I got an invitation to this year's Outdoor Writer's Bash hosted by DOA Lures (
www.doalures.com). This event allowed industry professionals and outdoor writers to get together for fun, fishing, laughs, eating, and more fun as writers are paired up with local guides for 2 days of fishing. The topic of discussion this year was DOA's new 5.5 BFL (Big F-ing Lure). This smaller version fished perfectly where snook and tarpon were feeding on mullet.
I was paired up the first day with local guide Capt. Greg Snyder (
www.stuartinshorefishing.com). The day brought forth heavy winds and churned up water but Greg remained confident that we'd get into some quality fish. And so we did... we caught various snook (including one that was an absolute slob), black drum, and seatrout on DOA Lures. The snook absolutely pummeled the 5.5 BFL.
The second day of fishing called for conditions that were a bit calmer. On this day, I was paired up with Sebastian guide Capt. Gus Brugger (
www.sebastianfishingguides.com). We decided to change the pace a little and look for cleaner water and areas where sight fishing could be had so we opted to make the move a bit further north to Ft. Pierce. The morning's fishing brought consistant action with over a dozen snook and even a sheepshead all caught on a DOA holographic Shrimp.
Each evening brought all the guides, anglers, and writers together for a first class dinner and great comradery. Many thanks to DOA Lures and the event sponsers (Oakley, Shimano, Humminbird, Eagle Claw, Minnkota, River Palms Fish cottages, Flambeau, Frog Toggs) for making this great event possible. I will always be looking forward to the next year.
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I am currently trying to close out the fly swap that I set up on the Maverick Boats forums. I've got a set of Redfish flies tied up and ready to be sent out. Stay tuned for photos and wet test videos from the swap. Sam and I will be testing these 9 different redfish fly patterns on the water and documenting it. I will be writing reviews on these flies based on difficulty to tie, fly dynamics, and fishability via a 9wt. This should prove to be fun.
