Florida exotics

Re: Florida exotics

feeds@kickapps.com (Rockthief) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:14:44 PST

I am 3000 miles from you and getting some major vicarious fishing done. Wow and thanks!
Paul

Re: Florida exotics

feeds@kickapps.com (smallmouth) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:40:21 PST

Wee Hooker wrote:
Welcome and Great post!! It's 30 deg up here this AM and I'm crying on my keyboard!
On the brigth side, I have an invite froma FL friend to FF for some exotics in mid January. Really hopeing to hook an Oscer. As a kid, I had one that grew to 12" in a 50 gal tank. It used to pound on the glass to demand worms/shinners. I can remember 100 shinners wouldn't last the week! That thing had ATTITUDE! Always wondered what one would do on a fly rod. Hopeing to get the chance soon. Keep em coming. Really nice photography too.

Hey Dave,

I found my way back to 'The Pond" all the way from Ontario Canada. I'm really getting an urge to go South with my yak. Oscars, Peacocks saltwater snook, specks and redfish are being caught everyday, while I sit at home surrounded by snow, tying flies in front of my computer. I have so many flies it...

Re: Florida exotics

feeds@kickapps.com (Wee Hooker) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 07:24:02 PST

Welcome and Great post!! It's 30 deg up here this AM and I'm crying on my keyboard!
On the brigth side, I have an invite froma FL friend to FF for some exotics in mid January. Really hopeing to hook an Oscer. As a kid, I had one that grew to 12" in a 50 gal tank. It used to pound on the glass to demand worms/shinners. I can remember 100 shinners wouldn't last the week! That thing had ATTITUDE! Always wondered what one would do on a fly rod. Hopeing to get the chance soon. Keep em coming. Really nice photography too.

Re: Florida exotics

feeds@kickapps.com (SteveGibson) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:30:40 PST

gillbuster wrote:
Steve,
That is a great picture of a beautiful fighting exotic fish...Great first post. Florida has a lot of opportunities to score on a number of fish species. please keep them coming. Here in New England don't have a chance to fish during the winter months and those pics keep us motivated. Do they have many problems with Gators when fishing in a Yak? I purchase a kayak this past summer and it opened a new world of fishing opportunity, love it... Man! Peacocks and Oscars...yes, Alec we need to definitely make a trip to the Sunshine State and tussle with some of those monsters. Again Steve, welcome to the The Bass Pond and looking forward to some more postings.
Gillbuster

Gators have been no problem. However, I always try to keep my distance and give them their due respect.
I usually fish the Everglades from December through May. The rainy...

Re: Florida exotics

feeds@kickapps.com (JeffSod) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:11:17 PST

Re: Florida exotics

feeds@kickapps.com (JeffSod) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:09:10 PST

Fantastic Report! And welcome to the Bass Pond. I love catching those Mayans! Haven't tangled with any Oscars or Peacocks yet but just might make the trip to the alley next spring.

Re: Florida exotics

feeds@kickapps.com (gillbuster) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:17:33 PST

Steve,
That is a great picture of a beautiful fighting exotic fish...Great first post. Florida has a lot of opportunities to score on a number of fish species. please keep them coming. Here in New England don't have a chance to fish during the winter months and those pics keep us motivated. Do they have many problems with Gators when fishing in a Yak? I purchase a kayak this past summer and it opened a new world of fishing opportunity, love it... Man! Peacocks and Oscars...yes, Alec we need to definitely make a trip to the Sunshine State and tussle with some of those monsters. Again Steve, welcome to the The Bass Pond and looking forward to some more postings.
Gillbuster

Re: Florida exotics

feeds@kickapps.com (Flytackle) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:36:12 PST

Steve that is exciting stuff to be sure! I would love to get down there some day and tangle with those Oscars - beautiful! I believe our member "Jeffsod" has done so and spoke highly of them as a game fish. Thanks alot and welcome to the pond! Alec

Florida exotics

feeds@kickapps.com (SteveGibson) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:22:53 PST

Of course, most everyone has heard of butterfly peacocks, but we also have oscars and Mayan cichlids. The latter two are brutes when taken on appropriate tackle. I usually "beef" up to 4-weight rod and 8-pound tippet when targeting these species. Their first move after taking the fly is to get back into the structure as quickly as possible. You've got to prevent them from doing so.

I like to fish The Everglades along Alligator Alley. There are a number of places to launch the boat.

I'll usually start out with a No. 10 popper, but when the topwater bite goes south, I'll switch to my Myakka Minnow, a subsurface, small minnow imitation. It has proven extremely effective over the years. Other patterns that produce include Wooly Buggers, Clouser Deep Minnows and nymphs.

Key to success in The 'Glades is water level. When it's up, the fish have literally hundreds (thousands?) of miles to spread out. When it's low, they...