Fly Fishing for Snook in the Everglades

Fly fishing in the Everglades can truly be a challenge. I have been guiding clients through the backcountry and islands of the Everglades for 30 years with great fly fishing success. As an Everglades fishing guide you have to be able to provide the kind of fishing your clients want to experience in these Everglades waters, whether its plug, bait or fly fishing. When fly fishing for the Everglades Snook in summer months I like to get an early start. I like to leave my dock in the Everglades before sunlight and reach my first spot as the Everglades sun starts to rise. Other Everglades fishing guides and myself find that the first couple of hours of day light seem to be the best when trying to trick an Everglades Snook into taking a fly. The Everglades Snook at this time of morning will be crashing and popping Everglades bait fish around the Everglades mangrove islands. We like to use a sneaky approach either by using a trolling motor or poling our Everglades skiff and make long casts so we do not spook these fish of the Everglades. The perfect outfit for catching the Everglades Snook is an 8 to 9 weight fly rod. The fly most used is a popular one, the white Everglades deceiver or a clouser minnow. When an Everglades snook crashes on your fly get ready for the fight of a life time. The first run of an Everglades snook is like a lighting bolt and will take you into the backing of your fly reel. The trick is to keep him from running you back into the Everglades islands and cutting you off. The leader system I like using to catch these Everglades monsters is a 9 ft, 15 lbs tippet with a 40 lb shock leader. In the winter we follow the Everglades snook deep into the Everglades backcountry where the water is warmer. If the sun is high in the sky this creates a great opportunity for sight fishing. The Everglades snook will lay on top of the Everglades water surface soaking up the sunlight to keep warm. When you present a fly to one these Everglades snook your chances are great that he’s going to eat. This technique of sight fish is very exciting and a lot of fun. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced fly fisherman the Everglades is a great place to fly fish.