A GREAT MORNING FISHING

By Marshall DeMott



Fly fishing with Marshall DeMott and Patrick Blake began around 5:45 a.m. on August 5, with a slow outgoing tide. Capt. Tom kept us close to the dock lights where Pat quickly landed several 20" plus snook. Several lights had large snook lurking and the fish seemed picky. Pat solved the fly riddle with a fly call the "Lightbulb" by Capt. Tom and landed another snook or two. We used another fly by Capt. Tom called, "Tom's Tantrum" and that worked well too, catching two jack crevalls, along with some more snook.



As the sun came up, we left the Jacks off the rocky points and headed into the back country where Capt. Tom slowed the pace to spot rolling tarpon. Marshall threw an intermediate sinking line with a mullet imitation and had several shots at rolling and feeding tarpon. We had one tarpon hit the fly but he was not hooked. Tom poled us into a cove where Patrick hooked and landed a larger snook with the "Lightbulb".



After leaving this area, Tom pulled into a shoreline where cleaner water meant a chance for Marshall to catch a redfish. Before long, we spotted an enormous redfish. Marshall landed several good casts to the 15 lb fish and the result was some interest but no aggression on the part of the huge red who slowly meandered away leaving the three of us breathless, but puzzled.



Capt. Tom ran the boat back to Naples and poled one more bay near where the manatee had been feeding. There were several mangrove snapper and Pat had shots at two or three Snook-like shadows before we headed in. We also saw a shark and several dolphin. The performance of the "Lightbulb" was terrific. Perhaps the best all-around fly for this area during the summer, along with the white "Tantrum".



We were treated to a day mostly free of other boats and fishermen and we never felt crowded. The water clarity was improving and some areas we fished the water allowed us to see fish well. Capt. Tom packs a lot into a morning guided trip! Dock light fishing for snook and tarpon, rock wall fishing for jacks, snapper, and snook. Sight fishing for rolling tarpon, sight fishing shorelines for Redfish and Snook. ALL in a single morning!





As a reminder, Tarpon Genetic Recapture Study--Mangrove Outfitters is a participating kit distribution and sample collection site. Anglers are needed state-wide to sample tarpon DNA and will be making a direct impact, advancing scientific research for one of Florida's popular sport fish.

Tight lines,



Captain Tom "BTT Conservation Guide"



and the Crew at Mangrove Outfitters




Mangrove Outfitters on the Web


P.S. Don't forget - if you make Mangrove Outfitters your home page, you can check local weather and tide predictions with a click of the button!





TOM'S TIPS! AFTER FISHING, BE SURE TO RINSE YOUR EQUIPMENT WITH WARM WATER TO DISSOLVE THE SALT. TOWEL DRY YOUR ROD AND REEL TO MAKE SURE YOU GET ANY REMAINING SALT RESIDUE THAT MAY CORRODE YOUR GUIDES, REEL SEAT, OR REEL. THIS WILL KEEP YOUR GEAR LOOKING NEW AND WORKING PROPERLY.



FLY TYING INFORMATION:

Fly Tying Classes on Tuesday nights are on summer break and will resume in October. We still have the first and third Saturday morning classes at 10 a.m. Please bring your vice, tools and thread.We are tying beach flies for great summer fishing!



Snook Season Information
Please make note that the snook season will remain closed until September 2011. You may catch them, but they must be released. Handle with care and keep the fish out of the water as short a time as possible.



Book Your Trip
Call us at 1-239-793-3370 to reserve your trip, or you may make your inquiries online at www.mangroveoutfitters.com. We have up to date fishing information and the best guides in fly fishing that South West Florida has to offer. We are a full service fly shop offering guide services, custom flies, custom rods as well as individual instruction for casting and fly tying.





FLY TYING CLASSES!

NO TUESDAY EVENING FLY TYING CLASSES THIS SUMMER!

THEY WILL RESUME IN OCTOBER!



WE WILL CONTINUE THE FIRST AND 3RD SATURDAY MORNING CLASSES AT 10:00 a.m.



Capt. Tom Shadley
Mangrove Outfitters Fly Shop, Inc.
Patriot Square
4111 East Tamiami Trail
Naples, FL 34112

Ph & Fax - 239.793.3370
captshadley@mangroveoutfitters.com

http://www.mangroveoutfitters.com