Fly Fishing Central Florida

Central Florida Freshwater Fly Fishing Report 6-17-2012

by Captain Craig Crumbliss, Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide/Instructor

As I looked outside early this afternoon it looks like we may get some rain later today.  The afternoon thunderstorms are great for our local lakes.  Besides the much needed water to fill the lakes back up the rain will cool the water enough to get the fish active for some evening fishing.  The shad are beginning to get active and you can count on finding the schooled up bass close behind.  When fly fishing for the schooled up bass you'll want to use minnow patterns like the EP Minnow, Clouser, Cowen's Baitfish, and Gummy Minnow.  My favorite pattern right now is a jointed Gummy Minnow that has great action because of the segmented body.

Early mornings will still beyour best time to fish.  Get out early and cast topwater poppers.  Bigger poppers fished on an 8 weight fly rod have been effective this week to catch the occasional larger bass.  The small chartreuse or yellow Boogle Bug has still be the best overall fly since it's small enough to catch a nice sized bluegill, but still enough of a meal for a bass.  The Boogle Bugs are a little pricey but they hold up extremely well, I have one that has caught well over 100 fish this year and besides a few chips and missing rubber leg, it's almost good as new.  The Boogle Bugs also fish nicely since they are coated with several coats of epoxy they don't tend to soak up water the way cheaper poppers do and keep floating high throughout the morning.  We like them so much we put them on our hats!

It's a great time to spend a few hours on the water this week, either early in the morning for a topwater bite or later in the evenings for schooling bass.

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