2020-12-07 FLY FISHING REPORT
Surface Temp is about 71
Weedless Poppers, Dragon Fly Patterns, and Baby Batifish patterns
2020-07-29 Fly Fishing Report
We are going to take a break from Fly Tying Club during this surge with the pandemic. Fly Tying Club will return, first and third Tuesdays at 6pm in September. Fishing is excellent right now-Get on the water! View full article →2020-05-29 Fly Fishing Report, Fly Tying, and 101 Class schedule
Tips
The topwater bite is excellent. Fish small poppers and sliders for bluegill and buck bass with white or olive being the top color picks. Larger bass have moved into deeper water, mostly. Except a couple of people are finding afternoon schools of shad on the surface. While very late for schooling shad, the weather has kept water temps a little cooler than normal. Small white streamers and EP style minnow flies will be the right size. Crayfish flies, olive or black/blue should be fished pretty low to the bottom with a slow crawl retrieve. The panfish will be found in shallow water, hanging around lily pads, cattails, and buggy whips. Small foam spiders and dragonfly dries are dependable. Small weighted black Wooly Buggers and Bream Reapers are a good choice when the bluegill quit hitting topwater flies and move to slightly deeper water. A slow crawl or short hops but slow on the bottom. Mayfly Hexagenia are still hatching on some of the lakes. This large, 1.5" bug drives the fish, nuts. Big Stimulators and or foam tail dry flies are the ticket. We like a deep indicator rig-with your fly several feet under for specs and big bluegill, fished on weedlines, or fished vertically in the deeper grass. Tilapia have been chewing these deep rigs too. Had a report that they are taking grass shrimp, too.
Forecast
The topwater bite will continue to excel with the warmer weather. Stick with white or olive poppers They are working, especially in the shade. The streamer fishing has been very good, white is the top choice. New colors in clousers to try are sexy shad and bluegill (small size 6.) AND Gulf Coast Snook fishing is great along the beaches! Same white baitfish patterns as the bass, but add shrimp and sand flea patterns to the mix. Back to lakes-big mayfly patterns on top and dragonfly nymphs subsurface, for bluegill. Windy days can bring all types of terrestrials onto the surface. Bluegill will key on them. Small foam spiders, beetles and ants are important for bluegill on the surface. Bigger bass will be in 5-9 foot. Buck bass will be cruising the grass lines. At the time of this report: the Peace River is above average (258 CFS). Econ River is above average (243 CFS). Myakka River is far above average (99 CFS). Hillsborough is below average and slowly falling (58 CFS). Withlacoochee is high at (1.4CFS). Kissimmee River near Frostproof is high (79 CFS). Afternoon Storms can change these levels to flood stage, very quickly.
Techniques
Best techniques for the week include Technique 1) White or olive poppers fished slowly during low light conditions, and even during the day under shady over hang and around docks. Technique 2) Black or olive crayfish flies fished low and slow close to the shoreline. Crawl the fly over prospective areas, frequent pauses can coax a bite. Add a small split shot 18 in. above the fly if the winds pick up. This will help maintain proper depth. Technique 3) Small baitfish patterns fished on the edge of structure in the morning or evening.
Craig Jameson tied this beautiful Wilson's Bully Bumble
Fly Tying Returns on Tuesday, June 2nd. We will set up in our larger room, and seating is very limited. 6 foot spacing, and mask is recommended. If you are interested, please contact Allen Wyatt allen@andythornal.com 863-299-9999Mon-Sat 10-6eastern Also, we can send instructions electronically.
2020-04-13 Fly Fishing Report
Big Bug Sale See the Selection
Fly Tying Club and Fly Fishing 101 are postponed. These activies will resume as soon as possible!
Conditions: Good
Surface Temp: 79f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 28-inches
Rylan Jameson with a beautiful bass caught on the 3wt!
