Each year is a little different, but typically around late April or early May the snook start their annual migration from the rivers, creeks and backwater estuaries to the gin clear water and sandy beaches to spawns. The massive funnel of fish disband into small pods or strings of individuals and cruise up and down the shoreline in knee-deep water. These ghost-like shadows drive angles crazy violently busting up rafts glass minnows and white bait with reckless abandonment.
When the water is clear, Seeing 30-40” fish is a frequent occurrence, and what used to be a private sight fishing oasis for the local has quickly become an addictive destination location for adventure anglers world wide. May and June are prime fishing beach fishing times in South West Florida, and each year the number of fly-rodders increases exponentially. Some weakened warriors that seem to whip the water to a froth, others brilliantly talented casters and tyers from unknown providence. Whatever the case, it seems inevitable that soon there will be more fisherman than swimmers and the once easy to catch, blissfully ignorant submarine sized snook, are now highly educated and extremely scrupulous. Over the last 10 seasons of chasing snook, I have honed my techniques and refined my selection of flies down to just the key essentials required for hoodwinking this exceedingly erudite fish. The pattens presented have been rigorously tested and have a confirmed track-record for persuading copious numbers of scholarly snook. This selection of flies will ensure you have the entire water column covered and give you the ability to “Match the Minnows” size and location in the water column, no matter where you are fishing.
Learn to tie Joe Mahler’s Straw Boss, Dave Johnson’s Petticoat Streamer, The Pete Squibb’s Dirty Squibbster, Drei Stroman’s Crystal D, Bill Baldus’s Neon Knight, Nick Davis’s Lightsaber Pilchard, Stive Gibson’s DT Special variation, and my go to the Captiva Cannibal.
Over the next few weeks I will give you the basics for 8 proven snook flies essential for beach fishing in clear water. As always, you can stay tuned to this blog each week as I share pieces from my eBook, but for the complete 165 page downloadable pdf. of Snook Flies, illustrated with ultra-hi resolution step-by-step instructions, click the link, or icon to download your copy today. $14.99
If you have questions or other topics in mind you would like explained, feel free to comment or send me an email.
Keep Your Wraps Tight & Feathers Straight
-Drew