FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-06-03
Your Fresh Water Fly Fishing Report for Central Florida
Conditions: Excellent
Surface Temp: 84f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 20-24 inches
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
Calvin Lopez caught one of his all time best bass on a Umqua Diving Frog.
Tips:
Topwater for Bluegill in the morning. The fish are shallow early in the day. As the day progresses they head to deeper and cooler water. Clousers can cover a lot of water in this situation. White, Chartreuse, Blue & Chartreuse are best bets. Game Changer flies fished on a sinking line will put you in the same deep part of the water column as a conventional crank bait, but you can work the fly much slower, even suspended. Take advantage of this unique opportunity. Jigging style flies like Sloppy Jose or Clouser can dissect the water column. Using a sharp retrieve and a long wait between retrieves will create a high-low jigging pattern. Use this until you find the depth the fish are holding. Bass are pursuing frogs as they lay their eggs this season. Umpqua Diver Frogs and Georgia Bullfrawgs can produce the biggest fish of the day. Get out your 8wt and catch your personal best!.
Everyone got a good chuckle about this amazing tiny bass. We recently re-lined this ancient reel and rod, and put it back on the water, where it belongs. Love photos like this!
Techniques:
Bluegill are taking topwater flies. Examples include bugs with light bellies like yellow or chartreuse, yellow sprogs, and white rubber spiders. We also had a report of small crappie (Specs) biting in the morning on small white clousers. We recommend a floater/dropper tandem rig for panfish. Using foam body poppers or hoppers for the floater, attach a dropper underneath-using your choice of pheasant tails, hare's ear or a prince nymph. One of our favorite customers insists on grass shrimp for the dropper. Keep your dropper flies a little deeper than usual and focus on submerged grass lines when throwing streamers. Have you seen all of the dragonflies? It is a good indicator to throw blue poppers and/or green wooly buggers (dragonfly nymph.) Look for wind blown hyacinths, these create instant pockets of shade, and usually harbor tons of bugs. Panfish and Bass will be attracted to them, Tilapia will like eating the roots, and bugs. They create mobile cover for baitfish.
Trevor Brown caught some unexpected Specs in the Summer Heat
Forecast
We anticipate bluegills to be shallow or near shallow water. The topwater bite will continue in the morning. Small buck bass will continue to be good along weed lines and lilies. Frogs are laying eggs, and big frog flies should catch your biggest bass, this week. New Moon is on June 3rd. The high pressure that is parked over the Florida peninsula lowers our chances of afternoon rain and raises heat to near 100 degrees. End of the week shows increasing cloud cover and increasing chances of rain on the weekend. Winds will be moderate except near pop up storms. Expect lake levels and river levels to fall rapidly through the week. At the time of this report: the Peace River is half average level, Econ is a third of average approaching a trickle, Myakka River is above seasonal average. Hillsborough is a little low and the Withlacoochee spillway is almost 0 (which is normal in early June.) Kissimmee River gauge below the Hwy 60 dam is currently not reporting.
Neil Warnock with a paddle board bass. Note that Neil uses both a fly rod and a spinning rod.
Josh Johnson with one of his floating shrimp flies.
Learn to tie your own flies at our club meetings! Next meeting is June 4th.
Crabs and Shrimp Month! 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 May 7th.
FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-05-29
Your Fresh Water Fly Fishing Report for Central Florida
Conditions: Excellent
Surface Temp: 82f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 18-24 inches
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
Lonnie Bachman has been catching some nice fish this week!
Tips:
Topwater for Bluegill in the morning. The fish are shallow early in the day. As the day progresses they head to deeper and, cooler water. Clousers can cover a lot of water in this situation. White, Chartreuse, & Blue are best bets. Game Changer flies fished on a sinking line will put you in the same deep part of the water column as a conventional crank bait, but you can work the fly much slower, even suspended. Take advantage of this unique opportunity. Hexagenia Mayflies are hatching. If you are blessed with Mayflies on your lake, you will know it. Yellow-Belly Hippy-Stompers, Yellow Stimulators, are examples several Hexagenia flies work when this bite is on.
Neil Warnock with a 'gator' speckled trout on his paddle board.
