February 27^th Captain Tony Bozzella will be in to talk about wintertime Redfishing in Northeast Florida. We will include a tying session with John demonstrating how to tie a Black Marabou Clouser Minnow.

As always there is no charge for the tying session but we do ask for $10.00 to cover materials. Bring your vise and tools and we will tie some flies and tell some fish stories.

We have received many great new fly patterns for both fresh and salt water. They will be available in our online store very soon but until then stop by the store and check them out.

Don't forget Captain David Borries will be in the store this Saturday 02/20/2010 leading a fly tying session immediately followed by a presentation on Bonefishing in the Bahamas. David will be tying a few of his favorite Bonefish patterns, As always the tying session is free but do ask for $10.00 to cover the cost of materials. David will begin tying at 9:30.

We just received a huge shipment of new fly tying materials from Hareline Dubbin including some great new pseudo products. Stop by today and check out the new pseudo hair, pseudo eyes and pseudo herls just to name a few. I will have all the items in the online store in the very new future.

Plan B,

Sometimes you just have to go to plan B.  With the big IFA tourney coming in two weeks,  I went out yesterday afternoon to try my hand and Reds and Trout.  On the way out I decided to check the freezer for my handy dandy standby some shrimp I’ve been freezing and refreezing for the last few weeks just in case. Well the sun is now setting and no fish taking the ole pole cat home with me, when I decided to try a root beer gulp shrimp dead stick on a jig head (hooked tail first so it has some action) should be good for at least a six inch trout.  Well to my delight something slammed it. Turned out to be a really nice 23” Black Drum, so I immediately staked out and reached for Plan B.  Put two rods out with the dead shrimp and BAM, BAM. I was hand over fist black drum for the next four hours or so. 

Chappy  

With a serious case of cabin fever due to the past colder weather we've had and lack of yak fishing, the warmer temps. encouraged me to get out for a paddle despite the small craft advisory!.. So I meet up with Scott B. and Braley S. I was also anxious to use my new video-cam on its first real kayak fishing trip. With water temps. in the high 50s the Reds were not active. We managed to find 2 with blind casting around oysters. A very slow drifting lure in the natural current was the ticket to get them to eat. When they hit it felt like a Flounder. Just a mild..thump! Not to hard and didn't run to far but as always put a nice bend in the rod and woke up around the kayak. We finished up my late morning because it was blowing to hard and paddled home in 25+ MPH winds! Here's the vid...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btavk5kCRuE

Here's another (non-yak)video I did in my new used 16 Mitzi Skiff..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWwhmbDqbh4

Tight Loops and Lines all!...Rich Santos 

Are you planning a trip to North Carolina or Georgia  to fish for trout? Then this 4 week class might be just for you.  You will not only learn how to tie the flies you’ll need but you will learn what, when and how to fish the flies you tie.  Your instructor Capt. John Bottko moved to Jacksonville from Ashville NC where he had the first fly shop in the mountains of North Carolina. He’s has spent many day’s fishing and learning the mountain streams of North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.

You will learn to tie dry flies, nymphs, streamers, and terrestrials.  The cost of this 4 week course is $150.00.  If you like to sign up give the Salty Feather a Call at 904-645-8998 or email me at john@saltyfeather .

Next class date: To be announced. 

Spend the day with Capt. John Bottko and learn his secrets from 25 years on the water fly fishing N. E. Florida. This seminar covers everything you need to know about fly-fishing the Jacksonville area.. Whether you are experienced, or a beginner, the course will help you to be a better fly fisher. Topics covered include tackle, knots, rigging, casting, fighting fish,  line management and fly selection. A special emphasis is placed on what species are available in N.E. Florida to the fly fisherman  and how to catch them. The class is taught by Capt. John Bottko. Lunch is included. Cost is$150.00. Call the store to reserve your space 904-645-8998. Class is limited to six students.

Next Class: April 24, 2010

Advanced Inshore Fishing School

Dec 5th and 6th 2009

The who’s who of Northeast Florida’s inshore fishing. Over a hundred years of light tackle and fly fishing experience. Captain’s John Bottko, Larry Miniard, David Borries and Tony Bozzella have teamed up to present North Florida’s first inshore fishing school.  This two day seminar is limited to only 12 students so you will be up close seeing what’s in each of the Captains tackle bags and how they rig their boats.  Many of the classes will be broken down to even smaller groups with two captains teaching six students.

The seminar is going to be held at Deep Creek Lodge, which is located just south of Jacksonville on the ICW.  This pristine setting will allow both class room and on the water instruction. There will even be kayaks available for you to use after class if you would like to try out what you learned.

The first day is going to cover tackle and techniques. You will learn how to use all the tools from fly rods to trolling motors. This is where you will learn the secrets of what to use and why. There will be casting and retrieving lessons with both fly and spin.  And plenty of one on one time to get all your questions answered.

The second day is going to cover structure and reading the water. Northeast Florida is unique in that it has seasons and water temperatures that vary from the high forty’s to the low ninety’s. It has tides that move from four to seven feet of water every 6 hours and six area inlets that vary in clarity from tannic to clear.  With all these varying conditions, you will learn what to fish for and how to fish twelve months of the year.  We’ll even touch on cooking and cleaning what you catch. And of course there will be plenty of time to get all your questions answered.

Cost is $650.00. Lunch and munchies will be included. Class is limited to the first 12 paying students.

FIRST TIME EVER Beginning Fly Tying Class scheduled 02/25 for $100.00. This class normally cost $150.00 but if you enroll in the February/March class the price will be $100.00. This is a 4 week class meeting on Thursday evenings from 6-10. All materials are included and you will have flies to take home. This course will get you tying the flies you need for our local waters in just four weeks. The topics covered include tool selection, knots, and the use of all the different materials. Class is limited to 6 students so don't delay, sign up today as the slots will go very quickly at this special price.

How To Book

Option #1:
CALL US! Call the Salty Feather at (904) 645-8998 or (888) 847-2589 to speak with Capt. John Bottko about any questions you might have about the trip. We will mail all paperwork necessary and make arrangements to hold your reservation.

Option #2:
EMAIL US! E-mail us by using our Contact Us page and let us know which event you’re interested in.  We will mail you any necessary and relative information while following up with a phone call..

Have you been tying flies for awhile? Would like to take the next step?  In this class we teach fly design from the point of view of imitation.  You will learn baitfish, crab and shrimp patterns designed to fish the inshore waters of N.E. Florida. You will learn to tie the epoxy spoon and to work with epoxy to strengthen all your patterns. This class is for everyone that has a basic knowledge of fly tying. Capt. John Bottko will not only teach you tie his favorite patterns, he will teach you where and when to use them.  Cost of this four week class is $150.00.  All materials are included.