July fishing has been productive on a variety of species



Josh Milby fishes near Buttonwood Harbor just as the sun begins to rise over Sarasota Bay.



Jim Asaph of Englwood shows off a Button Harbor seatrout.

The Southern Drawl Family took a two-week vacation at the end of June. We visited family in Michigan and spent several days in New York City.

It was the first vacation in a long, long time in which I did not take a fly rod or spinning rod. I didn’t fish the entire two weeks.

But I certainly was refreshed when we returned.

Business made a surprising upturn in July (normally a slow month). And the fish certainly were cooperative.

I fished Jim Asaph of Englewood and he had a good day on his first kayak fishing trip. We fished Buttonwood Harbor off Sarasota Bay and caught spotted seatrout to 22 inches, flounder, ladyfish and redfish. We caught a surprising amount of slot trout (15 to 20 inches). Most of them came while drifting the deep grass in front of Whale Key.

We caught most of our fish on D.O.A. CAL Jigs (1/16-ounce head), with gold or orange crush paddle tails. The D.O.A. Deadly Combination and MirrOlure MirrOdine were also effective.

Mike Milby of Washington, D.C. and his son, Josh of Lakewood Ranch, joined me for a 6-hour outing in the same area. We totaled more than 50 trout to about 20 inches, four flounder, ladyfish and three redfish. All came on CAL Jigs and Deadly Combinations. We fished a grass edge just south of Whale Key and the deep grass in front of Whale Key.

Joe Bradley of Michigan made his kayak-fishing debut a couple of days later. We anchored on the north side of the Buttonwood Channel and caught spotted seatrout and ladyfish on CAL Jigs with orange crush paddle tails. We then fished the grass edge just south of Whale Key and did well on trout and ladyfish. The Deadly Combination also produced a few trout.

I did a solo scouting trip in the same area and totaled 60 trout to 25 inches, ladyfish, jack crevalle, bluefish and flounder, using CAL Jigs, Deadly Combos and MirrOlure MirrOdines. My biggest trout came from just off the north side of the Buttonwood channel.

Tarpon are starting to show up in and around Buttonwood Harbor. I’m seeing them every trip, but haven’t hooked any.

In addition, there are at least four manatees in the Buttonwood area. They like to “investigate” the kayaks.

Beach snook fishing has not been great – for a variety of reasons: rough water, dirty water and low tide. I’m hoping things improve because I’ve get several trips in the book.

Freshwater fishing is on the back burner. Our rainy season has started and local rivers are running high and fast.

Next month, we anticipate bull redfish to begin schooling. Last year we found them in the Buttonwood area and in southern Tampa Bay. When we find a school, it’s usually automatic. The fish will hit most anything you cast.

As always, I’d like to thank m sponsors: Native Watercraft, D.O.A. Lures, Go Fish! Sportsmans Sunscreen and Peak Fishing.

Also, just wanted to let you know that I’ve begun writing for the Sarasota-Bradenton edition of Coastal Angler Magazine ( www.coastalanglermag.com/magazines/2011/sarasota/). My first article is scheduled to appear in the August edition of this growing publication.

Steve Gibson

Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing

www.kayakfishingsarasota.com

http://www.coastalanglermag.com/magazines/2011/sarasota/

(941) 284-3406

Snook the best bet in the surf; trout cooperating in the bay



Dr. Craig Amshel of Apollo Beach battles a bonnethead shark at boatside. (Photo by STEVE GIBSON)



We’ve been fishing mostly Sarasota Bay or fly fishing along the beaches for snook over the past month.

I would rate the fishing a 5.5 or 6 on a scale of 10.

In Sarasota Bay, we’ve mainly been concentrating around Buttonwood Harbor and
Stevens Point.

In Buttonwood Harbor, we’ve been getting spotted seatrout to 23 inches, flounder to 16, bluefish to 3 pounds, Spanish mackerel and, of course, plenty of ladyfish. All are being caught on D.O.A. CAL Jigs with gold paddle tails and D.O.A. Deadly Combinations.

