Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fly Fishing Forecast for January 2012
Weather will be a factor this month so fish smart, ahead of fronts or in windows of good weather between fronts, for the best action. You’ll find reds and trout in potholes or around deep docks on low tides in the morning. Snook should be in rivers, creeks, canals and around lighted docks and bridge fenders in the ICW at night. It may be worth taking a look in the coastal gulf for albies (little tunny), tripletail and more when the weather is good.

Trout season reopens in the south region this month and it is usually good in January following the 2-month closure. Cold weather will cause trout to congregate in potholes, channels, creeks and around deep docks. Fly anglers should do well with weighted flies and sinking fly lines to get their flies into the strike zone. You’ll also find trout on deep grass flats this month where you can drift and cast ahead of your drift with a weighted fly on a sink tip fly line to find them. I like the jigging action of weighted flies, since it is the up and down motion that triggers strikes. Some of the biggest trout may be in potholes in skinny water where you may have an opportunity to sight fish for them. Use flies with weedguards that land gently when fishing shallow grass.

You’ll find reds in potholes or on drop offs along bars and edges of flats on negative low tides in the morning. You might also find them around deep docks in the ICW when the tide is low. An intermediate sink tip fly line with a weighted fly, like a Clouser or my Deep Flats Bunny, will work well for fishing docks, drop offs and deep edges. A short leader of only about 6 ½’-7’ with a stiff butt section will help you cast weighted flies under docks. As the tide rises, reds will move higher onto flats where you may find them along mangrove shorelines on sunny afternoons. I use lightly weighted flies with weed guards fished on a 12’ or longer floating fly line when fishing shallow grass. You can fish your fly right through thick grass and then let it drop into potholes. I like north Sarasota Bay for reds and trout in January.

Snook season remains closed this month, so use tackle heavy enough to land them quickly and release them with as little handling as possible. You’ll find snook in rivers, creeks and canals in January. Fish deep spots, such as the outside bank of a bend, or docks in these areas. You’ll also find a lot of snook in the ICW from Sarasota to Venice. Fly fishing for snook at night can be very good, but strong fronts can shut things down for a few days. I like small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, fished on an intermediate sink tip fly line. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action.

You might find blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano or flounder on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. The techniques to locate them on deep grass flats are the same as for trout, drifting and casting ahead of the drift with weighted flies on sink tip fly lines. Deep grass flats close to passes such as the Middleground, Radio Tower and Marina Jack flats and Stephens and Bishop Point are good areas because of a good tidal flow and a good mixture of sand and grass. In shallow water, look for flounder along the edge of bars and drop offs along the edges of shallow flats in the same areas where you might find reds and trout.

You might find albies (little tunny), blues, Spanish mackerel and tripletail in the coastal gulf depending on conditions. When it’s mild, there can be lots of action in the coastal gulf. You might find tripletail on crab trap floats when it’s warm with a southeast breeze. Due to the way they camouflage themselves as flotsam, they will eat a fly that is coming towards them. I like lightly weighted, bulky flies, like my Grassett Flats Minnow for tripletail. Look for surface activity to find albies, blues and Spanish mackerel and cast Snook Minnow, Ultra Hair Clouser or Crease flies to them.

Fishing can be challenging in January but if you can be flexible with when you fish, it can be very good. The best action will be when fronts are approaching or in windows of good weather between fronts. Following fronts, afternoons may fish better for a couple of days. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799

Email: snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net
www.snookfin-addict.com

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fly Fishing Forecast for December 2011
Reds, snook and trout will be in winter patterns this month. You should find snook around docks and bridges in the ICW or in rivers, creeks and canals. You might find reds and trout concentrated in potholes or around deep docks and flounder may be in potholes or the edges of bars. This should also be a good month for pompano on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay and close to passes. Look for Spanish mackerel and blues in Sarasota Bay or the coastal gulf. You might also find little tunny or late season tripletail in the coastal gulf depending on conditions.

Snook season remains closed this month, so any snook caught must be released. Use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them quickly with minimal handling. You'll find them in the ICW around lighted docks and bridges at night where they'll eat small white flies like my Snook Minnow. You might also find them around docks in Sarasota Bay during the daytime. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action. As the water temperature drops they will move into rivers, creeks and canals where you should find them in deeper areas such as outside bends. I like to fish the ICW near Venice for snook at night this time of year.

Trout season also remains closed in the south region this month, so the same logic should be applied to catching and releasing them. It is inevitable that you will find trout and snook in many of the same areas that you?ll find other species. I bend barbs down on my flies to make hook removal easier. You may find big trout in shallow water this month. Look for them in potholes and drop offs along the edges of bars and shallow flats. You may be able to sight fish them in potholes or on top of bars when the tide is high. In shallow water, I like to cast lightly weighted flies like my Grassett Flats Minnow. Weed guards on flies are important in shallow water. They will allow you to let your fly drop all the way down into grass without snagging. I try to fish light colored bottom when sight fishing since it is usually easier to spot fish over sand rather than grass.

When fishing deep grass flats, I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with Ultra Hair Clouser or my Deep Flats Bunny flies. Look for surface activity such as bait scattering or diving birds to locate fish. I make a series of drifts to locate fish and after I've found them I will shorten my drift or anchor on the spot. When drifting deep grass flats, I like an intermediate sink tip fly line to get my fly down in the water column. The Marina Jack, Radio Tower and Middleground flats, as well as Stephens Point and near Whale Key should all be good deep grass flats this month.

Reds should be a good option this month. You'll find them in potholes and drop offs along the edges of bars and shallow flats when the tide is low. When the tide is high, they will move higher onto flat where you may find them on top of bars or along mangrove shorelines. They can be spooky in clear, shallow water, so make long casts to avoid spooking them. Fly anglers may do well by wading, since that makes it easier to get close to fish. I like to sight cast whenever possible, but you will have to blind cast along the way to be most effective. I like lightly weighted flies on a 12" or longer leader. North Sarasota Bay and lower Tampa Bay should be great areas for reds in December.

There should also be lots of variety on deep grass flats. In addition to trout you should find blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano and flounder this month. I like deep grass flats that have a good tidal flow and a good mixture of sand and grass, such as the Middleground, Radio Tower and Marina Jack flats. Points such as Stephens Point and Bishop Point are also good areas with good tidal flow. I'm always looking for bait schools dimpling on the surface or bird activity to find fish, but in the absence of these things I treat the flat like a grid, making a series of drifts to find fish. I use a drift anchor when it is windy to slow my drift and shorten my drift or anchor up when I locate fish. I like lightly weighted Ultra Hair Clouser flies and my Grassett Deep Flats Bunny fly fished on intermediate sink tip fly lines on deep grass flats.

Pompano may skip on the surface when you drift or run past them. You may find flounder on both deep and shallow grass flats, but a good mixture of sand and grass is the key.

