Fishing Report 10/18/2014

I took the Hooked SUP out to the Mayport Salt Marshes again - launched from the northern side of the bridges that crosses a feeder creek along A1A. That was a mistake - mid calf deep salt marsh mud from the high water mark down to a few feet into the creek. This side seemed more attractive because it had a less powdery dirt road to get to it, but now I know why (doesn't get as much traffic). I paddled down a different feeder creek than last time - took the left at the fork instead of the right and paddled toward the Wonderwood Bridge. There was a lot of flats-shallows-drainages-oyster beds along the way and I was able to use the terrain to pick a couple of good 'fishy' spots. I caught my first flounder on the fly!!!! This guy took the supreme hair shrimp fly I cast on the first shot out!!! That is one heck of a fly (I want to learn to tie them, but they look like a lot of work...). Not legal size so back in the water - with attitude - splashed a bunch of water back at me, almost as if to say "next time I'll kick your ass!" A bit later I found another spot that was downstream of a draining feeder creek. I threw a swimming Gulp mullet on a jighead and caught this nice spotted sea trout. Nice paddle, a 'first' on the fly and beautiful weather! I'm not complaining! The tackle I have been bringing out on these salt marsh trips impress me more and more each time I use them. The Epic 686 casting a full sink line and the St Croix Tidemaster are going to be hard to top.

A Handful of Flies

I got the urge to tie up some flies today. I especially wanted to tie an improved version of the "Bloody Guts". I used UV epoxy on all of the ones I tied today. This is a Black Crab on a size 6 Mustad 34001 hook - pretty much the same size as the fiddlers and marsh crabs I've seen on the salt marsh flats. This is a Yarn Legged Shrimp - I envisioned this from the last needlefish I caught that took the shrimp fly I was chucking. This should be easier on the needlefish. Maybe I can fool a flounder with this one also. Last but not least, I tied up these tiny flies on a size 16 barbless Gamakatsu hook - both are for the baby whiting and small pompano that swim in the surge line (where the waves wash up on the shore). The redhead is a general attractor and the orangebutt fly is a mole crab imitation. I want to cast these two with the Epic 480 that I built out.

Brewing at the Vise

I've been getting the inclination to tie some flies. Here's a few images that I pulled off the web/books and will soon be working on. These guys are for paddle trips to the salt marshes. These guys are for the pompano that are south bound as you are reading this.

Small Pink Shrimp Flies

I tied these guys up yesterday. Size 8 Gamakatsu Octopus hooks. Pink Estaz and some pink deer tail hair. I used black small bead chain for some weight to get them down deeper, quicker.

Getting Closer -

In more ways than one - closer to our Spring Break session down in the Outer Banks. Closer to filling up the fly boxes for said trip. Closer to breaking the run of no bites. The top box has mostly Shad Darts in various styles - we're a bit closer to that run also (I'm hoping the first week in April). I've been plying the net looking for flies that look interesting to tie. I stumbled on a picture of these tiny shrimp. They reminded me of the Opae Ula we have - it was fun figuring out how to tie these. Now hopefully they'll bring in the goods... about catching fish - after a jog today, I checked out the lake by our place - I saw two smaller bass and several minnows. No bluegill yet, but with the sun shining, the water warming up it should be back on in maybe a couple of weeks. For now, I'll keep tying flies.