Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tarpon Jumping Turkeys for Key West Thanksgiving
We're lucking out with higher late Novembers air and water temps .
Looks like mornings this Thanksgiving week will be spent checking out some Tarpon spots and carrying heavier Spinning tackle and a Tarpon fly rod.
Tailing Permit on our lower tides are also a really good option.
November has always been one of my favorite months for Permit fishing in the Lower Keys, Key West Flats.
Sometimes a early cold front with interfere by driving water temps down and removing all but the less finicky speedsters, Barracudas, Sharks, Pompano and big Jacks.
Mince Meat Pie and Tarpon on Fly .....sung to the Jingle Bells Melody!
Looks like mornings this Thanksgiving week will be spent checking out some Tarpon spots and carrying heavier Spinning tackle and a Tarpon fly rod.
Tailing Permit on our lower tides are also a really good option.
November has always been one of my favorite months for Permit fishing in the Lower Keys, Key West Flats.
Sometimes a early cold front with interfere by driving water temps down and removing all but the less finicky speedsters, Barracudas, Sharks, Pompano and big Jacks.
Mince Meat Pie and Tarpon on Fly .....sung to the Jingle Bells Melody!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Tailing Turkeys on the Flats of Key West
NOT exactly, but the fishing guides would qualify.
This time of year along with the rest of the U.S. and the Canadians we thank , Thanksgiving has always meant a lot to me.
Everyone expects a great meal and a Nap, some a parade and football too, but not something from Tiffany's.
I remember the big feasts with 100 or more of the McDevit clan, McCaughtry's and seven turkeys, five hams, a few Pheasants, Ducks and sixty pounds of mashed potatoes, table full of pie's, cakes and cookies dessert requiring it's own room.
Later cigars, eggnog's and football on the 12 inch tv screen, that was the early 50's
Most times over the years I fished on Thanksgiving , squeezing down a turkey when I had a chance, not anymore.
In 2005 late October brought to the Florida Keys hurricane Wilma.
I wrote a piece on the Thanksgiving I shared a few weeks later with fishing guide pals Gil Drake, Lindsay Harper their families and of course my wife Marcella and our wonderful old Bull Dog Jozy the clown( RIP ).
We gas grilled Turkey and deer on the back deck of the Bougainvillea House because the walls were still missing and we had only a borrowed fridge plugged in , no other appliances.
Swatted mosquito's and drank some wine, had a pie.
It was a grand feast, Walter McDevit was there.
This time of year along with the rest of the U.S. and the Canadians we thank , Thanksgiving has always meant a lot to me.
Everyone expects a great meal and a Nap, some a parade and football too, but not something from Tiffany's.
I remember the big feasts with 100 or more of the McDevit clan, McCaughtry's and seven turkeys, five hams, a few Pheasants, Ducks and sixty pounds of mashed potatoes, table full of pie's, cakes and cookies dessert requiring it's own room.
Later cigars, eggnog's and football on the 12 inch tv screen, that was the early 50's
Most times over the years I fished on Thanksgiving , squeezing down a turkey when I had a chance, not anymore.
In 2005 late October brought to the Florida Keys hurricane Wilma.
I wrote a piece on the Thanksgiving I shared a few weeks later with fishing guide pals Gil Drake, Lindsay Harper their families and of course my wife Marcella and our wonderful old Bull Dog Jozy the clown( RIP ).
We gas grilled Turkey and deer on the back deck of the Bougainvillea House because the walls were still missing and we had only a borrowed fridge plugged in , no other appliances.
Swatted mosquito's and drank some wine, had a pie.
It was a grand feast, Walter McDevit was there.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Falling in Love With Key West Fall Fishing
Back in Key West two weeks now and have already spent most of the time fishing the Key West Gulf Flats , some time on the Atlantic side and in the western Lakes.
Fishing with my Ol' pal Capy. Todd Bowen wack'en our way around the Mangroves sniff''en out a big Grey Snapper for a Crispy Fried Fish lunch.
The weather has been super this week with light winds and 78-80 degree highs, low humidity, this is the most comfortable time of year to fish the Backcountry.
