snookfinaddict

Upcoming Destination Trips

Montana Medicine Lodge/King Outfitters, Dillon, MT-July 21-27, 2024

I will be hosting a group of fly anglers in Montana again in 2024. Dates for this year’s trip are July 21-27,2024, fishing days will be Mon, July 22-Fri, July 26 which is 6 nights/5 days fishing. We’ll be fishing with Dave King of King Outfitters, whom I’ve fished with for more than 20-yrs and his talented group of guides near Dillon, MT. In addition to the Beaverhead, Big Hole, Jefferson and Madison Rivers, there are several leases on private waters which include a spring creek.

Lodging will be at Medicine Lodge, which is 15-miles south of Dillon, a short way from the Beaverhead River. Chef Annie will be back preparing our meals, which are always one of the highlights of the trip. Here is the description of the lodge from their web site “Equipped with an industrial size kitchen, a large dining room with ranch style seating and bar counters along the kitchen for extra room. A large covered patio with BBQ and dining area is available to relax and enjoy your surroundings. The house has three levels. There is a game room/library and laundry area in the basement.”

Cost is $4650/per person (*2023 rate, ’24 rate to be determined) including guided fishing for 5 full days (2 anglers per guide), 6 nights lodging and all meals (including beer and wine). Other expenses will be airfare to Bozeman, fishing license, gratuities for guides and staff and a portion of car rental. Deposit amount is $2325.00 (50%). Deposits are non refundable within 90-days of the trip (April 21, 2024). The 50% balance will be due at the end of our trip. Due to the non-refundable time frame, travel insurance is strongly recommended. It will take the stress out of any last minute cancellation. It is available through Travelguard at this link,www.travelguard.com .  If we can all try to arrive in Bozeman by noon or 1 PM on July 21, I’ll secure an SUV depending on the size of the group, which we’ll share the cost of. We should plan to depart Bozeman about noon to 1 PM on July 27. If you have an interest in this trip give me a call if you want to discuss.  (941) 350-9790 (cell)

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge, South Andros, Bahamas Fishing Report, November 4-11, 2023

I hosted a group of friends and clients at Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge in South Andros, Bahamas on my annual trip there recently. Stewart Lavelle, from Sarasota, Kirk Grassett, from Middletown, DE, Rick Happle from St. Pete, Bill Crelin, from WI and I drove from Sarasota to Ft. Lauderdale Executive airport. We met up with other group members John from NY, Joe Nourigat, from MD and Tracy and Cullen Baker, from NC and traveled to Congotown, South Andros on Makers Air.

Conditions were good most of the time, with good sunlight and not a lot of wind. We waded vast sand flats and also fished from flats skiffs for everything from large cruising or tailing single and double bonefish to large schools of fish. We had good action most days and there were also a couple of slower days. There were numerous bonefish in the 4 to 6-pound class and several 8 to 9-pound fish caught and released. Top producing flies during the week were Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp, Fitz flies, Ververka’s Mantis Shrimp, Gotchas and Gotcha variations. This is one of the most beautiful places on the planet!

“Day 5 was one of the best weather days and one of the best fish days hands down. Great time on the water with Kirk while combining wading along with much poling. . . . Landed around 25 fish between me and Rick wherein had a few nice ones while seeing some big boys. . . A big lemon shark bull charged Rick early morning when he had the bonefish close to him trying to remove the hook. Fun fishing day and great conversations” Joe Nourigat’s commentary on a couple of fishing days.

Bill Howard, the resident owner/operator, does a great job making things run smoothly at the lodge. We dined on a variety of excellent authentic Bahamian dishes including fresh fish, lobster and conch. One of the best things about Mars Bay Lodge, the southernmost lodge on South Andros, is fishing the vast sand flats and scattered mangrove keys to the south. Being the southernmost lodge on South Andros also means about a 10-mile shorter boat run each way and more fishing! South Andros has got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth! This trip, as well as my Montana trip, are annual trips so if you have an interest in any future trips contact me or go to the Destination Trips page of my web sites.

