Here at the gateway to Everglades National Park, the guided fly fishing days on a skiff can be both exciting and painful. Painful on your wallet. In a boat, you’re going to get over lots of fish and cover lots of water…but if you own a boat or take guided trips in boats, the fees can be hefty. It’s addictive, those guided trips, so I have to fill the gaps by cruising Glades haunts on foot. Surprisingly, there is a lot of great water inhabited by huge Snook and Tarpon that is easily accessible for the fly fisher on foot. And there are certain times that are ideal. I found the best way to learn it is to fish it and explore it myself. I try to keep the prime spots close to my vest and the patterns that work best are kept close too…only because I guide here in the winter. Once I take someone and he gets a fly over a 60 pound Tarpon….the secret’s out. So I’m always scouting new spots. Tarpon congregate. Areas that held fish yesterday, may be barren today so I move around a lot.I can definately tell you that Tarpon will eat more actively during low light and calm winds and at the top half of the tide. That has been my experience. And, if you see a Tarpon roll within casting distance, the sooner your fly lands in his general area, the more likely he’ll eat. He’ll not always eat, but more likely he will if he sees an unexpected fly attempting to flee. Your strip has to be constant and not too fast. Fast enough for the Tarpon to want to chase it, but not faster than a fish the size of your fly can swim!If the Tarpon eats a fly and then turns, you must feel the take and set the hook hard. Their mouths are like sand paper. It’s 50-50 whether or not you’ll get a solid hook up. Often the hook merely slides over his rough, hard jaw. The Gators are listening for fish in distress, so be aware that they will persue a hooked fish. I lost a Baby Tarpon to a Gator last week who had a back 3 feet accross and was intent on my fish being his breakfast. The hook pulled free at the bank, but the Tarpon was so exausted he couldn’t flee the jaws. I backed away from the bank. Gators can jump airborne to capture prey. I’ve seen it.The Tarpon in the photo was landed Jan. 27, 07 and released a good distance from encroaching Gators. 25 Minutes from my home here in Naples…Tarpon on foot…this is a poor man’s dream come true.
Cool story Marsh. Occasionally I fly into Naples … I would love to fish with you sometime soon! Do you find an 8wt. sufficient, or is a 10 wt better for this sceneario?
Take care
Paul
Hey Paul,
Next time you’re in Naples and have a bit of time to fish, please give me a call. The places where I go are maybe 35-40 minutes from the Naples Airport.
I use a nine-weight, but an eight weight is just fine. I avoid using the brighter colored lines though as they will spook fish. I’m going to try the clear Monic or maybe a clear intermediate sink. I like a 9-foot leader and a 35 lb shock tippet of 20 inches lets most smaller flies ride well and protects from abrasive Tarpon jaws.
Even if you don’t have room in the plane for for your rod and gear, I have spare rigs you can use.
Marshall
Awesome stuff. This is what I love about Florida. I find it impossible to drive by a seemingly innocuous stretch of water along almost any road in below the frostline without wondering if I should pull over and walk its banks. You never know what type of fish could be lurking in even what appears to be a drainage ditch.
Do you find any particular hook to be more effective?
I have had more strikes on smaller flies #4 and 6. I like the Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp but I have lots of Mustads too. I’ve used some Gamakatsu also and often I’ll tweak the Mustads and Eagle Claws, bending the piont outward slightly. I don’t mess with the Gamakatsus or Owners becuse they’ll snap. I try to sharpen all of the others though. I think all that helps catch more Tarpon…at least it makes me think it does.
Marshall,
Every aspect of what you are doing is great. It just goes to show you don’t need to be on the bow of a boat to have a rewarding experience down there. Yo are so lucky to have that at your disposal every day. It’s -15F here today.
That’s nice Marsh (once again), don’t you have a not mosquitos but like them, thiner and much numerous, very very tiny flying stuff and hard bitter, here in guadeloupe some tarpon spots can be fish on foot, but these kind of “mosquitos” drive me nuts a lot passing much more time smashing my face and neck chasing them than casting a real pain in the ass so I avoid theses spot because they are so fill up with this tiny fling bitters ?
we’ve gotta fish together, whip….
Yes AlexisMT555,
The bugs are worse in the spring and summer. Damn horseflies anywhere, any time in high sun. Bugs are not bad in early morning when the bite is best. I want to go visit you where you fish for Bones. My gal likes the beaches and shops…. would it be fun for both of us?
Thanks for the advice. Your write up was a great temporary escape.
Yep Marsh, it should be very fun for both of us and a real pleasure for me to meet you.
I’m working on the half eaten baitfish today and will post the complete pattern today I have not forget you would have like to see it.
Thanks for the bug Marsh now I know the english word for them 🙂
marsh — awesome stuff … i don’t know if i am the only one … but when fly fishing saltwater .. there is a definate distinction between a fish caught from boat and by shore … for example .. when fly fishing for albies in florida or the northeast from boat, it is not uncommon to have catch huge numbers of fish per day … and the odds of hooking up increase dramatically when fly fishing using a boat as a tool ….with that said, i also know that 1 albie on foot is a great accomplishment and not even in the same realm of comparison as if you had success on a boat … i am not saying that one is better than the other … simply that many species provide different senses of personal accomplishment when a boat is or is not part of the equation ….
there is something about fly fishing with my feet on the ground that i love .. and catching a tarpon like that … or a bonefish .. or an albie .. or a roosterfish etc… with nothing but your fly rod, flies and your own two feet provides a sense of accomplishment that is not better nor worse .. simply not comparable to the sense of accomplishment if you had been using a boat as a tool ….
feet = one kinda game …..and boat = a totally different kinda game .. even if the same species is being pursued … the dynamics and the rewards and everything changes …..
i would LOVE to catch a tarpon like that .. on my own to feet … very impressive stuff.
MarshallD
I was in Flamingo Bay yesterday and we caught snook, reds, trout, drum, snapper, and jewfish…. until the bull sharks showed up and were taking our fish right off our lines. Didn’t see any gators, but we were a lot closer to the salt than, where I’m guessing, you were. Thanks for the story and the tips.
Legend