bocamike

Boca Rio canal between Glades Rd. and SW 18th. , parallel and adjacent to west side of Florida’s tpke. Holds large mouth and Peacock bass, and has easy, no hassle parking best near 18th st.; fish south from there to spillway at Hillsboro canal.

Hey, anyone around this topic these days? i see the last entry was several months ago, but I've now learned that I have a keen interest in this same part of west Boca Raton as discussed above. My primary interest is bass on fly but I keep a bait caster on hand for when fly seems not to work, or for days when the winds blow. I've driven past that Ponderosa housing development on west Glades Rd. but haven't observed the body of water identified there. Can anyone report if that remains as a good honey hole with available parking (even if on the grass)? Has anyone tried the water each side of Cain at what is called Lakes at Boca Raton located a block south of Yamato? Looks like very limited back cast access for fly fishing on the east side of Cain, but not so bad along the north shore of that body of water. I've parked on the grass (where the sign says no parking on grass) and have not been towed yet. Are there fish in the small ponds at the intersection of Yamato and SR-7? I see parking is available, but have never seen anyone fishing there. While continuing to locate bass holes with easy access out here in the western reaches of Boca, I have also expanded my travels to include Boca Rio canal (too much noise from the Fla. TPK to suit me........I go fishing to relax and to get away from the clamor of traffic speeding by). Have also tried the El Rio but to no avail. Even the bodies of water at the County park at the end of Atlantic, west Delray Beach look fishy but offer no prizes either. I wonder if maybe my timing is all wrong. At this time of year is it typical for the fish to be laying low? When should the bite pick up? I'd sure like to know if anyone can name any local honey holes worthy of a visit from a skunked fly fisherman?...... Or, let me know if I should just stay home and wait for the bite to pick up.

Good morning "J". I think we might be able to call this a "small world" connection. For you to volunteer that you will be moving here in a couple weeks really takes the cake. In which sub-division did you purchase your home? I'm in Bentbrook where I too have"the canal" in my back yard. The canal is fully land-locked and basically encircles all of Boca Chase. Over the past months the Snakehead menace took its toll on the bass and blue gill population; I'm inspired to know you caught a bass in the canal on a clouser. There is a retention lake at the end of my street (178th. with a gate on Cain Blvd... get a key for $5 from the property manager). The lake is 35 acres dug out of coral/shale and is said to be up to 70' depth in the middle. It holds lots of bass but during cool weather like now it is difficult to get down to them due to the sharp, steep banks. No water craft is allowed, so it's strictly a half-mile of walking to fish the shoreline. i tried beach fishing but decided that's not my desire. For kicks i found a "boatless fishing web site which focused on specific communities up and down the shore. Some guys thrive on that environment with lots of tall fishing tales to share. Me, I'm a seasoned (76 year old) with lots of fly fishing wishes and dreams, a couple of decent rods, a few dozen self-tied flies, and hoping to soon hire a guide on a nearby lake (30 minute ride) for my first shot at Peacock Bass. Until reading this note from you, I was thinking of going solo on a half-day Peacock charter. I'd welcome the opportunity to split that ride with you in case that would be of interest. Looks like the popular price is about $275 for one or two anglers. We can further discuss that thought when you get here. Given local weather this time of year (unpredictable wind conditions until April or so), I have no desire to risk it until the weather cooperates. The nearest "club" I've heard of is up in West Palm Beach. There's lots of local knowledge and great service at the local fly shop: "Ole Florida Fly shop" on N. Federal Hwy, in Boca. Daren is the owner; he's been there as long as I can remember (25 years or more). Check out his web site for more info. There's more to talk about but to continue here is akin to giving away the key to the lock box. I'm sort-of new on this forum so I don't know if there is a Private Message capability. So, here's my email address if you wish to be in touch that way: mpilgrim@bellsouth.net. Anxious to hear from you. Cheers, Mike

