What flies to tie and use around Islamorada now?

[BFox]

A couple of us Vermont boys are heading down to Islamorada the end of January for a couple of days of fishing. We're renting a 19 foot bay boat without a guide and hope the weather cooperates. We usually fish the Northshore, New England (Plum Island Sound to the outer beaches of Cape Cod) and my fly box is filled with striped bass/blue fish flies. I will be taking a bunch of these since I have caught pompanos on Clauser 's and cuda on poppers.

Last year in January we fished Biscayne Bay for bones and did pretty well with something that the guide supplied which looked like a redbone fluff. Should I have some of these? It appears that another popular fly is the kwan fly. How well does that work in winter? Will the egg sack mean anything to fish this time of year?

We will be targeting a variety of species and just want to be covered. Any advice on must have flies will be greatly appreciated. Also if anyone could recommend the perfect place to watch the superbowl on Islamorada that would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks.

[Quicksilver]

I am not speaking from personal experience, but I think you should be able to find a good party sports bar at Holiday Isle. When I went to the Keys all I ever did was throw small weedless merkins at bonefish.

[AlderBrookFarm]

I don't think it would be a waste of time to tie up some sparse clousers on small hooks either. White and shades of peach, pink, tan, or rust and eyes of bead chain and xs dumbells. They'll work on albies at home.

[En Fuego]

I have a friend that just got back from Islamorada last week.He said the wind was howling and he went up into flamingo to get out of the wind, but its a back breaking ride from the "Purple Island". He fished for 3 days and caught lots of redfish.
Any pattern that resembles a shrimp will work for reds and bones. A brown clouser, red eyes. #4 hook. The kwan is an excellant fly and IMHO a must have. Bonefish slider is another. If its sunny, a flyspoon or anything with gold flash. For reds another must have for me in Tampa Bay this time of year is the Pinfish made with the EP fibers with purple "sharpie" bars" added. Should work on Redfish anywhere. Redfish are not affected by the cold as others.
If you are going to DIY get a chart. Most of the water is 3ft deep in the bay (if your lucky) and a push pole is a must or the fish will hear you a half a mile away.Watch the tides this time of year. If you are only going for a couple days I would get a guide. Capt. Kip Dougherty(sp?) is a personal favorite. The Florida Bay(inside) has lots of "fishy looking areas" but you could spend all day and see nothing. Local knowledge is money well spent.

Holiday Isle's Tiki Bar will probably have something going on. If not its not a big island,so it shouldnt be hard to find something. Good luck.

[jsynnott]

Bfox,
I would just grab another Vermonter of two and make it a real trip!! I can recommend a couple.