Techniques:
Bluegill are taking topwater flies, at daybreak (and we have heard at sunset in some of the pits.) Yellow or Chartreuse poppers are hanging from bluegill lips in many of the pics that I've seen. We also like yellow Sprogs and white rubber spiders. Have you seen all of the dragonflies? It is a good indicator to throw blue poppers and/or green wooly buggers (dragonfly nymph.) Hexagenia mayflies are hatching in our lakes. This is a great time of year to throw some big bushy dry flies like a stimulator pattern to match the hatch. Consistently through the warmer season, fish with a floater/dropper. Stimulators are the ticket to fish a weighted nymph, underneath. Try using grass shrimp and scuds for the dropper. Keep your dropper flies a little deeper than usual and focus on submerged grass lines when throwing streamers. Bluegill coloration flies have still been the ticket for the bass. Try using a faster retrieve rate with Clousers as this allows you to cover more water.
Josh Johnson caught another nice snook with his 8wt!
Forecast
We anticipate bluegills to be shallow or near shallow water. The topwater bite will continue in the morning. Small buck bass will continue to be good along weedlines and lilies. New Moon is on June 3rd. The high pressure that is parked over the Florida peninsula lowers our chances of afternoon rain to near zero, and heat to near 100 degrees. Bluebird skies this week and winds will generally be light. Expect lake levels and river levels to fall rapidly through the week. At the time of this report: the Peace River is at below average level, Econ is half of average approaching a trickle, Myakka River is above seasonal average, Hillsborough and Withlacoochee Rivers are slightly above average levels. Kissimmee River gauge below the Hwy 60 dam is currently not reporting.
Billy Williams tied this killer little shrimp.
Learn to tie your own flies at our club meetings! Next meeting is June 4th.
Crabs and Shrimp Month! 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 May 7th.
FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-04-24
Conditions: Excellent
Surface Temp: 76f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 18-24-inches
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
Tips:
Topwater in the morning. The fish are shallow early in the day. As the day progresses they head to deeper,cooler water. Sinking lines are very important as the bass continue to feed on baitfish in deeper water. Game Changerflies fished on a sinking line will put you in the same deep part of the water colum as a conventional crank bait, but you can work the fly much slower, even suspended. Take advantage of this unique opportunity.
Techniques:
The bluegill bite is still going strong with topwater flies still working early. Blue Sprogs and white spiders are favorites. Small streamers like the Myakka Minnow and the Sloppy Jose have done a great job of picking up fish during the warmer parts of the day. These flies should be fished parallel to the shoreline with a steady retrieve near the weedlines. Just outside of Lily pads is a favorite spot for tilapia right now, and they will readily take a small streamer this time of year. Adding a small split shot will help these streamers sink more quickly and stay deep during the retrieve. Topwater poppers fished near docks and cattails have produced some explosive bites. With electric blue and olive being the top color choices. Have you seen all of the dragonflies? It is a good indicator to throw blue poppers. Hexagenia mayflies are hatching in our lakes. This is a great time of year to throw some big bushy dry flies like a stimulator pattern to match the hatch. This is a great oportunity to fish with a dropper, as stimulators are the ticket to fish a weighted nymph, underneath. Keep your flies a little deeper than usual and focus on submerged grass lines when throwing streamers. Also try to cast the streamers parallel to the shoreline. Bluegill pattern streamers have still been the ticket for the bass. Try using a faster retrieve rate this allows you to cover more water. They have started schooling up pretty regularly on the windblown side of the lake. Specs(Crappie) have pushed up shallow as well and are hanging out in the pads or in thicker grasslines. Use baitfish patterns in white, or bright colors such as chartreuse in sizes 6, or 8. The crappie have been caught midday, suspended near shore on heavy, small clousers. When retrieving the fly long slow strips have been the best. This keeps the fly deeper in the water column and closer to the fish.
Look at the snook that Manuel Morales found on the Peace River!
Calvin Lopez is catching small Buck Bass on the 5 wt. this week. Topwater fun!
Expect bluegill to stay shallow and become aggressive on their beds. The topwater bite will continue. Take advantage of the calmer days and throw more topwater flies. Moon phase is last quarter waning with the New Moon on May 4th. Lake Levels have risen from recent hard rain. The Peace River is at average yearly levels. The Econ is low, perhaps the lowest level for the year. Myakka River is average. The Hillsborough and Withlacoochee Rivers are at above average levels. Kissimmee River gauge below the Hwy 60 dam is currently not reporting. This is a great time to be on the water, fishing will continue to be excellent.
