Fly Fishing for Pompano DIY Where and How: Expert Tips
Fly fishing for pompano is a thrilling experience. This guide dives into the DIY aspects of fly fishing for pompano, showing you where and how to target this prized saltwater species. This challenging pursuit is known for the fight pompano put up, and they are also excellent table fare.
Are you ready to discover the secrets of fly fishing for pompano? This comprehensive guide covers everything from finding the right locations and selecting the perfect fly. You’ll be ready to hook these silver bullets in no time.
Table of Contents
Fly Fishing for Pompano DIY Where and How: Finding Your Fishing Grounds
Pompano thrive in shallow coastal waters with sandy or grassy bottoms. Look for these shallow flats in bays, estuaries, and nearshore zones during warmer months, from spring to fall.
Best Times to Fish
Dawn and dusk are prime times to fish for pompano. These fish are most active during these low-light periods and feed as the light changes, making them more likely to strike your fly. This is especially true near the surf conditions of the shoreline.
Ideal Locations for Pompano
Shallow bays, estuaries, and coastal stretches with sandy bottoms or seagrass beds are productive spots for pompano fishing. Look for troughs, drop-offs, and inlets where pompano patrol for food.
Sandbars and grass flats are also productive locations for finding pompano. The Indian River and Indian River Lagoon systems are known hotspots for those fishing pompano, as are many of the inshore bays.
Electric Clouser Rabbit Minnow
Fly Fishing Pompano one of my favorite patterns is an Electric Clouser Rabbit Minnow in a size #4. This is also a great Muskie fly fishing pattern.
Performance Designed Saltwater Fishing Graphic Hoodie
Choice in Saltwater Fishing Apparel, can make a difference on your day. On warm days, even with wind I like a UPF-50 Saltwater Graphic Hoodie, with a sewn in facemask and extend sleeves with thumb cuffs.
Working the Tides
Pompano anglers catch fish at both high and low tides. But a rising tide often brings warmer, cleaner water into the shallows.
This influx of fresh saltwater often brings increased pompano fishing reports and feeding activity.
Gearing Up: Tackle and Flies for Pompano
The right tackle makes all the difference when fly fishing for pompano. This includes a fly rod stout enough to handle their spirited fight, and a long leader.
Choosing Your Weapon: Rod and Reel
A 7- to 9-weight fly rod with a saltwater-resistant reel and matching fly line is recommended. This setup provides the power for casting in windy conditions, or working a weighted fly a long distance. It is ideal for managing a hard fight, which Pompano are known for. Choosing a great fly fishing setup may help your pompano fly fishing adventure.
The heavier reel balances the outfit for more accurate casts. Look for heavier weighted fly options if you want to be successful. Having the right balance is crucial when using a foot leader near structures.
Fly Line Selection for Pompano
Floating fly lines work great when pompano are feeding near the surface. A clear intermediate sink tip line is a better choice when they are tailing in deeper water.
Sinking lines can help you get down in the troughs. Intermediate clear sink tips sink slower, keeping your fly in the feeding zone longer.
Top Flies for Pompano: Patterns That Work
Pompano eat small crabs, shrimp, or baitfish, so use brightly colored flies that imitate these. Small schools of pompano often follow orange flies a significant distance before striking.
| Fly Name | Why It Works | Colors/Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Clouser Minnow | Versatile baitfish imitator. | Pink/Chartreuse/White/#4-#1 |
| Shrimp Patterns | Appeals to pompano’s shrimp diet. | Tan/Pink/#4-#1 |
| Crazy Charlie | Erratic action and flash are attractive to pompano. | Pink/Chartreuse/#2-#4 |
| Sand Flea Patterns | Natural tan/cream/#4-#6 |
Imitates a natural food source in their sandy habitat.
I use a 9′ leader with a strong butt section and a lighter tippet section when fly fishing for pompano. He finds a chartreuse Clouser minnow or crab pattern is productive when sight fishing for this saltwater species. Remember that clear water helps when sight fishing.
Techniques for Landing More Pompano
Fly fishing for pompano is more than just choosing the right fly or setup. It’s about presentation, technique, and understanding their behavior.
Casting to Structure for More Pompano
Pompano are structure-oriented fish, often found around objects that provide cover or concentrate food sources. Good locations for pompano fly fishing include Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and the Florida Panhandle. Consider using small crabs or chum to entice fish near you.
Target areas like sandbars, drop-offs, weed beds, oyster bars, docks, and other submerged objects when fishing for pompano. The calmer surf and clearer water often present better opportunities.
Varying Retrieves for the Most Strikes
Varying your retrieval speeds imitates struggling crabs, escaping shrimp, or darting baitfish. Begin with slow strips, punctuated by pauses. Incorporate faster strips or short twitches for variety. Doing this increases your chances for reaction strikes.
