Anglers fishing with me, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout, pompano, Spanish mackerel and bluefish on CAL jigs with shad tails in Sarasota Bay and trout, snook and reds in Gasparilla Sound on CAL jigs with shad tails, 4" jerk worms and flies during the past couple of weeks.
Dick Striano, from MA, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 1/16. We worked deep grass flats on the west side of the bay where he had some action with trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. Carl Thomas, from KY, and Dave Saturley, from Sarasota, fished the same areas with me on Wednesday, 1/18 and had some action catching and releasing trout, Spanish mackerel and bluefish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and CAL jigs with had tails.
Bill Morrison, from Anna Maria Island and Gary Marple, from Sarasota, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday, 1/19. We worked deep grass flats on the west side of the bay where they had some action with trout and blues on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. Dave Wahl, from Lakewood Ranch, and Dennis Dombrowski, from Reno, NV, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday, 1/21. Despite a strong approaching front, fishing was challenging. However they caught and released a few trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies, including Dennis's first saltwater fish on a fly!
Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL fished the backcountry of Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande with me on Tuesday, 1/24. He had a great day catching and releasing a "slam" including trout to 19", a couple of reds to 24" and a 26" snook on CAL jigs with shad tails and 4" jerk worms. We found a concentration of reds and snook, but couldn't get them to eat at first. With the tide a little higher, we backed off a little, changed the style of CAL plastic tail and worked the area a second time. That proved to be a winning combination as Keith caught and released a couple of nice reds and a snook!
Longtime friends and clients Tom Lamb, from Geneva, Switzerland and his daughter, Diane Muhlfeld, from Sarasota, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday, 1/26. They had some action with trout and a couple of pompano to 4-lbs on CAL jigs with shad tails. Lew Murray, from Tarpon Springs, FL, fished the backcountry of Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande with me on Friday, 1/27. We worked on shallow water fly fishing techniques and he caught and released his first snook on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly.
Trout, blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano and more should be good options on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Catch and release night snook fishing around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW with flies and DOA Lures should also be good. Also look for snook in shallow water along with larger trout and reds when conditions are good.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB's Saltwater Outfitters
Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
www.snookfin-addict.com, www.snookfinaddict.com and www.flyfishingflorida.us
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
(941) 923-7799