Hello Hogenvy. I just realized you are also a Boca fishing guy. I gotta ask, on your Avitar that lunker you are holding must be 10+ lbs, but more importantly, it appears that is a golf course in the background. Curious what golf course, and secondly, how do you go about fishing golf course puddles without getting shooed away by the marshals/ I live in Boca Chase which you might know is but a short jog to South County park (where I've not even been tempted) but Ospry Point GC poses interesting possibilities. In the other direction is Southwinds GC with lots of attractive water, but from past experience there's no way to go on that property until all golfers are gone for the day. i think the same can be said for Boca Muni. i guess all the private golf clubs are impossible, so I've not even bothered. I have a very promising 35 acre retention lake right here in the neighborhood where in years past I have bagged some decent bass on spinning tackle. Now with Fly gear as my choice of sport, I'm trying to learn how to negotiate the steep, jagged shoreline to drag my catch out of the water without cutting it off on the submerged structure. Another nearby haven for decent bass is one with little or no free space for the back cast due to the hedge and tree plantings. I'm trying to perfect a working presentation there so i can reap the benefits. I'm looking for the day i can pose one of those 10lb lunkers in a photo for my own show and tell. Once we get through all these windy condition days, I hope to get back out there. In the meantime, I'm having a blast learning to tie new patterns using an assortment of fiber products. Beats the heck out of bucktail, in my opinion. I hadn't thought of your suggestion that to advertise here for strictly local to Boca knowledge is falling on deaf ears, or no ears at all. Thanks for your reply. Cheers, Mike

I appreciate that tip, re. 20 mile bend. I first heard of that spot almost 35 years ago when my son (then 15) and I joined the Astronomy club of WPB, and they talked of going there for clear sky telescope viewing. Guess I wasn't interested then in fishing that spot. Unfortunately, that's a far trek for me but if I can't locate decent catch closer to home, I might give it a try sometime. Thanks for the mention of that spot. I get the idea this specific forum is not too active of late. Except for your response to my post this week, there's been no apparent activity for about 3 years at least. I wonder if there's any way to make some noise to draw more attention here. Or, is there some other thread which has taken it's place for current knowledge? Yesterday and today I investigated some local spots, namely Boca Rio canal from 18th. st. all the way to Clint Moore (observed from all the respective crossroads in that distance. I wonder if anyone here has testimonials of any of that terrain? Am I correct to think there is access on Clint Moore, west bound on West side of the tpk overpass? How about south side of Yamato east bound just on West side of tpk overpass? Lastly, any hassle parking in the Office Depot parking lot at Glades and TPK, and walk into the Boca Rio on east side of OD? I became spooked at that spot previously as I was confronted by a pair of toothless, homeless bums living in a cardboard structure in the woods near the canal. Not sure if that situation remains. Come on guys. Let's have a little chatter on behalf of we boatless fly fishers in west Boca.

Been looking high and low for local knowledge for fly fishing waters without hassle. This thread albeit ancient since last update offers exactly what I am looking for. I can only hope my plea will awaken some of these ideas for me to consume. I live precisely in the geography described (Cain Blvd. Glades to Yamato in west Boca Raton). I'm a 10 minute drive to South County Park; would appreciate to hear what to find there now, and in which body(s) of water. It's been a couple years since I tried West Delray Regional Park (at the west end of Atlantic), and am thinking of returning after a lengthy hiatus. Wonder if anyone has any recent knowledge out there? As far as the neighborhood lakes around Glades and Cain, I'm interested for pointers there as well. One disadvantage being a fly fisher is that some areas discussed here with steep banks require a strong backbone casting rod to muscle up the catch. Consequently, I'm restricted to easy access, close to the water approaches. I've not tried Boca Rio canal, although I've driven along there many times but was never impressed, maybe due to the uncut grass/weed approach. I have never explored the Lake Ida/Osborne chain, but am considering hiring a guide to see what that has to offer. (did I mention I am a boatless angler?). Lastly, several years ago while driving down the Fla Tpk we exited at Indiantown Rd where we found Riverbend State Park just across the road from the exit booth. It would appear the bass fishing on fly might be a worthwhile venture there in the headwaters of the Loxahatchee River. At least in a section of sandy-bottom water near the kayak launch ramp it was obvious the bass were there, and elsewhere near the picnic shelters it appeared there was easy access to the water. I wonder if anyone has any fish-tales from that water hole?