In one way, fly fishing isn’t much different than traditional spinning reels – it’s just another way to get your bait to the fish. However, fly fishing gets you closer to the fish feeding along mangroves and grassy flats. While you can cast a spinner reel much farther, fly fishing allows you to spot fish beforehand rather than randomly casting your bait.
Fly fishing though can be quite technical, and not every angler is successful. The best fly fishermen always prepare.
Continue reading for 7 tips on how to make a fly fishing trip in Bradenton and Anna Maria Island a success.
1. Have your gear ready to go
Like we said earlier, the best fly fishermen are always prepared. It’s best to have your fly rods rigged with your bait and the right leaders before leaving the docks. Many fishermen make the mistake of throwing their rods in the boat and waiting until they’re out on the water to rig them up, which of course wastes valuable time. Besides rigging your bait, checking your leaders, backing and fly line before setting out is crucial to ensuring a smooth time out on the water.2. Keep your fly fishing tools close to you while on the water
There’s nothing more frustrating than having to find a new fly or your spare spool when you need it – myself and many others have learned this the hard way. Before setting out for the day, gather all the flies you want to use and keep them in your pocket or fly box. Often times, if a fish refuses your first bait, you can quickly change flies and land the fish on another one. If you wind up fishing along deeper edges for tarpon, snook or redfish, a spare spool or reel with different line will come in handy.3. Cover a lot of ground as quickly as you can
Many fishermen are guilty of only focusing on one spot. However, the fish will not always be there. It’s also real easy to get so focused that you end up seeing fish that aren’t really there, which is why you shouldn’t stare but rather scan the water to catch movement. If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, make a cast anyway. Generally speaking, you should be spending the majority of your time in an area with other marine life like rays, sharks and baitfish.4. Go slow
While you shouldn’t doddle on a spot looking for something that isn’t there, you should also take your time when you find a flat with an abundance of marine life. In some cases, you can anchor the boat or stop poling and let the fish come to you. Also, you should look away from the sun as much as you can since the glare can inhibit your view of fish.5. Refrain from long casts if possible
If your maximum cast distance is 50 feet, then don’t try and cast at something 80 or more feet away. While many experts claim 70+ feet is ideal, the truth is that many fly fishing casts in the waters around Bradenton are much shorter since fish can appear just about any time. In the end, it’s better to make a shorter cast than a longer one you may not be equipped to make. If possible, try and pole your boat closer to the fish before casting.6. Keep quiet
This is probably one of the first rules of fishing, but it’s doubly important when fly fishing. You should refrain from banging the pole against the side of the boat, and you should move around the boat very gingerly, especially if you’re wearing shoes. If possible, you should only wear socks or go barefoot. Not only can fish hear loud steps, the boat’s rocking can send out “pressure wakes” the fish will pick up on.7. Make your presentation seem as natural as possible
Fish are not dumb – if something doesn’t look right to them, they will leave the area faster than you can blink. Flies are meant to look like shrimp, crabs and other baitfish. A redfish or trout will be quite suspicious if something that looks like their prey is attacking them. Therefore, you should present your fly in a way that allows you to strip it straight away or at a right angle from the fish. Also, don’t make the fish work too hard to catch the bait. Much of the time, all it takes is a little quiver to entice the fish to bite. This of course depends on the fish – if you’re after a redfish or bonefish, you should let the bait sink to the bottom so it looks like a shrimp or crab scurrying for cover.If you’re new to fly fishing around Bradenton, hiring an experienced guide to show you the ropes is an effective way to learn this exciting way of catching trout, redfish, tarpon and other fish in the flats of Terra Ceia and south Tampa Bay.
Captain Rob Gilbert of Reel Aggressive Charters offers guided fly fishing trips out of Bradenton and expertise on spotting fish and landing them into the boat using a fly rod and reel. To learn more or to schedule an outing, we invite you to contact Capt. Rob of Reel Aggressive Charters today.
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