Trying to salvage this winter fishing is looking like an impossible task. Cold water temperatures have kept me at home much of this winter, at least since the end of December. Ice has been a problem, both at the ramps I use, in the water and if the deck of the boat gets wet, on the boat. I hope this is the last report that I send out with no actual fishing.Â
Meanwhile, I have been working on tackle, the boat and plans for an expanded fishery in the Barrier Islands along the coastal waters of VA.  Despite striking out on several Tarpon trips this past summer the clients saw many Tarpon in the water. Hooking up was the problem. We also saw a good number of sharks in the same, shallow waters. They were either Blacktip or Spinner Sharks and were average size of about 5 feet. Either species
would be a good fight on a fly rod, identification will only come with a hookup since the two sharks are similar in coloration and shape. If they are spinners expect to see a lot of jumping and acrobatics.  I plan to use chum to attract the sharks to the boat and then we can them throw flys that should get there attention. Tarpon respond to chum as well as many other species so it’s a win, win. Preparing for the trips I have set up several shark rigs both on fly and spinning with extra strong abrasion resistant leader, and wire bite tippet.  Fly rods will be the award winning HELIOS 12 wt coupled with the new MIRAGE reel. A stronger, lighter outfit just isn’t available. Â
In addition my preparations for spring include replacing all my fly reels with the MIRAGE reels from ORVIS. These new reels are lighter and have a drag that is superior in every way to most other reels and this reel is light weight. What a combo for the HELIOS rods!
