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The southwest gulf coast pirates are going to get together in a couple of weeks to discuss the 5 W's of an event next year. Initial possibility is the Pine Island/Matlacha area for kayak fishing. A little farther south & mostly backcountry mangrove lined creeks & flats. Soliciting your fly fishing requests & suggestions for more saltwater fun next year before we get together to decide the fates of the waters to be plundered by the wanna-be-pirates & pirates alike ! 8)
Preferably water teaming with fish eager to eat, so you guys can catch some fish too...lol. I'm open to anywhere, but I did have a fantastic time around Venice, and also the place that Gil took me.
Just let me know when and where, and I'll do my best to be there.
Thunderthumbs.
The Pine Island grass flats are usually fish havens in the winter & there's plenty of lee sides out of the winds; it just takes an hour to get to any gulf beach by car; unless you're in a boat - kayaks aren't outboard propelled so it's still an about hours paddle 8)
So...have you guys had the meeting of the minds yet. I'm getting pretty anxious to start planning my trip. Can't wait to see all of you.
TT.
We were going to get together sometime before Monday, but one went to see family, another had family in for the holidays, the fly fhop has to be open during daytime & I've been doing the "Driving Ms Daisy" sequel again as 2 fractures in 2 different bones just occured after some chocolate chip cookies were baked. On top of that another water leak in the plumbing that hasn't been found. The leak detectors dug up the floor in 2 different places & were going to dig a third, but for a company that says they're 100% sure before digging they weren't too good. Played concrete hole patch man today. Have been getting some literary reference materials with maps & talking with some guides for directions by land & yak. Also the fishing tourny director has given a link to all the events that will be on the calendar for the pros circuit next year, as most of the dates are usually set before the end of November so there's no conflict with the kayak slam tourny or any of the redfish or flatsmaster tours. Keep exercising those thumbs of thunder for another snook-o-rama! :lol: 8)
And what was supposed to be a meeting tomorrow (Sunday) has been cancelled because I have come down with my first cold of the year. Great timing huh!?? Started Wednesday, grew progressively worse up to and including tonight as I now have a slight fever.
At least one person happy with this. Lost my voice today ... wife is elated. :?
Good one Gil, I can't imagine the elation lasting too long, you're such a great guy...
Dave, they say, when it rains it pours, keep the faith my friend.
Other than that, just keep me informed. I'll be bringing my old neighbor from Michigan with me, so a snook-a-rama will be good!
TT.
It just about stopped pouring. The air conditioner was leaking & thought the coils froze up. Took it apart twice in 3 days! Had the round the corner neighborhood AC man come look it over & found what was left of a tree frog or a toad that had been blocking the drain the second time. Have AC again ! The FPL ( Florida Power & Light ) on-call box burned up last Saturday & thought that's why the AC & the hot water heater had both gone bad. Had the back yard electrician come & disconnect it. Seems, even in an emergency, that FPL's earliest time to get here was 3 weeks, even though it has their logo on it & they installed it. Have hot water again ! Just got done drywall repairs from where holes were cut in the walls to hook up the new plumbing. Mudded twice, knockdown texture in a can & Kilz 2 primed for painting tomorrow. Might actually get the house back together in another week. Gil has about a month straight of work without a day off, so doubt we'll get together for a while; but we are getting info & talking with some knowledgeable persons with the fish-a-holic belief that there's not much water that isn't fishable 'round here come spring ! 8)
Ahhhhhhh, music to my ears!!!
TT
Saltydave's right. I work for the Post Office as a few of you may know. My next day off will be Christmas day. :shock: As Dave mentioned though, we're doing as much as we can through the www. Have quite a few acquaintances in the area previously mentioned (Matlacha). Come to find out though, the wading is great but only if you have a boat/canoe/kayak to get you there. We're weighing options though.
We picked Matlacha/Pine Island because there was an interest expressed by some of the FAOLers at the last Fish-In about that area. However, we need wade fishing for those non-kayakers/boaters/etc. Worse comes to worse, we could always fish the area/s we've been fishing the past two years.
We'll come up with something. It was just that there were too many reasons that kept the pirates from getting together earlier ... now December is on us already. :?
Here's a recent article about kayak fishing in one area of Pine Island a little farther southwest : 8-)
http://www.floridasportsman.com/regions/sw/060350/
Dave,
It looks like a really good spot. My only concern is that my friend, Dan, doesn't do so well in a kayak, and if that's about the only way to fish Pine Island then it might not be the best place for us. I'll ask him and see what his thoughts are. He didn't do so well in June when we went to Texas for 10 days. If there are other good fishing spots in the area that are accessable to wade fishermen then perhaps we can come down to that area, but fish the other spots and still get to hang out with you guys. I'll let you know as soon as I can.
Thunderthumbs.
