Central Florida Fly Fishing: Recent Episodes
Allen Wyatt
Central Florida Fly Fishing Report for Orlando area freshwater, and the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes. Our Fly Fishing Report, in a podcast version! We start every show with the current fishing conditions. Then Tips for the fly angler. Techniques that are catching fish, now. Finish with the forecast for the coming week. Locals and visitors rely on this info, every week, to help them catch more fish. Brought to you by Andy Thornal Company, you best resource for Florida Fly Fishing Gear,Flieas and tying materials. Find the text version of this report and all of our gear at https://www.andythornal.com/blogs/central-florida-fly-fishing-report
Brought to you by Andy Thornal CompanyWEEK 09/10/18 - 9/18/18*CONDITIONS: GOODSURFACE TEMP: 82FCLARITY: TANNIC 23-INCHES*Let us know what you are catching-or not catching-Send your pics of fish, beautiful places, or some of the flies that you have tied. We love to post them on our fishing report! Send to Allen@andythornal.com***Tip of the Week:More Bluegill this week. Smaller Bass are biting. You've heard this tip for a few weeks-Small white minnows like Grasset's Snook minnow, and white sz 6 Clousers are producing fish. One of our favorites, the popper-dropper rig with classic trout flies on the dropper are catching lots of fish. Bushier nymphs like Gibson's Snymph, Hare's ear, and Prince are catching lots of panfish. Important-Bead heads to drop to the bottom so use a long dropper tippet (3ft to 5ft). Size10 down to size16 will do the trick. Poppers, Sliders and Amnesia style topwater in chartreuse, white, and black for topwater. We finally heard about a frog pattern catching-it has been a while! 1lb to 2lb bass are taking topwater, again.***Techniques:*We like fly fishing topwater, when they will bite on top. Rrecommendation for the week for bass is for larger poppers/sliders size 2 to 2/0. 12in to 16in bass are working in the shallows. Follow the afternoon shade to find the most aggressive fish. Expect rain storms in the afternoon. For the biggest bass in the pond, we will recommend Reaction style flies like the Schmiderbait Spinner-Fly, Dahlberg Divers, and Game Changer flies. These should be moved fast, forcing a quick reaction from the Bass. We like white, but 'flash' seems to be most important. Water is flowing through canals and large culverts. These will be feeding funnels and will create opportunities for the fly angler. Pay particular attention to the seawalls in the canals as they can give a fish a great spot to hang. Bluegill success on dropper rigs with soft hackle nymphs and bushier style nymphs. Nymphs should be bushy, with rubber legs, and weighted, as ther is plenty of bluegill action on the bottom.7 Day Forecast:Falling pressure through the week, and clear afternoons til Thursday is forecast. Flowing canals will create feeding funnels and should be an opportunity. Lake levels are very high. Some of the lakes are complex to fly fish because the water floods into the grass and timber areas. The water levels are very high, docks are under water on the Winter Haven Chain, and flood control damns are wide open. Econ, Myakka, and Kissimmee (below Hwy 60) are at normal level for this time of year. Peace, Hillsborough, and Withlacootchee are very high---extra care should be taken. We expect bass fishing to improve to excellent this week.FLY TYING CLASSES ON FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS at 6:00PM-7:30PM. No reservations needed. We supply materials and tools (or bring yours.) $10 min purchase requested. Our next tying class is Sept. 18thThe text in this report may look familiar. We upload weekly to the Orvis Fishing Report for Florida.*****
Brought to you by Andy Thornal Company
Week 08/30/18 - 09/06/18
Conditions: Good
Surface Temp: 82f
Clarity: Tannic-but clearing 22-inches
Let us know what you are catching-or not catching-Send your pics of fish, beautiful places, or some of the flies that you have tied. We love to post them on our fishing report! Send to Allen@andythornal.com
Tip of the Week:
This is Bluegill week, Time to fish the little rod! Bass are biting, but Bluegill are king in this report. You've heard this tip for a few weeks-Small white minnows like Grasset's Snook minnow, and white sz 6 Clousers are producing fish. Bluegill and shellcracker are abundant. Popper-dropper rigs with classic trout flies on the dropper are catching lots of fish. Bushier nymphs like Gibson's Snymph, Hare's ear, and Prince are catching lots of panfish. Important-Bead heads to drop to the bottom so use a long dropper tippet (3ft to 5ft). Size10 down to size16 will do the trick. Poppers, Sliders and Amnesia style topwater in chartreuse, white, and electric blue for topwater. We finally heard about a frog pattern catching-it has been a while!