Tips
Disappointing news, most public boat ramps are closed, but there are exceptions. Sheriff’s office is enforcing social distancing at the open ramps. Tenoroc WMA is not open as of this report. If you can get on the water, the topwater bite is good with white, black, and frog being the top color picks. Larger bass are schooling shad in open water. Keep your eyes out for nervous water or exploding fish. Anglers are catching some nice bass on crayfish flies, olive or black patterns have worked best. These flies should be fished pretty low to the bottom with a slow crawl retrieve. Bass that are locked and focused on the beds will be more interested in defending than feeding. The panfish will be found in shallow water, hanging around lily pads and cattails. Small foam spiders and dragonfly dries have worked well as a surface presentation. Try to make these flies smack on the surface, then slowly retrieve the fly. Small weighted black Wooly Buggers are still a good choice when the bluegill quit hitting topwater flies and move to slightly deeper water. A slow crawl works best giving the fly a chance to sit still. Bluegill are still munching on grass shrimp near the cattails. Their loud slurps can be heard and are a good indicator that fish are close by. Small olive scud patterns mimic the grass shrimp with orange patterns represent dying scuds. Some anglers prefer using a strike indicator several feet above the fly to keep them above the submerged grass. A deep rig, with your fly several feet under your indicator, has helped keep specs and big bluegill on the line.
Jason Bergwall has been 'Quarantying' some beautiful streamers.
Forecast
The topwater bite will continue to excel with the calmer days and warmer weather. White, Black or Frog poppers are working, especially in the shade. The streamer fishing is straightforward with small "electric chicken" streamers being the top choice. Stick with scuds and dragonfly nymphs for bluegill fishing subsurface, fished near the bottom. Small foam spiders and dragonfly dries work well to tempt the bluegill on the surface. Searching for areas close to deeper water will allow you to locate the fish easier. Rivers provide an excellent shelter on those windy or crowded days. At the time of this report: The Peace River extremely low and falling (60CFS). Econ River is extremely low and falling (30 CFS). Myakka River is extremely low and falling (9 CFS). Hillsborough is below average and slowly falling (50 CFS). Withlacoochee is about normal trickle (1CFS). Kissimmee River near Frostproof is below average and slowly falling (14 CFS). This time of year, water levels should be lowest. Lake levels are falling rapidly.
Techniques
Best techniques for the week include Technique 1) Small bluegill or chartreuse clousers fished tight to shore and slowly retrieved. Pink and white has also worked well as of late. Technique 2) White, black, or frog poppers fished slowly during low light conditions, and even during the day under shady over hang and around docks. Technique 3) Black or olive crayfish flies fished low and slow close to the shoreline. Crawl the fly over prospective areas, frequent pauses can coax a bite. Add a small split shot 18 in. above the fly if the winds pick up. This will help maintain proper depth. Keep an eye open for the upcoming Giant Mayfly hatch.
Order Fly Tying Material with Free Shipping for a limited time->Click Here
2020-03-31 Fishing Report
Report by Hunter Towery
Fly Tying Club and Fly Fishing 101 are postponed. These activies will resume as soon as possible!
Order Fly Tying Material with Free Shipping for a limited time->Click Here
Josh Genrich shows off a beautiful Bluegill caught on 5 wt with a black floating beetle.
Conditions: Excellent
Surface Temp: 78f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 27-inches
Tips
The warmer days have helped keep the local fishing pretty good. The lakes have been noticeably busier even on weekdays. Tenoroc WMA is one of two open (as of this report) fishing management areas still open in the state. Modified admission rules are in place but the lakes are still open during normal hours. Public ramps are still open with some park closures throughout the state. So far a good number of anglers and boaters have been on the water on the more popular lakes. The topwater bite is still good with white or olive being the top color picks. Larger bass have been schooling on shad in open water. Keep your eyes out for nervous water or exploding fish. Anglers are catching some nice bass on crayfish flies, olive or black patterns have worked best. These flies should be fished pretty low to the bottom with a slow crawl retrieve. Bass that are locked and focused on the beds will be more interested in defending than feeding. Some fry guarders have been spotted by the shoreline. The panfish will be found in shallow water, hanging around lily pads and cattails. Small foam spiders and dragonfly dries have worked well as a surface presentation. Try to make these flies smack on the surface, then slowly retrieve the fly. Small weighted black Wooly Buggers are still a good choice when the bluegill quit hitting topwater flies and move to slightly deeper water. A slow crawl works best giving the fly a chance to sit still. Bluegill are still munching on grass shrimp near the cattails. Their loud slurps can be heard and are a good indicator that fish are close by. Small scud patterns mimic these shrimp the best. Some anglers prefer using a strike indicator several feet above the fly to keep them above the submerged grass. A deep indicator rig with your fly several feet under your indicator has helped with keeping specs and big bluegill on the line.
