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Transition is evident everywhere as the first cold fronts of the season
quickly change the whole focus of life in the southwest Florida
backcountry. Early north winds push the high summer water levels down
and in doing so will clear out the tannin water left over from previous
summer showers.
This, coupled with slightly cooler water temperatures will raise the activity level of all estuarine species to a fevered pitch. From tiny crustaceans such as mole crabs and white shrimp all the way through our apex predators, everyone is beginning the transition for the cooler days ahead.
Hungry reds invade the shallows from Tampa through Naples in search of crabs and shrimp. Many patterns such as Bendbacks, large shrimp patterns and Seaducer variations, coupled with an accurate cast should be well received. As far as color goes, simply ‘match the hatch’. Although, don’t be afraid to try sharp contrasting colors if the water appears still and dirty.
Where the grass is thinner, use small shrimp patterns such as my Peel-N-Eat shrimp and go to a more boisterous pattern when fishing the thicker turtle grass flats. On numerous occasions, getting the fish to find your offering is the hardest part of the game. If you feel their not seeing your fly, then give them something to see but be careful, no selfrespecting redfish likes to feel like he’s being attacked by a kamikaze crustacean! With the larger flies, accuracy and the angle of your retrieve become paramount.
Redfish, like all tailing species, are most easily seen during the last of the outgoing tides and right into the beginning hours of the incoming. If the water is shallow enough and the tide is moving, the fish will expose themselves, making easy targets.
Snook, on the other hand won’t tail but will also eat like crazy moving into fall. Both these species will be stuffing themselves, anticipating the brief periods of inactivity that come along with winters impending cold fronts. Baitfish patterns pay off big here; 3D patterns, deceivers and yet again Bendbacks can do great things on both tides. Be sure to hit the drop offs and check any bottlenecks or river mouths and remember the incoming tides will push these fish as far up under cover as they can get. Tight casts and mangrove banging is the name of the game here. No matter where you are, or what the tidal stage is, if you are fishing early or late in the day, don’t forget the surface flies! Even the biggest linesiders can’t resist a noisy Dhalburg Diver or a big Gurgler. Try a strip and pause retrieve when blind casting around mangrove edges and seawalls. Not surprisingly, spine tingling surface strikes make blind casting just as exciting as sight fishing!
Another fish in existence for surface flies is the speckled trout. Pound for pound I am convinced they possess the most savage of all surface strikes. I like to target really big trout early in the morning on the shallower grass flats and move to deeper water and lower in the column as the sun gets higher. The biggest bugs, such as swimming baitfish and wool mullet are a great choice for alluring large trout. Even when fishing below the surface, try scaling up your pattern selection a few notches and you’ll probably notice a higher percentage of larger fish. Plus, you won’t sacrifice quantity as the numerous smaller trout will still attack the larger flies.
The change fall brings can be felt offshore as well. Kingfish are plentiful and can easily be taken on flies. Chumming or blind casting near schools of bait can both be productive. Perfect conditions don’t always mandate the fish’s presence so it is important to keep looking. Big bait patterns such as deceivers, assorted anchovies and 3D patterns in white, white/green, white/blue, white/chartreuse will all take their fare share of kings.
Closer to shore, jacks, mackerel, ladyfish and pompano will all be sharing the water along the sandy beaches and passes. Be sure to have plenty of Clouser Minnows on hand because even the pompano love them. A #1 kelly green and white is the best.
Incidentally, I don’t use wire traces, even when confronted with large kings. These fish can be a little leader shy and I for one, would rather lose a few more flies than catch a few less fish!
Redfish will be in top form in the Indian River as well, with some of the largest fish in the state looking to satisfy their insatiable appetites. Big baitfish patterns such as Swimming Baitfish and large Seaducers work great in the slightly deeper water.
Although, when the fish are tailing you will want to switch to more traditional shallow water patterns such as epoxy flies, Bendbacks, and shrimp or crab patterns. From the River all the way down the state, big snook will be haunting the inlets and nearby beaches. High probability points in the ICW early and late in the day, coupled with fast current are a great combination. Try throwing big white and grey mullet patterns. Since this water tends to run as deep as four feet or more, I suggest an intermediate line. Let the fly sink a foot or so below the water column before starting your retrieve and take a few shots at each spot. I see too many people content to move on after one or two fruitless casts. Remember, snook are conservative, ambush predators. Sometimes the fly needs to be in just the right position and as little as foot can make the difference between success and failure.
Almost any inlet will hold packs of hungry snook. Try switching to threadfin herring patterns. I personally prefer super hair streamers for this work. These flies sink quickly, are very durable and tend to foul less than the softer, more contemporary synthetic fibers. These flies should also produce fish in the trough right along the beaches.
Fishing these beaches during mid-day hours can provide some very exiting sight fishing. The entire Keys chain also offers great fly fishing in the fall. Big bonefish will be on the prowl in Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay and the lower Keys. These fish also feel the presence of cooler air temperatures and will be quick to act. Large shrimp patterns, such as the ultra shrimp are great choices. A little orange in your pattern also goes a long way. Superstition? Maybe, but I won’t use anything without it.
You can find bonefish on the flats either tide as long as the water is moving. Keep a 9 weight handy for the plentiful sharks and ‘cudas you will encounter. A popper, would make a great selection for this standby rod. Color doesn’t matter here, although having said that I would probably fish a loud color such as chartreuse or orange or maybe even yellow. When you take a shot at a ‘cuda with the popper you don’t have to strip super fast to entice a strike, just fast enough will do!
Sharks are bat blind, so a little noise will help get your fly noticed. It would be unfair to talk about fly fishing in the Keys without mentioning permit. If possible, keep another rod handy for any encounters with these powerful fish. A crab pattern, such as a Merkin will be hard to beat. Even on very shallow flats I have seen these masters swimming almost diagonally just to stay under water, so be ready wherever you are.
Another fun thing to do with a fly rod down in the Keys is chum up a patch reef. The fishing can be fast and furious! A variety of snappers, mackerel, jacks, african pompano and cobia can all be found on local reefs. Deceivers, chum flies, and small anchovie type patterns should be all you need to have some great fun.
No matter where you are or what you are after it is my sincere hope that you catch ‘em up and enjoy all the flies of the season. Have a safe and fun fall season!
 
About the Writter
Capt. Cole Fairbanks is a native Floridian who grew up fly fishing the waters of south Florida as well as the Bahamas. Bonefish, tarpon, snook and anything else with fins that he could get within 90 ft of fueled his childhood obsession for the art of sight casting with flies.
Today Capt. Cole operates True Flies fishing Charters. Specializing in sight fishing Gasparilla Sound, Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound. Capt Cole also owns and operates True Flies for Saltwater. A wholesale/retail fly company geared towards producing only the finest flies for Florida waters. Capt Cole can be reached at (941) 697-4710 for charter reservations, fly orders or just questions about fly fishing in our beautiful State. Off the water fly casting instruction is also available. Please visit Cole’s website at www.TrueFlies.com
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