Backcountry Fly Championship

[Fishing Report]

World class anglers competed February 25 & 26 in Islamorada for snook and redfish on fly. First time angler John Dobson from Manhattan, Montana guided by Captain Drew Kleine, guiding in his first tournament, were victorious with 92.25 points. This team also caught the largest snook, 29.5 inches. Runner-up angler was Chris Maroney of Stuart, FL guided by Captain Mick Hutchinsson with 70 points. The largest redfish, 30 inches, was caught by Mark Cockerham, guided by Captain Mark Gilman. The anglers enjoyed terrific conditions to catch and release 22 redfish & 10 snook. Points are awarded one point per inch of fish, allowing 1 snook and one redfish per day. Interestingly, the field caught and released more than double the number of snook this year than last year, despite fewer anglers, but an equal number of redfish were caught. This was the fifth year of this Islamorada event hosted at Lorelei and Uncle’s Restaurant. The awards were beautiful etched glass trophies by Island Glass Design Works in Fort Lauderdale. The dates for next year will be February 24 & 25, 2012. Contact Charlotte Ambrogio csasun@aol.com for more information on this and the Jim Bokor Spring All Tackle Bonefish Tournament set for April 6 – 8, 2011.



Chairman Mike Criscola, Grand Champion John Dobson, Captain Drew Kleine, Director Charlotte Ambrogio

[Fishing Report]

Montana Man Wins His First Backcountry Fly

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — John Dobson of Manhattan, Mont., caught 92.25 inches of redfish and snook while fly-fishing in the Florida Keys to win the Backcountry Fly Championship that ended Feb. 26.

Tournament anglers competed to catch the most inches of snook and redfish on fly. Rules mandated that only one catch of each species over the two days of fishing could be counted toward an angler’s total inches.

Dobson earned the title of grand champion angler fishing with Captain Drew Kleine of Islamorada, and also caught and released the tournament’s largest snook, measuring 29.5 inches. Dobson’s second snook was 26.75 inches, and his redfish were 17.5 and 18.5 inches.

Chris Maroney of Stuart, Fla., was awarded runner-up angler for scoring 70 inches of fish. He fished with Miami Captain Mick Hutchinsson.

Mark Cockerham secured the largest redfish at 30 inches with Captain Mark Gilman. Both are Islamorada residents.

Twenty-three anglers caught 10 snook and 22 redfish over two days.