Look for Spanish mackerel, bluefish, false albacore (little tunny) and tripletail in the coastal gulf as long as it doesn't get too cold. Diving birds and surface activity will indicate feeding Spanish mackerel, blues or false albacore (little tunny) schools. Cast flies ahead of moving schools. The key is to watch the direction the birds are moving to get ahead of schools of fish and intercept them, much like tarpon fishing. You may find tripletail around crab trap floats, buoys or channel markers especially when we are in a southeast wind pattern. Cast flies that suspend or sink slowly to them.

Many species of fish will be in winter patterns this month so adjust accordingly. When fronts move through, fish the windows of good weather between fronts for the best action. You may find reds and trout in skinny water on sunny afternoons between fronts. On nice days, it is worth checking the coastal gulf for Spanish mackerel, albies, tripletail and more. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799

Email: snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net
www.snookfin-addict.com

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fly Fishing Forecast for November 2011
This is one of my favorite months for fishing both inshore and the coastal gulf waters. Seasonal species like cobia, Spanish and king mackerel will pass through our area as they follow warmer water and baitfish south. Albies (little tunny) will thrill fly anglers and tripletail will also provide sight casting opportunities. Reds and trout will feed aggressively in shallow water and snook will stage around bars and docks and bridges in the ICW. Deep grass flats will have a smorgasbord of activity with trout, blues, Spanish mackerel, flounder, pompano and more.

Trout will be aggressive on both shallow and deep flats this month. They will feed longer during the day due to cooler water. You may find big trout in skinny water early in the day where they should be aggressive on fly poppers or Gurglers. Later in the day, my Grassett Deep Flats Bunny and Clouser flies fished on an intermediate sink tip fly line on deep grass flats will work well. A popper/fly combo may also work well. Tie on a popper, add 30” of leader tied to the bend of the popper hook and put a smaller, lightly weighted fly behind it. Make sure you pause after each strip to allow the trailer fly to drop. I like deep flats that have a good mixture of sand and grass and good tidal flow, such as the Middleground and Radio Tower flats, Stephens Point and Bishop Point in Sarasota Bay.

Reds will also become more aggressive this month. You’ll find them in potholes and along bars when the tide is low or along mangrove shorelines and the top of bars when the tide is high. They will feed on a variety of baitfish, including finger mullet, pinfish and pilchards, but as it gets cooler their diet will shift more towards crustaceans (crabs and shrimp). I like to target reds on a rising tide beginning at low tide. Less water means they should be easier to locate. I prefer sight casting whenever possible but you’ll probably need to do some blind casting to locate them. Best visibility for sight casting will be on light colored bottom on top of bars or along mangrove shorelines. When blind casting, focus on mullet schools and seams where grass and sand meet. Start with short casts and then lengthen your casts to avoid lining fish that you may not see. My Grassett Flats Minnow or crab fly patterns should be good fly selections when sight casting. North Sarasota Bay is one of my favorite areas for reds in November.

Snook season remains closed, so use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them quickly with minimal handling. If you need to remove the snook from the water to remove the hook, be sure to hold them horizontally and support their body. You’ll find snook around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW where you can cast small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, around shadow lines. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action. I like to fish the area of the ICW near Venice known as “snook alley” for snook at night. On the flats, snook may be staging along sand bars or in potholes when the tide is low or along mangrove shorelines when the tide is high. I would use a wider profile baitfish pattern, like a Deceiver or EP fly for snook on the flats. The same areas of north Sarasota Bay that hold reds will also hold snook in November.

Deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay will have a lot of variety and action this month. In addition to trout, you may also find blues, Spanish mackerel, jacks, flounder and pompano. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with lightly weighted flies fished on intermediate sink tip fly lines to locate fish. Surface activity or diving birds may also indicate the presence of blues, jacks, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel. A fly popper/fly combo is also a good choice especially when blues and jacks are around. I fish the same deep Sarasota Bay flats that I fish for trout when targeting these species.

Fishing the coastal gulf in the fall is one of my favorite things to do when conditions allow it. Look for albies (little tunny) and Spanish mackerel feeding on the surface. You might also find ladyfish, blues, jacks, sharks and even tarpon in the frenzy. Terns are one of the best indicators of baitfish and predators. Get ahead of schools of breaking fish by following the birds and cast small white flies on intermediate sink tip fly lines to them. They will also take Crease flies and fly poppers if they are the right size. “Match the hatch” by observing what size baits that fish are feeding on and duplicating it with the same size fly.

You might also have a shot at cobia, which may be swimming on the surface, around crab trap floats or over structure. A large profile fly, like a Deceiver or EP fly, on 9 or 10-weight fly tackle should work well for cobia. Tripletail may be found around crab trap floats, buoys or flotsam in the gulf or bays where they will float near the surface mimicking a piece of debris. An 8 or 9-weight fly rod should work well for them. I like flies that suspend or sink slowly and will stay in the strike zone when targeting tripletail.

The longer that fish are feeding on the surface the more likely that other species are to join the fray, including sharks and tarpon. Be prepared with 10 through 12-weight fly tackle for sharks and tarpon. You’ll need to use single strand wire for sharks. I like Orvis’s re-twistable bite tippets for toothy fish. Work wider profile Deceiver or Enrico Puglisi style flies around the edges of breaking fish and hang on! If you can keep your fly away from the faster moving mackerel and ladyfish, you may connect with a shark or a tarpon.

This is one of my favorite months. I’ll either be fishing the coastal gulf when conditions are good or fishing the flats for reds, trout, snook and more. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799

Email: snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net
www.snookfin-addict.com

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fly Fishing Forecast for October 2011
The flats should be alive with action this month. Schools of reds will spread out on shallow flats where you may find them in potholes or along the edges of sand bars when the tide is low or along mangrove shorelines when the tide is high. Look for trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and pompano on deep grass flats and catch and release snook around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW. Action will be equally good in the coastal gulf where you should find Spanish and king mackerel, little tunny, cobia and tar-pon feeding in bait schools. With the opening of stone crab season this month, you may also find triple-tail around some of the many crab trap floats in the coastal gulf.

Reds may still be schooled up early in the month, but by later in the month the big schools will start to break up and scatter on shallow flats. Look for them along sand bars and in potholes when the tide is low or along mangrove shorelines when the tide is high. It’s always fun to sight cast to reds when visibility is good, but you may have to blind cast with lightly weighted flies to find them. Focus on seams where grass and sand meet. When the tide is high they will feed along mangrove shorelines and around oyster bars.

