Yesterday we where dropped off at Carl Johnson/Lovers Key state park by my relatives from Wisconsin. The plan was to fish the park from 11am to 7pm. The strong Westerly winds where still blowing turning the beach waters into a cloudy soup. No beach fishing thus. As we crossed the bridge to the pavilion we saw feeding fish in the inside creeks. Many small Snook where feeding on small baitfish in the creeks. We tried every fly in the box but we just could not get any fish to eat. Finally I tied on a orange/brown Clouser and hooked a small Ladyfish. We did our best but no more fish where caught.

Beach fishing was inpossible but if the tides where right there might still be some fishing in the passes. As we arrived at New pass I saw that the tide was going in at the moment. All dirty beach water was being pushed into Estero Bay. No good for flyfishing. So we took the trolley back to the concession area and had an extensive coffee break. I knew the tides would be changing soon so after a while it was back to New pass.


New pass.

The tide had already turned and the cleaner bay water was flowing out the pass into the Gulf of Mexico. I had a small Clouser in chartreuse/white tied on. I casted it upstream and suddenly a large flash was visible in the surface. A sizeable Snook had taken the fly. Unfortunetely the 25lb test leader was not strong enough to deal with the gill plates of the Snook.
Fish 1 was lost but there where fish! I tried again and hooked a Snook where turbid beach water and cleaner bay waters mixed.
Michael did his best to catch anything but this pass fishing was new to him. After hours of fruitless casting he called it a day and went sleeping on one of the fallen Australian pines.


Michael and "his" tree.

I continued to fish the eddy and after a long wait I was rewarded a second Snook. I had already hooked one just at my feet an hour before but the hook came out.


A Snook from New Pass.

There where quite a few boats with fisherman in the pass. New Pass had always been a producer for me in the past and even during these far from ideal conditions it did not dissapoint me.
When I had no more hits for a long time I decided to take some pics of the best fisherman of the park.


Osprey


Great Egret

Fishing was tough but there where still fish present to be caught. And even if the fish are not biting Carl Johnson/Lovers Key state park is a great place to visit just because of the wildlife and scenery alone

http://www.abfla.com/parks/LoversKey/loverskey.html