Fly Cast Charters

April 14, 2013

Fly Cast Charters Newsletter


March and early April Fishin' in St. Simons

In This Issue
Fly Tying with Clear Cure Acrylics
Tailing Tides
Triple Tailin'
Stop me and say hello
Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival
March/Early April fishing report
Product Review 
Loon Outdoors Clear UV Cure Acrylics

One of my best clients in North Carolina piqued my interest in tying flies with the UV cure acrylics. Clear Cure Goo was the first name brand of this type of material to hit the market. I researched the market a little and found that the Loon products offer the best value.  I purchased their kit which includes a curing light, thick acrylic and thin acrylic.
 
 
I have tied with epoxy for years.  I love making spoons and rattle shrimp with epoxy.  I thought the instant cure acrylics were a neat idea, but no big thing.  Man was I wrong.
 
I have been struggling to come up with an authentic looking shrimp imitation.  The clear cure acrylics have provided the answer.  My first attempts were clunky, heavy and hard to cast. After a few quick internet searches I found a video on tying the crystal shrimp.  Again, my first few attempts were crude, but after a few tries, this is what I came up with:
This fly is made from crystal flash, grizzly hackle and Loon Outdoors clear cure acrylic.  Here is a link to the recipe for it on my website. Crystal Shrimp

I still wanted a larger shrimp imitation that would have a little more action and maybe entice a big ole triple tail into biting.  I had a small shrimp imitation I had bought at the Salty Feather a few years ago that had caught a few triple tail.  I just wanted one a little larger.  So this is my version of the Ultra Shrimp:

This ultra shrimp is tied on a size 2 Gama B10S stinger hook and it is a little over 3" long.  It is light and not very air resistant.  It should be a killer. 

The Loon product works great.  It is easy to use and cures quickly and does not have a strong odor.  It does leave a sticky residue after curing. The folks at Loon suggested coating it with Sally Hansen nail polish or the Loon Hard Head coating. Personally, I do not like Sally Hansen nail polish for tying flies. It really, really smells.  I tried the Hard Head coating, and it works fine, but wiping the fly with alcohol when you are finished works well, is simple, easy and inexpensive.

I know these shrimp will catch fish, and I can't wait to give a few triple tail a bad case of sore mouth with them.   

 

Capt. David Edens
"Hunting Fish in the Marshes of Glynn"  
Tailing Tide Dates
 
Several of my clients have expressed interest in the dates of the tailing tides this summer.  Here they are again.

Call soon to reserve you dates.
 
May:  8&9 marginal tides 22-25 (already booked on 23 and 24)
June: 20-23 (This is when it really starts to get good)
July:  19-23
August;  16-24 (18th - 24th are morning tides, best)
September: 9/4,  14-22 (18-22 morning tides) (9/20 already booked) These should be the best days of the year.
October: 4-10 16, 18-22.  The first of the month should be better.  Water tends to get a little too cool the end of October.
 
 Capt. David Edens
706-540-1276 cell best
912-289-1061 home
Triple Tailing  Sight fishing for floating salt water bream
  
Six pound TT caught on a Prawn's Revenge.
The triple tail have returned to the Golden Isles.  Every Spring these unique fish free float in front of Jekyll Island.  To catch them, we simply idle around until we see something that looks like a floating gray/white trash bag.  After we sight one, I put down the trolling motor and as quietly as possible maneuver the boat so you get a good shot at the fish.  The fish can be finicky, but many times you can entice a great strike with a well placed fly. 
I try to time all my trips at this time of year so we can at least get a few shots at this unique fish in this unique fishery.
This is the back window of my Silver Toyota Tacoma truck.  It is pretty much unmistakable.

If you see me riding around St. Simons or anywhere else, stop me, say hello and let's talk about Fly Fishing.
Southeast Fly Fishing Festival 
Mark you calendars for this everything fly fishing event.  It will be held May 17 and 18 on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC.

I am a featured tier, so drop by and see how I tie the Purple Passion, Prawn's Revenge and Chernobyl Flash Bang.