At Stevens Point, we’ve been fish dock lights before daylight and getting snook to 24 inches and a few spotted seatrout trout on flies (Schminnows and Gibby’s Duster Minnow). After daylight, we’ve been fishing the deep grass off Stevens Point in Sarasota Bay and getting spotted seatrout to 25 inches, ladyfish, flounder and a few bluefish. All are hitting Gibby’s Big Eye Baitfish Fly and D.O.A. CAL Jigs with gold paddle tails.

Steve Legore of Anna Maria Island joined me on an outing in Buttonwood Harbor. We caught plenty of fish, but most were small. We managed to catch spotted seatrout, flounder and ladyfish on D.O.A. CAL jigs with gold paddle tails and D.O.A. Deadly Combinations.

Todd Dawson of Manatee County and Dr. Craig Amshel of Apollo Beach joined me for an outing in Buttonwood Harbor. The action wasn’t spectacular, but it was consistent. They caught spotted seatrout to 19 ½ inches, ladyfish, flounder and a 3-foot bonnethead shark – all on D.O.A. CAL Jigs with gold paddle tails.

Mike Texidor of Miami did a beach snook trip with me along Casey Key and caught his first saltwater fish on fly rod. Mike, a repeat client, caught a snook and a ladyfish on my D.T. Variation and Tom’s Greenback. The fish were plentiful, but very tough. Mike probably cast to more than 300 snook in calm and clear conditions.

Beach snook action is improving. I fished with Ken Taylor of North Port this morning and did well in trying conditions. We combined for nine snook on Gibby’s D.T. Variation and D.O.A. Shrimp. All of the snook were small. We fished the surf along Manasota Key.

I did a freshwater outing on the Manatee River and had a good time. We caught a number of largemouth bass and bluegill on Myakka Minnows. We also hooked seven larger channel catfish and landed one – all on Myakka Minnows.

I do tie D.T. Variations and Myakka Minnows commercially. They’re $48 per dozen (plus postage).

They’re great flies and I’ve been using them for years. If you would like to purchase them, please let me know.

I took a busman’s holiday this week and fished with my friend Rick Grassett of Snook Fin-Addict Guide Services. We fished the inshore Gulf of Mexico and had shots at 300 tarpon or more. Rick hooked one and fought it for 25 minutes before the hook pulled. He also had a couple of other tarpon eat the fly, but didn’t hook up.

This is fantastic tarpon fly fishing. I encourage all of you to book Rick if you’re desire to hook a tarpon on fly.

You can reach him at (941) 350-9790. You need to book him at least a year in advance for tarpon season (May-July).

I am sending this report out early because Kathy, Morgan and I and leaving on a 2-week vacation. We’ll spend part of it in Michigan and some in New York City. Kathy (our travel agent) has our NYC trip already arranged. We’re staying on Times Square and we’ll see Mary Poppins on Broadway, tour the NBC studios and take a bus/boat trip around the island.

As always, I would like to thank my sponsors: Legacy Paddlesports, D.O.A. Lures, Go Fish! Sunscreen, Temple Fork Outfitters, Peak Fishing and Economy Tackle/Dolphin Dive.

If you’re on Facebook, please send me a friend request. You can also follow me on Twitter @gibby3474.

Steve Gibson

Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing

www.kayakfishingsarasota.com/

http://gibbysfishingblog.blogspot.com/

(941) 284-3406







Gibby's Myakka Minnow is one Mighty fly



Gibby's Myakka Minnows appeal to a variety of fish.

I am really astounded by the success of my Myakka Minnow.


It’s a fly that looks really good, casts extremely well and, most importantly, catches fish.

I took Randy Honaker of Centerville, Ohio to The Everglades late in May and he caught a load of fish – most all on the Myakka Minnow. Honaker caught a few bass and panfish early in the day on poppers. But he made the switch to the MM when the topwater bite ended.

It was fish after fish after fish.

I created the Myakka Minnow about six years ago.

Here’s the story:

The Mighty Myakka Minnow was born out of frustration. I’m sure you’ve been there.

Imagine a day on the water with fish busting minnows throughout the morning. But after several hours, you still have nothing to show for your efforts. You cast into the spray of minnows, but your offerings are ignored repeatedly. The fish are so keyed into the tiny minnows that they ignore everything else.

