Guest Angler Q&A Series: Captain Frank Viola
In this monthly series, we sit down with guests from across to angling community to bring new perspectives and share a glimpse into different aspects of the sport, fisheries and watersheds, and culture. This month, we spoke with Captain Frank Viola of Turtlehead Charters about how he got into the sport, his passion for guiding, the similarities between angling & professional baseball, and more.
How did you get into the sport and when did you start guiding?
I got into the sport as a child. I always wanted to play baseball for a living like my dad but only so I could make enough money to fish for the rest of my life. That didn’t happen so I decided to get into the industry by creating content which led to just simply guiding full time. I wanted to focus on tarpon and large fish on artificials and fly… so that’s what I’ve done!
As a guide, you usually invest more time in helping others catch fish than fishing yourself. What fuels that passion?
Remembering why I wanted to do this job in the first place - the memories from when I was kid from 9 to 14 years old and the experience I had on charter trips in the Keys. To me, it’s about making those moments just as special for my clients as those captains did for me. It inspired me to learn about the fisheries and instilled a passion as well as love for the ocean, its seagrasses, water quality etc. I love to share that with my clients and friends.
It’s also great to see everyone’s faces when they understand how old some of these trophy fish are!
Being based in Crystal River, there is some pretty tricky water to navigate on the run out - what’s the trick to learning all the in’s and out’s?
Time on the water, respect for the tides and always taking your time. Slow is pro!!
As a light tackle guide, you do a bit of it all from helping clients master the retrieve of a swim bait to double hauling a toad fly into the wind. That said, you’ve gravitated more to fly recently and curious what drove that?
For me, it was about mastering something complex. I gravitated toward the knuckleball at the end of my baseball career due to its complexity. It’s also something everyone can do if they put the work in - I feel the same about fly fishing. It’s also something all fishermen desire to learn but don’t necessarily have the time to master. To be able to soak in the day looking for fish and appreciating nature is a big thing these days. I still bait fish a lot and find myself staring at a screen, using active target most of the day (heck even with artificial I still use it). But with fly fishing, the focus is 99% looking at water which is the way it’s supposed to be!
Early in your career, you played professional baseball. Were there any lessons from the diamond that you brought onto the water?
The water was my free space. It is still my peace. If I have a good day, I tend to tie every fly, line, everything the same. I’ll wash the boat the same way, I put everything away in the same order (it’s a problem). I did the same thing in baseball. If I have a bad day, I change a few things up but mostly it stays the same. I eat the same thing every morning and I pack the same snacks every day and I get the same soda every day too. As we’re talking, I realize I am a bit crazy actually. Chocolate chip, banana Cliff Bar and a decaf coffee in the morning. Can of sardines, white cheddar Cheezits and organic chickpeas for lunch! It’s all about routine!
When you manage to find time to get on the water yourself, do you have a favorite style of fishing and what are you chasing?
I’m throwing super, crazy-light tackle stuff (ticklerz, jerk baits) for redfish and snook, swim baits for tarpon or flies for all of the above by myself. Nothing else comes on the boat.
Thanks Frank for sitting down with us and sharing your story!
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Your Name: Captain Frank Viola
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Location & Home Water: Crystal River, FL
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Favorite Species: Tarpon
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Favorite Fly Pattern: Bunny Fly
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Favorite Rod / Reel Set-up: Orvis Helios 11 weight, 12 weight RIO flags pro line, Orvis Mirage reel 11-13