Crabs are very good pattern for Fly Fishing Pompano
Reading the Water Conditions
Clear water conditions are best when fly fishing for pompano, although fishing for them can be achieved in a wide variety of conditions. Use a brightly colored fly in slightly murky water for visibility, and utilize pound fluorocarbon. Big pompano require different gear, but can be easily caught with some knowledge and technique. Be prepared for how hard they fight. A short leader can also be of benefit here, sometimes even only a foot long. The best flies may surprise you as pompano can even be taken on smaller freshwater flies.
Polarized glasses are important for spotting fish, small mouths and bottom contours, and the Florida Sportsman forum discusses pompano locations, especially in clear water. This is because they will sometimes form large schools.
If fishing around troughs or in the surf line with wave action, consider using an intermediate sink tip line for faster retrieves.
Casting to pompano from the beach lets you adapt quickly to the changing shoreline. Accurate casting is vital in shallow water, where pompano are usually found.
Pompano & Snook Fly Fishing Pattern
Flies & Saltwater Fly Fishing Apparel
Pompano & Snook Fly Fishing Pattern, Thou its been know to catch a few bass. Often I’ve found just having confidence in what I am casting to be enough or just plain lucky if you believe in that type of thing.
Sun protection for your hands is just important. UPF-50 Fishing Glove, sun protection, with a stripping guide are a must.
On The Flats or in a Boat Hand Protection is Important
Tips and Tricks to Reel in More Pompano
Fly fishing for pompano is both species-specific and challenging, and only skilled pompano anglers consistently succeed.
Pay Attention to Details for Peak Performance
Consider what pompano are seeking. Watch for baitfish schools, predatory birds diving, or surface ripples, or find where the fish stay on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Bridge channels are also productive areas for fly fishing.
Fly fishing from a boat might be necessary if a bar or shoal makes wading or surfcasting impossible. Mitchell Outdoors posts regular reports.
Tying Vlahos’ Hardshell Sand Flea Fly
Nick Vlahos’s hardshell sand flea, or mole crab fly, was designed for shallow flats. This weighted pattern will elevate your pompano fishing. Vlahos took the silver medal with it in an Orvis fly tying competition. This was noted by the Florida sportsman editor in his Florida fly fishing report.
- Prepare the Hook: Use a Partridge Hook (size 2-6). Secure the thread to the hook shank and form a cream or white thread base near the eye.
- Form the Body: Mix epoxy and cream color, place it behind the eye, and mold it into an oval shape. Allow it to fully cure.
- Setting the Eyes: Once hardened, glue glass beads onto the body for the crab’s eyes.
- Adding Antennae: Secure a short piece of cream or white mono near the eyes with a knot.
- Fabricating the Legs: Repeat the previous step, attaching two more antennae per side along the base. Trim to similar lengths, curling them slightly away from the body.
- Adding Weight: A heavier eye at the base adds weight for long casts in windy conditions. Stick-on eyes allow customization.
- Finishing Your Sand Flea: Seal the knot, epoxy, and glue. Trim any excess material and allow it to cure completely.
Tying flies requires an understanding of pompano behavior and habitat. Creating your own flies provides variety when fish ignore traditional patterns.
Test your flies at various fly fishing locations in the USA to improve your patterns.
FAQs about Fly Fishing for Pompano DIY Where and How
Where is the best place to fish for pompano?
Pompano prefer grassy flats, shallow sandy areas, bays, estuaries, and nearshore coastal zones.
What is the best pattern for pompano flies?
Effective pompano fly patterns include Clouser Minnows, small shrimp and sand flea imitations, and Crazy Charlies. These are some of the great flies used for catching this saltwater species. Fly fisherman Mike Conner notes that matching fly size with the forage present in a specific area may also lead to successful hook ups with pompano, especially if using blind casting methods and/or weighted patterns.
What size fly rod for pompano?
A 7- to 9-weight rod is typically best, offering a balance of power and finesse. They give better hookups and fight management.
Where do you cast to catch pompano?
Target sandbars, troughs, drop-offs, weed beds, areas with baitfish, or signs of activity.
Conclusion Fly Fishing for Pompano
Fly fishing for pompano DIY provides an exciting challenge for anglers. Fly fishing for pompano DIY requires not only understanding their habitats and preferences but using appropriate gear, flies, and techniques.
Whether fishing from shore, a pier, or a flats boat, use the right techniques. Patience is important since conditions can vary. This can even vary during different stages of the tide and may determine where and when a pompano will strike your bait or artificial presentation.
Focus on details like leader type, length, and color. When drifting from a boat, using multiple lines increases the chance of a strike. Every DIY addition to your fishing toolbox improves your chances of catching pompano.