Although the scenery is nice and weather gorgeous, it sure would be nice to feel the tug of a largemouth bass or hand-sized bluegill.

This happened to me several times while fly fishing on the Myakka River near my home in Sarasota, Fla.

After one unproductive outing, I decided to try and come up with a fly which would imitate the minnows the fish were so excited about.

I knew that the fly had to be no more than an inch long. It had to look like a minnow. It had to sink. It had to have large eyes.

After a few hours of trial and tribulation, I came up with a workable prototype and couldn’t wait to give it a try.

Next time out to the river, I had several Myakka Minnows in my box and one tied on my 4-weight fly rod. It didn’t take long to realize that I’d hit a home run. I picked up bass, bluegill, stumpknocker and tilapia while blind-casting. I kept my eyes open for scattering minnows. When I saw fish attacking minnows, I’d cast the Myakka Minnow into the fray.

Success is so sweet!

Over the years, the fly has worked very well and achieved a national reputation of sorts. It’s a pattern the Flymasters of Indianapolis featured in their Intermediate Fly Tying Class last spring. I’ve had email inquiries about the fly from interested anglers all over the country. I’ve even sold hundreds of them.

The fly isn’t a magic fly. But it does work very well when small minnows are the main food source. Then, it seems to be magic.

In fresh water, the fly has produced bass, bluegill, shellcracker, stumpknocker, redbreast sunfish, speckled perch and tilapia. Capt. Rick Grassett of Sarasota caught a nice brown trout on the Myakka Minnow in Montana. I have caught barramundi on it. You can tie it on larger hooks and go after saltwater fish. It has resulted in spotted seatrout, snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, jack crevalle, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, tarpon and little tunny.

Capt. John Hand of Ruskin took a couple of No. 1 Myakka Minnows with him on a trip to Nicaraugua. He was targeting guapote (rainbow bass) and mojarra. He caught both.

“The Myakka Minnow was the only fly they’d hit,” said Hand. “And my guide said he’d never seen either species caught on fly.”

I’ve discovered exotic species in the Florida Everglades absolutely love the Myakka Minnow. Used to be that I’d catch oscar and Mayan cichlids on poppers. But when the topwater bite ended, that was the signal to go home. However, I’ve learned it’s really the signal to tie on a Myakka Minnow. The fly has taken thousands of exotics over the years.

It’s a fun fly to fish and an easy fly to tie.

I’m sure there are similar flies out there somewhere, but the pattern was born in my head. I’ve never seen a fly like it in any shop or catalog.

Tie and few and see what you think.

What works best for me is to cast it out, let is sink for a couple of counts, then work it in erratically. I like a couple of 2-inch strips and a pause. But you’ll figure out what works best for you.

If you do not wish to tie them, I gladly take orders. I sell them by the dozen. They’re $48 per dozen, plus shipping.

Give me a call at (941) 284-3406 or email me at steve@kayakfishingsarasota.com.



Myakka Minnow



Hook: No. 10 WR-004 White River Nymph Hook (from Bass Pro Shops)

Thread: Fine mono

Tail: Clipped marabou

Weight: 6-8 turns of .20 lead wire

Body: Bodi-Braid by Spirit River

Eyes: 3D Prism Stick-On

Coating: Devcon 2-Ton Epoxy



Instructions



Step 1: Put hook in vice and attach thread on the hook shank near the point of the hook.



Step 2: Tie in a small amount of marabou and clip to about ¼ inch.



Step 3: Tie in .20 lead wire and wrap 6-8 turns.



Step 4: Tie in Bodi-Braid at the hook point and wind up to just behind the eye of the hook. Wind back to about mid-shank, then forward again, building up a minnow-like body. Whip finish.



Step 5: Add eyes, coat with epoxy and allow to dry.



I have a fly rotisserie to turn my flies while they dry.

The reason I use Devcon 2-Ton Epoxy rather than 5-minute epoxy is that it allows me to do about six to eight flies at a time. If you use a 5-minute epoxy, you can do one fly at a time.

It’s a quick and easy fly to tie. And it will result in fish.

