Key West and Lower Keys

Capt. Dexter Simmons
September 29, 2001
Key West - Saltwater Fishing Report

Big Bones Prefer The Sugarloaf Special Fly!

Fall fly fishing in the Keys is excellent with fair weather. We have Tarpon moving into the channels and basins, Permit are schooling up along the edges of channels and flats, and Bonefish are tailing up on the grass flats and cruising along the sand flats. It is also tropical weather season, and when it is raining cats and dogs you just can't fly fish very easily on the flats. So, while we are waiting for the sky to clear and the sun to shine, it is time to hit the fly tying desk and tie up some patterns designed to take those giant 10 pound-plus bonefish.Here is a 13 pounder taken by Jim Mckillip with a Sugarloaf Special-Olive mantis shrimp pattern....The Sugarloaf Special-Olive mantis shrimp fly is tied on a #4 Mustad 34007 hook with an olive and black crystal braid body, chartreuse crystal flash and chartreuse grizzly hackle (splayed out) on the tail, a palmered chartreuse grizzly collar, black danville's flat waxed nylon thread, a nylon weed guard, and an extra small lead dumbbell head. The finished product looks like this...Click here to see streaming video of a "Beauty of an 8 pound Bonefish" landed on FlatsMaster Before you travel to the Keys for some outstanding Bonefishing this fall, contact Capt. Dexter Simmons for a "live report"! Call Capt. Dexter at 305-745-3304 or email at [email protected]. Tight Lines and Screaming Reels!

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