Good Action on Sarasota Bay Deep Grass Flats

Anglers fishing with me, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action during the past couple of weeks in Sarasota Bay catching and releasing trout to 24", Spanish mackerel and blues on flies and CAL jigs with jerk worms. The best action was on deep grass flats with clear, intermediate sink tip fly lines and CAL jigs on spinning tackle. Dylan Lewis and Matt Schenk, both from CO, had great action catching and releasing trout and Spanish mackerel on Clouser flies on a trip with me in Sarasota Bay on Tuesday, 4/17. Steve and Doug Sutter, from Sarasota, also had good action with trout, Spanish mackerel and bluefish on Clouser flies and CAL jigs with jerk worms while fishing Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 4/20. {%image_id=59103%} {%image_id=59104%} {%image_id=59102%} Capt. Kevin Wessel and I were the instructors for an IWFA (International Women's Fishing Association) fly casting clinic on Saturday, 4/21. Sponsors included CB's Saltwater Outfitters, Orvis, Simms and Denise Freihofer. Students received fly casting instruction and sharpened their fly casting skills before hitting the water in Boca Grande for a "funament". {%image_id=59101%} Fly anglers Peter and Nini Seaman, from CA, fished both shallow and deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 4/23. They had some action in deeper water catching and releasing trout, Spanish mackerel and blues on Clouser flies. My wife, Karen Grassett and Mark Nichols, owner of DOA Fishing Lures, fished the 23rd annual Sarasota CCA "All Release Challenge" fishing tournament with me on Saturday, 4/28. Mark has been a friend for many years and DOA Fishing Lures has been a donor to the tournament tackle box since the beginning. We had good action in Sarasota Bay with trout to 24"on CAL jigs with a variety of tails. Karen won the Lady Angler division for largest trout with a 22" trout and I won the Largest Trout overall with a 24" trout. {%image_id=59100%} {%image_id=59099%} Tarpon numbers should increase daily as the coastal gulf warms. There should be good action with trout, blues and Spanish mackerel on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Fishing shallow water for snook and reds with lures and flies is challenging although they should also be a good option now. Fishing dock lights in the ICW at night is always a good option for snook and more. Our natural resources are under constant pressure, please limit your kill, don't kill your limit! Tight Lines, Capt. Rick Grassett FFI Certified Fly Casting Instructor Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB's Saltwater Outfitters Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011