Back home in Sarasota, deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay have been producing trout, blues and pompano on Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails. Tripletail have also been a good option depending on conditions.

Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFI Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters
Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
www.snookfin-addict.com, and www.flyfishingflorida.us
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
(941) 923-7799 (office/land line)

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Montana Fly Fishing Trip Report for 7/29/2023

I hosted a group of friends and clients on my annual destination fly fishing trip to southwest Montana recently. I traveled from Sarasota to Bozeman and made the 2-1/2 hour drive to Medicine Lodge, on a 100,000 acre working ranch near the Beaverhead River, outside of Dillon, MT. I met up at the lodge with my brother, Kirk Grassett, from DE, Bill Johns, from Venice, FL, Derrick Johns, from Austin, TX and Mike Perez and Dennis Kinley, from IN, who drove and met us at the lodge.

Despite some fishing restrictions due to heat, which is typical this time of year, we caught and released some quality trout. We fished the Beaverhead, Big Hole and Madison Rivers with guide Dave King, owner of King Outfitters (406) 596-0209 in Dillon, and his talented group of guides. I’ve fished with Dave for more than 20-years, his guides do a great job and know their fishery well. We fished 4, 5 and 6-weight fly tackle and caught and released brown and rainbow trout to more than 20” on streamers, dry flies, dry/dropper and nymph rigs. The dry fly action was with a variety of dry flies. Often a hopper, sometimes with a nymph or with a smaller dry fly dropper and a few other bugs. A great trip!

Back in Sarasota catch and release snook fishing around dock lights and bridges should be a good option now. There should be tarpon in areas of upper Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. Juvenile tarpon in canals and creeks may also be a good option. You might also find them in a few places mixed with snook around dock lights. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by residential, industrial and agricultural runoff, toxic spills and intentional releases, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge, South Andros, Bahamas-Nov 4-11, 2023

Dates for this year’s trip are Sat-Sat, Nov 4-11, 2023. This is a good tide week, quarter moon leading up to a new moon.  Cost is $5900 (7 nights/6 days fishing).  I’d like to wrap things up as far as initial deposits by May 4 (6-months out) if possible. I’ll confirm after receiving your deposit . There is a new guide on the team, Jalon, who is the son of Fredlon, formerly at Andros South. I’ve fished with Fredlon many times so not surprising that Jalon is also a good guide. After all deposits are received we’ll book our flights. I’ll coordinate but we’ll all make our own flight arrangements . Most usually travel direct from Ft. Lauderdale with Makers Air. After flight arrangements and deposit have been made, our final balance will be due 90-days out. Please refer to the web site, www.bahamasbonefish.com for details on deposits, cancellation policy and trip insurance (on the Rates page), etc. I strongly recommend trip insurance, in my experience it will take the worry out of last minute issues that can pop up. It is available through Travelguard at https://www.travelguard.com/ . The Mars Bay web site is very good and answers most questions that you may have. The only other costs are gratuities for guides, staff, kids that help around the dock, taxi driver and incidentals along the way (baggage handlers, etc). Food, lodging, guided fishing and alcohol are included. Feel free to e-mail, text or call me if any questions or you want to discuss anything. Best time to reach me is in the evening. Talk to you soon. Thanks. Rick (941) 350-9790 -Total cost is $5900 per angler for 7 nights/6 days of fishing -A 50% deposit ($2950) is due by May 4, which is non-refundable within 90 days of the trip. -The 50% balance ($2950) is due by Aug 4 (approx 90-days out) -Trip insurance is strongly recommended through Travelguard, https://www.travelguard.com/ ; Refer to the Rates page on the web site for details. -Checks should be made out to Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc and mailed to Capt. Rick Grassett, 2447 Waneta Drive, Sarasota, FL 34231