White River Fly Shop

Orlando’s White
River Fly Shop News
September 2015
Welcome to the Orlando White River Fly Shop. We hope you’re able to
find everything you need, be it rods, reels, line, flies, a shoulder to cry on as
you relate a story of a fish missed, or just someone to listen as you brag
about the big one that didn’t get away. Anyway, here’s what’s going on.
New Products and Special Deals
Rio General Purpose Saltwater
An All-purpose saltwater fly line designed for early season and cool
climes
RIO's General Purpose Saltwater fly line is designed for anglers that fish
non tropical destinations, and for early season bonefish. The line is built
with a supple braided multifilament core that ensures the line stays limp
in the coolest of conditions, and has a hard, AgentX and XS technology
saltwater coating for the slickest of finishes. It is suitable for a multitude
of saltwater species. Welded loops on both ends of the line allow anglers
to rig easily.
•
Slightly heavier, easy casting line for a multitude of species
•
Coldwater core that stays limp even in the coldest of conditions
•
Welded loops on both ends to allow fast and easy rigging
Those of us that fish in the east coast waters year round know that the temperatures drop pretty drastically and
tropical lines become tough to use. We’re getting ready to add this general purpose line to our inventory so that
Rio users have a premium alternative that’s better suited to our environment through a greater portion of the
year. The head design should carry our flies with ease, remain stable over long distances, and load rods well.
Stop in to check it out in a few months and maybe you’ll discover the true potential of your favorite stick!
pg. 1
Clinics and Classes
Our classes are provided as regularly as possible. The best thing to do is call in to determine whether or not
the session is going to take place. Manpower requirements, special events, or weather may require cancelling
a session and we apologize in advance if this causes any inconvenience. Please call the night before a casting
clinic or the morning before tying class to find out if things are going according to plan. The phone number is
(407)563-5200.
Fly Casting: We offer free casting clinics Saturday mornings at 10 AM and Sunday morning at 11 AM, for
anyone who might need some help with their form or get the most distance and accuracy whether they’ve
been doing it a while or just getting started. Equipment is provided if necessary, but if you have a rod, it’s
best to learn and practice with what you will be using on the water. Our class size is limited to 8 people and
will require prior signup. Just call in to put your name on the list.
⃰ We also offer one-on-one instruction throughout the week on a limited basis when time and manpower
allows. Just stop in and let us go through our work schedules to determine availability. This is your chance
to get personal instruction and work on specific issues or skills.
Fly Tying: Classes are held at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evenings in the fly shop. We will continue to
alternate fresh and saltwater throughout the rest of the year so there will be other chances to get in on a
complete six-week course.
Special Event
pg. 2
Fishing Forecast
Central Florida Saltwater
September is another month of transition with a whole host of fishing possibilities that you just don’t want to
miss out on. In no particular order, we can look forward to:
Redfish schooling for the fall spawn. September is the month when the breeding schools gather to propagate the
species, which inadvertently provides flats anglers the chance to happen upon mammoth groupings of monster
fish, who despite being in the mood for love, will eat well because it’s also the beginning of the fall season when
they feed heavily for the coming winter. They can be found just about anywhere in the Indian River and
Mosquito Lagoon system, so your choice of locations isn’t quite as critical as normal. You should still be
searching in water from one to three feet deep (which is most of our target area), being especially aware of
waking fish and humps pushing through the shallows. Just remember that the number of fish in a school will be
quite a bit more than what you actually see, so don’t lob a cast into the middle of them, or you’re sure to spook
the entire school. Pick at the edges with a mullet fly or possibly a topwater gurgler to get their attention. You
might want to increase your class tippet sizes a bit since the potential for a massive specimen are quite good.
Sebastian Inlet is absolutely going nuts right now (for guys that time it right) with snook, tarpon, redfish,
ladyfish and a whole bunch of others. MOVING TIDE is absolutely key to hooking into some fun fish, since
they really only feed while the water is moving in one direction or the other. Location along the jetties becomes
key at this point because the fish position themselves downstream in the flow so that food comes to them. A
good spot on an incoming tide may not be the moneymaker on an outgoing so be prepared to change your
location and presentation as necessary. Sinking lines and baitfish flies or streamers should be the go-to
equipment for most of the fish especially with large schools of mullet present. Bring plenty of flies if the
bluefish and spanish mackerel show up since they’ll cut off plenty of your offerings.
The fall mullet run will be in full swing by the end of the month, bringing with it the chance to land an
enormous variety of fish without having to move your feet very far. Canaveral National Seashore, Patrick AFB,
Satellite Beach, Melbourne, Indian Harbour, Sebastian, and Vero Beach are prime regions to start your search
for activity because the beaches in those areas steeply drop off right at the surf line, allowing the larger predators
to chase their prey right up onto the sand. I’ve actually had sharks swim between myself and the dry sand while
chasing down food, and YES, I did get out of the water at that point. Glass minnows, and mullet combine to
produce an irresistible smorgasbord for all the nearshore species so you just never know what you’re going to
hook into.
