Fishing In Key West

By Author: Jamie Hanson
Total Articles: 3495
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Do you remember the last time you felt like a kid on vacation? You had so much fun you forgot all the stresses of adulthood- bills, job, savings, the economy, you name it. Vacations are for getting away from all that, and just one day out on the water Key West fly fishing definitely does the trick. Imagine gazing out over the calm clear salt water flats of Key West, hunting for bone fish. Your guide spots one first, and calls to you to throw your bait. You take a deep breath, trying to remember all the advice and tips he's been giving you all morning: throw it right in front of him, but not too close. You don't want to spook him. You peer out in the direction he pointed, your trustworthy flats guide, hoping you'll see the fish (good thing you bought those polarized sunglasses). You see the "ghost fish", as bone fish are often called. They are so spooky. You wind up your line and whoosh, throw it out. And he doesn't dart away, so you're good so far. He sees the bait, then chomps it and there goes your line- eeeeeeeee!

That, my friend, is what Key West fly fishing is all about. Mainly it's about having a good time and ...
... forgetting the real world. Then it's about your technique and skill, which your flats guide is there to happily help you out with. He can show you how to cast better, tie better flies, and overall improve your fly fishing techniques. He'll also take you to fishing spots where he knows the fish are going to be feeding. In short, your Key West guide is your ticket to the perfect day out on the water. Don't worry about having a good time - it's just a matter of fact, taken for granted if you're fishing in Key West!

Usually fly fishing is done on the flats in Key West. Flats are shallow (sometimes called "skinny") water areas surrounding the island, sometimes only one foot deep. Flats fishing is very different from other types of fishing because you are actually looking for the fish rather than chumming or otherwise trying to lure them to your bait. The flats are so shallow you can see clearly to the bottom, and any fish swimming around will be visible. The one thing that can reduce the visibility is ripples on the surface of the water, caused by wind. You are basically hunting the fish, unlike offshore, reef, Gulf or other types of fishing done around Key West.

Casting your fly at the fish in flats waters is a unique way of fishing, and if you like to do any type of fishing back home, you might want to try Key West fly fishing next time you're down here in the Southernmost City. Choose from dozens of flats fishing guides, with decades of experience. You can even book online ahead of time for discounts of the normal price.

Find out more about Key West fly fishing fishkeywestguides.com.