Cattaraugus Creek Outfitters

06/19/2026

Yesterday, Leslie and I flew back up to western NY for the Summer and Fall. While I was sad to leave southwest Florida, Im looking forward to some time in my birthplace this summer, seeing my family and visiting and fishing with old friends. I have 3 weeks planned out west that include a wedding near Glacier National Park, some time spent on the Henry’s Fork headhunting, and a stint on the Madison river and also in Yellowstone National Park. I can’t wait for some dry fly fishing with 4 & 5 weight fly rods! I am especially excited for our Fall season, when the nights get cooler and the leaves start to change, a sign that the steelhead alley streams will soon come alive with big, chrome bright fish full of p**s and vinegar. I always look forward to fishing with my guests each Fall season.
When old man winter begins to show his face in December, my thoughts will turn to Bahamas bonefishing, and back to Florida and exploring the incredible fishery in our new home down there. Here are some of the highlights from the winter and spring spent in the sunshine and warmth of Florida’s SW coast.

06/18/2026

It was a fun few days hunting snook and redfish with Mike Zimmerman! We got some beach time in for snook, but the water was a little milky from the west winds. We saw plenty of nice snook and redfish in the bay & creeks, along with dolphins and manatees. Mike brought along family members Tyler and Michael to hunt big tarpon with Captain Brian Boehm of Quiet Waters. The weather wasn’t that cooperative with rough seas along the beaches, but the guys toughed it out and had some good shots at the big gals. They ended up catching sea trout and jacks when it got too choppy out there. Enjoyable time hanging out with great people!

06/13/2026

Still trying to hook one of the big gals off the beach on my Isle Flywater. Getting some shots, no players yet. . . . Lined this one and she immediately took off. The guys using bait are getting a few!

06/11/2026

After losing that nice redfish to the mangroves the other day, about an hour later I got redemption. I spotted another fish and got a visual eat, landing and releasing a nice redfish. This red ran just as far as the one I lost earlier, and came close to reaching the mangroves, but I was able to keep her out-maybe she was a bit smaller than the one I lost!

Swfloridaredfish

06/10/2026

There was no stopping this nice redfish! After spotting this fish and a very visual, aggressive eat, she bolted to the mangroves 100’ away. I tried to slow her down, but to no avail. She buried herself deep in the mangroves and it was game over.

Swfloridaredfish

06/09/2026

What a fun day hunting snook on the beach in SW Florida. The water was clear and calm, and I had excellent light most of the day—perfect conditions for sight fishing. I had many really good shots at 30 to 40” snook, had a couple follows but couldn’t get one to commit. The smaller snook between 16 and 22 inches were a little more receptive, but even they required careful presentations. While I love fishing when the water is crystal clear and calm and the sun is bright & high in the sky, it definitely makes the game harder. These fish can see your fly in the air and they know when it lands on the water, along with your fly line. When the fish are cruising along the beach, I like to get in the water and present my fly a good 10’ in front of them, let it sink slowly and begin stripping when they get 3-5’ away, so the fly appears to be fleeing.

06/05/2026

Sight fishing for carp! Carp are active in the western NY ponds and smaller creeks where the water has warmed up, and are starting to show up on the flats of Lake Erie & the Niagara River. Small olive, black or brown wooly buggers, damselfly imitations and even small crayfish patterns all work. There’s a good chance you may see some other species out there as well.

06/03/2026

Bass bonanza in western NY. In town again for a short spell, I took a hike yesterday with ‘Cuda on a Lake Erie tributary. Plenty of hungry smallies around, with some still moving upriver. Water was low and clear, so sight fishing was possible, and most of the fish I saw were not on beds. (I don’t fish for them on beds). Long leaders and casts were essential to avoid spooking them.

ccoflyfishing

06/02/2026

It was fun to talk about chasing barracuda with on his Hunting with a Fly podcast. Barracuda on the fly are so much fun and an underrated quarry. Thanks to Rick and Wet Fly Swing for having me! You can listen to the podcast here: https://www.wetflyswing.com/fly-fishing-barracuda-on-the-saltwater-flats-with-vince-tobia/

Learn where to find barracuda, how to present flies, and why they're underrated saltwater fly fishing predators with Vince Tobia