Craig Jameson has a beautiful Bluegill. He is teaching his 7 yr old daughter the fine art of the 3wt.
Forecast
The topwater bite will continue to excel with the calmer days and warmer weather. Stick with white or olive poppers as these have worked well lately, especially in the shade. The streamer fishing has been pretty straightforward with small "electric chicken" streamers being the top choices. Stick with scuds and dragonfly nymphs for bluegill fishing subsurface. Small foam spiders and dragonfly dries work well to tempt the bluegill on the surface. Searching for areas close to deeper water will allow you to locate the fish easier. Rivers provide an excellent shelter on those windy or crowded days. At the time of this report: the Peace River is below average and slowly falling (80.0 CFS). Econ River is below average and slowly falling (37.7 CFS). Myakka River is below average and falling (5.99 CFS). Hillsborough is below average and slowly falling (57.3 CFS). Withlacoochee is above average and slowly falling (5.78 CFS). Kissimmee River near Frostproof is below average and stable (19.4 CFS).
Casting School Director, Chris O'Byrne had a stellar day at Teneroc Management Area.
Boating a nice Tilapia, Several Bass and Bluegill
Techniques
Best techniques for the week include Technique 1) Small pink and chartreuse clousers fished tight to shore and slowly retrieved. Pink and white has also worked well as of late. Technique 2) White or olive poppers fished slowly during low light conditions, and even during the day under shady over hang and around docks. Technique 3) Black or olive crayfish flies fished low and slow close to the shoreline. Crawl the fly over prospective areas, frequent pauses can coax a bite. Add a small split shot 18 in. above the fly if the winds pick up. This will help maintain proper depth.
Hunter Towery and his new Swamp Chicken-Available at Andy Thornal Company->Click Here. While targeting large mouth bass on 8wt, this fly will be equally effective on Peacock Bass, and Big Tarpon, due to the heavy 2/0 stainless steel hook. There are a couple of cool tricks to this monster. Join us at the tying table in the middle of the fly shop. There is always some tying on the vise.
FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-10-15 FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA
Report by Allen WyattWeek of 10/15/19
Conditions: Excellent
Surface Temp: 79f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 27-inches
Register for Fly Fishing and Casting School on Sat. October 19th
Bring a friend for halfprice
This is an all day event to learn the basics of fly fishing. For the last 25 years, we have taught over 100 students the art of fly casting and how to catch fish on a fly rod. Head Instructor, Chris O'Byrne will lead casting instruction for Mountain stream, Saltwater Flat, and pond/ lake. Inside, we hav instruction on flies, knots, and equipment. We supply the gear and cater lunch. Register now, seats (and rods) are limited.-> https://www.andythornal.com/products/fly-fishing-school
New book by our friend, Chris O'Byrne
Available at Andy Thornal Learn to fly fish anywhere in America, by casting to bass and bluegill near your home. In this humorous small book you will learn; how to find these exciting game fish, a fly cast that will serve you for a lifetime...
Tips
The shad will begin to school in the mid areas of the lake. It will be obvious as there will be action on the surface. Bass will find these schools. Fish the edges of the schools with patterns from 1 to 3 inches. You will need to motor up to the schools as they appear for only a minute or two before diving for submerged hydrilla. You will find this action in the mornings and early evenings. Frog patterns are still good in the shallow weeds and lilies. Push as close to shore from a boat, or fish from shore. Get out a stiff rod, stout leader and make sure you use frog flies with a weed guard. This is the time of year when some of the old-timer-live-bait anglers start net dipping grass shrimp. Blue gill can key into grass shrimp and become selective. Try grass shrimp (scuds) in a dropper rig, a tandem rig, or a tripler. This will be a go-to around Kissimmee grass for Bluegill.
