It’s a valid question, because if you have researched fishing in Southwest Florida and the Everglades on the Internet, or have been to a fly shop, the possibilities are seemingly endless. To the beginning fly angler it's almost overwhelming trying to understand what flies to purchase or begin to tie. We hope, in this, we do well to simplify things for yo
]]>It’s a valid question, because if you have researched fishing in Southwest Florida and the Everglades on the Internet, or have been to a fly shop, the possibilities are seemingly endless. To the beginning fly angler it's almost overwhelming trying to understand what flies to purchase or begin to tie. We hope, in this, we do well to simplify things for you.
Let’s start with some advice we often give folks who visit us in the fly shop: The fly you are throwing does not matter anywhere near as much as it’s presentation. CONFIDENCE AND PRESENTATION TRUMP ALL! In short this means, if you are targeting redfish in shallow water, throw a fly that will get to their strike zone, and not hit the water with a splash. Conversely, if you are blind casting a mangrove shoreline on a higher tide, pick a fly that sinks and will fall in front of the fish faster, allowing your fly to spend more time in the target zone. If that fly is a bit more flashy, to help grab their attention, all the better.
You leave the ramp, idling toward the channel, anticipating a great day on the water. Hot coffee in hand, you look down at your console - and realize the water temperature has dropped since the last time you were on the water. It’s a little windier than you expected, and the tide is lower than it was supposed to be. Welcome to wintertime fishing!
]]>You leave the ramp, idling toward the channel, anticipating a great day on the water. Hot coffee in hand, you look down at your console - and realize the water temperature has dropped since the last time you were on the water. It’s a little windier than you expected and the tide is lower than it was supposed to be - Welcome to wintertime fishing!
Fly fishing can be very challenging in the winter, but here at Mangrove Outfitters, we want you to find success. Here are a couple of tips for you:
When the water is cold, particularity early in the day, target your approach along some of the deeper banks that you would typically leave alone. Fish them low and slow. A flashier fly like the Lightbulb Clouser, available in our hand-curated fly boxes, works well in this situation due to the material selection and heavier lead eyes. Strip about half the speed you would in warm water and allow the fish enough time to see the fly.
As the sun gets high, then it’s time to throw on those polarized sunglasses and really test your casting abilities. Sight fishing is the pinnacle of saltwater fly fishing. Any angler that does not get excited watching a fish eat a well-placed fly - might want to find another hobby. Sight fishing is where your choice of rod, leader, and line become very important.
Let’s start with rod selection. The key to sight fishing is delivering the fly to the fish as accurately and as quickly as possible. This demands a rod that can pick up a lot of line and cast from 20 - 60 feet, generally with one false cast. If that sounds like a tough order, it’s because it is tough - but your success will depend on your performance as a caster. Having the correct rod in your hand will make this task much easier. Although, a casting lesson, offered here at the shop always helps.
In the above scenario, we prefer our anglers to have a rod in hand which is accurate but has enough power to fight a big fish. In our opinion, this equates to a fast action rod for casting power paired with a softer tip for precision. This allows for a light presentation of the fly which is important in your efforts not to spook the 36” Redfish positioned at 2 o’clock, 25 ft away. Did that make sense? If not, that’s ok, we’ll be covering standard fly fishing verbiage in these types of blogs. A 7 weight is ideal, and an 8 weight is a great second best.
We carry plenty of rods that are perfect for sight casting. Both the G Loomis Asquith and NRX Plus are great rods, with enough power to fight large fish but still deliver a fly very delicately. Other excellent choices are the Orvis Helios 3D, and the Sage X. In addition, we also have a large selection of budget-friendly rods we believe to be suitable. These include the G Loomis IMX Pro, The Redington Vice, and the Lamson SS.
Here in beautiful southwest Florida, we’re lucky. Most days we have the opportunity to hide from the wind, and generally do not need extra-fast, stiff rods. However, if you’re heading to the Keys or other areas where the winds can be relentless, an extra-fast, stiff rod such as a Scott Sector might suit you well. In any case, drop in and give the rods a cast and maybe pick up a few tips in the process!
We can’t count the number of times people stop by the shop and ask "what is the best rod?” Truth is, there is no one best rod for everyone. The best rod is the one that works best for you. With that said, we highly recommend you take the time to come into Mangrove Outfitters Fly Shop and cast our selection of fly rods, then make a decision based on what feels right for you. We’ll be there to help guide you in the right direction.
Fly lines and leaders are another integral part of the sight fishing game. Fly lines have become bloated in recent years, with most lines not being “true to weight.” Some lines are actually 1-2 weights over what it says on the box. Companies do this to make it easier for the inexperienced angler to load the rod. We recommend asking your local fly shop (if not us) about the grain weight. Some rods cast better with heavier lines… This comes with a price, however. The heavier line tends to land on the water with more force, which is detrimental in a sight fishing situation. So, for sight fishing, we tend to use lines that are more true to weight such as the Scientific Angler Amplitude Smooth Bonefish, or a Rio Bonefish. These tapers allow you to carry the line and hit targets quickly and quietly, with a minimum number of false casts. By the way, more false casts don’t equal better fishing. We’ll cover that in another blog…
Leader choice is also crucial here. We prefer 9-10 foot 16-pound tapered leaders from Rio - with a section of 20 or 30-pound fluorocarbon bite tippet from Rio or Maxima.
Next time you are out there and it’s so cold you can see your breath, just remember the world record Snook (on fly) was caught on a cold April morning - those fish need to come out and sun themselves and now you know what you need to catch them!
Happy Hunting,
The Mangrove Team
]]>Welcome to the first-ever Mangrove Outfitters’ blog post! In this space we plan to share shop news, fishing reports, fly fishing techniques, product reviews, and more!
]]>First off, we want to let you know there is a new member of the Mangrove Outfitters’ team. Cody Shadley, Tom’s son, has joined us full-time. Cody has life-long experience fly fishing in various locales and has spent a lot of time fly fishing our local waters here in Southwest, Florida. He is a great addition to our staff, which still includes, Capt. Tom, Capt. Pat, and Capt. Paul who are all actively leading premier guided fly fishing charters.
We invite you to read on through the Mangrove Outfitters Blog to discover both new and time tested products that make your Florida fly fishing the best experience it can be!
If you are just arriving to Naples for the winter season, welcome! The fishing has been great all summer, and into the Fall! Red Tide has been in the news recently, and we have been receiving phone calls at the shop about it. It has been in the area, but in no way as bad as it was in 2018. We've seen very little impact south of Marco Island, with previous occurrences concentrated in North Naples and Lee County.
Lately, the water temperature has dropped and the Redfishing has been great (especially on a custom 7wt SAGE by Capt. Tom)! If you have the opportunity to run off the beach, try and take the time to find Tripletail. We have great shrimp fly patterns in the shop perfect for just that!
New products are arriving daily. Most exciting on the rod front is the new G. Loomis NRX + S rod. Lighter by 15 percent than its predecessor, the new NRX + S is still a fast rod but has a perfect tip, and great “castability”. Scott Fly rod’s new flagship stick, the Sector, has arrived at the fly shop this week in both 7wt and 8wt. Fast and powerful, this new rod will become the go-to for anglers fishing in windy situations. Both rods are exciting, and we would welcome the opportunity to cast them with you.
Around the shop, we have made some changes in the layout and product selection. We have added an offering for Ladies, featuring Free Fly Apparel, that we plan on expanding with products from Orvis. In addition, we have new items from Simms and Patagonia. Finally, we have two new custom designs featuring Mangrove Outfitters’ artwork. The first features Tom’s Lightbulb Fly and the other, the Bag-a-Bones series, highlighting the long history of the shop’s twenty-six years of business here in Naples, Florida, with a very unique take on poling and fly fishing from a skiff for Snook, Redfish, and Tarpon.
If you are traveling to fish this winter, we wish you safe travels including your rods, reels, and other gear. Rod tubes, waterproof packs, and bags by Fishpond USA are perfect to ensure safe passage. Once here, stop by the shop and to say hello.
Fly tying class is still the first and third Saturday of the month at 10 AM. Beginning January 1st we add a 6-8 PM class the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. Finally, coming off our very successful first Ladies Fly Tying Night we are adding a second event on December 11th from 6-8 PM. Our first class was led by our very own Christina Legutki. Our December class will be led by the Backcountry Fly Fishers’ Vice President, Stephanie Spell.
Finally, we have changed our store hours to seven days per week. Monday - Friday: 11 - 6 PM; Saturday and Sunday: 11 - 5 PM!
Please don't hesitate to call or stop by if there is any way we can help you.
Thanks for reading,
The Mangrove Team
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