Snook season remains closed this month so use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them quickly. The less you can handle them, the better it is for the fish. I like to use small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, around lighted docks and bridges at night. Focus on shadow lines where dark meets light and fish peak tidal flows for the best action. You’ll also find snook moving onto shal-low flats where you may find them in the same areas with reds. I would use a wider profile baitfish fly pattern, such as a Deceiver or an EP fly, for snook on the flats in October. I like north Sarasota Bay flats for reds and snook this month or the ICW between Sarasota and Venice for snook at night.

Both juvenile and large tarpon should still be a good option during October. I like to fish the canals of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda for juvenile tarpon from 15 to 30-pounds. I’ve done well with a small tarpon bunny fly (1/0 hook) stripped slowly near the bottom on an Orvis 350-grain Depth Charge fly line. Look for larger fish in the Peace River and upper Charlotte Harbor rolling on the sur-face when it is calm or feeding in ladyfish schools breaking on the surface. I use an intermediate sink tip or full intermediate fly line with a large profile fly like a Deceiver or EP fly. Work your fly slowly around the edges of breaking ladyfish schools to keep the ladyfish off of it and hold on for the big bite!

You’ll find plentiful trout on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay in October. I like flats that have a good mixture of grass and sand and good tidal movement. Flats that are close to passes, such as the Midddleground, Radio Tower and Marina Jack flats and points, like Stephens and Bishop Point, are all reliable trout flats. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with weighted flies, like Clousers or my Deep Flats Bunny, fished on an intermediate sink tip fly line to locate fish on deep grass flats. Once you’ve found fish you can shorten your drift or anchor on them. You may find larger trout in the same waters where you find reds and snook. An EP fly, a Deceiver or a Gurgler fished on a floating fly line would be a good choice for a “gator” trout in skinny water.

You might also find blues, Spanish mackerel and pompano on deep grass flats this month. The techniques and flies are all the same as when trout fishing, drifting and casting ahead of the drift with flies. Blues and Spanish mackerel may be breaking on the surface and pompano may skip on the surface when you get close to them making them easier to find. I like Ultra Hair Clouser flies and I add 6” of 60-pound fluorocarbon leader to help prevent bite offs when toothy fish are around. Most blues and mackerel don’t bite through the heavier leader and it doesn’t affect the trout or pompano bite.

The coastal gulf should have lots of action during October. Baitfish schools will flush out of bays and gather along beaches where Spanish and king mackerel, blues and little tunny feast on them. Look for diving terns and predators or baitfish coming out of the water to find them. Crease flies and small white flies, like Clousers or my Snook Minnow, work really well. Tarpon may join the frenzy as they prepare to migrate away from our area for the winter. I have found feeding frenzies in October with blues, king and Spanish mackerel, little tunny, barracuda, tarpon and sharks all feeding on whatever is smaller than them. You’ll need to use single strand wire when cudas and sharks are around. I like the Orvis retwistable single strand wire bite tippets, which allows you to change flies easily.

Look for tripletail on crab trap floats in the coastal gulf. I like to put the sun behind me and run along a crab trap line about 50’ away from the floats. When you spot a tripletail, drop off plane past the float and approach the fish into the wind, so you maintain control of your boat. A variety of crab, shrimp and baitfish fly patterns will all work well for tripletail. The key is to make your first shot count. They are much harder to catch once they know you are there.

October is one of my favorite months for reds and trout on the flats, snook around lighted docks in the ICW at night or little tunny along the beaches. I like to fly fish for little tunny along the beach when conditions are good. If the gulf is rough, you’ve got plenty of other options. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799

Email: snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net
www.snookfin-addict.com

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fly Fishing Forecast for September 2011
Reds will be schooling on shallow grass flats this month. You’ll find trout in skinny water early in the day and on deep grass flats as it gets bright out and heat becomes an issue. You may also find tarpon on deep grass flats and around bridges early in the morning or in deep areas of upper Charlotte Harbor, Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay. Snook season will remain closed on the west coast this fall due to action taken by the FWC in response to the freeze of January 2010. Look for little tunny to follow bait pods near the mouth of Tampa Bay and in the coastal gulf.

Schools of large reds, many over the slot, will roam shallow flats in large schools this month. They’ll be easier to find when the tide is low. They may push a wake that looks like a boat wake or they may be as subtle as a “nervous” patch of water when it is calm or a slick patch of water when there is a ripple. I like to be as stealthy as possible when hunting reds in shallow water, using my push pole to move silently across the flats. Casting a fly popper is a good way to make them show themselves. Using your outboard to make them show themselves will make them spooky and harder to catch in the long run. After a lot of that type of pressure they may retreat to the safety of deeper water where they’ll be much harder to find. Fly anglers should score with poppers, large Gurglers and wide profile baitfish patterns, such as EP flies. Some of my favorite flats for big reds in September are in north Sarasota Bay.

You should also find big trout in skinny water at first light. Look for bait schools and focus on potholes, seams and drop offs along the edges of flats and bars to find them. Many of the same flies that you might throw at big reds will also work well for big trout. Wading is a good way to target these fish after you’ve located them. As soon as it gets bright out and starts to warm up, trout will drop into deeper water. Fly anglers should do well drifting and casting ahead of the drift with a sink tip fly line and a variety of flies including poppers, Gurglers, wide profile baitfish patterns or my Grassett Deep Flats Bunny. Once you’ve located trout, you can shorten your drift or slip an anchor into the water. Deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay such as the Middleground flat, Stephens Point, Bishop Point and near Buttonwood Harbor should all be good areas for trout later in the morning.

Snook season, which would normally open this month, will remain closed this fall. Snook were hit hard by the freeze of January 2010, so this closure should help snook stocks recover. Be sure to use tackle heavy enough to land them quickly and handle them gently. Unhook them while still in the water if possible and if you must lift them out of the water, be sure to support their body while holding them horizontally rather than vertically by their jaw. You should still find snook in the surf this month where a variety of small white flies should catch them. Walk along the beach about 10’ away from the water’s edge and look for snook cruising in the trough. You’ll need sunlight and polarized sunglasses.

You should also find snook around lighted docks and bridges, especially close to passes. The same flies that you might use in the surf will work well at night. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action.

Large tarpon will move to inside waters of Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. You might find them around bridges cruising shadow lines before dawn or rolling in the area after dawn. Be prepared for tarpon on many of the same deep grass flats where you find trout. Deep areas of upper Charlotte Harbor also hold good numbers of late season tarpon. Look for them rolling at dawn in the morning or when it’s calm before switching to a sea breeze. You may also find tarpon feeding in baits schools or on ladyfish. Wide profile flies, such as EP flies, fished on sinking fly lines, should work well for large tarpon.

You should also find juvenile tarpon, from 15 to 30-lbs in creeks, canals and turning basins. They will be most active at dawn when you’ll find them rolling or feeding on baits at the surface. I use 8 or 9-wt fly tackle, much like I would use for snook, for these small tarpon. I have done best with a fast sinking Orvis 350-grain Depth Charge fly line, which will get my fly down in the water column fast with minimal false casting. Flies are scaled down versions of the same flies we throw at them on the beach, usually on 1/0 hooks.

