Flies and fishing go together right? Well, not the kind of flies that hatch here in May. Whether you call them deer flies, yellow flies or May flies, they all bite hard and leave big welts on our skin.
My solution? Stay out of the creeks and away from the islets. Move out onto the flats.
Drifting over grass beds and spotty bottom is a popular method to locate trout. I would start in 3 feet of water and move around going deeper and deeper until you find them. If it’s not too windy you can use shrimp and a popping cork, but if you’re going too fast for that try a suspending twitch bait. Ones that make noise are best. In deeper water you may want to switch to a jig and soft bait so you can get down to the bottom.
Another fun method is to anchor over rocks or hard bottom and put out a chum block. Most bait shops have them. You’ll need a mesh bag to put it in if it doesn’t come with one. The great thing about chumming is you never know who will show up to the party. The many possible visitors include cobia, sharks, grouper, grunts, sea bass, and Spanish mackerel. Use live pinfish or any cut bait on a circle hook and a short wire leader if you are getting cut off.
Remember to keep an eye on the sky for developing storms, take along plenty of water, and sunblock. File a float plan, be safe and have fun.
Duane Baker is a Licensed USCG Captain. He operates Windsplitter Charters.
(352) 352-364-2417;
windsplittercharters.com