Brian Sienkowski from Bozeman, MT, with a 37-inch snook, late May 2011.


Dave Beall from Cape Coral with a large beach snook, July 2011.


Connor McNaught, 18, from Berthoud, Colorado, mid-June 2011.

November 16, 2011: 

The brand-new Sage One rods have arrived! These rods won top honors at both the American and European tackle dealers meetings. The Sage One is a phenomenal casting and fish fighting instrument. It is super light, yet super powerful. An 8-wt. Sage One feels like a 6-wt. of many other brands. This will dramatically increase your casting distance and the pleasure of casting. We have Sage Ones in stock from 6-wt. to 10 wt.

The fishing is changing with the seasons. There is still sight fishing for snook at the east and west ends of Sanibel and at Redfish Pass but the linesiders are heading back up into the estuaries for the winter.

Seatrout are hitting in large numbers at many shore and boat fishing locations. Some of the best for wade fishing or shore fishing have been the tollbooth flat, both causeway islands, Blind Pass, Bailey Road Beach, the beach near the pier, and in the J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife refuge.

Redfish are also available in large numbers on grass flats, around docks and oyster bars, and in some of the deeper channels.

There are also many Spanish mackerel around, as well as some false albacore, jack crevalles and pompano. The albies are only rarely within casting range of shore.  



We had excellent numbers of snook along Sanibel's Gulf of Mexico shoreline this summer. There were more fish and many more large fish than summer 2010. Also, the numbers of fish and the quality of the fishing seemed to  peak about a month later this year than usual.

Sight fishing for snook along our pristine beaches is one of the world's most exciting fly fishing adventures and every fly fisher owes it to himself/herself to experience the heart-thumping, run-and-gun thrill of pursuing these magnificent, world-class game fish in clear, shallow water.

Now is the time to plan your trip for next year. The peak time is from about May 15 to October 31.



                                                                                                                                                                 Photo by Rick Kustich
                                         A 40-inch snook caught by Norm in June 2010.

The hot spots this summer were Tarpon Bay Road Beach, Gulfside City Park (Algiers Lane beach), the beaches along West Gulf Drive, and, occasionally, Bowman's Beach. Early mornings and late evenings provided sometimes very good fishing in Blind Pass. 

The best flies were the usuals and a couple of newcomers: Norm's Crystal Schminnows, White Deceivers, Chartreuse and White Deceivers, Coile Deceivers, Chernobyl Schminnows, Soluble Minnows, Dave's Silverbacks, and Gibby's DT's. One of our customers, Dave Beall of Cape Coral, caught several fish in the mid-30-inch range with his Dave's Silverback (we now sell them). Crease Fly poppers also worked early and late and anytime the snook were crashing bait.

In addition to snook, there were many Spanish mackerel and large seatrout in close pursuing the baitfish. The best seatrout fishing was, as usual, early in the morning -- from first light to about 9:30 a.m. -- and evenings from one hour before sunset until dark. This year there were also large jack crevalles occasionally along the Gulf shorelines.


Jim Harvat with a large jack landed at Gulfside City Park in front of an audience.

We are happy to get you up to speed about the right flies, leaders and bite tippets to use, and also tell you or teach you the techniques to use to catch the snook. And it goes without saying that we will send you to the right places.  

Casting Clinics -- We conduct free casting clinics once a month. Our next free clinic will take place on Sunday, November 27, 1-3 p.m. Most of the clinics are conducted by Norm and his colleague, Federation of Fly Fishers certified casting instructor Joe Mahler from Fort Myers, FL. Please check with us for other free clinic dates. 

Joe is also available for private lessons at $50 per hour (with a two-hour minimum). He is a tournament quality caster and an exceptional instructor.


Fred Doddy from Maryland with a beautiful snook caught at Tarpon Bay Beach in mid June this year.

Come Back to the Tradition: We have in stock two of Sweetgrass Rods' new saltwater bamboo series. These stunningly beautiful 8/9-weight and 7/8-weight rods hark back to the golden era of Ted Williams, Joe Brooks and other pioneers of saltwater fly fishing with bamboo.

Though heavier and slower than graphite, these top-quality bamboo rods are powerful casting and fish-fighting tools. Because of their long heritage and their origins as living, natural materials, they hold a certain magic and nostalgia for many fly fishers. The Sweetgrass craftsmen put their hearts and souls into their creations from the earliest stages -- even traveling to China to select the best bamboo. 

All Sweetgrass saltwater rods feature top-notch saltwater components -- guides and reel seats -- as well as the newest and most durable glues and clear resin coatings that stand up under even the harshest tropical conditions. 

Interested anglers are welcome to come cast these fly angler's dreams and exquisite works of art.

Sales and Special Events -- We are currently offering the superb Sage Z-Axis rods at a 30 percent discount! We have only one left, an 8-wt., 4 pc. As many people know, the only time Sage allows its dealers to sell rod models at a discount is when they are being discontinued. Since the Z-Axis is being replaced by the Sage One, we can offer our customers a hefty savings. The 8-wt., 4-pc. Z-Axis has an MSRP of $700 but is now available for only $490 plus tax. To take advantage of the great deal on this exceptionally powerful, lightweight, fast-action rod, call us or stop in. 

Throughout the year we will host free special events, including book signings, appearances by noted fly fishers, and discount/sale periods on various products. 

We have a good stock of Randy Wayne White and Carlene Brennen's new work: Randy Wayne White's Ultimate Tarpon Book. This book is an anthology of many authors, as well as a history of tarpon fishing from its earliest days. One of the chapters was written by Norm and originally appeared in the New York Times.

In 2012 we will feature Jerry Kustich, noted fly fishing author and co-president of the Sweetgrass Bamboo Rod Company, which produces some of the top bamboo rods in the world. Jerry will conduct a fly fishing presentation and introduce Sweetgrass' new line of saltwater bamboo rods, which hark back to the golden era of Ted Williams, Joe Brooks and other pioneers of saltwater fly fishing with bamboo.



Especially in the fall, large tarpon can be fished from the shallow shoreline, mainly at the west end of Sanibel.