By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

Long casts, while impressive, are often overkill. And while bombing flies into hula hoops on the back lawn improves your aim, what matters most in the real fishing world is accuracy under pressure. Pro redfish angler Travis Holeman shared with me this “40 feet in four seconds” practice drill that will help you lose the casting “yips.” His theory: if you master shorter casts -- on target and on time -- you will definitely hook more fish, from trout rising in the river to bonefish cruising the flats.

It’s a two-person exercise. Set out five targets (trash can lids, hula hoops, doormats, whatever) at 40 feet. When the caster is ready, the timekeeper calls a random target, one through five. Using a stopwatch, or shouting “one Mississippi, two Mississippi …” (like the pass rusher in a flag football game) he/she counts four seconds. The caster must hit the target before time is called. Mix it up, then trade places.

This drill makes judging distance second nature, so you focus on aiming the cast, not measuring line. The trick is to start by paying out 20 feet... [ Read Full Post ]

By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

Drought conditions persist in Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains, but there has been a shift in our weather pattern. Afternoon thunderstorms have become a regular thing as they are every summer in East Tennessee so conditions should not get any worse.

Creek fishing in the Smokies is superb this time of year. A short hike into the backcountry will not only get you away from other anglers and roadside tourists, but will also get you into eager fish. Wet wading is the comfortable way to go and the fish typically rise well to dry flies. Attractors like #16 Parachute Adams, Stimulators, and Wulffs usually get the job done. Major hatch activity has wrapped up by now but watch for egg-laying flights of Yellow Sallies late in the evening. The best fishing will be at elevations of 3000' and higher, but lower elevation streams are good. Most of these streams have rainbow trout but many have brookies and/or browns.

Tailwater fishing should be good this summer. Dry conditions limit the amount of water TVA can generate which leads to optimal flows to wade. The Watauga and South Holston are both superb rivers with good hatch activity through the summer. Sulphurs hatch in abundance... [ Read Full Post ]

By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

From a Seattle Post Intelligencer article titled "Judge Sides With Wild Salmon":

The push by property-rights advocates to count hatchery-bred salmon toward the goals of the Endangered Species Act is misguided and runs afoul of the law, U.S. District Judge John Coughenour ruled Wednesday in Seattle. His decision flatly rejects the idea that if enough salmon can be produced in hatcheries, there is little need to protect wild stocks. It also strikes down what environmentalists widely viewed as a Bush administration policy to appease building and agriculture interests. ...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19217787/ [ Read Full Post ]

By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

By Gregg Arnold

Clean water is key right now. Find it and find these; standard crab and shrimp imitation patterns always apply. This is the end of the real window for good redfish … prime time is October through March. Truthfully, the wind has been blowing all month … conditions generally suck! It is good work I would not trade with anyone. With tarpon season starting now, I’m beginning to focus my attention on Carrabelle.

But I just caught this fish along with a bunch more its size (29 pounds).

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By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

By Al Keller

Just won the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series (PTTS) in Boca Grande on Sunday! The fish was 144lbs.

I had the winning fish last Sunday on for about an hour and a 15' hammerhead chased it down in the last couple of minutes and ate it. Check out the photo below. You can see more pics on this website.

I am in Fernandina Beach now for the FLW Redfish event. Fishing-wise, it’s prime time for tarpon now, which should last for several more weeks, especially in the 10,000 Islands. Wind can make sightfishing tricky, so getting an early start and working falling tides is the key. Staple tarpon patterns, like tarpon bunnies and so forth, are the ticket. Make a good cast and retrieve, and they will eat.

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By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

By Matt McCulloch

Ling cod action remains spotty but some nice ones are being taken on live flounders and pogies. These critters love to hide in the structure, (e.g., jetties, wrecks, and rocks). Work these structures in 15-50ft of water.

Sea-run cutthroats: Action is good. Fish the outgoing tides, casting Decievers, candlefish, and other bait fish patterns. Poppers have been taking some nice fish as well.

Salmon season is opening! [ Read Full Post ]