The

Top Fly For Snook

is a white  and chartruse flashy minnow pattern bait fish imitation. The most popular top fly for Snook are patterned after small natural bait fish such as finger mullet, pig fish, and pin fish. Some other types of  Snook flies include shrimp and crab patterns.

Snook fly minnow pattern

In order to get the most out of fishing the top fly for Snook you must use suitable fly fishing rods and tackle.

Snook Fly rod

Snook seldom make long runs when hooked. Rather, they run to cover such as mangrove roots, bridge pilings or any available structure. Once there the game is usually over. A sturdy flyrod is needed to win the first few feet of the fight and a 9 foot 9 weight works nicely. If there was no cover for a snook to run to, a 7 weight 9 foot fly rod would suffice for snook.

Reel

Fly Line

(FWF) Floating Weight Forward

Leader

Tapered leader with 16 lb class tippet

Shock Tippet

The snooks abrasive mouth can wear through the class tippet quickly. Therefore, a 30 – 50 lb shock tippet must be used.

Where to find Snook and use the top fly for snook

Seasonal

Summer

Passes and inlets

Winter

Up river , deep warm water. sheltered areas.

Fall & Spring

Move in response to weather and food.

Natural Habitat

In the Keys, backcountry flats, mangrove shorelines and bridges are good snook habitat. Tides and moon phases influence snook fishing. Fish edges of flats at the beginning of the incoming tide. If you find the redfish on the flats, snook may be found a bit farther off the flat as they do not move up as fast as redfish. As the tide gets higher the snook will move back into the mangroves which provides cover from sharks and a place from which to ambush food. Potholes also hold snook.Urban Areas

During the winter months snook seek warm water sheltered from the wind. If temperatures are 72 degrees or above, snook will hold around lighted docks and shallow bridges. If the temperature is below 70 degrees, find them in deeper areas such as deepbidge channels or residential canals. After cold front, snook fishing may be slow for 2-3 days. After a warm up fishing improves.
In winter cast flies close to structure and retrieve slowly. Shrimp seem to be a better food source in winter. Free line live shrimp.

As the water temperatures warm in April and May, snook begin to move closer to their spawning areas. They mass near the inlets, surf and river mouths. Snook feed heavily at this time and fishing can be very good. Chumming with live mullet or pinfish can produce vicious strikes. Be sure your top fly for snook mimic these natural species.

In summer, the run-off from heavy rain attracts bait fish to the abundant food washed out from the interior. Snook pick off these bait fish in the fast flowing water. Fish at the break between the murky outflow and the clean standing water casting into the murky area. Flies imitating bait fish with lots of flash work best in this situation.

September is a good month for snook. After their spawning season they are hungry. The water temperature has dropped to 80 degrees. The air temperature has cooled down and the wind is light. Fewer fisherman are on the water this time of year.

Bridges at the mouth of canals and coastal rivers are best at outgoing tide. Snook wait in ambush for food washing out with the current. Most of the baitfish tend to move out on the last half of the falling tide. Shrimp runs are also productive. Fish at the strongest outgoing tidal flow.

Small bridges adjacent to baitfish habitat or inlets are the best bet for snook. Large bridges can be tricky because of the currents. Places where the strong current is broken by structure such as the bridge pilings are good holding area for snook.

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