Fifth Tuesday of the month, and the Fly Tying Club is at Beer Rev, 3234 Florida Ave S, Lakeland, FL 33803. We supply the materials, bring your own tools or borrow some of ours. It is Taco Tuesday so get some great food, great drink, and meet some new fly tyers!
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 May 7th.
FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-04-15
Week 04/15/19 Report by Hunter Towery
Conditions: Good
Surface Temp: 76f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 18-24-inches
Reservations are open for the April 27th Class. FF101 is a quick start 2-hour program. We have plenty of gear, join us!
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
Nice size bass are taking topwater again, caught by Trevor Brown
Tip:
Topwater is still working well early in the morning. The fish are still staying shallow early in the day then as the day progresses they head to deeper cooler water. The winds are making it a little tricky to fly fish but sticking to the calmer portions of the lake are a good bet to still boat some fish. Sinking lines are very important as the bass continue to feed on baitfish in deeper water.
Beautiful Bluegill caught by Trevor Brown
Techniques:
The bluegill bite is still going strong with topwater flies still working early before the winds pick up. Blue Sprogs and white spiders have been the best topwater patterns. Small streamers like the Myakka Minnow have done a great job of picking up fish during the warmer parts of the day. These flies should be fished parallel to the shoreline with a steady retrieve. Adding a small split shot will help these streamers sink more quickly and stay deep during the retrieve. This time of year is a great time for pan fishing but the bass bite has been excellent as well. Topwater poppers fished near docks and cattails have produced some explosive bites. With electric blue and olive being the top color choices. All of the dragonflies out is a good indicator to throw blue poppers. The hexagenia mayflies are starting to hatch in our lakes. This is a great time of year to throw some big bushy dry flies like a stimulator pattern to match the hatch Try using a shorter leader with your topwater as it will help turn over wind resistant flies in the higher winds. Keep your flies a little deeper than usual and focus on submerged grass lines when throwing streamers. Also try to cast the streamers parallel to the shoreline. Bluegill pattern streamers have still been the ticket for the bass. Try using a faster retrieve rate this allows you to cover more water. They have started schooling up pretty regularly on the windblown side of the lake. Specs(Crappie) have pushed up shallow as well and are hanging out in the pads or in thicker grasslines. Use baitfish patterns in white, or bright colors such as chartreuse in sizes 6, or 8. The crappie have been caught midday, suspended near shore on heavy, small clousers. When retrieving the fly long slow strips have been the best. This keeps the fly deeper in the water column and closer to the fish.
Calvin Lopez caught this bluegill in the pads using a our weedless fly, Sloppy Jose
Forecast
Expect bluegill to continue staying shallow and get more aggressive of their beds. The topwater bite will get better even through the higher winds. Take advantage of the calmer days and throw more topwater flies. The full moon is April 19th. The Peace River is at average yearly levels. The Econ and Myakka Rivers are at below average levels. The Hillsborough and Withlacoochee Rivers are at above average levels. The rivers are a great way to fish even with high winds as the banks will protect you from the gusts.
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 April 16th.
FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-02-25
Week of 02/25/19
Conditions: Good
Surface Temp: 65f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 18-24-inches
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
Tips:
Fishing a topwater popper up shallow has been a good bet early in the day. Whenever your fishing this way try to drop a wooly bugger off the back of the popper. This will allow you to keep the trailing fly in the strike zone. Still be on the lookout for schooling fish in slightly deeper water, and also bass beds up closer to shore. A good number of bass will be locked on their beds, and will behave aggressively towards any threat in/near their beds.
David Brooks Hooked another beautiful tilapia.