My favorite color combinations are gold body and chartreuse tail, black body and black tail, copper body and charteuse tail and silver body and chartreuse tail.














Fishing has been good along the beaches, in The 'Glades and Sarasota Bay

Randy Honaker of Centerville, Ohio caught this largemouth bass on a Myakka Minnow in The Everglades.



There still are a few Mayan cichlid left in The Everglades.

 The good news is fishing has been red hot in The Everglades.


The bad news is we’ve only got a little more than a week left before the weather will be too hot and the rainy season starts.

The water is very low in The ‘Glades. And that makes for excellent fishing. The fish are concentrated in canals and very cooperative.

I ventured down a week ago and caught “who knows how many fish?” I mean the action is so fast and furious that it’s impossible to keep even a semi-accurate count. I caught largemouth bass, bluegill, shellcracker, stumpknocker, gar and Mayan cichlid.

The fact that I caught a Mayan cichlid is good news. The record freeze of 2010 wipe out a majority of the exotic species in The Everglades. Prior to the freeze, a trek south usually resulted in several hundred Mayan cichlid and oscar. I haven’t caught an oscar in two trips, but I have read reports there still are a few around.

I figure it will take a couple of years for the exotics to rebound.

My Myakka Minnow has been accounting for a majority of the fish. Just cast it along the shoreline, allow it to sink for a second, then strip it in – and hold on!

Randy Honaker of Centerville, Ohio fished with me on Wednesday and had an excellent day. Honaker started the day using a No. 10 popping bug – a fly on which he’d never caught a fish. He scored quickly and often, connecting on a variety of fish. His largest was a 2-pound largemouth.

He then switched to the Myakka Minnow for the rest of the day and caught more fish than he could keep track of. He caught a number of bass to 3 pounds.

Trips to the Everglades make for long days, but I enjoy them because of the fast action and numbers of fish. It’s rare when you make more than five casts without getting a fish. Often, fish will come on five or six casts in a row.

When we’re not fishing in The ‘Glades, we’re walking the beaches and sight-fishing snook.

Honaker joined me this week and had a good day. He caught one snook, four spotted seatrout and a couple of ladyfish. He had another snook hooked, but lost it. And he had a number of snook try to eat his fly.

The fly of choice for beach snook is my Gibby’s DT Variation.

There is a good population of snook in the surf, with fish ranging from 20 inches to 20 pounds or more.

Greg Earl of Sarasota fished with me earlier in the week on Sarasota Bay. He’s a new kayak angler and wanted to learn to area. We caught a good number of spotted seatrout, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, flounder and ladyfish. What was impressive is that Earl usually uses live bait and he caught all fish on D.O.A. CAL Jigs with gold paddle tails.

I’ve also been taking redfish to 25 inches on the grass flats on D.O.A. 5.5-inch jerk worms on 1/16-ounce jig heads.

June’s outlook calls for improved snook action along the beaches and at night around lighted docks. Spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, jack crevalle and a few bluefish will provide action over the deep grass flats. Redfish will be the main targets on the shallow flats.



Steve Gibson

Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing

www.kayakfishingsarasota.com

http://gibbysfishingblog.blogspot.com/

(941) 284-3406

Consistent fishing is the name of the game around Sarasota Bay

Charlie Pike shows off a Sarasota Bay redfish.

Fishing has been consistent for a variety of species around Sarasota Bay.

We’ve been taking good catches of spotted seatrout to 4 pounds, pompano, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish, redfish, snook and even a few jack crevalle.

Charlie Pike of Englewood had a good outing on his first kayak trip. Pike, who has limited saltwater experience, caught a fine bunch of spotted seatrout and redfish near Buttonwood Harbor off Sarasota Bay. He caught most of his fish on D.O.A. CAL 4-inch Jerk Worms on 1/16-ounce jig heads and D.O.A. CAL curly tails on 1/16-ounce jigs heads.

Repeat client David Ginberg of Marietta, Ga. had a steady day, catching spotted seatrout, redfish and ladyfish on Sarasota Bay near Buttonwood Harbor. All fish were taken on D.O.A. CAL Jigs with gold paddle tails.

