With more and more research being done on fish, we are quickly learning how much we can help the fish by giving them a safe release. Richard Black is one of the best guides in the keys and he recently posted a video on using a dehooker, usually used for offshore bait fishing. In this episode we break down why this is such a good tool to release inshore gamefish. If you want a dehooker like Richard uses, you can pick one up at Tackle Direct.
Read MoreThe tarpon are pouring into the Florida Keys. Many people are headed to try to catch their first or take advantage of this time of year. In this episode of How 2 Tuesday, I go through the exact setup that I use at the bridge. We go through rod, reel, line, hook, etc. and we also talk a lot of strategy for how to land these fish efficiently and safely.
Read MoreI always like my flies to look exactly like they did the moment they came off the vise. Fly tiers tie them in specific ways that help the fly swim properly and often times improper storage can result in the fly not swimming correctly. I use the plano edge boxes and plastic sleeves to protect all of my flies and jigs. The plano edge boxes prevent rusting and the plastic sleeves help to keep the feathers and other materials in perfect condition.
Read MoreCatching bait can make or break a day of fishing. In this episode we talk about the importance of bait, how it can be used for live chum, where to find it and more. Knowing a few key things to look for can help you to have a much more successful start to your day, and you can spend much more time fishing.
Read MoreNow is the time when the tarpon are really starting to roll in to the keys. Fishing for them around the bridges is one of the most effective ways to catch them, and that’s exactly what we’re talking about today. In this episode, we talk about what bridges are most effective, techniques, and what to be looking for at the bridges. This is one of the most exciting times of the year to catch tarpon in the keys, so i hope this podcast helps you have some success!
Read MoreOne thing that makes the Florida Keys unique is our tide schedules and how you can have completely different tide flows depending on where you are. I see this as a huge advantage because you can always be moving to an area that best suits how you’re fishing. These tides can become very complex though. Back in the day we had to memorize and guess how tides would change in the backcountry, but now there is all kinds of technology to help you out. In this episode, we dig into how exactly the tides work in the keys.
Read MoreI took a question from the audience today. I liked this question because I wrestled with this as well when I was guiding.
“How do I tell my customers it is time to go home?”
I will give you my thoughts but there is, of course, no one way to do this.
Read MoreAs a fishing guide, it is incredibly important to protect myself from the sun. I really don’t like putting on sunscreen every day, and Have been using clothing to protect myself for many years. The first thing you’ll want is a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Along with that, my Buff is a crucial piece of clothing that I never leave home without. You can use that along with a hat to fully cover your face from the sun. Huk just released a new hooded shirt called the Waypoint shirt, and it is made out of recycled water bottles. I use the hood along with my Buff to completely protect my head. A lot of people think that I wouldn’t want to wear long sleeves in the hot Florida weather, but with a shirt as soft and breathable as this one, it almost feels like you’re wearing nothing. All of this information is especially important for fishing guides that spend all day out on the water. Be sure to pick up all of the crucial sun gear to keep yourself protected from the harsh sun.
Read MoreA few weeks ago, we had a conversation with Dave Stewart of the Wet Fly Swing podcast discussing how to start your own podcast. Since then, I have had a lot of people reach out for more information. This week we are talking about a new opportunity that is becoming available through the Waypoint Podcast Collective. This will give you the easiest way to start your podcast from scratch and will help you to be able to monetize it as well. If you would like more information about opportunities like this, shoot me a text at (305) 930-7346.
Read MoreThe Tarpon are COMING! In fact a whole bunch of them are already HERE! To get ready, I need to go through some gear and change lines on my fly rods. I walk through the way I do it and why. Some of these tricks I learned from the legendary Lefty Kreh, and some I came up with on my own. Have any cool tricks of your own? Text me at 305-930-7346 and let me know how you stay organized.
Read MoreWhen you’re fly fishing on the flats, a powerful and accurate backcast is one of the most important skills to have. In fact, it is nit even an optional skill. The powerful and accurate backcast is a crucial fundamental rather than an advanced tactic. Fish appear in an instant and you have to be ready to make a cast at any angle regardless of which way the wind is blowing. Everyone is ready for the standard forward cast, but if a fish appears at an angle with a right shoulder wind (for a right hand caster) a backcast is crucial. Your guide will be able to put you on a lot more fish if you have these skills as well. Practice makes perfect, so be sure to practice your backcast accuracy and distance in the yard before your next saltwater trip but NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE TARGET!