Techniques
Best techniques for the week include 1) Popper/dropper tandem rig for panfish. Using foam body poppers or hoppers, attach a dropper underneath- Grass Shrimp/Scud pattern or beadhead pheasant tail-these should hang 3 to 5 feet off the floater. Technique 2) The smaller bass are cruising with the moderate weather. Anglers should work the edges early and late in the day. Clousers in white, baby bluegill, baby bass, olive, or black, should be worked as far into the weed lines as you dare. Cruising crappie (Specs for the locals) are taking small baitfish patterns next to weedlines. Technique 3) Sinking lines with deep baitfish (EP Everglades Special, EP Shad, or Choklett's Game Changer) should be fished 20-30 ft off the weedlines during the day as Bass are staging for shallower water in 5ft - 8ft of water. This is an opportunity to air out your longest cast as it is all blind casting.
Jason Bergwell with Buttery trout from his annual Michigan trek.
Forecast
Cruising bass and specs will be shallow and near the weedlines. Small black and small white minnow patterns will be good. In addition, watch for schooling shad in the mornings and late afternoon. Buck size bass fishing should be excellent. Try grass shrimp in the Kissimmee grass and cattails. Bluegill should continue to be excellent. Winds will be moderate, increasing in the afternoon. Chance of rain is low for several days, then scattered showers on the weekend. Pressure will fall until the weekend. Waning from a full moon (Oct 13th.) Spec fishing is going to be good as they are cruising grass lines. They will push to mid lake for spawning when the weather cools. Lake levels are still high. We expect lake levels and river levels to fall through the week. At the time of this report: the Peace River is below average. Econ River is near seasonal average. Myakka River is at a trickle, far below seasonal average. Hillsborough is average but the Withlacoochee is flowing above average. Kissimmee River near Frostproof is below average. This week should be excellent for paddle craft on the lakes and rivers.
Learn to tie your own flies at our club meetings!
Next meeting is Oct 29th, Fly tying is regularly at Andy Thornal Company on the first and third Tuesdays at 6pm-7:30pm. We usually tie two patterns including bass, saltwater, and small flies, too! This club atmosphere is friendly for beginners and experts, ages 10-80. Bring your own tools or borrow some of ours. The class is free, but we ask everyone to make a $10 to offset costs. Next club meetig is Oct. 22nd.
FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-07-22
Weekof: 07/22/2019
Conditions: Good
Surface Temp: 86f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 16 inches
Let us know what you are catching-or not catching-Send your pics of fish, beautiful places, or some of the flies that you have tied. We love to post them on our fishing report! Send to Allen@andythornal.com
Billy Williams is catching Bluegills in the heat, last week he was chasing trout in Alaska.
Tips:
After poking several frogs near shore, I have decided that it's frog week. They are busy laying eggs in the shallow weeds and lilies. Push as close to shore from a boat, or fish from shore. Get out a stiff rod, stout leader and you can catch a 'personal best.' Umpqua Diving Frogs, Dahlberg Divers, Stewarts Hula Frog, and Raineys Georgia Bullfrawgs are great patterns for this fishing (make sure you use flies with a weed guard.) Take your time working these jungles. Bright days will congregate fish into shadows. Docks create shade, but so do tree lines. A good angler will follow the shadows across the lake-East side at sunrise, West side at sunset. Topwater for Bluegill in the morning. The fish are shallow early in the day. As the day progresses they head to deeper and cooler water.