Look for little tunny feeding in bait schools along the beaches or at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, or Ultra Hair Clousers fished on an intermediate sink tip line should work well. Crease flies fished on floating lines should also work well although sometimes they are more finicky when feeding on the surface. You might also find tripletail around crab trap floats in the coastal gulf or in Sarasota Bay. A well placed lightly weighted fly should work well for tripletail. Early season king and Spanish mackerel or cobia could also show up depending on the distribution of bait schools.

Even though there aren’t a lot of people around in September, fishing can be great! My routine is usually to start in the dark targeting snook or tarpon around docks and bridges before dawn and then move to the flats for reds, trout, tarpon and more. There is usually good tarpon action with large fish in upper Charlotte Harbor and you can do that later in the day. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fly Fishing Forecast for August 2011
The early bird will get the worm in August. The best fishing for most species will be early in the day before heat becomes an issue. Tarpon will move to inside waters of Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. You’ll find snook in the surf and around lighted docks and bridges close to passes. Reds will be schooling on shallow flats this month and the best time to catch a “gator” trout will be at first light in the morning.

Tarpon will be all spawned out by August and will turn their attention to feeding. They’ll move to the inside waters of Sarasota and Tampa Bays and upper Charlotte Harbor. You might also find them cruising the shadow line of a bridge after dark or before dawn in the morning. Look for them rolling on the surface at dawn or feeding in bait schools later in the morning. Fly anglers may score with an intermediate or an intermediate sink tip fly line and a dark, large profile fly. When tarpon are scattered around and rolling in a wide area, it is important to keep your fly in the water.

You may find juvenile tarpon, from 15 to 30-pounds, in creeks, canals and turning basins. They may congregate in dead end canals, especially where there is deep water from 10’-15’ or more. Look for them rolling on the surface to find them but fish deep for the best success. I’ve done best with a scaled down tarpon fly (1/0) stripped slowly along the bottom. An Orvis 350-grain Depth Charge fly line will get your fly to the bottom fast with minimal false casting. These smaller tarpon may strike your fly more like a ladyfish than a tarpon. You will often feel them “bump” fly several times before you get a solid hook up.

Snook season remains closed, so any snook fishing this month is catch and release only. Use tackle that is heavy enough to land them quickly so that they don’t become stressed in warm water. You should find snook cruising in the surf where you can walk along the beach and sight cast to them. A variety of small white flies, fished on an intermediate sink tip fly line, will get the job done. You’ll have the best visibility from about 8 or 8:30 AM until early afternoon. If fish are heading towards you, you can cast your fly and wait for them to move up to intercept it. When snook are moving the same direction as you, walk up high on the beach to get ahead of them and make the same presentation.

You’ll also find snook staging around docks and bridges, especially close to passes, where you can use the same flies for them. Focus on shadow lines where light meets dark and fish peak tidal flows in the ICW for the best action.

Reds will be schooling on shallow flats this month. They’ll be easier to find when the tide is low. Look for them pushing wakes to find them. You may also see a “nervous” patch of water when it is calm or a slick patch of water when there is a ripple, which will indicate their presence just below the surface. It is fun to find a school of large reds, but if you spook one you may spook all of them. Once you’ve located them, get ahead of them and let them come to you, much like tarpon fishing along the beach. When they are in range, work around the edges of the school, rather than casting into the middle of them, to avoid spooking them. Fly anglers should score with a floating line and wide profile baitfish fly patterns, such as EP flies, poppers and Gurglers. Be cautious when fly fishing to avoid lining fish that you can’t see.

Trout will also be a good option this month and the best time to catch a “gator’ will be at first light. Focus on mullet and bait schools with fly poppers or Gurglers. You’ll see the action slow quickly as soon as it gets bright and fish will move to deeper water. A lightly weighted fly, like my Grassett Deep Flats Bunny, or a popper/dropper combo with a lightly weighted fly about 30” behind a fly popper should work well. Some of my favorite trout and redfish flats are in north Sarasota Bay. Focus on bars, potholes and points with deep grass for the best action.

You might also find blues, jacks and ladyfish on deep grass flats and the techniques and flies are the same as when targeting trout on deep grass flats. Look for ladyfish breaking on the surface and if they stay up long enough, trout, blues, jacks and even tarpon will join the fray. Little tunny and tripletail may show up in the coastal gulf or in Tampa Bay. Look for little tunny feeding in bait schools that are being flushed out of Tampa Bay from the Skyway Bridge to Egmont Key. You might find tripletail around crab trap floats or buoys in both the coastal gulf and in Sarasota Bay.

Like many other months, there are plenty of options in August although the action will usually be best early in the day. However, tarpon, tripletail and little tunny are species that may be effectively targeted later in the day. I often begin my days in August, fly fishing for snook around lighted docks and bridge fenders before dawn and then move to the flats for the best action of the day at dawn. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fly Fishing Forecast for July 2011
Tarpon will still be a good option during July. Flats fishing for trout and reds should be good early in the day before afternoon heat or thunderstorms become a problem. Catch and release night snook fishing in the ICW should also be a good option and is a good way to beat the heat. You’ll also find snook in the surf where you can sight fish for them.

Tarpon will be mostly spawned out by July and will change their focus from migrating and spawning to feeding. Instead of the large schools of 40 or 50 fish that we see during June, you will find more singles, doubles and small schools particularly late in the month. Be ready for a quick cast to fish that may not be showing well on the surface but often feed more aggressively than early season fish. Fly anglers should have excellent sight fishing opportunities in shallow water. I prefer to anchor or stake out on an edge, moving with my push pole if necessary to get a shot at a fish. When tarpon are finicky, small flies on lighter bite tippets may get a bite.

Catch and release snook fishing should also be hot in July. You can walk along the beach in many areas and sight fish snook cruising in the tough, very close to the sand. An intermediate sink tip fly line and small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow or DT Specials, should work well. It is best when there isn’t much wave action in the surf, although a sink tip fly line will get your fly below the wave action. The best visibility will be from mid morning until early afternoon. If you walk along the beach about 10 feet from the edge of the surf, you will have a good angle to spot fish cruising in the trough. Fly anglers should watch their back casts due to other people that may be present on the beach, particularly later in the day. There are many good areas to fish snook in the surf from Longboat Key to Manasota Key.

Night snook fishing around lighted docks and bridges close to passes should also be a good option during July. I prefer to fish early in the morning before dawn this time of the year, which is the coolest time of the day. Also, you should have less thunderstorm activity to avoid early in the morning as opposed to the evening. Fish peak tidal flows with the same tackle and flies that you use in the surf. I often begin my days in late summer by snook fishing before dawn, moving to shallow flats at dawn and heading in before heat becomes an issue by late morning. You might also find snook in inlets and bridge channels during July. A fast sinking fly line fished around bridge fenders and channels may get your fly into the strike zone for larger fish. Use tackle that is heavy enough to land them quickly and handle them as little as possible.

