First Light

I fished early this morning with a couple of great guys. One was from Singapore the other was from Midland Michigan. We left early to accommodate a long return flight to Singapore. It was great to be on the water a first light, but it was 46-degrees and the fish weren't awake yet. We threw everything we had at them and only managed a few Brookies. Beautiful as they are we were hoping for more and bigger fish! Guess we can't always have what we want!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Night Time Action

Busy today with fisherman coming in to enjoy Holiday Weekend on the AuSable. Cabins are filling up and boat is ready for early mission tomorrow. Big News Flash!! Brown Drake spinners on the Mainstream last night. Hang on guys things are starting to break loose!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Getting Ready

Spent the day today getting supplies in for the big weekend! Trying to get all the canoes and kayaks ship shape and my fishing boat totally ready. Not much left to do on boat after yesterdays shake down trip. Weather in Northern Michigan is wonderful for this time of year! We just got off the River taking an evening canoe ride. Lots of large Stone Flies on the water and a few fish feeding.

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Back In Action

It was my first trip back on the Ausable today! I fished with a couple of guys from Detroit. We had lots of great action and landed lots of Browns and Brook Trout. We fished mainly with three flies Sulfur Duns, Grey Stone Flies and Mahoganies. It was wonderful to be back on the river.

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Back On the AuSable

I finished my return trip yesterday around 4 PM. I was in a kayak and floating the River by 5! It is wonderful to be home on the River I love. The Flats of the Keys are super but Michigan is home to me. It was a very uneventful two days on the road.

I went out with a bang in Key Largo, we won the tournament going away final tally was 7 Tarpon, 3 Snook and 2 Bonefish. Now I must get ready for the Trout!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Wild Finish

I was fishing with a couple anglers in an Ocean Reef Club Flats Tournament. We had an unbelievable day on the water! It started off around 9AM with the hookup of a 100-pound Tarpon! It took over an hour to release him and head off for more adventure. Before the day would end we landed three more Tarpon and added two nice Snook. We were the High Lines for the day, but have to fish tomorrow also.

After fishing tomorrow the boat goes on the trailer and I am off for the summer in Michigan. I will be out of service while I am in route. I will fill you in upon my arrival in Michigan.

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

So Close

I fished with a couple of old buddies from South Florida yesterday. Our target was Permit. We got close right out of the blocks! Ten minutes into the trip we spotted a fining Permit in the slick calm water. I was warned at the start that they where not seasoned Flats Anglers. It proved to be true! After several errant cast the permit moved away. I should have brought a prozac with me!! We had shot at six Permit in all and no hookups. We all had to learn sometime and I know they would take me to school Offshore where they fish most of the time. We lowered the bar and ended up catching six sharks, which was great fun and it put a bow in the rod! Great to see all the Permit!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Tarpon Snub

I fished with the Flippins last night going for Tarpon. Faze on was a success we found lots of rolling Tarpon. Faze two just never happened! We caught more huge Jacks, but Tarpon were just laughing at us. It was a beautiful evening and we had a great time. We are fishing again Friday and Saturday so I am sure we can seal the deal. They will be my last mission in Florida for the season on Saturday. The AuSable and all my Trout friends are calling!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Big Jacks

I fished with a couple of guys from Pennsylvania yesterday. We were looking for Tarpon on fly. The weather got really cloudy for us and we couldn't see the fish very well. We choose to switch to live bait and head for the Creeks. We had nonstop action with big Jacks and Groupers! We had two double hookups and had a great afternoon!! I will be looking for Tarpon again tonight.

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Slow Day

I fished yesterday morning with a lady from Ocean Reef Club. We were looking for either Tarpon or Bonefish on fly. It was very had to see with the wind and clouds. We burned a lot of fuel and covered a lot of flats to no avail. We had one fish eat the fly and run off some line , but he spit it out and away he flew. Today is going to be better!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Another Bonefish Day

I left Ocean Reef Club this morning with a couple of members. Our target species was Tarpon. We first stopped in Broad Creek and Tarpon were rolling everywhere! We stayed for an hour and never managed a bite. Next stop we tried for Bonefish. After 15 minutes we caught a nice one! Next stop we tried for Tarpon again and again no bites. We tried for Bonefish one more time and caught another dandy!! Life is good!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Bonefish Morning

I fished with a couple from Vermont this morning. We left Ocean Reef Club Looking for Bonefish. We hit several flats with no luck. I than ran up to Ceasers Creek and we began to see some fish. Before we left the Creek we landed three beautiful Bonefish. Largest was 9-pounds! It was still windy but fish didn't care. Looking for tarpon in the AM.

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Widy Weather

It was another windy day in sunny South Florida. My mission today was canceled because the clients plane needed to leave to avoid the strong winds. I spent the day cleaning out my apartment getting ready to head back to Michigan. Next week is filling up so I have to get ready ASAP.