Steve Barringer's Double Barrel Frog on a custom Jolly Roger display clip
Many miles from Florida-The River Life
Techniques:
When the sun is high, bream and bass will move deeper. Small streamers along deep weedlines and docks will produce fish. We have been tying Sloppy-Jose jig-flies just for this. Small wooly buggers and bigger clousers will get the flies near the bottom. Next technique is a floater/dropper tandem rig for panfish. Using foam body poppers or hoppers, attach a dropper underneath-using pheasant tails, hare's ear or a prince nymph-these should hang 3 or 4 feet off the floater. The diving style flies are working too-using a long quick strip to make them dive, and waiting till the fly resurfaces-seems to be irresistible to larger bass with a personal best reported. While most fish are hunting cover and shade, Tilapia seem to be the exception. Cruising Tilapia are taking small baitfish patterns in clear areas of water near shore.
Levi Payne doesn't fool around with the little fish. He pulled the biggest rainbow from the Watauga River, seen all season! Gonna need a bigger net!
Hunter Towery, catches a trophy brook trout on the Eagle River in Colorado
Forecast :
We anticipate bluegills to be shallow, surface bite at sunrise and sunset. Tilapia are a possibility with a dropper rig. Grass carp will be cruising the shallows-let us know if you can get them to eat. Big Bass will be found in shaded cover. Small black and small white minnow patterns will be good. Clear mornings with Summer-pattern, afternoon rain this week. Winds will be moderate except when storms are near. Lake levels are near the same as last week, but we expect lake levels and river levels to rise through the week. At the time of this report: the Peace River is above average level. Econ is at average level. Myakka River is above seasonal average. Hillsborough is at e average and the Withlacoochee spillway is flowing heavy when it should be near 0. Changing locations on the Kissimmee to the Frostproof area. All Florida rivers can double, triple, or higher, during our extreme heavy rains. Use caution this week when on any river with paddle craft.
Steve Barringer with his masterful Deer Hair Flies from fly tying club.
LEARN TO TIE YOUR OWN FLIES AT OUR CLUB MEETINGS! NEXT MEETING IS JULY 30th.
Special Event, Fly Tying at Beer Rev, Tuesday 7/30/19 6-7:30 [It is Taco Tuesday-Grab some food and brews from our hosts at Beer Rev.]
Fly Tying is regularly at Andy Thornal Company on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 6pm-7:30pm. We usually tie two patterns including Bass, Saltwater, and small flies, too! This club atmosphere is friendly for beginners and experts, ages 10-70. Bring your tying tools or borrow some of ours. The class is free, but we ask that everyone make a $10 purchase to offset costs.
LEARN TO TIE YOUR OWN FLIES AT OUR CLUB MEETINGS! NEXT MEETING IS JULY 30th. FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-07-15
Week 07/03/2019
Conditions: Good
Surface Temp: 86f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 16 inches
Let us know what you are catching-or not catching-Send your pics of fish, beautiful places, or some of the flies that you have tied. We love to post them on our fishing report! Send to Allen@andythornal.com
Shauna and Jason Bergwell on the Manistee River in Michigan.
Tips:
Bright days will congregate fish into shadows. Docks create shade, but so do tree lines. A good angler will follow the shadows across the lake-East side at sunrise, West side at sunset. Topwater for Bluegill in the morning. The fish are shallow early in the day. As the day progresses they head to deeper and cooler water. Big Bass are pursuing frogs. They are pushing shallow where the frogs are laying their eggs. Umpqua Diving Frogs, Dahlberg Divers, Stewarts Hula Frog, and Raineys Georgia Bullfrawgs can produce a personal best. For a simple alternative for bluegil, try the new mop flies, in chartreuse.
Billy Williams on the Kenai River in Alaska
Techniques:
When the sun is high, bream and bass will move deeper. Small streamers along weedlines and docks will produce fish. Small wooly bugger and bigger clousers will get the flies near the bottom. Next technique is a floater/dropper tandem rig for panfish. Using foam body poppers or hoppers, attach a dropper underneath-using pheasant tails, hare's ear or a prince nymph-these should hang 3 or 4 feet off the floater. Dragonflies are year round in Florida. Throw blue poppers and/or wooly buggers (dragonfly nymph) to match the hatch. Because the Dragons are year round, every size is appropriate. Proving the irony of fishing-we have two contrasting popper techniques that are recommended. One customer insists on popping vigorously and then waiting till the rings dissipate, then pop again... Another insists that gentle, quick and continuous tugs are what is generating strikes. The diving style flies are working well-using a long quick strip to make them dive, and waiting till the fly resurfaces. Seems to be irresistible to larger bass with a personal best reported. Dahlberg divers have been in the mouth of several photos over the last two weeks.