Reds will be plentiful in skinny water this month, although they’ll be easier to find when the tide is low. They’ll be most active early in the day when the water is coolest. I like to blind cast along seams where grass and sand meet and the edges of bars and potholes to find reds. Fly anglers will do best with a floating fly line, a 10’-12’ leader and a lightly weighted fly like my Grassett Flats Minnow. Spoons and spoon flies are also good options since they not only have lots of flash, but they also have vibration. When the tide is high or it is overcast, fly poppers and Gurglers may make reds show themselves. There may be some significant schooling activity by the end of the month. North Sarasota Bay is one of my favorite summertime redfish areas.

Trout fishing should also be good on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay during July, but like reds the best action will be early in the day. You may find big trout in skinny water at first light and they will drop into deeper water very soon after it starts to get bright out and warm up. Fly poppers and Gurglers may draw exciting strikes in skinny water at first light in the morning. After trout drop into deeper water, I like to drift and cast ahead of the drift with weighted flies, such as Clousers or my Grassett Deep Flats Bunny, fished on sink tip fly lines. Some of my favorite trout flats, Middleground and Radio Tower flats, Stephens Point and near Buttonwood Harbor are close to passes, points and sand bars.

You might also find blues, jacks and ladyfish on deep grass flats this month. The techniques to catch them will be the same as for trout, although you will need to use a heavy fluorocarbon or wire tippet when blues are present. You might also find tripletail, cobia or little tunny in the coastal gulf this month. Be sure to have an 8 or 9-weight fly rod on board while tarpon fishing this month. I have often encountered tripletail or cobia on crab trap floats or buoys in July. Cobia will also travel with tarpon schools and will probably eat whatever fly you are using for tarpon. Schools of little tunny will sometimes blitz the beach and provide a flurry of activity. I have encountered several schools this season and hooked up on flies.

Tarpon will still be a good option during July. Catch and release snook in the surf or in the ICW at night and big reds and trout in skinny water at dawn will also be good options. I focus on fly fishing for tarpon in July. Large spawning schools will give way to singles, doubles and small schools that are hungry! Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fly Fishing Forecast for June 2011

Tarpon fishing will be in full swing in the coastal gulf this month. Look for snook in passes and in the surf. Reds and trout should be plentiful on grass flats and should be good options. You might also find Spanish mackerel or cobia lingering in our area this month.

Tarpon will be the main focus for many anglers this month. You should find them along our beaches as they migrate through our area to spawn. They may be moving either north or south, so keep a sharp eye in both directions. Once you’ve spotted fish, position your boat in that “lane” to intercept the next school that passes. When fly fishing for tarpon, I try to fish the shallowest water possible. It is easier to see fish and get a fly in front of them in that situation. In shallow water you need to be very quiet. Electric trolling motors will spook fish more easily in shallow water so they should be used sparingly. I usually anchor or stake out and use my push pole with an assist from a trolling motor if it’s necessary to move my boat to get a shot at fish. I prefer an intermediate sink tip fly line for fishing shallow water.

In deep water, usually 15 to 20-ft, I use a full intermediate fly line and drift or hold my position with a trolling motor. If wind is moving me around a lot, I may anchor. You may find “laid up” schools of tarpon at first light in the morning, which are usually a good opportunity. I’ll run offshore when traveling to the area I’m going to fish, so I don’t spook fish, and ease into my chosen spot with a slow trolling motor after fly lines are stripped out and we’re ready to cast. They will eat a variety of baitfish, crab and shrimp fly patterns.

Snook season remains closed during June, so any snook caught this month must be released. Use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them quickly. You might find them in the surf where they can be sight fished. You’ll find them cruising in the trough, very close to the sand so if you walk along the beach about 10’ from the edge of the surf, you may be able to spot them. A sink tip fly line with a small white fly, such as a DT Special or my Grassett Snook Minnow should work well for them.

You’ll also find snook around docks and bridges in the ICW close to passes this month. The same flies used in the surf will also work around docks and bridges. At night, fish shadow lines with small white flies.

Reds should also be a good option his month. Due to plentiful baitfish and higher tide phases, they will spend more time feeding in shallow water. However, they may be affected by afternoon heat. It has been a very warm spring and with water temperatures already in the 80’s during April, mornings may fish better. Incoming tides, early in the day will bring in the coolest water, which may be the most productive. I like to try to sight fish reds on top of sand bars when the tide is high. If I can’t see them, I blind cast with lightly weighted flies focusing on seams where grass and sand meet or in mullet schools.

Trout should also be a good option during June. You’ll find them in shallow water early in the day and they will drop into deeper water as the sun gets bright and the water warms. You may have a chance to catch a “gator” trout early in the day. The best time will be when the light is low. Focus on bait schools to find big trout. Cast fly poppers and Gurglers for exciting strikes! I release all trout over 20” on my boat, since most of these are females that are full of roe this time of year.

Later in the day, trout will drop onto deep grass flats in 6’ or 7’ of water. I like to drift these areas and cast ahead of my drift to find fish. Fly anglers should score with intermediate or intermediate sink tip fly lines and weighted flies. I make a series of drifts on a flat until I locate fish, and then shorten my drift when I get dialed into them. You might also find blues, Spanish mackerel and pompano in the same areas and the technique is the same to catch them. You’ll need to add heavy fluorocarbon or wire when toothy fish are around. I prefer heavy fluorocarbon, since it won’t deter the trout or pompano bite. Some of my favorite deep grass flats in Sarasota Bay are the Middleground and Radio Tower flats, Stephens and Bishop Points and near Buttonwood Harbor. These areas have a good mix of grass and sand and good tidal flow.

You might also find Spanish mackerel, little tunny, cobia and tripletail in the coastal gulf. Spanish mackerel and little tunny may be feeding in baitfish near the surface so look for diving birds or baitfish being forced out of the water to find them. Cobia may be swimming on the surface and cobia or tripletail may be found around crab trap floats. I have even found cobia swimming with tarpon schools before and your tarpon tackle is perfect for them. An 8-weight fly rod with a crab or shrimp pattern should work well for tripletail.

This is a great month for tarpon, which is what I’ll be doing unless west winds force me to fish inside waters. However, if pulling on a 100-pound tarpon isn’t your idea of fun, there will still be plenty of other options in the inshore waters and coastal gulf. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fly Fishing Forecast for May 2011

Tarpon time! Tarpon fishing will take off during May as migratory fish arrive along our beaches, snook will be in the passes and in the surf and reds and trout should be plentiful on shallow flats. There may also still be a few king and Spanish mackerel in our area early in the month.

