Ive guided a lot of clients to Permit in the upper keys. They are not always easy to find, and tides and conditions have to be right. Ill be adding more picture to this gallery as time permits.
“I enjoy travelling and fly fishing. I’ve fished with dozens of guides over the years, and Duane Baker is one of the finest I’ve ever met. He came highly recommended by Leland Fly Fishing in California, and I am really glad I took their advice. Duane is a true gentleman and a real professional. He took me fly fishing for redfish, and it was one of the best fishing experiences of my life. There was no ego, no yelling or uncontrolled emotional outbursts that you can experience with some guides. Duane was patient, calm and that gave me a great sense of confidence. He wouid be poling the boat, chatting with me, and then he would say, “ok – fish at 11 o’clock at 35 feet, or 3 o’oclock at 20 feet.” And so it went. If I missed my cast, he would simply say, “pick up and recast 2 feet to the left.” Duane put me on fish after fish. I hooked 16 redfish and landed 11. My arm was quite tired at the end of the day. On my drive back to the hotel, I was listening to the redfish, bonefish fishing report on the radio. It was kind of funny because they said the redfish fishing was slow that day. Maybe they should have been fishing with Duane.”
Dave Ivie – California
“As the glittering wake of the boat reflected the morning sun and images of puffy Florida clouds mirrored on the smooth water stretching, seemingly beyond reach, I realize it doesn’t get any better than this.
To experience fishing with Duane Baker is undeniably an entry on the top ten bucket list activities for us all. The peace and tranquility of the Florida Keys harmonizes so beautifully with the excitement of casting to a lurking shadow moving through the crystal clear water of the flats. All is at peace in the world, at least, for anyone blessed with the joy of this experience.
The skill and professionalism of guide Duane Baker provided me with this experience. I enthusiastically recommend this guide, as a true sportsman and an impressive representative of one of the Florida Key’s finest fishing guides. Duane’s ability to allow both the novice angler, as well as the experienced fly fisherman to feel special, while experiencing the wonders of the backwaters of the Florida Everglades National Park, demonstrates his love of nature, as well as his skill as a fisherman.
Please make this experience a must, and after it is over, I guarantee you will not mark it off as complete on that bucket list; instead it will become one of your favorite obsessions for the remainder of your days.”
Peter Arcoma – Seymour, Connecticutt
Ive fished with Duane regularly and its never a disappointment. Duane has put me in front of tarpon, bonefish, redfish, and permit numerous times. You can tell that Duane really loves fishing and guiding and that makes a big difference. I always catch fish when I go, and I always have a great time.
Steve Clark – Miami, Florida
Fishing with Duane was awesome. You can tell he knows how to find fish in any kind of weather. I never got bored or worried that we would get skunked.
JP – Tampa, Florida
Redfish are plentiful in the back country of the Florida Keys. Below are some pictures of redfish caught by my clients near Islamorada, Key Largo, and Tavernier. Early morning hours can make for some excellent casting to tailing reds using an 8 or 9 weight fly rod. On windy or cloudy days, you can still spot these reds mudding and watch them follow a well presented fly.
Below are some images of various clients and friends with bonefish caught in the Upper Keys area on a fly. The conditions and locations (Key Largo, Tavernier, Plantation Key, etc) vary from keys in the back country to ocean side flats. As I have more time, and take more pictures, Ill keep adding them to this gallery.
Bonefishing in Key Largo and the Northern Keys can be epic. We have many flats on the Oceanside and in Biscayne Bay. Just to the north of Key Largo. The fish avg. 5 to 7LBS. There are bigger fish as well topping 13lbs. The flats are beautiful and the water is clear. Personally It is my favorite area to catch a bone fish on Fly.
Islamorada Bonefishing: Islamorada is the birth place of Bonefishing on the Fly. Most of the world records have come From the downtown flats. There are oceanside flats and bayside flats that hold fish of all sizes. Any given day you may have the opportunity to be fishing to a world record bonefish.
I supply all the fly tackle flies and leaders. You are welcome to bring your own gear. I recommend a 8wt. or 9wt. and also a 10wt. for the very windy days. That’s when the giants come and play.
