Got a call from the Jupiter Snook Pimp - Capt Don H about a snook fishing seminar at the WPB Fishing Club.
My fishing partner down here, Robert, and I decided to head up to go and see Don and spend the evening.
Don’s name is scattered all over the walls for the number of records for Reds on the fly over the years.
The speaker was George Goedz. What a great 1 hour talk. He showed us specific lures and techniques for snook fishing in the Stuart area. It’s great to see someone who is a professional confident in sharing his learnings.
It was a Packed crowd with probably 10-15 professional captains and a range of ages from 10-12 years old to us old guys. Me, Don, and Robert commented at dinner how great it was to faterhs, grandpa’s, and even mothers with the young kids. After the seminar, George was taking questions and you could just see how the kids eyes lit up when they stood with George and asked him questions. To them, he was a TV personality and they were speaking with a Pro. Fun Stuff.
When I go to any seminar or even a professional lecture, I always try and walk away with one or two tips or ideas that I can take away. George delivered.
When asked if he had only one lure to use, what would it be for most conditions…he came back with the simple answer…a 4" gulp swimming mullet with a red head or a gulp shrimp on a jig head, bounced off the bottom…he said that even though the seminar was sponsored by Yozuri (LOL)…great to have an honest professional..He said he won’t catch the big big snook (caught on live bait), but, you’ll consistently catch snook…and of course, he said, EVERY SNOOK loves a live shrimp…jigged on the bottom, but, you have to make your way through the other creatures of the sea
Overall fun night, we finished off with dinner out with the crew where more lies and stores are exchanged
There used to be a “Miami Fishing Club”, actually went to one meeting years ago when I first started flats fishing.
Maybe Bob Leemay will chime in…he’s been a speaker at a few of these…I also have had notices from “SaltStrong” on local get togethers where they have a seminar etc.
But heck, why do you need to go to a seminar…you fish with Dave Stoots ? He has more lures in his tackle bag than Bass Pro shops
Seriously, they are always fun and you can pick up a tip or two…and maybe even a secret lure (LOL).
Maybe check with BassPro shops ? and/or IGFA had some seminars years ago…met some of the greats at an all day seminar on fishing ENP - Chico, Flip, CA and Benny Blanco all spoke…
At that seminar I asked a question that got a good laugh, I asked, “How do you fish after the night of a full moon”. I think it was either CA or Flip who said, “well young man, you throw your lure in the water and twitch it, keep throwing until they bite, they are gona eat at some point”. The crowd laughed.
I don’t know of any FLL fishing club, but, I would think it’s more focused on off-shore. I"m sure there are some fun events in the keys as well…
@rovster Each club or organization likely publicizes their events to their membership. But it’s not like there are Outdoor pages in the Friday newspapers anymore (another one of my past lives).
SkiffHQ members who know of gatherings/seminars, etc. such as this one can list here for a heads-up.
I know there is a monthly gathering in Charleston. @hipshot has also mentioned a informal gathering in South Texas. I’ll try to post in the Tournaments & Events section as I hear of things.
I don’t do social media, but my understanding is that a lot of the organizations post their events on Facebook or Instagram. I know that the Laguna Madre Fly Fishing Association does a lot of posting on Facebook & Instagram, but their website is woefully neglected. Funny story; my last trip up to Conroe I went to my old PD for my LEOSA qualification, and visited with the new chief. He’s an avid fly angler I’ve known, but haven’t seen, for years. He was talking about seeing my photo in some of our LMFFA events, which thoroughly confused me until he said that he’s been following the LMFFA on FB and IG for years. He actually knows more about upcoming events than I do.
Yes @DBStoots puts on a seminar every time we fish, and sometimes there’s freebies and prizes like leader and spare hooks and secret soft plastics I’ve never used. Definitely a good time!
