Category: Event updates

Saturday, March 20th Outing

March is traditionally our freshwater outing. We used to fish Walsingham Lake and meet up at a pavilion at
noon for the picnic. Not this time.
So, this year we must fish freshwater, but each of us also gets to decide where to fish. The only stipulation is that you can fish only in Pinellas, Hillsborough, or Manatee Counties. (So, if you live in a gatedcommunity with lots of retainer ponds with hundreds of hungry, stupid bass, your catch still qualifies.)
Members catching the longest bass, longest cichlid, and longest bream will win gift cards to Bill Jackson’s Shop for Adventure and if your fishes are the longest of the day you’ll take the lead in one of the outing tournament categories. Measure and email pictures of your possible winning fish to Bob Burkard.

Mayan cichlid? Catch and Consume. Yes, catching the longest version of this hard-fighting invasive will earn you a prize when and if we get back together in person. Here’s advice from MyFWC.: Flyfishers may use wooly worms and popping bugs. Good eating fish; take as many as you like, but do not live release them.
But, but, but…where shouldyou fish? It’s your call.

Also post them on our club’s Facebook. site….facebook.com/scff2020

                                      

Saturday, February 20th Outing

Fish the water surrounding Fort De Soto Park. If you’re a wade fisher, join other members meeting up at 7 am on the western edge of the FDP boat ramp parking area. This is a good spot to slide your kayak into the water, too.

Another plus? You don’t have to wait in line for the park to open then pay $5 to get into the park. Oh, and do not park your car in a boat-and-trailer slot or you might get a $30 fine.
Members catching the longest snook, seatrout, and redfish win gift cards to Bill Jackson’s and if they’re the longest of the day you’ll take the lead in one of the outing tournament categories. Measure and email pictures of your longest fish to
Bob Burkhard

Also post them on our club’s Facebook. site….facebook.com/scff2020

                                      

Saturday, January 23rd Outing

Fish the water surrounding Weedon Island Preserve including Tampa Bay, Riviera Bay, Bayou Grande and Master’s Bayou just south of Gandy Blvd.
We’ll have a slow incoming tide. Riviera Bay is noted for its big ladyfish. Big seatrout and redfish are being caught along the mangrove shorelines of Tampa Bay.
Members catching the longest snook, seatrout, and redfish win gift cards to Bill Jackson’s.

Kayakers: Launch near the fishing pier. Or you can rent a kayak at Sweetwater Kayaks on Weedon Drive near Riviera Bay.
Wade in options:

1. Wade in to Riviera Bay from
   Sweetwater Kayaks or other paths
   through the mangroves along the
   main road.
2. Wade in at the base of the fishing
   pier/kayak launch area.
3. Hike the Upland Trail to Lookout
   Point Trail then wade in to Tampa
   Bay. It’s a 10 to 15-minute hike.
   For safety’s sake, always fish with
   others. Join the waders meeting up
   at the main parking lot at 7:00 am.

. Take pictures and post them on our club’s Facebook. site….facebook.com/scff2020

Measure your longest fish  and email photo to Bob Burkhard.

                                      

Saturday, December 12th Outing

Fish anywhere around Fort DeSoto Park—bay, gulf, or backcountry — No official meetup. Just go and fish. Stay safe!

. Take pictures and post them on our club’s Facebook. site….facebook.com/scff2020

Measure your longest fish  and email photo to Bob Burkhard.

                                      

Saturday, November 21st

The board has decided that we should not resume picnic lunches at our outings until C-19 is over and done. (We had too much fun at the October outing and some people didn’t observe the protocols. So there!) But we can still fish and, you know, your 9-foot fly rod makes a great social distancing tool.
Fish anywhere in Boca Ciega Bay. Members catching the longest seatrout and longest ladyfish will get $10 gift certificates good at
Bill Jackson’s. Measure. Take a picture. Email the picture to Bob Burkard, outings chairman.

                                      

Sunday November 15th! Picnic Island Park in Tampa! 9-12 EST

Join our club and other clubs for the Fly Casting Competition of the year!

HOSTED By our friends at the Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club. This day is filled with team and individual fly casting competition to see who is the Big Gun!

Dave Olsen holds some crazy numbers and is an excellent caster in not just the LONG cast but the all around comp.

Experts and beginners alike are invited to test their fly casting skills at the Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club’s annual “Big Gun Shoot-Out” casting competition!