Shawn Ceranic caught some nice bluegill on a chartreseu mop fly. Bluegill are very tough!
Forecast :
We anticipate bluegills to be shallow or near shallow water. The topwater bite will continue in the morning. Frogging for bass should continue to be good. Also, small black minnow patterns will be good. End of the week shows a return of rain for the next seven days. Winds will be moderate except near pop up storms. Expect lake levels and river levels to rise through the week. At the time of this report: the Peace River is average level, Econ is average level, Myakka River is at seasonal average, Hillsborough is at seasonal average and the Withlacoochee spillway is flowing heavy when it should be near 0. Kissimmee River gauge below the Hwy 60 dam is currently not reporting.
Learn to tie Curt's Lineside at Fly tying club on 7/16 6pm-7:30. Email us at info@andythornal.com
for a copy of the tying directionss.
Special Event, Fly Tying at Beer Rev, Tuesday 7/30/19 6-7:30 [It is Taco Tuesday-Grab some food and brews from our hosts at Beer Rev.]
Fly Tying is regularly at Andy Thornal Company on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 6pm-7:30pm. We usually tie two patterns including Bass, Saltwater, and small flies, too! This club atmosphere is friendly for beginners and experts, ages 10-70. Bring your tying tools or borrow some of ours. The class is free, but we ask that everyone make a $10 purchase to offset costs.
FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-07-03
Week 07/03/2019
Conditions: Good
Surface Temp: 84f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 16 inches
Let us know what you are catching-or not catching-Send your pics of fish, beautiful places, or some of the flies that you have tied. We love to post them on our fishing report! Send to Allen@andythornal.com
Jeff Skipper's first brown on a river in Montana.
Tips:
Bright days will congregate fish into shadows. Docks create shade, but so do tree lines. A good angler will follow the shadows across the lake-East side at sunrise, West side at sunset. Topwater for Bluegill in the morning. The fish are shallow early in the day. As the day progresses they head to deeper and cooler water. Big Bass are pursuing frogs. They are pushing shallow where the frogs are laying their eggs. Umpqua Diving Frogs, Dahlberg Divers, Stewarts Hula Frog, and Raineys Georgia Bullfrawgs can produce a personal best. Get out your 8wt to cast these big flies. Presentation is opposite of tradition. Frog patterns should definitely plop when they hit the water, just like a frog. A successful plop will get the bass to look up. Heavy leaders are needed in the heavy cover-where this style of fly fishing is most effective.
Trevor Brown on some top water bass. Great release pic Trevor!
Techniques:
When the sun is high, bream and bass will move deeper. Small streamers along weedlines and docks will produce fish. Small wooly bugger and bigger clousers will get the flies near the bottom. Next technique is a floater/dropper tandem rig for panfish. Using foam body poppers or hoppers, attach a dropper underneath-using pheasant tails, hare's ear or a prince nymph-these should hang 3 or 4 feet off the floater. Dragonflies are year round in Florida. Throw blue poppers and/or wooly buggers (dragonfly nymph) to match the hatch. Because the Dragons are year round, every size is appropriate. Proving the irony of fishing-we have two contrasting popper techniques that are recommended. One customer insists on popping vigorously and then waiting till the rings dissipate, then pop again... Another insists that gentle, quick and continuous tugs are what is generating strikes. The diving style flies are working well-using a long quick strip to make them dive, and waiting till the fly resurfaces. Seems to be irresistible to larger bass with a personal best reported. Dahlberg divers have been in the mouth of several photos over the last two weeks.
Tiger Godwin on the Nantahala-hooked another rainbow.