Due to an unusually warm spring, tarpon are already showing up along our beaches. You may also find them on deep grass flats in many areas from Tampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor. As migratory tarpon start to arrive from offshore, we should have schools of tarpon moving both north and south along our beaches.

I use 12-weight fly tackle with a large arbor fly reel and an intermediate or intermediate sink tip fly line with at least 250 or 300-yards of back- ing. I prefer to set up anywhere from a few hundred feet to a few hundred yards off our beaches and wait for schools of tarpon to move past. If you can find them in shallow water, it is easier to get a fly in front of them. Once you’ve seen the first school of fish, you can concentrate your efforts in that “lane” since other schools should be following the same route. Top producing flies are Tarpon Toads, Tarpon Bunnies, Deceivers and Enrico Puglisi flies. I prefer to stake out or anchor in shallow water and cast to fish that are passing by. You may have to move slightly to intercept fish, which I do with a push pole or an assist from my trolling motor. Be quiet, using your trolling motor sparingly, especially in shallow water.

Snook season remains closed, so any snook fishing this month is catch and release only. You’ll find them in passes, in the ICW around docks and bridges close to passes and in the surf. Since the season is closed, I recommend using fly tackle heavy enough to land them quickly. Small white flies, like my Grassett’s Snook Minnow, should work well around lighted docks in the ICW at night. I like to position my boat slightly up tide of the area that I am going to fish, cast across the current and let the fly swing with the tide as I strip it across the current. Most strikes will occur on shadow lines or around the edges of docks. One of the most fun ways to target snook is to walk the beach and cast flies to them in the surf. This is almost like fishing for bonefish on a crystal clear, Caribbean flat. Some of the same flies that we use at night will work in the surf. In addition, DT Specials, Clousers and Enrico Puglisi type flies will also work in the surf.

Higher tides this month will mean that reds will spend more time feeding on shallow flats. Look for them along mangrove shorelines and around oyster bars when the tide is high and in potholes or along sandbars when the tide is low. When fishing shallow water for reds, be as quiet as possible. I prefer to use a push pole or wade. Reds are one of the most challenging species to catch on a fly. Since they can be very spooky, wading may allow you to get closer to them. My Grassett’s Flats Minnow, Clousers and crab patterns are all good fly choices for reds in shallow water. You will need a weed guard on your fly when fishing shallow water with a thick grass bottom. You may need bead chain instead of lead eyes on your flies depending on the depth of the water.

Trout will also spend more time feeding in shallow water due to higher tides. You’ll find larger trout on the same shallow flats where you find reds and you can use the same flies used to target reds. However, trout will be more plentiful on deep grass flats. I prefer to cast flies on clear intermediate sink tip fly lines for trout on deep grass flats. I usually use an Ultra Hair Clouser tied tarpon style (material half way back on a long shank hook) so that ladyfish, bluefish and mackerel, which may be found in the same areas, will not destroy the fly. Drifting and casting ahead of the drift is usually the most productive method. Look for flats that have a good mix of grass and sand and good tidal flow. The Middleground and Radio Tower flats, Stephens Point, Bishops Point and near Buttonwood Harbor are all great trout areas in Sarasota Bay.

You may find pompano, bluefish and Spanish mackerel on the same deep grass flats where trout are plentiful. They can be targeted in the same way as trout, but you may need to use wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader when toothy fish are around. You may also find Spanish and king mackerel, little tunny, cobia and tripletail in the coastal gulf. Keep your eyes open for surface activity such as diving birds, breaking fish or baitfish being forced out of the water which could indicate the presence of mackerel, blues or little tunny. An 8 or 9-weight fly rod should be heavy enough, although your tarpon fly tackle is not too heavy for cobia. Look for cobia either swimming on the surface or around navigational markers or buoys. I have found cobia swimming with schools of tarpon before. Tripletail may also be found around crab trap floats or buoys. A floating fly line on an 8 or 9-weight rod with a shrimp or baitfish fly pattern should get the job done.

This is one of my favorite months of the year. If battling a big silver king is not your cup of tea, you should have plenty to do on both shallow and deep grass flats or in the coastal gulf. I’ll be spending my time targeting tarpon in the coastal gu lufnless conditions won’t allow it. It’s hard for me to fish for anything else, when 100-pound plus fish are around. There is something about casting a fly to a giant fish in shallow water! Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fly Fishing Forecast for April 2011
Fishing should be hot in April! Trout, Spanish mackerel, blues and pompano should be plentiful on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Look for reds, snook and trout in skinny water on shallow grass flats and along sand bars. Snook will also stage around docks and bridges in the ICW, especially close to passes.

Spanish and king mackerel, blues, little tunny, cobia and tripletail should all be options in the coastal gulf this month. Keep your eyes open for the first tarpon of the season.

Reds will spend more time feeding on shallow grass flats due to higher tides and more plentiful baitfish. As baitfish become plentiful their diet will consist more of baitfish rather than crustaceans. I like to pole shallow grass flats and cast baitfish fly patterns, like my Grassett Flats Minnow, on a floating line with about a 12’ leader. You may also find reds staging along sand and oyster bars or in potholes. They can be very challenging so you may need to spend some time to be successful. Focus on mullet schools and bait fish to locate them. When blind casting, seams where grass meets sand, potholes or edges of flats and bars are all places to find them. Make shorter casts at first and lengthen your casts after you’ve covered the water close to you to avoid lining fish when blind casting. You may be able to sight fish for them on top of sand bars when the tide is high or in potholes when the tide is low. North Sarasota Bay, lower Tampa Bay from the mouth of the Manatee River to Port Manatee and Gasparilla Sound are all good redfish areas in April.

Snook season remains closed due to a special action taken by the Florida FWC, so any snook caught must be released. It is inevitable that you will encounter snook on shallow grass flats or around docks in the ICW in many of the same areas where you’ll find reds, so use tackle that is heavy enough to catch and release them quickly. I like to fish sand bars and docks and bridges close to passes for snook in April. They will stage in these areas before they move to passes in May. Fly anglers should do well with Grassett Flats Bunnies, Gurglers, Clousers, Deceivers and EP flies on the flats and small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, and Gurglers at night.

You might find early season tarpon in lower Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay or Gasparilla Sound on deep grass flats close to passes or along the beach, especially towards the end of the month. Look for the tip of their tail or their backs sticking out of the water to find “laid up” fish on deep grass flats or in bays. You will need calm conditions to spot them. You might also find them rolling on the surface in the morning in these areas. I use 12-weight fly tackle for these fish that may be 100-pounds or more. Tarpon Toads, Deceivers, EP flies and shrimp fly patterns will work for tarpon in these areas.