Fish when you locate activity and keep moving from one beach access to another if you don’t find busting bait
and/or birds diving on bait schools. The single best day I ever had started by locating terns and egrets picking
up glass minnow from the beach, and all manner of sea birds diving for the depths. Pelicans, terns, gulls, egrets,
and herons are your friends at this time of year because they can help you locate prey and therefore predators.
Carry a variety of rods and fly types if you plan on getting in on the action this year. I’ll carry way more tackle
than I need in most cases but that’s because you just don’t know what players are going to show up from one
day to the next. You may need anything from seven through 12 weights if you want to be into whatever
happens along, whether it’s ladyfish or sharks. Just be sure to have some bite tippets incorporated in your leader
systems because most of the fish have teeth. Thirty pound fluorocarbon, through steel wire might be necessary.
Small baitfish up to and including aggressive topwaters will all get bitten by something.
Just don’t forget your stripping basket.
pg. 3
Central Florida Freshwater
Even though there’s plenty of things to chase here this month, I’m looking out of the state for some of the best
action you can possibly find for a fly rod. Especially in the Great Lakes that have populations of salmon.
Michigan has plenty of them and September is prime time for catching your fair share.
Here’s my good friend and fishing partner Ron
(even though he has way more time to fish than
I do) hooked up with a nice Betsie River fish
that we never actually put hands on. It proved
to be way smarter than either of us.
And this fish here is from the Rogue River also
in Michigan. I’d like to have gotten a better
picture, but it just wouldn’t cooperate and my
camera man was a half mile away doing his
own thing. They are amazingly strong even
late in the spawning season (late October) so
choosing the right rod is greatly important. An
eight weight works but a nine or ten might
make things a little bit easier when combined
with heavy leaders. Spey and switch rods can
be a bit lighter weight because they rely on their length advantage to leverage a fish to hand. Brightly colored
streamers and egg patterns are the way to go as long as you can get them down to the fish’s level. Swinging
down and across current is my favorite way to approach them, but strike indicator/egg combinations drifted with
the current account for their fair share of fish. Don’t be surprised if you don’t actually feel as strike. Many
times the fly will just disappear and then all heck breaks loose. Prepare yourself to chase them around for a
while as you try to get some line on the reel since they’re heavy, strong, and working with current to their
benefit. Unintended snagging does happen quite often when the fish are stacked up heavily at which point your
best bet is to straight line the fish and hope to break it off as close to the hook as possible. Landing a foul-
pg. 4
hooked fish is tough at best so conserve your energy and look for another one. A foul-hooked fish isn’t legal in
many places so landing and keeping it might just get you in trouble anyway.
Water temperature and rainfall are the key to determining when to call off work and get tickets to a northern
region. They need things to cool off a little and a fresh rain to trigger an increased creek flow. That makes the
fish want to migrate into and up the rivers. Things should really be hopping by the end of the month.
Locally, we’re still in that summer pattern with fish hanging deep during the day and roaming shallower as the
evening wears on and into the night. Bass have been eating well on crank baits, diving plugs, and deep running
jigs in many of the local lakes according to some regulars. The trick though is to locate them with electronics
while they’re still deep below the surface. The comfortable temperature is what they want but some kind of
structure can’t hurt. Submerged creeks, rock piles, underwater brush, deep weed beds… Anything that the
school can hang around is a place you need to search. Be on the lookout for schools of baitfish as well since the
fish have to eat at some point and the action can be explosive when they pop to the surface.
Switch to frogs, lizards, Senco’s and the like late in the afternoon and into the night. The fish will get shallower
and more willing to strike those kinds of baits and flies that can mimic the same type of motions. I’m a sucker
for a black gurgler worked pretty aggressively along the drop offs from one to four or five feet. Certain lakes I
frequent don’t even turn on till near dark regardless of which method I’m using so I may not try too hard till
then. Maybe I just need a depth finder for my kayak.
The springs and creeks will still produce well as long as we don’t get too much rain. Many of them will rise out
of their banks, becoming unfishable, but Silver, Salt, DeLeon, Juniper, and Wekiva should still fish well up in
the bushes for stumpknockers, redbellies, bluegill, and bass.
Tippet of the Month
Cost is one of the biggest concerns for people just getting into fly fishing because over the years it has been
perceived as a “rich man’s sport” that only the wealthy can get into. Some folks were lucky enough to see
through this fallacy allowing them to get into the game and enjoy years of fishing fun. So what would I get for
someone interested but not committed to fly fishing? Here are a couple options.
TFO Professional II Rod and Hobbs Creek
Reel Complete Fly Outfits.
A White River Fly Shop® Exclusive!
This TFO Complete Fly Outfit includes the
Professional II rod of your choice, a Hobbs Creek®
Fly Reel, weight-forward floating fly line, backing
and tapered leader.