We might have to "unofficially" make Venice the designated gathering area & travel to other spots from there; if this would be the consensus to accomodate others. Looks like Capt Tony has been into the fish in Lemon Bay again with the next topic post !:cool:
Venice sounds good as a staging area to me. I like the idea of that actually, besides, I've got a little money I'd like to spend at Kevin's shop!
TT.
Talked with Kevin today & thought about the only thing to do was pick a date if the Capt still gets the accomodations package rate. (Forgot to ask Tony at the CHFF.info casting clinic this evening as he had a perfect backcast-flop on the forward cast client dilemma; maybe Saturday? )Instead of having a FL Fish-In in early March because snook season opens on the first, Kevin thought the time frame should be at the end of March when the spanish mackeral-albie run off the coast is great fishing according to his old dated pictures & fishing log! There will still be redfish, sea trout, snook & other game fish on the inshore flats & it will be warmer ! Is everyone good with this arrangement & want to start a "sign-up I'm going page " so we can get started & submit some " official paperwork " to FAOL on the annual event ?:cool:
Is this open for anyone?
This IS FAOL all Fish-In's are open to ALL the readers of FAOL. You don't have to be
a "member" or someone special, everyone who reads this website is welcome.
Join in the fun!
In choosing a date the local area tournaments scheduled are: Redfish Tour March 8 Punta Gorda, FLW Redfish March 13-15 Sarasota, Kayak Slam March March 22 Ft Myers, Flatsmasters Punta Gorda March 29-30 & there might be some other events. The FFF National Fly Fishing Expo in Lakeland is March 28-30 http://www.chff.info/. Most boats on the water weekend will be the Flatsmasters, doubt many will go north to Venice, probably south to Pine Island or west to the bays.:cool:
That sounds like a plan to me...late March that is. I know my friend Dan is open to fishing any time, and after our Texas trip last June, any oportunity to catch more fish is going to be a good thing. I'll give him a call tonight and let him know that you are thinking of doing it then. I don't think it'll be a problem for him. It certainly isn't for me. I'm all for the chance of catching a few more fish.
Thanks for keeping us updated,
Thunderthumbs.
I'm in!!! :cool:
I'm in! Just need the details so plans can be made.:D
Hi y'all,
I am soooo ready; but, family and work may make it difficult this year. We'll wait and see. Any place you pick is good for us.
DI
Last year ( maybe the last 2 ) the event was held the same weekend as the Flatsmasters & we really didn't see that many boats in the backcountry nor on the flats. That would be the last weekend in March. Some might also want to go up to Lakeland for the National FFF expo that weekend ( & maybe get to see FL skibum do his Fiddler On The Roof routine serenading his better half !) if they spend most of the weekdays fishing before or after that weekend & still want another flyfishing diversion. There is a full moon on Thursday March 28 before the weekend, so the nocturnal eating habits of some gamefish might throw off the bite during the day, or not. New moon is on Wednesday March 13 & either of these times are usually the best tide flows. :cool:
I talked to Dan, he's in for the March timeframe, as am I. I can't wait to get back down there!
TT.
Seems that with the amount of feedback; if we pick a date, you will come or miss out on the fun ! Guess it'll be the last weekend in March (as long as rooms are available) with a few days either side for those do-it-yourself or hired guideing ! :cool:
So, are you "guessing" it will be the last weekend in March, or is that the for sure date? Cause if it's the for sure date, then you can count me and Dan in...for sure. I can't even begin to tell you guys how excited I am to be coming back down there again. I had such a great time with all of you last year and am looking forward to doing again this year. I"ll be flying in this time, it just takes too long to drive...uses up too much fishing time. Dan is driving down from Michigan so that he can stay as long as he wants to. I'll probably only be able to do a four or five day trip this time, but I guess I'll just have to see when the time comes to book my ticket.
Can't wait to see you all again soon,
TT.
Just waiting on Kevin & Capt Tonys' input on accomodations & whether there's any conflicts for that weekend ?:cool:
Capt Tony just posted on his Fishing Report & Happy News Year topic thread that the HI room discount is available in his name for the Fish-In '08 ! Ya fly flinging mateys ready ? :cool:
Arrrrrrrrre we ever!!!
TT
Ok guys, I've got my dates set. I'll be flying in in the evening of Thursday the 27th, and will be leaving Tuesday the 1st of April fish-in or no fish-in.
I had to make up a date because the campgrounds have only got a few sights left that were sure to fill up within the week. As it is we won't be able to stay at Oscar Shearer (sp) State Park, we'll be inland about 6 miles at a another SP.
I can't tell you all how excited I am to be coming back down...see you then!
TT.
We have a confirmed participant from out of state ! Must be time to get a new thread going since the planning is done & contact Ladyfisher ( hope she's had enough surgical recovery time for pirates of the southwest Florida gulf coast ) & 2008's webpage of info ! FLskibum needed the last weekend of March dates this morning to put in for a fishing vacation.:cool:
maybe this year i'll get to attend instead of getting called into work (seeing as i'm unemployed )