Flyfishing Venice then Naples area

[Albacized]

I'll be down in 2 weeks from Friday...I'm planning on bringing a 7 wt and a 10 wt. If I'm going to split time throwing at snook in the surf then maybe checking out the canals around the Naples/Marco Island area, what would be the best suited lines for those situations?

Also any tips on what I might encounter (fish-wise, aside from snook) as well as what flies I should carry around? Btw, I am somewhat familiar with Venice and pretty confident I can score on snook, based on past trips to that area (which pre-date my flyfishing days, more than 10 years ago)...but I'm clueless about the Naples area I guess like most everyone else and their mother, I'd like to find some baby tarpon...can a 7 wt handle these fish?

Btw, my one and only tarpon that I caught was all of 12" long and was caught when I was 8 years old (in the early 70's). My dad was stationed at MacDill AFB near Tampa and we had this creek near our house that had juvenile forms of most any popular game fish you'd like to catch in FL. The rod that landed that 'beast' was a Zebco 202

[snakehead terror]

First I thought you were talking about italy
In the surf you have a chance this time of year at snook, tarpon, jacks, runners, maybe a mack or a small shark. I would say that probably most baitfish imitations would do the trick, remember that they are feeding on pilchards. So clousers or maybe a polar minnow.
Im not too familiar with those areas, but I think that you should also consider bringing a small spinner a try to check out naples pier.
As for the canals, use your 7 weight with the same clousers that you are using in the surf. If you do hook into a baby tarpon (probably won't), you can handle it as long as its under 10lbs.
Hope this helped.

[snakehead terror]

also check this out- viewtopic.php?f=72&t=6528

[Local66]

Hell yeah a 7wt can handle it. Depending on where those fish are hanging out, I would say your safe landing fish up to 30lbs (docks and mangroves are a different story). Flouro shock is a must (50lb), and your flies have to be heavy enough to track straight (#1 or bigger). My favorite west coast beach snook pattern is a 1/0 double bunny, white over white tied on a Tiemco 600SP. And a 7wt would be my first choice for the job. Any tropical WF/F line will be fine for the canals, I like the teeny flats taper for the surf (it has a 15" clear intermediate head). If you're in the area stop by and I'll give you some flies. Best of luck.

[Captain Paul Wolter]

Hmm...well I am a bit late here since you posted this awhile back! But a 5-7 weight rod is great for the Naples beaches. I really go more for the 5 weight if its calm. I use a 10 a lot on the Tamiami Canals for bigger Tarpon, but that's not a place you want to fish in summer (mosquitos!)

Paul W