Individual and teams of 3 are welcome!

Plaques will be awarded for highest scoring individual, highest scoring teams, and the “Big Gun,” the overall distance casting champion.

Contestants will participate in competition stations that mimic the challenges of fly fishing, such as casting under the mangroves, into a cup of water, or through a hoop suspended a few feet off the ground. Come out and give it a try – you’ll be hooked!

The competition will run from 9 am – 12 pm. There is NO entry fee, and lunch will be provided to all contestants. You may use your own rod for all competition stations including the Big Gun distance contest. The long cast final for the Big Gun must be an 8 weight with a standard fly line. Volunteers also are needed to help set up the course and score contestants.

That was amazing. Here is the video presentation we had for our November Meeting.

Huge thanks to Rick our President and of course ANDY!!!

Suncoast Fly Fishers continues to bring the hard hitting presentations virtually. This one takes the cake with WORLD FAMOUS Fly Fisherman and Olympic Skier Andy Mill!

This meeting is open to all of the public and our neighboring fly fishing clubs! Don’t miss it.

November 19th 7:00PM EST.

About Andy Mill:

Andy skied on the U.S. Ski Team from 1971 to 1981 and during that time competed in two Olympics. The first in Innsbruck, Austria in 1976 and the second in Lake Placid, New York in 1980. He also skied in two World Championships – St. Moritz, Switzerland in 1974 and Garmisch, Germany in 1978.

Andy has worked with ESPN, NBC and ABC since his retirement from skiing in 1981. He has worked exclusively since 1991 with CBS covering World Cup Skiing and served as the color commentator for the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France and the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. He has hosted, wrote or produced over 400 ski shows including his own titled “Ski with Andy Mill”.

In 1994 Andy was inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.

When Andy wasn’t skiing he was fly fishing. He wrote, hosted and produced “Sportsman’s Journal” which included 81 salt water fly fishing shows.

His passion of course is Tarpon and has won 11 tarpon tournaments, the most ever for one fly fisher. He was also the only angler to win a bonefish, permit and tarpon tournament.

The latest adventure for Andy and his crew is a podcast called Millhouse. Make sure you check it out.

Suncoast Fly Fishers,

This is to remind you that we’ll have our October Meeting VIRTUALLY again, October, 15th at 7 pm.

Tail Magazine Rafle,  A free 1 year subscription will be given to one lucky member.  (You must join the ZOOM meeting to be eligible.)

Trey Reid will be our special presenter. Trey is a sport-fishing multi-tasker, an avid fisher in saltwater and freshwater, and a writer who covers and interviews some of sportfishing’s biggest names. Trey is a full time employee of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and he also has his own sports radio talk show. Get your questions ready. 

Keep your eyes on your email inbox for the Zoom meeting info and invitation. See you that Thursday!

Saturday, October 17 Outing

This is the Carl Hanson Outing in memory of the Lord of the Flies who died in 1998. Carl was a valued member of Suncoast Fly Fishers AND Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club so, of course, this annual outing is a competition. 

Usually we fish the Hillsborough River for the longest bass and the most bluegill. But this year we’re fishing the salt. So…the fly fisher who catches the longest fish of any species will get to keep the framed artwork of Carl Hanson for one year.

Fish anywhere around Fort DeSoto Park—bay, gulf, or backcountry — and meet up at 11:30 at Pavilion Three for a social distancing lunch. SFF will set out sandwiches and cold drinks on the table.  Or, bring your own lunch.

Use the hand-sanitizer. If you’re not eating, then wear your mask. And, observe social distancing. Your 9-foot fly rod is a good social distancing measure. Take pictures and post them on our club’s Facebook. site….facebook.com/scff2020

The club awards $10 gift certificates to Bill Jackson’s Shop for Adventure to the member with the longest fish. Measure your longest fish  and email photo to Bob Burkhard.

                                      

Suncoast Fly Fishers,

This is to remind you that we’ll have our September Meeting VIRTUALLY again, September, 17th at 7 pm.

Tail Magazine Rafle,  A free 1 year subscription will be given to one lucky member.  (You must join the ZOOM meeting to be eligible.)

Speaker will be Capt. Pat with a great Q &A of all things fly fishing.

Pat Damico is a club member, professional guide, an FFI Master Casting instructor, a very published writer on all things fly fishing, and an all around great guy.

Keep your eyes on your email inbox for the Zoom meeting info and invitation. See you that Thursday!