Techniques:
The bluegill will continue to patrol around the bedding bass and are eager to strike. Utilizing a heavier nymph pattern such as a tungsten Copper John will keep the fly closer to the bottom. This is necessary when they won't commit to a topwater pattern like a Sprog. The color of the topwater has varied from chartreuse to electric blue, but either is a good starting place. A slow retrieve along grasslines near docks have put a few nice bluegill in the boat. The popper dropper rig continues to be the ticket as far as consistency goes. They haven't been too picky when it comes to the trailer fly. Some local favorites are Hare's Ear nymphs, Copper Johns, and Dave's Lion. These patterns do a good job emulating several of our aquatic insects, and aren't too heavy to drag the point fly down. The bass bite has been good and the lakes are continuing to stay busy as the weather keeps staying warm. Bluegill pattern streamers have still been the ticket for the bass. Some lakes have been pressured pretty hard and the bass are settling in slightly deeper water. They aren't necessarily eating the fly, they are more so picking it up and moving it away from the nest. Lately the topwater bite has picked up for bass too. A good tactic has been throwing around a chartreuse or orange popper searching for the more active fish. Then switch to a streamer and dissect the water around that area. That one two punch is your best bet at success as you can quickly pattern the fish. Try using a shorter leader with your topwater as it will help turn over wind resistant flies in the higher winds. Keep your flies a little deeper than usual and focus on submerged grasslines. Have a few larger streamers tied with either rabbit fur or marabou in case the bass are feeling more aggressive. The added movement in these materials can create some violent strikes. When throwing baitfish patterns the best place to cast is parallel to the shoreline. This allows you to cover more water. Try varying the depth during the retrieve if they aren't responding to a steady retrieve. They are typically schooling on the windblown side of the lake. Specs(Crappie) have pushed up shallow as well and are hanging out in the pads or in thicker grasslines. Use baitfish patterns in white, or bright colors such as chartreuse in sizes 6, or 8. The crappie have been caught midday, suspended near shore on heavy, small clousers. When retrieving the fly long slow strips have been the best. This keeps the fly deeper in the water column and closer to the fish.
Forecast
Some early week rain leads to sunny days. The winds will cooperate for once this week and stay fairly light. We feel like the Bass fishing will improve on the beds, as it warms; and the bluegill fishing will become excellent. The lake levels are continuing to drop slowly and clearing in clarity. The fishing will keep improving with the warm trend. The Peace, Econ, Hillsborough, Myakka, Withlacoochee, and Kissimmee Rivers are all at above average, but falling water and flow levels.
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 March 6th.
FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-01-02
Week 01/02/19
Conditions: Good
Surface Temp: 64f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 18-24-inches
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
Levi Payne is catching a bunch of fish this week!
Register Now for our Full Day Fly Fishing School. Our Next Date is January 5th. Click here for more info/registration Where Great Traditions Begin!
Tip:
Continue to focus on hard cover such as docks and timber. Placement of the flies is important, try to almost hit the cover and fish it deeper in the water column. Fluorocarbon helps the fly sink and also is more abrasion resistant than nylon monofilament. Keep your tippet size at either 2x or 3x since it gives you enough stealth for the clearing water, but also gives you a chance fighting fish near dangerous cover.
Daniel Lanier shares this Bluegill catch from Calhoon County, Missourri. Caught him on a Pheasant Tail Cricket.
Techniques:
Keep throwing streamers with a low and slow retrieve. The fish are responding to shad and bluegill patterns. The smaller size flies are working, with number 6 brush flies matching the "hatch" the best. Have a few streamers tied with either rabbit fur or marabou in case the bass are feeling more aggressive. The added movement in these materials can create some violent strikes. The water is also clearing up in places like Saddle Creek and Teneroc making it even more conducive to fly fishing. Topwater is still working when fished in heavier cover such as lily pads or at the base of trees. With a slow retrieve back to the boat. The top colors have been yellow and olive. Look for the nervous activity caused by the shad, as this is a sure sign that the bass are near. When throwing baitfish patterns the best place to cast is parallel to the shoreline. This allows you to cover more water. Try varying the depth during the retrieve if they aren't responding to a steady retrieve. They are typically schooling on the windblown side of the lake. Bluegill still are hanging around docks and near any moving water. The best way to catch them has been a heavier tungsten nymph drug on the bottom or a worm fly with a squirmito tail on a jig head. When presenting these flies try crawling them by pulling the fly line to your wrist for a slow gradual retrieve rate. Sometimes bass sized flies get gobbled up by a monster bream when working docks or brush piles. This has been key as they prefer to eat them deeper when they are right above the bottom. When fishing near heavy cover for panfish bumping up to 4x tippet will allow you to still be stealthy but have some extra strength around the wood. Specs(Crappie) are still being caught along grass lines. Use baitfish patterns in white, black and/or brown/olive in sizes 6, 8, or 10. Classic popper fishing is recommended at sunrise when the weather is either a little warmer or foggy. Colors is important as the fish are selective. Start with white as this mimics a struggling baitfish then start trying brighter colors such as yellow or orange. Casting these at the base of trees have yielded some spectacular blowups. Popper dropper rigs are a very good way to fish. Use classic trout flies such as a Pheasant Tail or a Hare's Ear Nymph is sizes 10-14.
