The Tampa Bay shoreline at Cypress Point Park in Tampa is a terrific place for wade fishers. Kayakers, too. There’s lots of seagrass with interesting patterns and deeper sandy potholes. You don’t have to wade too far to work the drop-offs. We’ll have a nice incoming tide from 7 am until 1pm. The tidal current speeds up as it squeezes through the Howard Frankland Bridge which should bring bait onto the flat. This is one of my favorite wading spots and I am looking forward to fishing with our members. Some club members are meeting up at the park about 7:30 am to wade in and catch the inshore slam. Join us. You’ll see fly lines flying back and forth. Yeah. That’s us. Redfish like the flats around Cypress Point Park. Take a look at the 28-inch redfish that member Robert Fischer caught in January. He caught it wading the flats at Cypress Point Park. Maybe. We think. This is not confirmed. Still… Some of us that have received our COVID vaccinations are planning to get together for some socializing at this outing. If you are interested, please bring your own brown-bag lunch and a chair. SFF will provide soft drinks and water. The available shelters are on a 1st come basis, so I don’t have the exact location, but look for the fly rods and the great looking fishing outfits. DIRECTIONS TO TAMPA’S CYPRESS POINT PARK VIA I-275 Take the Howard Frankland Bridge (I-275) toward Tampa. Take exit 39 toward the airport. Stay in the right lane. Exit onto W. Spruce Street. Go ½ mile and turn right on N. O’Brien St. Go ½ mile and turn right (W) onto W. Cypress Street Go ½ mile and the destination is on your left.
Also post them on our club’s Facebook. site….facebook.com/scff2020
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
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
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:
Wade in to Riviera Bay from Sweetwater Kayaks or other paths through the mangroves along the main road.
Wade in at the base of the fishing pier/kayak launch area.
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.
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.
