Say that 3 times really fast, fly fishing the Florida, fly fishing the Florida, fly fishing the Florida.  I have to admit it is just as hard typing it as saying it.  It probably doesn’t help that I was saying it in my mind as I was typing it!   Okay, down to business.  Contrary to popular myth fly fishing isn’t all that hard.  Yes, there is some finesse required on the casting that will take a little practice but doesn’t all fishing?  My cast certainly isn’t one to write home about but it gets the job done.  With the many forms of fishing available to try I have to say fly fishing is the best.  You can walk the river in search of the elusive trout all the while looking around you at the majestic mountains, the tall pine trees and the rugged terrain.  It is so beautiful, hence, O-Bar-O being the little slice of heaven in God’s country!  It’s as if you are communing with nature.  You feel more rested and relaxed then you possibly could have imagined.  Taking up the sport of fly fishing can be as expensive as you want it to be.  You can purchase equipment for about $200 to get started.  The return on investment is greater than you might expect.  Now, fishing different rivers and at different times of the year requires different flies.  Most local fly shops know what is working and at what time of year.  Of course, we have our own in house fisher person who, during the winter, ties flies specific to our stretch of the Florida River.  What Mike ties is indicative of our Florida River bugs.  Yea, I know, bugs….yuck!  But that is what trout feast on.  And our trout are choosy in their bugs.  They like their bugs with a little bit of bling.  Yea, I know.  O-Bar-O fish have expensive tastes!

Because our river is small and fast moving nymph fishing is the most successful.  What is nymph fishing, you ask?  It is the type of fishing that is done below the surface of the river.  You will have to get more specifics from Mike but the gest of it is fishing with some weight on your fly line allowing it to float down the river to a certain point and stripping it back up to attract potential fish.  Each part of the year there are different “hatches” of bugs.  This is where the fun begins!  You can test out flies to see what works best on the river at that given moment based on what you see flying around.  You can also ask Mike, too!  Most of the Florida River is on private property so access is next to impossible unless you know the right people.  Well, I am here to tell you that you do know the right people!  If you are not up to braving it alone we do offer our “Hooked on Fishing” package.  Call or e-mail no less than 2 weeks before your arrival to ensure time is available.

Just remember we are catch and release only using barbless hooks and artificial flies.  Well, there is an exception.  The Osprey don’t seem to get the concept of catch and release.  They squawk a bit when I remind them!

See you on the river and tight lines to everyone!