It's Tournament Time

Bonefish Tarpon & Trust is doing a pretty good job of raising money. I'm not big on competitive fishing, but if it helps conservation, I'm OK with it.

Discerning anglers from around the world will return to Cheeca Lodge & Spa this fall for some competitive sport fishing and to raise funds for the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.  The dates of the Second Annual Cheeca Lodge All American Backcountry Fishing Tournament are November 8-10, 2013.
“The goal of this tournament is three-fold: one is to raise proceeds to benefit the BTT’s conservation and education efforts.  The second is to enhance Cheeca’s position as the premier resort fishing destination in Islamorada.  The third is to make this event the most impressive and celebrated fishing tournament in the Keys,” said Cheeca Lodge General Manager Herbert Spiegel.  “Once again, we will Cheeca’s singular brand of casual elegance to this tournament — from the trophies to the gift bags to the elaborate banquets.”
Anglers will compete for trophies and prizes for releasing five different species of fish:  snook, redfish, bonefish, tarpon and permit.  Fishing headquarters is World Wide Sportsman, Islamorada’s premier headquarters for fishing in the Florida Keys.
Major sponsors this year include Wells Fargo, BCF and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.  Proceeds will benefit the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, an organization of concerned anglers and guides who are dedicated to conserving and enhancing global bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries and their environments through stewardship, research, education and advocacy.  Since its formation in 1998, BTT has grown to include members from over 20 countries.

A Day at the Beach II

Sunset over the ICW near 206 bridge

Wednesday was day two at Crescent Beach. Didn't go fishing. Didn't tie flies. Didn't even check the tides. Actually, I did as little as possible. The most productive thing I accomplished? Well, let's see. I drank a beer and watched the sun set over the ICW and the Atlantic. Had I been motivated, I could have tried for a few redfish over at Matanzas Inlet during the late afternoon. However, all things being equal, I'm a big fan of tailers in the grass. Only a few more weeks remain before the tides get high enough. I'll be back.

Sunset over Crescent Beach

A Day at the Beach

 After a day of doctor's appointments in Gainesville, it's time to head to the beach for a few days of just hangin' out. It's nice hot having a schedule. I'm at Crescent Beach, which is about 90  minutes northeast of Gainesville. Before I lived in Tampa, I had never really knew the difference between the Gulf and Atlantic. The Atlantic. The Gulf is better for fly fishing, IMO. The Atlantic is better for beach bum opportunities. Feels more like a real beach with waves, although this morning it was relatively calm. The house I'm using has views of the ICW and ocean. Not a bad way to wake up with a cup of coffee.

A Little Music

 One can never have enough fly tying music or tunes to listen to on the way home after a day on the water. Good to see Guy Clark going strong into his early 70s. He's one of my favorites along with John Hiatt. Clark has a new album, My Favorite Picture of You, a tribute to his late wife, Susanna. The latest issue of Garden & Gun has story on Clark. It's a good read.
One thing I miss about G&G is the long-form journalism the magazine practiced during its inception several years ago. But quality costs money. It's still a great publication, though. I'm glad it's surviving.

Beach Snook Upddate

Good story on beach snook from Terry Tomalin of the Tampa Bay Times. I've been wanting to get out the long rod and sight fish, but the conditions haven't been consistently good enough for me to head over to Honeymoon beach. Maybe things will improve after Chantal moves on.  I hope so.

Mike Barrett was convinced the approaching storm had shut down the snook bite. But sometimes all it takes is a little sunshine to turn a day around.
"It seems like these waves are getting bigger," he said as we worked our baits on an outgoing tide on Honeymoon Island in Dunedin. "I don't know how long we can last."

The Bendback II

Took a few tries, but I got this Bendback the way I wanted it --- at the vice and on Facebook. When tying it, I finally got bend near the eye just the way I wanted it, and I got a slightly thicker material for the body. These adjustments allowed me to prop the material up and over the point of the hook --- and perhaps keep it from hanging in the turtlegrass. With FB, it was a matter resizing to fit a cookie cutter hole. Photos of flies tend to be horizontal, not square. It's amazing how much is involved in getting simple fly right and then posting without a snag. LOL.a few seconds ago.
The key is to get bend in the hook, but not too much bend. You have to have enough bend to allow the bucktail to angle over the hook point, but not so much bend that you ruin the hook and the way the fly acts in the water.

The rust-colored bendback

Hot off the Press: The Drake

The summer edition of The Drake is now out. I've got two stories --- one on beach snook, another on barracuda in the Keys. I should have a few more features in the fall edition as well. You can by The Drake at your local fly shop or at any Barnes & Noble. Only costs $5, a good deal given the quantity and quality of the editorial content. The editor, Tom Bie, does a great job.