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Practice, Practice, Practice
Before you come here take some time to learn a
few basic skills or brush up on some old ones.
A Suggestion
By, Capt Steven Lamp
It can cost up to 450.00 to fish
with a top quality guide here in the Keys. Couple that with about
2000.00 in gear if you are a serious fly fisherman and then the whole vacation
to get here and stay while you fish. and you have yourself a hefty
investment, making golf look like a poor mans sport. Why not practice
for it......
Lets look at golfers...
Sitting in the office all week long thinking about
the greens of their favorite course. Probably picking their teeth with a
"T". As one of their co workers pass by the two of them make
eye contact together almost ceremoniously imitating a smooth golf
swing. Imagining as if the ball was right there in front of them in the
office. This action an understood signal to each other setting a date
for the driving range for practice after work.....
Golfers have it easy
They have putting
greens and driving ranges, all sorts of stuff to get their skills up to
par before they show up on Tuesday (golf day) and try their skills
against the real deal... 18 holes of pure green golf grass. As they move
their way across the grass adding up the score of Swings and misses
competing against last weeks score hoping for a standard improvement.
Shaving a shot or two off the game.
Why is fishing so different?
Now, I know nothing about Golf. In fact I come from a
long line of golf pros from Ft Myers Fla. area. They tried to get me to
play but I had other things to do and fishing was at the top of that
list. I did learn one thing however... Even as bad as I was, my
experience on the course was more rewarding when I practiced.
Fishing, weather fly or spin takes allot of practice.
Flats fishing takes a ton of practice. If you come here seeking out the mighty
permit or the elusive bonefish even the Silver King of all, the Tarpon,
you had better get some skills or at least hone the ones you have. This
will ensure that you make the best of your time at the bow of a boat so
that you can go home from your trip to the Fishing Capitol of the World
and tell all your friends with confidence that the reason you did not
catch anything was truly because of the weather or your crappy guide...
Here is what you do..
I will break this up into two sections one for my fly
guys and one for my Spin fishermen. Very much the same directions with
only a few changes. Read on.
Spin Fishermen
Go to your local fishing store and if you do not
already have one buy, borrow or get a 7.5 ft 8-16 lb spinning rod with a
decent reel. Most reels in the 45-80.00 range are satisfactory Make sure
that the reel is a good spin casting reel. Load it with 12 lb test of
what ever line you like or makes you feel good. Grab some split shots
and head out.
You will need a five gallon bucket or 2 ft tall
stepping
stool, a buddy (wife), your rod and reel, the split shots, and a Frisbee.
Find your self a lake, field, Big swimming pool, or big back yard.
Once you have all these things together go to your practice area.
Your rod should have a small spilt shot on it located
near where the hook would be on the line to
represent the weight of a bait.
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