There are many educational courses available.  I am teaching one on Casting Accuracy Friday morning.

More information in the next newsletter 
Gay's Big Trout                      Gay's Big Trout
Capt. David Edens is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing guide as well as a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor and a member of the Federation of Fly Fishers Professional Guides Association.  This assures you of a quality trip and instruction.

Contact me through my website: Fly Cast Charters or call:
Capt. David Edens
706-540-1276 cell (best)
912-289-1061 home
March/Early April Fishing Report 
  
I have two words for the March Fishing report:
March Blows
We went from outstanding fishing in January and February-clear water, bright skies and relatively calm winds-to terrible conditions most of March.  On the first of March it was like the North Pole opened up on the Marshes of Glynn.  It started with flooding rains in the middle and south Georgia floodplains of the Satilla and Altamaha Rivers.  The rains pushed these rivers out of the banks and brought torrents of silt, mud and freshwater to the Georgia coast. Additionally, the flooding rains pushed water out of the cypress swamps, pushing tannin stained water into the sound.  This doesn't sound like a good combination for sight fishing, does it???  It isn't.

Then the cold weather and winds came.  March's average temperature was actually lower than the average temperature in January.  How bassackwards is that?  Then the winds whipped in from the North. I don't know how many charters I cancelled because of the impossible fly fishing conditions.  As March waned, so did the terrible weather.  Toward the end of March, even though the water was still tannin stained and muddy where we fished, we managed to put some really nice 10+ LB red fish in the boat for some quick CPR-Catch, Photograph and Release.

Ben managed a very nice 30"+ red on one of the very few nice days we had in March.

A few days later, Ashley managed to put two almost identical 10 lb reds into the boat.  About the only way to tell them apart is to look closely at the cuts on their tails.

His second one has a little slit at the bottom of the tail.


Early in April, Todd managed to fool a fish or two on a really tough day.  We were into fish all morning, and we couldn't get them to eat a thing.  I tried all my tried and true flies-Flashbang, Prawn's Revenge, Purple Passion, clousers etc. etc.  The only bait on the flat that day were finger mullets.  I had tied a few mullet patterns earlier this winter, and tried one simply because I was out of other ideas. This one worked.  Todd managed another ten lb red fish.

Just as I was convinced there were only ten lb fish in our area, A grandfather/grandson team teamed up to put a few slot fish into the boat.


I am so thankful to have great people and great conservationists in the boat to fish with me. So far in 2012 our kill rate is ZERO!

PS.  The whiting bite is on if you want to fish bait, and the trout bite is great this week.

Give me a call, and come, "Hunt Fish in the Marshes of Glynn."
Until next time, 
Tight Lines, strip strike and practice the Double Haul
Capt. David Edens
912-289-1061  Home
706-540-1276  Cell
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View our videos on YouTube
There are several videos on fishing in the Marshes of Glynn.   Check it out.

 As most of you know by now, Capt. Larry of St. Simons Outfitters is a dear friend, who suffered a stroke earlier last year. 

Capt Larry has had a few set backs recently, but he expects to be in the shop again soon.  Be sure to stop by while you are in St. Simons.  Larry might be there, but I keep Ellen well versed on what is happening in our salt marshes.  Ellen is more than willing to share information with you.
 
St. Simons Ouftitters has a basic selection tying supplies, hooks, a good selection of fly lines, reels and fly rod/reel combos ranging from those for the most budget minded to the finest available.   

For the latest fishing reports, please go to my web site:
www.flycastcharters.com.  Not only are there up to date fishing reports, I am constantly adding new photos, information and videos. Fish the Golden Isles, and call me to enjoy, "Hunting Fish in the Marshes of Glynn".

 

Capt. David Edens

Endorsed Orvis Fly Fishing Guide
Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor
Federation of Fly Fishers Professional Guide Association
Fly Cast Charters
803D Mallery St.
St. Simons Island, GA  31522
706-540-1276 cell
912-289-1061 home