The Summertime pattern is in effect for bass. They are feeding in deeper water. Reaction style flies like the Schmiderbait Spinner-Fly, Dahlburg Divers, and Game Changer flies. These should be moved fast, forcing a quick reaction from the Bass. We like white, but 'flash' seems to be most important. 12in to 16in bass are still working the shad in the shallows Follow the afternoon shade to find the most aggressive fish. Expect rain storms in the afternoon. Water is flowing through canals and large culverts. These will be feeding funnels and will create opportunities for the fly angler. Pay particular attention to the seawalls in the canals as they can give a fish a great spot to hang. Bluegill success on dropper rigs with soft hackle nymphs and bushier style nymphs. If the nymph is bushy, rubber legs and natural colors, you are in for a good day of fishing.
Afternoon rain is forecast, These storms should be scattered but windy. Morning should be best for fly fishing topwater. Flowing canals will create feeding funnels and should be an opportunity. Lake levels are very high. Some of the lakes are complex to fly fish because the water floods into the grass and timber areas. The water levels are very high, docks are under water on the Winter Haven Chain, and flood control damns are wide open. All local rivers are running high and extra care should be taken.
Week 08/30/18 - 9/06/18, *Conditions: Good,* Surface Temp: 82f, Clarity: Tannic 23-inches*Let us know what you are catching-or not catching-Send your pics of fish, beautiful places, or some of the flies that you have tied. We love to post them on our fishing report at Andy Thornal.com - Send to Allen@andythornal.com Come see us at Andy Thornal Co, 336 Magnolia Avenue SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 299-9999 Mon-Sat 10-6***
Tip of the Week: There are plenty of bream that are cruising and feeding. Small white minnows like Grasset's Snook minnow, and white sz 6 Clousers are producing lots of fish. Bluegill and shellcracker are abundant. The Myakka Minnow is catching lots of bluegill in gold/chartreuse tail.. Popper-dropper rigs with classic trout flies on the dropper are always a best bet. Bushier nymphs like Gibson's Snymph, Hare's ear, and Prince are catching fish from Sarasota to Orlando. Bead heads to get them to the bottom so use a long dropper tippet (3ft to 5ft). Size10 down to size14 will do the trick. Poppers, Sliders and Amnesia style topwater in chartreuse, white, and electric blue for topwater. Black and frog patterns don't seem to be catching-not sure why.
Techniques: The Summertime pattern is in effect for bass. They are biting in deeper water. White Clousers and Grasset's Snook Minnow (white) have caught fish. Worm patterns (like Wilson's Bass Bully and SCOF's Turd Burgler) in dark and natural colors are catching bigger bass in 5ft of water. Time to break out the sinking line and a big Game Changer fly for the biggest bass in the lake. Afternoon rain storms return and will push water through canals and large culverts. These will be feeding funnels and will create opportunities for the fly angler. Pay particular attention to the seawalls in the canals as they can give a fish a great spot to hang. Sprogs and foam spiders are catching bluegill fished into the cattails and bullrushes. Bluegill success on a dropper rigs with grass shrimp patterns and soft hackle nymphs. 7 Day Outlook: More afternoon rain is forecast. Morning should be best for fly fishing topwater. Flowing canals will create feeding funnels and should be an opportunity. Lake levels are very high. Some of the lakes get more complex to fly fish because the water floods into the grass and timber areas. The fish are gorging on little bugs and lizards and other snacks in a place we cannot cast a fly. The water levels are very high, docks are under water on the Winter Haven Chain, and flood control damns are wide open. All local rivers are running high and extra care should be taken.
The text in this report may look familiar. We upload weekly to the Orvis Fishing Report for Florida, and the full version is at* https://www.andythornal.com/pages/florida-fly-fishing-report***