Trout should be plentiful on both shallow and deep grass flats. I like to drift and cast ahead of the drift with weighted flies to find them. Deep grass flats that have a good mixture of grass and sand and a good tidal flow are best. When you locate fish you can anchor up or shorten your drift to zero in on them. You will find some of the largest trout in skinny water. Focus on seams where sand and grass meet, potholes or edges of flats. Stephens Point, Bishop Point, the Middleground and Radio Tower flats and near Buttonwood Harbor are all be good trout areas in Sarasota Bay.

You’ll find Spanish mackerel, blues and pompano on deep grass flats in the same areas where you’ll find trout this month. Look for bird activity and bait or blind cast ahead of your drift to locate them. I use Ultra Hair Clouser flies tied on long shank hooks, fished on sinking or sink tip fly lines. I load the flies up with a lot of Krystal Flash and epoxy the heads so they hold up to abuse from toothy critters. I add 6” of 60-pound fluorocarbon or use Orvis retwistable wire bite tippets when I know toothy fish are around. Fly poppers will also draw strikes from blues and mackerel and will make fish “show” themselves. They may also be in passes where you will need to use a fast sinking fly line to get your fly down into the strike zone. I like to cast perpendicular to my drift with flies to stay near the bottom.

You may find king and Spanish mackerel, blues and little tunny in the coastal gulf. Look for diving birds, bait being forced out of the water, or breaking fish to locate them. Cobia and tripletail may be around crab trap floats or buoys or cobia may be free swimming on the surface. I use Ultra Hair Clousers or my Grassett Snook Minnow fished on an intermediate sink tip fly line for mackerel and little tunny. In the absence of anything on the surface, you might try one of the many artificial reefs or areas of natural rocky bottom just off the coast of Sarasota. Locate the structure and drift over it while casting flies on fast sinking fly lines to locate fish. Crease flies and fly poppers may draw strikes from blues, mackerel or little tunny that aren’t showing on the surface.

April is one of my favorite months of the year. There should be plenty of action on both shallow and deep grass flats and in the coastal gulf. Be ready for the first tarpon of the season to show up by late in the month. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota, FL Fly Fishing Forecast for March 2011

Action should pick up in March with a variety of species as the water warms and baitfish become more plentiful. Trout and reds will spend more time feeding on grass flats and blues, Spanish mackerel and pompano should show up on deep grass flats and in passes. Look for snook staging on flats and around bars as they make their way out of creeks and make the first move towards passes. In addition to Spanish mackerel and blues, look for king mackerel, little tunny, cobia and tripletail along beaches.

Snook season remains closed this month due to a special order from the Florida FWC, so handle them gently and catch and release them as quickly as possible. Snook should begin making their way out of rivers and creeks and they will stage around sand bars on flats and docks and bridges in the ICW. Night snook fishing with small white flies should be good in the ICW between Sarasota and Venice. My Grassett Snook Minnow fly is my ?go to? fly for night snook fishing. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action. I usually fish larger profile flies, such as EP flies and Deceivers, on the flats than I do around docks and bridges at night. I have also done well with snook on the flats with my Grassett Flats Minnow fly tied in white and chartreuse.

Reds will spend more time feeding on shallow grass flats due to warmer water and more plentiful baitfish and crustaceans. Negative low tides in the morning from March 1-4 and 15-18 should concentrate reds in potholes and deep areas. Docks are also good areas to fish on low tides, since many have deep water around them. You can blind cast with a spoon fly, such as Dupree or Kirk’s Spoon Fly,o t locate reds in shallow water. You may also be able to sight fish for reds in potholes and on sand bars. Fly anglers should do well in skinny water with lightly weighted flies, like my Grassett Flats Minnow. Weed guards are important when fishing in skinny water with thick grass. Use heavier flies when the tide is high or when fishing docks, potholes and drop offs. North Sarasota Bay, lower Tampa Bay and Gasparilla Sound are all great areas for reds in March.

Trout fishing should also improve this month. They should be plentiful on deep grass flats where you can drift and cast ahead of
your drift with jigs and flies to locate them. I like to make a series of drifts to locate them and then shorten the drift once I’ve located fish. A fly popper with a lightly weighted fly about 30? behind it works well for trout on deep grass flats. The sound of the popper often makes a difference. Other good fly choices are Ultra Hair Clousers or my Grassett Deep Flats Bunny flies. Some of my favorite deep grass flats for trout in Sarasota Bay are the Radio Tower and Middleground flats, Stephens Point, Bishop Point and the Whale Key bar. You’fliln d some of the biggest trout in potholes or over shallow grass in skinny water in some of the same areas where you find reds.

You should also find blues, Spanish mackerel and pompano on deep grass flats in the same areas where you find trout. The techniques are the same as when trout fishing, although you may need to add wire or heavy fluorocarbon (50 or 60-pound test) leader when toothy fish are around. These species may also be in passes where you’ll need to use heavier flies and fast sinking fly line. sI like to drift and cast perpendicular to the drift to get my fly down in the water column. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action in passes.

Look for blues, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, little tunny, cobia and tripletail in the coastal gulf. Look for surface activity such as diving birds, breaking fish or baitfish being forced out of the water to find blues, mackerel and little tunny. I use intermediate or intermediate sink tip fly lines and Ultra Clousers or my Grassett Snook Minnow fly for breaking fish on the surface. Crease flies fished on floating fly lines are another good choice for breaking fish. Cobia may be swimming on the surface or around crab trap floats or channel markers. If you don’t find them on the surface, look for them over structure around one of the many artificial reefs off Sarasota. Cobia will require at least a 9-weight fly rod. You can use a big profile fly, such as an EP Peanut Butter fly fished on a floating or intermediate sink tip fly line for cobia. When fishing over structure, I like an Orvis 300 or 350-grain Depth charge fly line to get my fly down over the structure. Cobia and kings should become more plentiful by later in the month when gulf temperatures reach 70 degrees.

Tripletail should be found around crab trap floats or channel markers. Once you’ve located one, I like to approachn ito the wind with my electric trolling motor and cast a lightly weighted fly that suspends or sinks slowly. The key is to get the fish to see your fly without snagging the crab trap line.

March is a great month for variety and action, particularly towards the end of the month. Fish deep grass flats for the fastest action and most variety. Since you never know what you may find, I like to take a look in the coastal gulf when conditions are good. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fly Fishing Forecast for February 2011

You might find trout, reds and snook in rivers, creeks and canals this month and they may sneak out onto grass flats and around bars on sunny afternoons. You’ll also find snook in the ICW at night feeding on glass minnows and small shrimp. If the weather isn’t too harsh, you might also find pompano on grass flats and around bars and drop offs this month. Sheepshead should be plentiful around docks and oyster bars and they are a good cool weather option. It’s always worth a look in the coastal gulf in February when conditions are good for tripletail, little tunny, blues or more.