Tristan Barringer with another amazing bass!
Trevor Brown finished the year with some great fish!
Forecast
The temps will drop as the week progresses and the wind will die down. This will make for a pleasant start to 2019. The lake levels are continuing to drop slowly and clearing in clarity. The Peace, Econ, Hillsborough, Myakka, and Withlacoochee Rivers are all at high river levels. And levels on the Kissimmee River are at below average level for the time of year.
Phil Pope is our Head Fly Tying Instructor. He was finishing some Lo Fat Minnows with his UV light for sale in the fly shop.
Special Fly Tying Session Jan. 15th. Our old friend, Captain Craig Crumbliss will show the art of Bamboo rod making, and teach fly tying.
FLY TYING CLASSES ARE ON FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS at 6:00PM-7:30PM. [Exept this Month since New Years was our first Tuesday-RESCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY THE 15th AND TUESDAY THE 29th.] No reservations needed. We supply materials and tools (or bring yours.) $10 min purchase requested. Because New Year's Day is on the first Tuesday of the month, our next tying class is Jan. 15th. Contact us at 863 299-999 for more info.
FLY FISHING REPORT 2018-12-12
Week 12/12/18-12/19/18
Conditions: Good
Surface Temp: 68f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 18-24-inches
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
Wade Roberts with a fly rod bass on a popper.
Tip:
The best bet of late has been focusing on partially submerged timber and thicker grass lines. These areas warm up more quickly and retain heat so this will cause the fish to congregate in these areas. Subsurface streamers have been most effective with white or yellow being the colors of choice. Fish these parallel to the cover and keep them deeper as the fish have been staying suspended.
Glad to see that Trevor Brown is back in the kayak.
Techniques:
With the cooler temps slower retrieve rates have been very important. Topwater is still working when fished in heavier cover such as lily pads or at the base of trees. The top colors have been yellow, olive, and white. The most consistent way to catch bass has been fishing a size 6 Clouser or the smaller E.P Shad pattern. Though not quite as dramatic as a topwater strike streamer fishing is more consistent and allows you to catch fish that aren't as aggressive. Look for the nervous activity caused by the shad, as this is a sure sign that the bass are near. They are typically schooling on the windblown side of the lake. Don't stalk too close and keep your trolling motors on a low setting, the fish are being skittish around too much boat noise. When the bass aren't schooling look for docks or submerged timber, these are common holding areas for bass when it starts to get cold. When fishing these areas an intermediate sinking line is helpful in getting your flies towards the bottom of the water column. Slowing down your presentations have been helpful when the bite slows down. The most productive colors of the worm or craw flies have been olive, black and purple. Which come as no surprise as these are always good color choices. Bluegill still are hanging around docks and near the mouths of canals. The best way to catch them has been a heavier tungsten nymph drug on the bottom or a worm fly with a squirmito tail on a jig head. When presenting these flies try crawling them by pulling the fly line to your wrist for a slow gradual retrieve rate. This has been key as they prefer to eat them deeper when they are right above the bottom. When fishing near heavy cover for panfish bumping up to 4x tippet will allow you to still be stealthy but have some extra strength around the wood. Specs(Crappie) are still being caught along grass lines. Use baitfish patterns in white, black and/or brown/olive in sizes 6, 8, or 10. Classic popper fishing is recommended at sunrise when the weather is either a little warmer or foggy. Colors is important as the fish are selective. Start with white as this mimics a struggling baitfish then start trying brighter colors such as yellow or orange. Casting these at the base of trees have yielded some spectacular blowups. Popper dropper rigs are a very good way to fish. Use classic trout flies such as a Pheasant Tail or a Hare's Ear Nymph is sizes 10-14.
