FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-10-01 for Central Florida
Report by Allen WyattWeek of 10/01/19
Conditions: Good
Surface Temp: 80f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 27-inches
Register Now for FLY FISHING and CASTING SCHOOL on Oct. 17th
AN ALL DAY EVENT TO LEARN THE BASICS OF FLY FISHING. OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS, THIS SCHOOL HAS TAUGHT THE ART OF FLY CASTING FOR 25 YEARS. THIS IS WHERE GREAT TRADITIONS BEGIN!
Registration here -> https://www.andythornal.com/products/fly-fishing-school
Let us know what you are catching-or not catching-Send your pics of fish, beautiful places, or some of the flies that you have tied. We love to post them on our fishing report! Send to Allen@andythornal.com
Shallowfly Walt is catching Tarpon in October!
Tips
The shad will begin to school in the mid areas of the lake. It will be obvious as there will be action on the surface. Bass will find these schools. Fish the edges of the schools with patterns from 1 to 3 inches. You will need to motor up to the schools as they appear for only a minute or two before diving for submerged hydrilla. You will find this action in the mornings and early evenings. Frog patterns are still good in the shallow weeds and lilies. Push as close to shore from a boat, or fish from shore. Get out a stiff rod, stout leader and make sure you use frog flies with a weed guard. This is the time of year when some of the old-timer-live-bait anglers start net dipping grass shrimp. Blue gill can key into grass shrimp and become selective. Try grass shrimp (scuds) in a dropper rig, a tandem rig, or a tripler. This will be a go-to around Kissimmee grass for Bluegill.
Congratulations to Joey Murphy. A recent graduate from one of our casting school. On a trip to Spring Creek in South Dakota, e caught Rainbows,Browns, and Small Mouth
Techniques
Best techniques for the week include 1) Popper/dropper tandem rig for panfish. Using foam body poppers or hoppers, attach a dropper underneath- pheasant tails, hare's ear or a prince nymph-these should hang 3 to 5 feet off the floater. Technique 2) The smaller bass are cruising with the moderate weather. Anglers should work the edges early and late in the day. Clousers in white, baby bluegil, baby bass, should be worked as far into the weed lines as you dare. Cruising crappie (Specs for the locals) are taking small baitfish patterns next to weedlines. Technique 3) Sinking lines with deep baitfish (EP Everglades Special, EP Shad, or Choklett's Game Changer) should be fished 20-30 ft off the weedlines during the day as Bass are staging for shallower water in 5ft - 8ft of water. This is an opportunity to air out your longest cast as it is all blind casting.
Congratulations! First Fish on youra fly that you tied!
Congratulations! First Fly Rod Bass
Forecast
Cruising bass and specs will be shallow and near the weedlines. Small black and small white minnow patterns will be good. Watch for schooling shad in the mornings and late afternoon. Try grass shrimp in the Kissimmee grass and cattails. Winds will be moderate, increasing in the afternoon. Chance of rain is low for several days, then, several days of scattered showers. Pressure remains low. WE are coming off a new moon, Full moon 1s Oct 13th and should be the first of the good spec fishing. Lake levels are high, and we expect lake levels and river levels to fall through the week. At the time of this report: the Peace River is below average. Econ River is below average level. Myakka River is far below seasonal average. Hillsborough is below average but the Withlacoochee is flowing above average. Kissimmee River near Frostproof is below average. This week should be excellent for paddle craft on the lakes and rivers.
Learn to tie your own flies at our club meetings! Next meeting is Oct 1st! Check out the new Big Screen Showing the fly tying action! Fly Tying is regularly at Andy Thornal Company on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 6pm-7:30pm. We usually tie two patterns including Bass, Saltwater, and small flies, too! This club atmosphere is friendly for beginners and experts, ages 10-70. Bring your tying tools or borrow some of ours. The class is free, but we ask that everyone make a $10 purchase to offset costs. Next club meeting is Oct 1st.
Allen Wyatt
Author