Forecast :
We anticipate bluegills to be shallow or near shallow water. The topwater bite will continue in the morning. Frogging for bass should continue to be good. Also, small black minnow patterns will be good. End of the week shows a return of rain for the next seven days. Winds will be moderate except near pop up storms. Expect lake levels and river levels to rise through the week. At the time of this report: the Peace River is average level, Econ is average level, Myakka River is at seasonal average, Hillsborough is at seasonal average and the Withlacoochee spillway is flowing heavy when it should be near 0. Kissimmee River gauge below the Hwy 60 dam is currently not reporting.
First time spinning deer hair, last Tuesday!
Special Event, Fly Tying at Beer Rev, Tuesday 7/30/19 6-7:30 [It is Taco Tuesday-Grab some food and brews from our hosts at Beer Rev.]
Fly Tying is regularly at Andy Thornal Company on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 6pm-7:30pm. We usually tie two patterns including Bass, Saltwater, and small flies, too! This club atmosphere is friendly for beginners and experts, ages 10-70. Bring your tying tools or borrow some of ours. The class is free, but we ask that everyone make a $10 purchase to offset costs.
FLY FISHING REPORT 2019-06-19
Conditions: Excellent
Surface Temp: 78f
Clarity: Slightly Tannic 16 inches
Let us know what you are catching-or not catching-Send your pics of fish, beautiful places, or some of the flies that you have tied. We love to post them on our fishing report! Send to Allen@andythornal.com
Levi Payne and an Idaho Rainbow
Tips:
Topwater for Bluegill in the morning. The fish are shallow early in the day. As the day progresses they head to deeper and cooler water. Big Bass are pursuing frogs. They are pushing shallow where the frogs are laying their eggs. Good indicators of frog activity are patches of black dots floating on the surface(frog eggs.) Umpqua Diving Frogs, Dahlberg Divers, Stewarts Hula Frog, and Raineys Georgia Bullfrawgs can produce a personal best. Get out your 8wt to cast these big flies. Presentation is opposite of tradition. Frog patterns should definitely plop when they hit the water, just like a frog. A successful plop will get the bass to look up. Heavy leaders are needed in the heavy cover-where this style of fly fishing is most effective.
David Brooks has been using tandem rigs on Tilapia, all summer.
Techniques:
Bluegill are taking topwater flies. Lite color bugs with bellies of yellow or chartreuse and yellow sprogs and white rubber spiders. We also had a report of tilapia biting BH pheasant tails. We recommend a floater/dropper tandem rig for panfish. Using foam body poppers or hoppers, attach a dropper underneath-using pheasant tails, hare's ear or a prince nymph. Have you seen all of the dragonflies? It is a good indicator to throw blue poppers and/or green wooly buggers (dragonfly nymph.) Look for wind blown hyacinths, these create instant pockets of shade, and usually harbor tons of bugs. Panfish and Bass will be attracted to them, Tilapia will like eating the roots, and bugs. They create mobile cover for baitfish.
Trevor Brown and one of the huge Bluegill he caught this week.
Forecast :
We anticipate bluegills to be shallow or near shallow water. The topwater bite will continue in the morning. Frogging for bass should continue to be good. Also, small black minoow patterns will become important. End of the week shows a slowing of rain through the weekend. Winds will be moderate or light except near pop up storms. Expect lake levels and river levels to rise through the week. At the time of this report: the Peace River is double the average level, Econ is a double the average level, Myakka River is above seasonal average, Hillsborough is very high and the Withlacoochee spillway is flowing heavy when it should be near 0. Kissimmee River gauge below the Hwy 60 dam is currently not reporting.
Pat Allen tied this beautiful Electric Minnow at the most recent Club Meeting.
LEARN TO TIE YOUR OWN FLIES AT OUR CLUB MEETINGS! NEXT MEETING IS JULY 2ND.
Fly Tying is regularly at Andy Thornal Company on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 6pm-7:30pm. We usually tie two patterns including Bass, Saltwater, and small flies, too! This club atmosphere is friendly for beginners and experts, ages 10-70. Bring your tying tools or borrow some of ours. The class is free, but we ask that everyone make a $10 purchase to offset costs.