Fishing Yesterday with my good friend Charley Cook from Wall Street/Squam Lake along with his son Chas, we scared 25-30 Permit right out of their.. scales!
Charley and I share a great pal and famous frog hunter , Jim Cloud an escapee of " the Street" and Tarpon Fly Poler with three decades of tracking down Big Poons and force feeding them feathers.
Cloud has been mentioned several times before in these pages and Charley Cook is famous for capturing one of the biggest Bone fish ever caught down in the Marquesas.
I saw it and am sure he cheated but can't figure out how!
Charley, Chas and I will be back out again tomorrow assaulting the Snipe Keys and Turkey Basin and enjoying the laughs that swim there.
Fishing with my Ol' pal Capy. Todd Bowen wack'en our way around the Mangroves sniff''en out a big Grey Snapper for a Crispy Fried Fish lunch.
The weather has been super this week with light winds and 78-80 degree highs, low humidity, this is the most comfortable time of year to fish the Backcountry.
Fishing Yesterday with my good friend Charley Cook from Wall Street/Squam Lake along with his son Chas, we scared 25-30 Permit right out of their.. scales!
Charley and I share a great pal and famous frog hunter , Jim Cloud an escapee of " the Street" and Tarpon Fly Poler with three decades of tracking down Big Poons and force feeding them feathers.
Cloud has been mentioned several times before in these pages and Charley Cook is famous for capturing one of the biggest Bone fish ever caught down in the Marquesas.
I saw it and am sure he cheated but can't figure out how!
Charley, Chas and I will be back out again tomorrow assaulting the Snipe Keys and Turkey Basin and enjoying the laughs that swim there.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Cocked and Locked in for Key West Winter Fishing
Motorcycling to N.E. Ohio is a bit of a ride from the Florida Keys but 7 or 8 years in a row I've done it up and back, it's the end and beginning of my fishing season.
After battling Tarpon and Permit in the hot May June of Key West, a long Moto ride is quite a change
Sniff ' en the Pecan Groves of South Georgia, Thoroughbred Farms of Kentucky and Corn Fields of Ohio is a nice break from my own sweat and sun block el La Flats O'dur!
Fly fishing for Large Mouth Bass and Blue Gills in the small Ohio Lake/Swamps from my Gheenoe would seem rather tame when comparing that sport to the Saltwater Monsters that have paid my rent for the last 30 years but!
Warm summer evenings, quiet Beavers swimming, White Tail peeking at your last Lily Pad Cast.
Steelhead on the Grand River is Octobers fun, Falls Leaves and Pumpkin Patches and a Hallooooween at the college bars with the Co-eds sloshing beer and breasticle's.
Next day putting the Gheenoe into hibernation and racking the 5 and 7wt fly outfits for their winter sleep.
Firing up the Big Honda Crotch Rocket on a 30 degree November morning and lunching in West Virgina.
Brisk......
A few days later snatching Sea Trout in the basins in the Gulf Flats and looking forward to the fun fishing that starts with the Cold Front that pushed me and the Honda south.
Hi Honey I'm Home!
After battling Tarpon and Permit in the hot May June of Key West, a long Moto ride is quite a change
Sniff ' en the Pecan Groves of South Georgia, Thoroughbred Farms of Kentucky and Corn Fields of Ohio is a nice break from my own sweat and sun block el La Flats O'dur!
Fly fishing for Large Mouth Bass and Blue Gills in the small Ohio Lake/Swamps from my Gheenoe would seem rather tame when comparing that sport to the Saltwater Monsters that have paid my rent for the last 30 years but!
Warm summer evenings, quiet Beavers swimming, White Tail peeking at your last Lily Pad Cast.
Steelhead on the Grand River is Octobers fun, Falls Leaves and Pumpkin Patches and a Hallooooween at the college bars with the Co-eds sloshing beer and breasticle's.
Next day putting the Gheenoe into hibernation and racking the 5 and 7wt fly outfits for their winter sleep.
Firing up the Big Honda Crotch Rocket on a 30 degree November morning and lunching in West Virgina.
Brisk......
A few days later snatching Sea Trout in the basins in the Gulf Flats and looking forward to the fun fishing that starts with the Cold Front that pushed me and the Honda south.