Neil Hart of England and his son-in-law caught a variety of fish, including spotted seatrout, pompano, sailcats, lizardfish, pinfish, grunt, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, flounder and jack crevalle. All of the fish were taken on D.O.A. CAL jigs with gold paddle tails.

Mike Jensen of Illinois did well while fishing around Stephens Point in Sarasota Bay. Jensen, a repeat client, caught spotted seatrout, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and bluefish on CAL Jigs with paddle tails.

Mike Teixidor of Miami experienced a good day on Sarasota Bay, catching a load of spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish and flounder – all on D.O.A. CAL Jigs with paddle tails. He lost what we think was a bull redfish while fishing around lighted docks before dawn.

Interestingly enough, three clients hooked and landed stingrays on three successive days – something that’s never been done in recent memory!

I fished with my good friend Capt. Rick Grassett of the Snook Fin-Addict Guide Services and we had a fine day. We fly fished for tarpon in the inshore Gulf of Mexico. We saw 50 tarpon and had good shots at 20 or more. Rick hooked up on a single fish and landed it after a 35-minute battle. The fish took a Mr. Blackie Tarpon Fly. We used a 12-weight fly rod and sinktip line.

Beach snook fishing is heating up. However, rough conditions have made sight-fishing tough. That will improve as the weather settles.

I made a scouting trip the last week of April and caught a pair of snook on Gibby’s D.T. Variation, the best snook fly going. I also landed a spotted seatrout and a Spanish mackerel.

Beach snook fishing is the ultimate when it comes to sight-fishing. Clients often get shots at more than 200 snook a morning.

We use 6- to 8-weight fly rods, sinktip or floating lines and Gibby’s D.T. Variation.

The season really heats up this month. Peak times are June, July and August.

We’ve got a few days left for guided beach snook trips. Please book now in order to secure a day.

Business has been so good that we haven’t had a chance to fish fresh water. However, we’ve heard reports from the Everglades that bass and panfish action has been really hot, with catches of 200 or more fish common.

We hope to get down there in the next couple of weeks.

Hope everything is going well for everyone.

Send me a friend request on Facebook (gibby3474). Follow me on twitter: @gibby3474.

Thank you for your support.

As always, thanks to our sponsors: Native Watercraft, Temple Fork Outfitters, D.O.A. Lures, Go Fish! Sportsmans Sunscreen and Orvis.

Steve Gibson

Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing

www.kayakfishingsarasota.com

http://gibbysfishingblog.blogspot.com/

(941) 284-3406

Gator trout Sarasota Bay surprise; beach snook coming soon



Snook will hit the surf soon. Peak season is June thru August along Florida's West Coast.



Something’s going on around Sarasota Bay that has me stumped. But I’m not questioning it one iota.

In fact, I hope it continues.

Gator trout have invaded the bay. They’re trout unlike any we’ve ever seen.

A couple of weeks ago, I had Chuck Linn of Oklahoma out for a 6-hour trip. The Oklahoma angler had little saltwater fishing experience.

“I fished the Steinhatchee area a few years ago and caught small trout,” he said.

Smallest trout he caught on this outing was 4 pounds.



That 4-pounder was his first fish, and we thought that would be the highlight of the day.

We were both wrong.

Fishing in 18 inches of water off Whale Key along the west side of Sarasota Bay, Linn caught and released three monster trout, ranging from 6 ¼ pounds to slightly more than 7 pounds.

That’s three trout off more than 6 pounds – in one morning!

To put that in perspective, I’ve been fishing the area for 35 years. During that time, I’ve taken two trout of more than 6 pounds. One was caught in 1990 in the warm-water runoff of the Crystal River power plant. The other was caught in March 2007 in Pine Island Sound.

Other anglers are experiencing similar success. Fellow MCFF club member Rick Grassett has been leading clients to gator trout on both fly and spin tackle. One of his clients caught and released a 6-pounder on fly near Selby Gardens in Sarasota Bay.

What’s going on?

Who knows?

Why question?

Just enjoy.

It won’t be long before I put the kayaks in the garage. Beach snook season almost is here. Guiding clients to snook on the fly is one of my specialties and I enjoy it very much. I’ve been doing this for more than 25 years and my success rate is good.