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Sad Day

It was a very sad day for me today. It was the last trip of the season for me with Fred Pape and Gail Guyton. We have fished an afternoon a week for many years. We share a passion for fly fishing and also share conservative values. It is a sad time of year when my regular customers head north for the summer! Another week and I will be heading north for the AuSable and the Trout.

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Challenging Day

Yesterday was cloudy and windy in Key Largo. We left the dock looking for Bonefish knowing it was going to be a struggle. I was fishing with a couple from New Jersey and we were fishing with a fly rod. We visited several flats with no luck. Finally we ended up at Ceasers Creek and we were able to seduce A Bonefish with a spawning shrimp pattern. It was tough, but we pulled it off at the end!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Boat Work

I had the day off today so I used the time to catch up on lots of much needed boat work. My baby got a good cleaning from bow to stern and a little TLC for the motor. Hoping to be back on the Flats tomorrow with some good fish action!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Visual Grand Slam

I fished with a couple from New York City today. I was another glorious day in the Florida Keys. We had a light north west wind when we left the Ocean Reef Club. We headed out looking for Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon on Fly. During the course of this grand day we had a shot at them all! We had more opportunities at Tarpon. We saw them in all sizes. We were able to have two eats and get lots of jumps, but nothing to the boat. We returned with our heads held high knowing we did our best!!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Tarpon On Fly

I fished with a nice guy from New Jersey this morning. It was slick calm a we left Ocean Reef Club. At our first stop we had had a great shot at some fining Permit. The combination of a long winter without casting and a big fly rod did us in. As the morning progressed so did the casting level. The Flats were alive with Tarpon this morning and we capped it off with a 100-pounder on a Black Death.

This afternoon I fished with a mother and daughter from Miami. We had lots of shots at both Tarpon and Permit. We were hooked up to a dandy Permit when a huge school of Tarpon came by and cut the line with their fins! Bummer!!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Good Cause

I fished with a group of guys representing a good cause today. The Generous Giving Org. It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun on the water! First we caught some rod benders up in the Creeks. We then moved to the Flats looking for Bonefish. We came in contact with a Hammerhead Shark that was at least 10-feet long. It was a wonderful creature! We tried several Flats to no avail than Matt Mancinelli managed to land a nice Bone! We saw several more Bull Sharks then back to Ocean Reef. I have an early trip tomorrow lets think Big!!!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Dandy Tarpon

I fished this morning with two fellows from Ocean Reef. It was a beautiful morning with light wind. We started out catching a big Barracuda. Next stop we landed a 100-pound Tarpon and a dandy Jack! We finished of the morning with a couple of Groupers.

On the afternoon trip we started out hot! We had four shots at Permit on fly! Our afternoon mission was interrupted with some boat issues. Back at it tomorrow!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Life Is Good

I fished with a group of guys from the New York City area today. We headed out from Ocean Reef Club looking for anything that swims. We ended up In Card Sound and had good luck right off the bat. We Landed three nice Snook and jumped a dandy Tarpon. Weather was wonderful and we enjoyed every second. We headed back across the Sound and ended up on the edge of a channel. We had a couple of big hits, but failed to keep them on the line. It was time to head back to the dock so away we went. Day off tomorrow, lot's to catch up on!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Super Day

I had an outstanding day on the Flats today. This morning I fished with Cris Watkins and a friend from Palm Beach. We headed for the far side of Card Sound and the fun started. Cris started out catching a couple of Snook. New angler same results, before it was over we had three Snook and four Tarpon!! What a great morning!

This afternoon we left Ocean Reef looking for Oceanside Tarpon. First stop bingo! We had a plug and a crab in front of them, but no bites. We traveled to several other spots before we hooked a monster Barracuda, he gave us a great fight and finally took us around an island and away he went. What a great day!

Tight lines, Capt. Dave

Fun Fishing

I fished today with a couple of great guys from Seattle. We fished with both spin and fly rods. I burned a lot of gas today and we saw lots of different fish. We even managed to catch a couple of Sharks. The most excitement for the day came at the very end. We ran into a huge school of Tarpon! At least a hundred fish! It was wild. We were taking waves over the bow , but it was fun just to watch the fish! It would have been great to catch one , but it was lots of fun to be in their space!!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

May Day

May got off to a weird start in Key Largo today. It was totally cloudy this morning, sunny midday and totally cloudy late this afternoon. I fished out of Ocean Reef Club with a group from the Dairy Industry. We had a busy trip. I started out in Midnight Pass looking for Bonefish. There we caught a couple of Sharks. We moved back across Card Sound and fished a Creek where we landed 20 Mangrove Snappers. Last stop was on a Flat where we caught a Bonefish! Fun Day!!

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave