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Everglades National Park - Flamingo
Capt. Bob LeMay
December 13, 2005
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Yesterday we fished back to the south out of Everglades City. It was the first day of the current cold front which had dropped overnight temperatures into the 50's. Water temps were only 63 at dawn. My angler, Howard Stern, out of Oregon didn't seem to notice the cold....
The plan for the day was to work small interior bays looking for snook sunning themselves after a cold night. Although we were set up to fish a variety of ways a light 8wt fly rod was to see action for the majority of the day. Now that the water temps are dropping the inside areas are really beginning to turn on. During the day we had sight-fishing shots at fish in the uppper end of the slot limit (8lbs and up) as well as a few that were clearly well over the size limit. Enough small snook hit our flies to keep things interesting all day long. The big fish were just plain frustrating. Putting the fly in just the right spot where a big fish is laying in clear water is not easy. The cast needed to be at least 60 feet and close enough to be seen without spooking them. Things were complicated by the large number of 'gators that were also intent on warming up, laying at the surface or partially buried in the mud. Of course the bays that held the most snook also held the most 'gators... Although we didn't score on the big fish it was an entertaining day. By the afternoon some of the places we poled had water temps approaching 70 degrees. The next four or five days should find all of those areas getting more active with a warming trend. Now that snook season is ending it will strictly catch and release until the end of January. Snook always seem to bite better when you can't keep one... I'm looking forward to it.
For anyone wanting to toss flies at winter snook in the 10,000 Islands or other backcountry areas this is the time for small flies and fairly light leaders. Most of our offerings will be on hook sizes that range from a 1/0 down to a size #2 in small baitfish patterns or shrimp patterns in browns and oranges. All will have the usual wire weedguards...
By the way, for anyone looking for a perfect gift for their favorite angler, I do a lot of gift certificates this time of year. You can purchase a day or night of fishing for them to book with me whenever they choose, the following year.
Tight Lines
Bob LeMay
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