This 7-pound spotted seatrout was caught on a topwater plug in 18 inches of water. The fish was released.
Beach snook fishing is one of my favorite things to do. It’s sight-fishing at its best. During a typical morning, clients will see more than 200 snook and sometimes more than 400 snook, ranging in size from 20 inches to 40 inches.

I’ve conducted Beach Snook Seminars throughout the area, including at least three to MCFF members. One thing I emphasize is there is no need to wade. In fact, wading is taboo. Yet when I visit my favorite stretch of beach, I routinely see beach snook anglers “waist deep” in the water and casting to the west.

Truth is most of the snook are behind them.

While you will see snook lying on the bottom 20 to 25 feet out, those usually aren’t feeding fish. Most of the snook that are actively feeding are found within 5 feet of the dry sand, cruising parallel along the beach.

My best day took place in August of 2009. During that beautiful morning, I caught and released 15 trout from 25 to 40 inches, three redfish to 32 and jumped three giant tarpon.

I usually use a 6-weight TFO TiCRX rod, 20-pound leader with a 25-pound shock tippet. Fly of choice is Gibby’s D.T. Variation, a fly which has accounted for more than 5,000 snook over the years.

Why argue with success?

Beach snook action begins heating up in May and runs through August.

If any of you are on Facebook, please send a friend request.

Also, if you are on Twitter, you can follow me @Gibby3474. I routinely “tweet” fishing updates.

Steve Gibson

Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing

www.kayakfishingsarasota.com



http://gibbysfishingblog.blogspot.com/

(941) 284-3406

Oklahoma angler has the day of a lifetime on Sarasota Bay



Oklahoma's Chuck Linn battles a beefy trout in shallow water.



When Chuck Linn hooked, fought and landed a 4-pound spotted seatrout first thing in the morning, it figured to be a good day on Sarasota Bay.

Of course, every day on the bay is great; some are just better than others.

Spotted seatrout are common in Sarasota Bay and catches of 50 or more are common. But most range from undersized to maybe 24 inches. Slot limit for trout is 15 to 20 inches.

Linn, an Oklahoma native, kept casting the 3.5-inch Bomber Ba-donka-donk, a mullet-looking topwater plug. And he kept hooking trout. But these trout dwarfed his first fish. He landed a trout that weight slightly more than 6 pounds on the Boga Grip. He added a trout of more than 7 pounds a little while later. And he capped his morning with another trout of more than 6 pounds.



Chuck Linn shows off the first of three huge spotted seatrout.

 We usually don’t catch that many “gator” trout in a year.

But large trout seem to be the norm this year around Sarasota Bay. In January, a local angler landed a 9-pounder.

Twice over three days, Capt. Rick Grassett of the Snook Fin-Addict guide services had clients land trout of 6 pounds or larger.

“We’ve been hearing about large trout for quite some time now,” said Keith Tennant, who works at Economy Tackle in Sarasota.

Obviously, it’s just a high point in the cycle. But who cares? We just hope to get in on the action a few more times before it ends.

Usually, there aren’t many large trout taken along Florida’s Southwest coast. We have a lot of trout, but don’t encounter many large fish.

It’s different along the state’s East coast, where 10-pounders are fairly common.

One thing I’ve always known is that most of the larger trout are taken in very shallow water. That held true for Linn. His trio of titanic trout was taken from 12 inches of water.

The largest trout I’ve caught was a 6 ½-pounder in March 2007. I caught the fish on a jerk worm in Pine Island Sound while fishing for redfish with Capt. Danny Latham. I landed a 6-pounder in 1990 while fishing the warm-water runoff at the Crystal River Power Plant. I used a Cotee Jig.

Linn bested my record easily – in just a couple of hours.

While I don’t expect this action to go on forever, I do think it will last at least another month or two.

If my clients want a lot of fish, I can take them to the deep grass areas where they will catch plenty of small to slot trout. If my clients want big fish, we’ll catch a low tide and head for the shallows. They might only catch five fish, but there could be a monster or monsters in the group.

I told Chuck Linn his 4-pounder probably would be the fish of the day.

I was wrong.

I apologized to Chuck.