Billy Williams is catching stumpknockers and warmouth on a fly that he designed
Forecast
The weather should stay fairly consistent but with less wind as the week progresses making it a little easier to fly fish. Lake levels are continuing to drop slowly. The Peace, Econ, Hillsborough, and Withlacoochee Rivers are all at above average levels. Myakka River is seasonal average. And water on the Kissimmee River at below average level for the time of year.
Casting School Certificates
make great Christmas presents!
Where Great Traditions Begin! Register Now for our Full Day Fly Fishing School. Our Next Date is January 5th. Click here for more info/registration
FLY TYING CLASSES ARE ON FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS at 6:00PM-7:30PM. No reservations needed. We supply materials and tools (or bring yours.) $10 min purchase requested. Our next tying class is Dec. 18th. Contact us at 863 299-999 for more info.
FLY FISHING REPORT 2018-10-23
With the excessive heat, last week, there was a noticeable lul in fishing reports. However, since it cooled over the weekend, we expect to see fishing improve, especially the surface fishing. View full article →FLY FISHING REPORT 2018-10-10
Fly Fishing is excellent this week. After the hurricane moves across the panhandle, we will have beautiful weather. Bass are schooling on shad, Bluegill, Crappie, and tilapia join the mix. Fly casting school, and fly tying club info. View full article →FLY FISHING REPORT 2018-09-10
Week 09/10/18 - 9/18/18
Conditions: Good
Surface Temp: 82f
Clarity: Tannic 23-inches
Listen to the fishing report 
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Where Great Traditions Begin! Register Now for our first Full Day Fly Fishing School of the Season. Next Date is Sept 22nd
Click here for more info->
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
Jason Bergwell, Shawn Ceranic, and Trevor Brown took a day trip for peacock bass-Wow!
Tip of the Week:
More Bluegill this week. Smaller Bass are biting. You've heard this tip for a few weeks-Small white minnows like Grasset's Snook minnow, and white sz 6 Clousers are producing fish. One of our favorites, the popper-dropper rig with classic trout flies on the dropper are catching lots of fish. Bushier nymphs like Gibson's Snymph, Hare's ear, and Prince are catching lots of panfish. Important-Bead heads to drop to the bottom so use a long dropper tippet (3ft to 5ft). Size10 down to size16 will do the trick. Poppers, Sliders and Amnesia style topwater in chartreuse, white, and black for topwater. We finally heard about a frog pattern catching-it has been a while! 1lb to 2lb bass are taking topwater, again.
Love this Peacock Bass Tail-These tropical fish are great fun in South Florida
Techniques:
We like fly fishing topwater, when they will bite on top. Rrecommendation for the week for bass is for larger poppers/sliders size 2 to 2/0. 12in to 16in bass are working in the shallows. Follow the afternoon shade to find the most aggressive fish. Expect rain storms in the afternoon. For the biggest bass in the pond, we will recommend Reaction style flies like the Schmiderbait Spinner-Fly, Dahlberg Divers, and Game Changer flies. These should be moved fast, forcing a quick reaction from the Bass. We like white, but 'flash' seems to be most important. Water is flowing through canals and large culverts. These will be feeding funnels and will create opportunities for the fly angler. Pay particular attention to the seawalls in the canals as they can give a fish a great spot to hang. Bluegill success on dropper rigs with soft hackle nymphs and bushier style nymphs. Nymphs should be bushy, with rubber legs, and weighted, as ther is plenty of bluegill action on the bottom.
Falling pressure through the week, and clear afternoons til Thursday is forecast. Flowing canals will create feeding funnels and should be an opportunity. Lake levels are very high. Some of the lakes are complex to fly fish because the water floods into the grass and timber areas. The water levels are very high, docks are under water on the Winter Haven Chain, and flood control damns are wide open. Econ, Myakka, and Kissimmee (below Hwy 60) are at normal level for this time of year. Peace, Hillsborough, and Withlacootchee are very high---extra care should be taken. We expect bass fishing to improve to excellent this week.
Our New Tarpon Time T-Shirt pictured with Tarpon Artist, Wes Lott.
FLY TYING CLASSES ON FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS at 6:00PM-7:30PM. No reservations needed. We supply materials and tools (or bring yours.) $10 min purchase requested. Our next tying class is Sept. 18th
The text in this report may look familiar. We upload weekly to the Orvis Fishing Report for Florida.
Links for Local Weather And River Levels