Weeki Wachee River
spring creek in Florida
Famous for its mermaids, the Weeki Wachee River is a beautiful waterway ideal for kayaking and fly fishing in a unique environment.
Clear
- 01Clear, moderate flows on the Weeki Wachee River today.
- 02Overcast skies and 76°F make for pleasant fishing conditions.
- 03Upper river offers prime sight-fishing for bluegill and panfish looking for terrestrials and subsurface insects.
- 04Saltwater sections downriver hold tarpon, mangrove snapper, and hardhead sea catfish, feeding on year-round shrimp and baitfish.
- 05Strategic fly selection and retrieve speed are key for success across different river sections.
Past reports week by week
4 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Popping Bug (Bass)
On warmer, overcast fall days in southern regions, topwater action can still occur. This popper creates an enticing surface disturbance, drawing aggressive strikes from sunfish and bass.
Woolly Bugger (Olive)
A classic and highly versatile streamer, the olive Woolly Bugger imitates leeches and baitfish, which are consistent food sources for bass and sunfish, and is effective for mangrove snapper and hardhead sea catfish.
EP Shrimp
Shrimp are a consistent food source inshore year-round on the Florida flats, making this imitation effective for tailing fish.
Buy at AmazonClouser Minnow
A universal baitfish imitation, effective year-round for predatory saltwater species from redfish to stripers, including tarpon, mangrove snapper, and hardhead sea catfish.
Hare's Ear Nymph
An essential general searching nymph that imitates various active aquatic insects year-round, making it effective for bluegill.
Buy at AmazonDamsel Nymph (Olive)
Damselfly nymphs are present year-round in aquatic vegetation and are a good food source for bluegill and other panfish.
Tarpon Toad
While not peak season, resident tarpon are still present in Florida's lower river sections in early fall, and this pattern is a proven choice for opportunistic strikes.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Headspring access, often for kayak/canoe launches.
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Florida season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Fly Fishing the Florida Keys: Tarpon, Permit & Bonefish
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Fly Fishing the Everglades – Snook Tarpon & Redfish in the Backcountry
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Quick answers
Common questions about Weeki Wachee River.
What flies work best on Weeki Wachee River?
Our top scored fly patterns for Weeki Wachee River right now are Tarpon Toad (80% confidence), EP Shrimp (80% confidence), Clouser Minnow (Saltwater) (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Weeki Wachee River?
Weeki Wachee River holds Bluegill, Tarpon, Mangrove snapper, Hardhead sea catfish. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Weeki Wachee River fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Weeki Wachee River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.