Gear and Equipment for Your Florida Everglades Fishing Adventure
Spirit of the Fly has everything you need to find and hook a big one in the Florida Everglades. Here’s a brief overview of the equipment you’ll be using when you fish with me:
The vessel: A 2016 17′ 8″ Maverick HPX-S flats boat with a 70-horsepower Yamaha motor
- Forward-casting platform with a safety rail (both easily removed)
- I-Pilot trolling motor
- Rear polling platform
- Ample storage below deck
- Lowrance navigation system
The forward-casting platform is perfect for sight-fishing. Unfortunately, it can still be difficult to see the fish due to strong wind or poor water quality. If that’s the case, I remove the platform so it’s easier to cast under and near the mangroves.
The rods and tackle:
- 7 through 12 weight Sage rods. I prefer 9 myself.
- Ross, Hatch and Nautilus reels
- Saltwater, weight-forward floating and intermediate sink-tip lines with 30 to 60 pound shock/bite tippet, by Rio Products or Scientific Anglers
If the wind picks up and you have trouble casting, I’ll provide you with a few pointers to help out. And please don’t ever hesitate to ask me a question about casting, fishing or the Everglades in general when out on the water.
Practice fishing in the park!
If you’re not an experienced fly-caster, you might want to hone your skills a little before going on a tour. One of the best spots to practice fly-casting is at your neighborhood park. Simply tie a piece of yarn in place of your fly and just start casting. That way, you can make casts that you wouldn’t otherwise be comfortable trying from the bow of a flats boat.
Not comfortable with fly fishing?
I also provide quality spinning gear to cast artificial bait. I have all Loomis rods and Shimano reels, up to Tarpon weights.
Some days, the fishing’s just spectacular in the Everglades; other days, you’ve got to fish incredibly hard to catch anything. That’s why I’ve invested in a quality vessel and fishing gear, which will help maximize our chances. Plus, I’ll do my absolute best to make sure you catch a prize fish.
Remember, even if you don’t catch lots of tarpon, snook, or redfish, the entire experience is always a winner!
