuck between Lefty Kreh and me at the dinner cable. After a bit the guy who apparently had no sense of humor what so ever got up and said, "You guys are sick!" and left.
We both felt a bit guilty then Lefty said, "I'll split his steak with you!"