PHOTO: Look for snook at night in the ICW during warm ups in February. MCFF member Phil Rever caught and released this one on a Grassett Snook Minnow fly while fishing the ICW at night near Venice with Capt. Rick Grassett on a previous February trip. Capt. Rick Grassett file photo.

Snook season remains closed this month, so handle them gently. Use tackle that is heavy enough to catch and release them quickly. The ICW from Sarasota down through Englewood offers a lot of protection from blasts of cold air and plenty of food for snook during the winter. I use small while flies fished on intermediate or intermediate sink tip fly lines when they are feeding on glass minnows and fly poppers or Gurglers fished on floating fly lines when they are eating shrimp near the surface. I try to use good judgment when catch and release snook fishing in the winter. If the water temperature dips into the 50’s, their survivability is questionable, so that’s not a good time to target them. However, there may be good action during warm ups between fronts.

You’ll also find snook in rivers, creeks and canals this month. They may be around docks or in deep spots such as bends or channels. They may feed on larger baits such as finger mullet, pinfish or killifish (mud minnows) in these areas. Larger profile barred flies such as Kwans or EP flies will work well in these areas, especially on a sunny afternoon.

PHOTO: Look for "gator" trout in potholes during February. This one was sight fished out of a pothole with an olive Grassett Flats Minnow fly.

Trout may be found on deep grass flats, in channels, potholes or on drop-offs along the edges of bars and flats in February. They will drop into potholes and drop-offs along the edges of flats or bars when the tide is low. The negative low tides from Feb. 1-5 and 14-19 should be particularly good. You may find them in skinny water over shallow grass when the tide is high on a sunny afternoon. On deep grass flats, I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with weighted flies on sinking fly lines to locate fish. In deep water, you may need to use a fast sinking fly line and crawl your fly along the bottom to get a bite. Once you’ve located fish you can shorten your drift or anchor up on them.

Reds may be found in some of the same areas as trout this month. They will concentrate in potholes or edges of bars and flats when the tide is low. They will feed up onto shallow grass flats as the tide rises, particularly on a sunny afternoon. They may tail on shallow grass flats of Gasparilla Sound on the negative low tides mentioned earlier. They will occasionally tail in areas of north Sarasota Bay or lower Tampa Bay, but not to the extent that they do in Gasparilla Sound. Use flies with weed guards that suspend or sink slowly when targeting tailing reds. Cast to then when their tail is in the air and wait for the tail to disappear, which is when they are horizontal and searching for food, and then move your fly slightly. Docks are another area that you may find reds in February. Look for docks that are crusty, with a lot of barnacle and oyster growth, have deep water and good tidal flow to find fish. Weighted flies, such as Clousers, fished on an intermediate or faster sink tip fly line, cast under a dock should work fine in these areas. I prefer north Sarasota Bay, lower Tampa Bay and Gasparilla Sound for reds and trout in February.

You might also find blues, flounder, pompano, jacks and ladyfish on deep grass flats this month and the techniques would be the same as when trout fishing. Pompano may skip on the surface making their presence known, so when this happens, circle around up wind and drift the area casting ahead of your drift. These species may also be found in passes, which will require fast sinking fly lines with weighted flies. I use a 300 or 350-grain Depth Charge fly line in this situation. Make a series of drifts to locate fish, casting perpendicular to the drift as the tide moves your boat to get your fly down in the water column.

I like to take a look in the coastal gulf on nice days to see what I might find. Little tunny, blues, jacks and ladyfish are all species you might find. Look for surface activity to find them and then cast weighted flies on sinking fly lines to them. My Grassett Snook Minnow fly works well when they are feeding on glass minnows. Tripletail may be found with their nose right against a crab trap float. Make an accurate presentation with a fly that suspends or sinks slowly, like my Grassett Flats Minnow, to catch them. Make your first presentation count, since they are much harder to catch once they know you are there.

You can be successful in February if you fish smart. Fish the windows of good conditions between fronts or when fronts are approaching for the best action. Following fronts, sunny afternoons may fish better. Whatever you choose to do, remember to always limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fly Fishing Forecast for January
(For the February Forecast, scroll down)

Trout season reopens in the south region this month and fishing is usually quite good following the closure. Trout and reds may be found on shallow flats when it is mild. In addition, look for trout, blues, flounder and sheepshead on deep grass flats or around structure. Snook season remains closed although there may be some good action in the ICW depending on weather. Check out the coastal gulf on nice days for tripletail, little tunny, blues and more.

PHOTO: Look for big trout and reds in potholes, channel edges and along bars this month. Denis Clohisy, from WI, caught and released this big one on a chartreuse Clouser fly while fishing the edge of a bar with Capt. Rick Grassett. Capt. Rick Grassett file photo.

Snook season remains closed this month and hopefully we’ll have warmer weather this year. Although the season is normally closed now, we are in an extended closure on the west coast until Sept. 2011 due to the freeze last January. Snook are vulnerable to cold water caused by freezes or extended cold snaps, so I avoid catching snook during these time frames since they are stressed and may not survive catch and release fishing. However, in a normal weather pattern you’ll find them around lighted docks in the ICW, in creeks and canals and on shallow flats on sunny afternoons. I use my Grassett Snook Minnow fly almost exclusively in the ICW at night. In creeks, canals or on flats, wider profile baitfish fly patterns should work well. Use good judgment as to when you fish and use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them quickly.

Reds will be found around docks, in potholes, the edges of flats and sand or oyster bars when the tide is low. They may tail on shallow grass flats of Gasparilla Sound on negative low tides from Jan 1-8 (new moon) and 16-23 (full moon). When targeting tailing reds, I like to use flies that sink slowly or suspend, like my Grassett Flats Minnow. Weed guards are essential when fishing in these conditions. At higher stages of the tide, they will move up onto flats or along mangrove shorelines. Reds usually feed more in warm ups between fronts or as fronts are approaching.

Trout season reopens in the south region this month and fishing is usually good following the closure. You may find big trout along with reds when the tide is low in skinny water such as potholes or the edges of flats, where you may be able to sight cast to them. Drifting deeper grass flats and casting ahead of the drift with weighted flies on intermediate or intermediate sink tip fly lines should also be productive. In addition to trout, blues, flounder, jacks and large ladyfish may be found in the same areas. I like deep grass flats that have a good mix of sand and grass and a good tidal flow, such as the Radio Tower and Middleground flats, Stephen’s Point and Bishop’s Point in north Sarasota Bay.

You might also find blues and large ladyfish in Sarasota’s Big Pass and New Pass. We use fast sinking fly lines with a short (6’-7 ½’) leader and a weighted fly. A cast perpendicular to the drift of the boat usually works best to get your fly down in the water column and avoid slack line. When blues are plen