Good Night Snook Fly Fishing Action in Venice ICW
Capt. Rick Grassett
February 15, 2015
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and pompano in Sarasota and Little Sarasota Bays on a variety of DOA lures and flies, snook and bluefish in the ICW near Venice on flies and reds, snook and trout in Gasparilla Sound on CAL jigs with shad tails during the past week.
A couple of fly fishing trips in Sarasota Bay and Little Sarasota Bay during the week of 2/2 produced a few trout, jacks and ladyfish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on sinking fly lines. Fishing channel edges was most productive and getting the fly down in the water column was important due to cold water.
Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, fished Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande on Tuesday, 2/3. Despite some tough conditions, fishing was good. Keith caught and released several reds, snook and slot size trout to complete his slam on a CAL jig with a shad tail.
Bill Moore, from Libertyville, IL, had a good day in Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 2/9. With an approaching front we worked deep grass flats on both sides of the bay where he caught and released trout, Spanish mackerel and bluefish on CAL jigs with shad tails, DOA Deadly Combos and DOA Shrimp.
Frank Zaffino, from Rochester, NY, fished the ICW near Venice with me on Tuesday night, 2/10 and had great action catching and releasing snook to 26" on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. Martin Marlowe, from NY, and his guest, Tim Hearon from Sarasota, FL, also had great action catching and releasing snook on flies on Wednesday night, 2/11. An outgoing tide fueled by a strong north wind supercharged the tide and snook responded by going on a binge.
I monitor conditions closely this time of year, since snook may become stressed by cold water. However, often the warmest water of the day is on the outgoing tide in the evening after the sun heats water on shallow flats in the afternoon. I found water temperatures this week of 61 or 62 in morning but warming to 65 degrees in the evening. We found snook feeding aggressively and swimming away strong in the warmer evening water.
Rusty Chinnis, from Longboat Key, FL and I scouted Sarasota Bay in his boat on Thursday afternoon, 2/12. We found a few nice trout in shallow water and got one to eat a fly. Alan Sugar, from Ann Arbor, MI, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday afternoon, 2/13. Conditions were challenging with cold air and windy conditions following yet another front. However, he persisted until it paid off with a few hook ups and a nice pompano caught and released on a Clouser fly.
There are still some spots available in CB's Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School on Sat, Feb 21st. I will be the instructor for the school which will cover fly casting basics, line control, shooting line and the roll cast. The course, designed for beginning and intermediate fly casters, will focus on basics but also work with intermediate casters on correcting faults and improving casting skills. Leader construction, fly selection and saltwater fly fishing techniques will also be covered. Cost for the school, which will run from 8:30 AM to 3 PM, is $150 per person and includes the use of Orvis fly tackle, a text book and lunch. Contact CB's Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 or [email protected] to make reservations.
You may find trout, blues, pompano or founder in channels, troughs, basins or edges of flats, particularly when the tide is low. Look for reds and big trout mixed with mullet schools on shallow flats and edges of bars. Afternoons may fish better than mornings when water is cooler. Catch and release night snook fishing in the ICW can be good as long as it doesn't get too cold.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
www.snookfinaddict.com and www.flyfishingflorida.us
More Fishing Reports:
