I’m going to be in Longboat for several days and am going to try for some beach snook. Here’s my setup: TFO Axiom II 8wt, Bermuda Wullf 8wt line, 3-TAND 8wt reel. Looking for an easy to tie fly (that’s easy to cast as well LOL) that you guys have had good luck with. I’m going to tie Gibbys DT variant but looking for others. Thanks in advance!
Schiminno is my go to on LGI.
2 Likes
Is that a floating or an intermediate? Your best bet is an intermediate line, a compromise is a 15’ ghost tip intermediate. Yes floating works but conditions need to be perfect, flat, clear and sun behind, rare… an intermediate gives you ability to work troughs and to sight cast. Keep your leader short, 7-9’. These are some solid choices, bottom up in importance. The black and orange is a superb choice on the beach, work it on the sand, it is responsible for thousands of snook here on sanibel beaches.
Also don’t forget the stripping basket around your waist, absolutely an essential piece of gear. Learn how to use it and your success will be exponential.
The Schminnow works, but it is best under those ideal conditions, those bottom two flies will get it done under many conditions.
Find choke points of troughs and bars, baitfish and moving tide, get that fly down on the sand, which is why the intermediate line shines and short strips back.
use30lb mono or flouro for bite tippet, mono gives you some cushion when setting the hook on a big girl. I prefer mono in the surf. Feel free to pm or call.
7 Likes
This. Wulff makes a Ghost Tip line that is perfect for snook and tarpon fishing.
For flies, a white bead chain clouser never did me wrong.
2 Likes
Thanks guys!
Dang it I think my Wullf is floating. I’ll see if I can grab some intermediate.
I’ve got a ghetto style stripping basket I made from Ted Haas’s laundry basket with zips ties idea. Surprisingly works well. I’ll see if I tie that black and orange fly with what I have..
I recommend a good stripping basket, they never wear out, and they are comfortable compared to the home made versions.
This is my gear, our granddaughter is here with us so I got 3 hours in, 4 fish one over 30.
You’ll notice the fly!
9 Likes
My version of a deceiver, has caught hundreds of beach snook and rarely doesn’t get the job done. No flash.
5 Likes
I’m still figuring out this site, etc. And work blocks it so I’m all iPhone at the moment.
@Loogie what’s your fly recipe exactly? If you know how to PM please PM me. On my end I can’t tell if I’m PMing or broadcasting to the world. Lol. What kind of stripping basket is that?
We might reschedule because weather is looking very dicey. But will give me more time to tie some flies.
Welcome to the forum, @EasternGlow ! That’s a well tied fly!
1 Like
@EasternGlow Welcome aboard!Looks fishy!
Thank you!
Send me your cell, I have a better sequence of pics.
1 Like
Capt Scott Hamilton’s Eat Me fly is my go to when pilchards are around.
Cell sent. Thank you Sir!
1 Like
Small and white. If it has some weight, then no need to go with an intermediate line. I use all FC leader and that also helps get the fly down. Just lead them and let it sink and then get their attention.
What Jason said. While I am not in FL anymore…I used to be a hardcore beach rat. Eat me with blue and green over white on sunny days, chartreuse over white when cloudy. Easy to cast, fishes well, and catches fish! Caught my first tarpon at FLL jetties on one Scott gave me, and def caught the last snook from the beach I landed when down for biz a year or two ago. Its a solid go-to.
3 Likes
That works when water is clear and shallow, very specific conditions; an intermediate line allows you to get the fly and swim it at greater depths in troughs where the fish are deeper, not necessarily site casting. The intermediate line also allows to soften the wave action hence keeping your fly closer to the sand where it needs to be most of the time.
When the water is murky regardless of how smooth or wavy the water is the intermediate line shines under those conditions.
I spend a lot of time on the beaches of Sanibel, and most of us that fish these beaches on a regular occurrence pretty much use intermediate because it is so much more versatile. Just my .02
3 Likes
I was an east coast guy - Dania and the FLL inlet. Depth charge shooting head and drag it on the sand. Over multiple years there I think I sight fished one? Maybe two? I would see fish busting and bomb them, but not the fun sight fishing of the West coast.
2 Likes