Read MoreThe Ring Game is an old game that I created to make my kids better anglers from a young age. Young kids will quickly learn to read water, and how to become more accurate at casting while having fun and spending time with you. The idea is that they throw their line out, and wherever it lands, you have to land your lure inside the ripple that they made before it disappears. Eventually they will want to switch, and you can start making the first cast, and they can try to land their lure inside the ripple. This is a fun way to get your kids into the sport and teach them how to control their rod and become excellent casters.
Read MoreOn this week’s How 2 Tuesday, I go over a technique that I have been using a lot recently. Teasing in jacks can be effective for many situations. In this episode, I go over when this is helpful, whether you’re scouting out a new area, or trying to get the fish closer to the boat for a fly fisherman. I also go over how to make the tease lure, and what techniques you should use when reeling the tease lure in.
Read MoreBen Crawford wrote the book “2000 Miles Together” where he tells the story of completing the Appalachian Trail with his entire family of 8 (ages 2-17). In this episode I talk to Ben about motivating your kids to get outdoors and the importance of it being their decision. Ben has a ton of experience with this subject and has some great knowledge and insight to share with us. Be sure to subscribe to the Tom Rowland Podcast because we have a full episode with Ben coming soon!
Read MoreI have had many people reach out to me asking how to start a podcast themself, so this week I had Dave Stewart of Wet Fly Swing on the podcast to explain just that. Dave is a podcasting expert with a lot of experience teaching podcasting. He also has 3 podcasts of his own. If starting a podcast has ever crossed your mind, be sure to tune into this episode. To get on Dave’s e-mail list of how to start a podcast in 30 days, go to outdoorsonline.co/startapodcast
Read MoreI typically have been keeping all of my rigging gear in the leaning post of my Yellowfin 24. Yellowfin created some fantastic storage that was previously wasted so I have organized it well with the 3600 Plano boxes.
This past week we had a few cold days on the water and it helped me to realize that there may be a better solution. Because the area is in the middle of the boat, it is a comfortable place to sit and it is also the only shade on the boat, it is often where everyone wants to be. Additionally, the lean post gets crowded with jackets, sunscreen, and really anything that needs to be set down. This often blocks me from easily getting to my rigging gear or having to ask a guest to move so that I can get to the fluorocarbon, hooks or other tackle.
Plano just came out with the new Edge waterproof boxes. They come in many sizes but the one that is useful in this situation is one that is designed for plastics. It is the same foot print as a 3700 box but it is 7 inches deep. I can store an entire set of Daiwa J-Fluorocarbon, my most used hooks, jigs, terminal tackle and a few lures. I still keep the majority of the tackle in the lean post but I have everything I need in one of these waterproof boxes. I can store this in a forward hatch and easily get to it if the lean post is crowded. At night, I can bring just the box in to work on the rods and get them ready for the next day.
Read MorePlano has just released some new boxes that I am super excited to start using for my tackle storage. In this episode, I go into all of the new details of the new boxes and how they compare to my boxes in the past. I also go over how to make the most of the space in the boxes, and some of the little details that Plano is paying attention to that really improve these boxes over all of the others.
Read MoreBarracuda is one of may favorite fish to target, especially in the winter time. I typically use a modified lure that isn’t typically used to catch barracuda in shallow water. In this episode, I go through exactly what kind of lures I look for, and all of the special modifications that I make in order to make it the perfect lure for catching barracuda. I also go over the knots that I use to connect my wire to my fluorocarbon.
Read MoreWe are now in the heat of stone crab season and I had Nick Biondoletti on the podcast to tell us some tips and tricks. Nick traps stone crabs commercially, but we also discussed the rules and regulations for recreational trapping. In this episode, Nick goes over what you are looking for as far as water depth, what kind of bottom to look for, and how to keep from getting pinched. We also discuss the regulations and the dates for the season. Be sure to check Nick out on Instagram @mm90films to see how he does this season!
Read MoreI just picked up my brand new 24 Yellowfin CE and I am extremely happy with this boat! Some of the most popular articles I have ever written walked through exactly what I chose for older boats and why. The podcast is an even better way to do this so hang on, we are going to walk through this boat from bottom to top. I believe is the perfect bay boat setup for what I do, and maybe what you do as well. I even dig into why this color is the best one for me.
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