Re-designed for improved performance—and still
the best value in fly fishing—our latest Hobbs
Creek Fly Reel has the large-arbor design you've
come to know and love for its rapid line recovery
and flawless performance. A one-way bearing
makes it easier than ever to change from left- to
right-hand cranking. The Hobbs Creek Fly Reel
also sports a shielded disc drag system that resists
the dirt and grit that can take a toll on lesser reels. And to keep this baby performing and looking its best, our fly reel is
constructed from strong but lightweight aluminum and given a durable, baked-on powder-coat finish.
pg. 5
Temple Creek Outfitters Professional II Series Fly Rods are the perfect choice for all anglers and all skill levels.
Smooth casting and an incredible value, the TFO Pro Series Fly Rod blanks sport a matte black finish and supple gold
logos, oversized stripper guides and premium grade cork handles. Each of these 4-piece fly rods comes with a rod sock.
Here’s a link to our website so you can do some shopping: http://www.basspro.com/TFO-Professional-II-Rod-and-HobbsCreek-Reel-Complete-Fly-Outfits/product/12092605220112/
Sage Approach Rod/Sage 2200 Reel
Fly Outfits
Sage® Approach™ Fly Outfits come with
a Sage 2200 reel, Rio® Gold Fly Line, and a
Cordura® rod case with a reel pouch.
Sage 2200 Series Fly Reels are a valueconscious expansion of Sage's popular
4200 series. Features include a large arbor
with rugged machined die-cast frame,
generous concave spool surface, whispersmooth carbon drag, and unexpected
finishing touches such as a fully machined
drag knob and handle.
Calling the 4-piece Sage Approach Fly Rod "entry-level" just doesn't do it justice—you can easily grow with one without
ever feeling you've outgrown it. Higher modulus graphite produces a medium-fast action and provides excellent feel and
control. Distinctive features include an Oyster Shell shaft color. Black primary thread wraps with silver trim wraps, a
ceramic stripper guide, hard-chromed snake guides and tip-top, and a reverse half-wells grip. #7, #8, and #9 weights
feature a full-wells grip, fighting butt, and aluminum reel seat. Approach Rods allow you to grow, without ever feeling
you've outgrown them. For more information: http://www.basspro.com/Sage-Approach-Rod/Sage-2200-Reel-FlyOutfits/product/1309110626205/
World Wide Sportsman Gold Cup Complete Fly
Outfit
Designed for saltwater fly anglers, the World Wide
Sportsman® Gold Cup® Complete Fly Outfit has the
strength it takes to land those saltwater game fish.
The World Wide Sportsman Gold Cup Fly Reel
was tested for 3 years from Alaska to Florida. It's
constructed from cold-forged, CNC-machined, 6061
T6 aluminum, and boasts a sealed 11-washer drag
stack. To the pure saltwater junky, we'll describe it
as smooth, strong, reliable and, dare we say,
bulletproof.
The 4-piece World Wide Sportsman Gold Cup Fly
Rod casts superbly, and whips fish fast due to its
double-helix construction that doubles hoop strength. Compare, and you won't see this kind of long wearing, grade-A cork
on rods costing twice this much! Nobody is making you fish with an ugly rod.
Complete Outfit includes 9' World Wide Sportsman Gold Cup Rod of your choice, matching size Gold Cup Fly Reel, World
Wide Sportsman Extreme Fly Line, and Gel-spun backing. Check it out at: http://www.basspro.com/World-WideSportsman-Gold-Cup-Complete-Fly-Outfit/product/1412300711232/
Each of these outfits has something special to offer so they’re worth checking out. Their price levels vary but depending
on your budget and the desired quarry, you’re sure to find something to bring along on your next fishing adventure.
pg. 6
Species of the Month
Graphic and text: http://www.shrimpnfishflorida.com/bait_fish_identification.htm
“Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera) are in the grunt family and are another good bait for most bottom fish.
Tarpon are also particularly fond of them. I have read that they are a fair-flavored panfish, but I think it's time to
tell you that I am not in the habit of eating my bait - and pigfish are bait on my boat. I have a credo that I share
with "Ziggy" in the funny papers; "I consider it a successful fishing day if my catch outweighs the bait." So don't
forget: pigfish are bait. They do grow to about a foot in length and are best used from a still or very slowly
drifting boat. They will not troll well, but most fish do like to eat them. Usually we catch pigfish when we are
gold-hooking for other baits so we don't expect to get a well full, just a few at a time. Those of you who don't
own boats, please remember: when I write about a still or slowly drifting boat, the same can be applied to pier or
bridge fishing.”
Success Stories
Please bring in some pictures of your successful days on the water. We’d love to share them with other
fishermen with similar interests and desires, but quite possibly no means to hit the water. We enjoy sharing in
the dream.
A nice little ditch tarpon caught a few
weeks ago.
pg. 7
Does this count?
Conclusion
In closing, we would like to thank
you for your business and we
hope to see you again soon. From
all of us here at Bass Pro Shops
Outdoor World Orlando, keep
your dry flies dry, your wet flies
wet, and may the wind always be
in your favor.
Sincerely,
Brian “Beastman” Eastman
pg. 8