The FL Keys over 4th of July Weekend

[parker allie]

So over the 4th of July Weekend, my friend and I headed to the Florida Keys for a weekend of fly fishing the flats for tarpon, bonefish, and permit.

[mark s]

Enjoyed that – nice to know I can get on Route 1 south from DC and drive all the way down.

[john hornbeck]

Nicely done.

[Neal Osborn]

Nice video, Parker.

[Randy Kadish]

Thanks so, so much. I really enjoyed that.

Randy

[Corey Kruitbosch]

Nice job .. Looks like you had a great time!

[parker allie]

Okay…you busted me.  No fish were landed on this trip.  But let me explain w/ some quick hits:

*The tarpon we went after were rolling fast and heading straight back down to the bottom.  We had a split second to get a fly on them or they were gone.  We also did not have any sinking line on the reel.  We probably threw at a total of 8 tarpon, 5 of which we had a real shot at, but we couldn’t even turn’em

*At this redfish/snook flat, we saw 3 redfish and one BIG BLACK SNOOK.  The redfish sped off quicker than lightning.  Kyle had a good shot at the snook, but it just wasn’t interested in the fly.

*Then we hit this Bonefish flat near Islamorada where the world record was landed.  The water was gin clear, the tide was rolling in nicely, and the wind was howling.  While Kyle was at the bow, a HUGE bonefish rolled by that made both our hearts race…plus the guide’s.  The only problem was it was going back out to sea and had his tail toward us.  There wasn’t a chance at it, but Kyle tossed it out there but he just swam by w/ other things on his mind.

*Saturday we went out on our own to some wadeable flats that bonefish are supposed to be at.  We turned about 8 bonefish between us but not a one of them took the merkin pattern we had.

So no we didn’t land a fish, but had a GRAND time still.  This was our 1st time in the Keys and we had heard the fishing had been real sloooow of late.  We just told ourselves we could not ride a bike the first time we got on…we just need to practice some more and head back as soon as we can.  We are already trying to figure out when that’ll be!

[buttonwoodbob]

You passed me going and coming.

[parker allie]

…but those tarpon pics in the show are real tarpon from the Keys.

[Mark Schafer]

Thanks Parker,
I was almost over my depression of not being at MM 91 right now.
MS

[mark s]

Hogs = big fish.

[craig phillips]

Cool photos, but I think I know why you got skunked.

[buttonwoodbob]

When I first built my house just across the Bogie Pass Bridge; spitting distance from the No Name Pub, it was a quiet little place known only to locals.

[mark s]

Bob,

Fair enough – I’ve never tarpon fished so that’s good to know.

[buttonwoodbob]

Parker didn’t know that I have tarpon in the canal behind my house…but when you venture this way I can guarantee a juvenile Poon.

[parker allie]

Count me in buttonwoodbob!!

[Mark Schafer]

Almost 25 years ago on my first trip to the Keys you could day labor for beer money all… summer. I learned to lay block and do finish carpentry, I think draft beer was a quarter and $3 got you a sandwich and fritters.
Was no name pub the place you had to prop the ladies

[buttonwoodbob]

Both my grown kids went West to seek their fortunes.

[john switow]

That looks like some fun trip.

[buttonwoodbob]

Recall, Mark, that I said the question was not clear to me.

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