[The Drifter]

"Err, Err, Err. I make a million dollars a year, you ain't gonna tell me shit."

I want to fish with that dude.

 

[creekx]

I think I need to practice my bend over technique first though.

We're still talking about fishing, right?

 

[jasmillo]

But two of my best buds take at least one salt trip a year and swear by it. I think I need to practice my bend over technique first though.

I was fishing a beach this weekend casting to some SRC slashing baitfish down shore to me when I heard and caught a glimpse in my peripheral vision of a nice fish smashing some baitfish about 10 feet offshore of my casting position. I immediately turned, went into bend mode to make the cast, remembered your thread, got self conscious and popped back up. I think I may have even sheepishly took a peak around to make sure nobody else saw me.

Fuc*i#g Swimmy threads......

 

[Nick Clayton]

Cool stuff but it still doesn't fire me up like early October mornings chasing big coho off the beach.

 

[Kfish]

@golfman44 You need to go and get some Tarpon thumbs so your hands won't be so feminine.

 

[Kfish]

How do I convince the wife to go on vacation in the Florida panhandle....

 

[Gard Nale]

I'll pick you up in KW. Red F-150, WA plates. Can't wait. Hope the wind stops blowing.

Can you be a bit more specific? Lots of red F150s with WA plates running around the keys....

Or should I just smell for the brakes?

 

[The Drifter]

How do I convince the wife to go on vacation in the Florida panhandle....

We are going to Pensacola in June. Not sure what fishing options we have though...

 

[Kfish]

We are going to Pensacola in June. Not sure what fishing options we have though...

Staying at Destin Beach? There are barracuda in those water, I've seen them from a kayak but did not bring fishing gear at that time.
You can always hit up the local guides, I'm sure there's always something... It's Florida!

 

[freestoneangler]

I was just sitting here telling Melissa I've got to go do this. I'm due a fishing trip.

Really... you're due a fishing trip?

 

[dust in the wind]

Really... you're due a fishing trip?

Hey look everyone @freestoneangler joined the thread...

 

[dust in the wind]

His next thread will probably be if young guys/gals deserve vacation...

 

[The Drifter]

12 days and counting. And none of that trolling motor crap.

I kind of missed this. Are you going down?

 

[Gard Nale]

I kind of missed this. Are you going down?

Yeah buddy! Last year the weather dogs didn't want to play so I'm going back for revenge.

I thought swinging flies at steelfish was the ultimate until I had an old man put one of these things in casting range.

And I thought my come back casts sucked after a grab....

Knee buckling I tell ya. And I haven't even had an eat yet.

 

[jersey]

How do I convince the wife to go on vacation in the Florida panhandle....

By sending her somewhere else

 

[Cal I. Baetis]

Kick ass @Swimmy. My dream trip. Definetly in my pipeline. Tarpon have always been fascinating to me. I've had that kind of obsessed single mindedness with pointing dogs and wild upland birds. I've watched it twice. Tick prease. Zane Grey and Hemingway, and Key West. I want to drive and fish that highway U.S.1. Mangrove baby tarpon. Churchill "So little time so much to do".

 

[Thrasybulus]

You guys should go down there and try it. I've fished adult tarpon five seasons and it is a tremendous challenge. It's not a steelhead situation at all, but fewer tarpon than in the golden age 1950s - early 1980s. The tarpon migration is different now because they are so heavily pressured by anglers. Long lines of hundreds of migrating tarpon have become more like scattered chains of fish. Tarpon live a long time and have good memories. They are much spookier than when Stu Apte was catching them.

Even so Washington anglers have been known to catch a few.

I can never convince anyone to join me.

Is the tarpon population doing OK or is it sorta like steelhead?

 

[dust in the wind]

You guys should go down there and try it. I've fished adult tarpon five seasons and it is a tremendous challenge. It's not a steelhead situation at all, but fewer tarpon than in the golden age 1950s - early 1980s. The tarpon migration is different now because they are so heavily pressured by anglers. Long lines of hundreds of migrating tarpon have become more like scattered chains of fish. Tarpon live a long time and have good memories. They are much spookier than when Stu Apte was catching them.

Even so Washington anglers have been known to catch a few.
View attachment 139210

I can never convince anyone to join me.

If we agree not to talk about the Hawks I'll join ya!

 

[Thrasybulus]

One comment about ocean side adult migratory tarpon fly fishing for the first time (not talking about night fishing or swamp tarpon). Be very humble. My first day on a tarpon boat the guide told me that as a "trout fisherman" I was a JV squad pitcher now starting in the World Series. He was correct! I had some struggles double hauling on a rocking boat deck, but still jumped my first big tarpon. When it jumped right off the bow I saw "The Eye" and was shaken by the power of that fish. I will always remember the good cast I made to that line of fast swimming tarpon. Every season I do a casting session with a certified pro to improve my technique, accuracy, and speed of delivery. Time on the deck fishing makes you a better and better angler. I even own a flats boat standing platform at home to practice my 12wt casting. Practice that two stroke Quick Cast!

 

[Thrasybulus]

The Pinnacle of tarpon fly fishing videos