Gear Talk with Steve Gibson - Sarasota, FL

Sarasota, FL is truly an angler's paradise. The warm sun and fresh fresh, ocean air make any day a great day whether you are fishing, tanning on the beach, or even just running errands. The fishing provides almost limitless variations combining tropical species and a wide array of location. From the beach to the pier; the bay to intracoastal waterways, the fishing in Sarasota is said to be magical.

With such a wide variety of fishing available in the area, your choice in gear is critical to having a perfect day on the water. I had the opportunity to interview Steve Gibson of Southwest Florida Kayak Fishing for gearlisted.com to talk about his choice in gear for the area.

Steve grew up fishing starting at age five when his grandfather took him fishing for the first time. He was mezmorized by the sport and now, at age 63, has been fishing religiously ever since.

"I started out like most fishermen, using live bait, but now I use only artificals or fly fishing exclusively", said Gibson in the interview. "My favorite type of fishing in this area is fo Snook and I managed to land my biggest catch at 44" weighing in at about 25 lbs." When I asked about his methods and drive while fishing he said "I would much rather fish for quality of quantity. Many people even after stating out just want to catch a fish, but I want to catch the fish. My favorite kind of day is when the fishing is tough and I manage to figure it out and get into some quality fish."

When we got into the gear portion of the interview, Gibson proved to have a great deal of knowledge and to be an outstanding resource for gear enthusiasts in that type of area.

Rods
Gibson primarily fly fishes salt and fresh water but will also do some spin fishing from time to time. For fly fishing he is using Temple Fork Outfitters in the BVK series weights 1-12. "Fly fishing is a very expensive sport. TFO offers a quality product that looks, feels and performs up to my standards. They do this and still manage to sell at about half the price of the other major retailers. That's why I have ever weight they offer. A rod for every situation."

For situations in which spin fishing is the best option, Gibson is using Star brand spinning rods in a variety of models and weights. He says they are very durable and affordable and get the job done every time.

Reels
Fly fishing reels come in a variety of sizes, shapes and specs and while some fly fishermen will claim that the reel is merely a place to hold your line, others are very particular about what they are looking for in a reel. Gibson uses TFO reels to go with his rods from the same company, for the sam reasons. The are durable, look good, feel good, and perform at the highest standards for half the price.

For spin fishing he prefers the Shimano Stratus Saltwater reel for all situations. A smooth action and durability to hold up to the abuse of saltwater fishing make this a great reel for every fisherman.

Line
In the world of fly fshing, the line you choose is esential to your success on the water. The line must macth the rod and reel in weight to perform correctly, and comes in a variety of floating and sinking lines. Gibson choses to go with Orvis for the majority of his line purchases, including the Hydros Weight Forward Full Floating line for dry flies and the Hydros Weight Forward Clear Sink Tip for nymphs, wets, and other subsurface flies.

For spin fishing, he likes to use the Power Pro Braided line with a Power Pro Flourocarbon Shock Liter.

Lures and Flies
Like all fishermen, Gibson uses a wide variety of lures for different situations. When he is not fly fishing he has a few lures that are his favorites. DOA brand is a favorite of his including their jigs, paddle tails, shrimp and Air Head lures. Also int he tackle box you will find the Miralure Little John and Mirrodine lures. All of these lures work great when fishing for snook and other big game species. For redfish and snook he will also throw the Heddon Zara Spook to get that quality strike he is looking for. And what saltwater tackle box would be complete without a Johnson Silver Minnow? Gibson prefers the gold spoon model.

Gibson ties his own flies, but some of the popular patterns he is using includes standard nymphs and scuds along with the popular Pheasant Tail Beadheaded Nymph and a creation of his own called the Mayakka Minnow. You can find pictures of some different variations by googling "mayakka minnow".

Accessories
In saltwater fishing it is essential to have a good landing tool. If you try to lip a saltwater catch the way you would a bass, you may go home with less fingures than you came with. Gibson likes the Boga Grip. "It's lightweight and has a tight grip. It has also got a scale built is so you don't have to fumble around with separate equipment."

When fly fishing, he will sometimes use the Thingamabobber strike indicator. This is a favorite amoung fly fisherman all over fishing for ever species.

Watercraft
Gibson's guide service, Soutwest Florida Kayak Fishing, obviously, uses kayaks when out on the water. Gibson's kayak of choice is the Native Watercraft model The Ultimate 14.5'. He says he uses it for all types of fishing and it is extremely durable and stable. So stable you can even stand up and fly fact in it.

To go with the kayak, he is using Aqua Bound Surge Carbon paddles. They are extremely light weight and easy to manuver.

If you are ever in the Sarasota area, I highly recommend looking up Steve Gibson and Southwest Florida Kayak Fishing for a day on the water. You are sure to come away with some great expereiences and a new friend in your guide. Be sure to check out Steve's blog at www.gibbysfishingblog.blogspot.com and tell him the Ga Angler sent you!