Hi Honey I'm Home!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
June Swoon Tarpon Moon Key West
Mays slow start morfs into a stellar June Tarpon Doo Daa! OR
" Night and Day you are the One "
Really great Tarpon Fandango, Fly Rod or Spinning chucking plastic as long as we were willing to start early AM or fish Sunset and later we were into good to great Tarpon fishing.
Flies, Flies everybody has the secret Fly, you if you were lucky, saw the secret fly the past 5-6 weeks ....it was in the mouth of all the Tarpon you jumped !
Bunny Strips, Toady things, Leaping Lizards, Whizz Bangers !! Shhhhhh don't tell anybody.
Chartreuse is good, oooww Sand Bunny with Rust Marabou head and then night time BLACK.......cool I'll have a Mocha- Peppermint Latte .. yes sir.
Mid day almost always sucks for Tarpon, we all know that but go try to shoot a White Tail Deer or a Turkey mid day and be prepared to nap in the woods !
We still have lots of good Tarpon fishing and the Bonefish have been good numbers lately with some full grown suckers swimming round.
Our weather in May and June was very mild, just now some tropical pop up storms that can make you wear your rubbers.
Mother warned you....
" Night and Day you are the One "
Really great Tarpon Fandango, Fly Rod or Spinning chucking plastic as long as we were willing to start early AM or fish Sunset and later we were into good to great Tarpon fishing.
Flies, Flies everybody has the secret Fly, you if you were lucky, saw the secret fly the past 5-6 weeks ....it was in the mouth of all the Tarpon you jumped !
Bunny Strips, Toady things, Leaping Lizards, Whizz Bangers !! Shhhhhh don't tell anybody.
Chartreuse is good, oooww Sand Bunny with Rust Marabou head and then night time BLACK.......cool I'll have a Mocha- Peppermint Latte .. yes sir.
Mid day almost always sucks for Tarpon, we all know that but go try to shoot a White Tail Deer or a Turkey mid day and be prepared to nap in the woods !
We still have lots of good Tarpon fishing and the Bonefish have been good numbers lately with some full grown suckers swimming round.
Our weather in May and June was very mild, just now some tropical pop up storms that can make you wear your rubbers.
Mother warned you....
Thursday, April 16, 2009
2008-2009 Best Guide Service in Key West
WHO would ever guess? Thanks to the US Small Business folks.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Laidup- In The Lake Tarpon
" Mosquito Bite Just Before The Tarpon Do " Ol' Guide Charlie Weaver used to quip.
What he meant is the more warm and humid, still air the early morning or evening weather is, the better your chances for exceptional Tarpon action.
We are getting into that time of year now, been flirting with Tarpon more often in late March and early April but as we move closer to May the pace picks up considerably.
Plugs, small live crabs, Jigs and Fly's are a flats fisherman arsenal along with a good stout rod and a big Bowl of Wheatie's.......you will need it.
Yesterdays Tarpon were not very happy and after a lot of work we managed to put a couple in the air, full moon madness I'm afraid.
Sometimes they have been at the " Snak Shak " all night chowing down in the light of the Silvery Moon.
We found some Tarpon sliding around in the bottom in about 5-6 feet of water in a inshore basin.
Fun stuff but the are not the most approachable fish.
Mount up it's Tarpon Time!
What he meant is the more warm and humid, still air the early morning or evening weather is, the better your chances for exceptional Tarpon action.
We are getting into that time of year now, been flirting with Tarpon more often in late March and early April but as we move closer to May the pace picks up considerably.
Plugs, small live crabs, Jigs and Fly's are a flats fisherman arsenal along with a good stout rod and a big Bowl of Wheatie's.......you will need it.
Yesterdays Tarpon were not very happy and after a lot of work we managed to put a couple in the air, full moon madness I'm afraid.
Sometimes they have been at the " Snak Shak " all night chowing down in the light of the Silvery Moon.
We found some Tarpon sliding around in the bottom in about 5-6 feet of water in a inshore basin.
Fun stuff but the are not the most approachable fish.
Mount up it's Tarpon Time!
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