This is a great fly for shallow water and smaller fish that aren't looking for a huge meal. The Clouser is a classic saltwater pattern for a variety of species, and for good reason. From throwing flies to tailing fish in the marshes to chasing large bulls in the surf, there is a place in the Lone Star State for everything. 1.1 1. Doors open up at 6 p.m. and tickets are $60 for individuals and $70 for couples. Most of them imitate the crabs, shrimp, and baitfish that make up the majority of the redfish diet. Recommended Guide/Charter Service: Bones Fishing Guide Service (San Antonio, Calaveras Lake) This is one of the best guide services operating on Calaveras Lake for big redfish and catfish. Therefore, tackle choices revolve more around casting and presentation ease than on fighting the fish. This allows the crab to stand upright in a defensive posture with claws dancing in the current when resting on the bottom. Boats leave from dozens of ports, and the runs to the flats can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. Check out, Picture Source A huge thanks to the great folks at, Some of the amazing redfish pictures were provided by my buddies at. Redfish can be found all along the coast, stretching from Texas, around the Gulf to Florida, and up the Atlantic to parts of the Northeast, preferring water temperatures between 65-85 degrees. Choose some bright colors and Redfish won't be able to resist. In fall and winter, the Biloxi Marsh comes alive for fly anglers targeting big bull reds that cruise the ponds and channels. If youre not ready when a school appears, youre out of luck. I use large, black bead eyes most of the time, but always tie some flies with lead eyes for deeper water. The fly body is black ice chenille wrapped Palmer-style with black hackles, and a black marabou tail. The EP Baitfish is a Gurgler-like pattern that moves water and pops on the surface to trigger an aggressive Redfish eat. Equip your fly line with cast foam poppers, deer-hair bugs or shrimp and baitfish patterns for the classic approach to Snook fly fishing. Offshore, in the surf, or next to deep channels are the ideal locations to use this fly. Traveling angler and world-record holder Meredith McCord lives in Texas and fishes its flats for redfish every chance she gets. The setup you choose to use depends entirely on your ability as a fly fisher. The bull reds, on average, top the 20-pound mark, and they seem to number in the thousands. Here is a brief overview of some hot fly patterns in vogue today among the in the know coastal redfish angling set. Watch the waves roll close to the beach, and look for a red as breaking water crests. If youre fishing in one foot of water, you can opt for a fly tied with bead-chain eyes. Youll end up tying this fly on very often because once you get that rush of adrenaline watching Redfish blow it up out of the water, you'll be addicted. Guide Tip: Redfish grow to true trophy sizes. The pattern excels in stained/murky water thats very common along the Texas and Louisiana coast. 2. Best of all, redfish love it. On the northern coast, the greenish, dark marsh waters of Sabine Pass gradually give way to the tinted shallow oceanfront bays and lagoons filled with oyster beds and a variety of marsh grasses. Next the tubing is poked at liberally with a needle or ice pick to unfurl the mylar, giving it a frizzy appearance. Microscopic Monsters of the Ocean: King Mackerel, Protect the Blue Key West: Remote Control. Charlie Paradoski, charlieparadoski.com, 713-725-2401; Lower Laguna Madre: Capt. Its time Florida starts similar program.Snook If you find schools of glass minnows, tie on a Clouser and youll find the fish. It retrieves through pencil reeds, spartina grass, over rocks, oysters and through brush as well as any weedless lure. Creating high quality flies made for those that live and breathe the shallow flats and backwater marshes is our main focus. The Kwan fly is a great fly for sight fishing to Redfish in a few inches of water because its light weight allows it to land softly on the water, is easy to cast far distances, and has a slow sink rate that suspends with great movement. It is hand-tied by Jim Dupre and finished with an epoxy coating, making it bulletproof. A small orange grizzly feather is tied in at the head to look like a fiddler-crab claw, with a single stiff mono weed guard positioned from the head toward the hook point. Im all set to go a simple boat fly box with the above patterns! Most of your casting will be done in . As you move farther north in the redfish's range, you may have to wait until later in the year to find reds in the surf. Flies for Redfish. If you cant get the fly to the fish, you wont catch any, period. Everglades National Park offers prime redfish habitat with miles of flats. But as every angler knows, there are days where the fish are picky and are only keying in on one food source. Whether stalking some grass flats, making your way through the Everglades, or heading to the marsh to try and land that big bull red, make sure your fly box is properly stocked. Having the right fly for these conditions is essential. The Mangrove Baitfish is great for Florida and Lowcountry redfish thanks to its wide profile and snag-resistant design. Its a simple Superglue fly Ben can make in about 10 minutes. January and February is redfish time in the many sheltered potholes and ponds of the Biloxi, Mississippi, marsh. Sheka ties them on a size 2 to 1/0 Mustad hook. Chartreuse and white is a well-liked option. Building off this recipe and making a few modifications to resemble a juvenile blue crab, this pattern becomes a must-have for targeting Sheepshead and Redfish along the Gulf Coast. While other colors are effective I have found these to be best . Most have been well tested via the school of hard fishing knocks endorsed by the anglers who cast them and the redfish that eat them. No more sweat-soaked shirts the first hour into poling and smelling like a gym locker by the end of the day. Fish this fly slow and allow it to sink,then with very small, crawling strips you will mimic the movement of a defensive crab. Youll also want it to resemble a juvenile blue crab thats highly prevalent in the region, including a tan-colored textured shell body and bright orange claw tips. Dustin's Destroyer, Bluegill. The experience left him truly exhilarated. When you want a good all-around fly that will catch any game fish you can see, tie on one of the most well-known saltwater flies, the Kwan fly. Plus, we've also written about the best fly reel for Reds and the best fly line for Reds. Dustin's Destroyer, Chartreuse and White. From the shape of the spoon, to the angle of the hook, to the amount of flash on the back end; it all factors in to how the spoon sinks, wobbles, and flutters in the water. My hands shook. Read about, Both Tarpon and Redfish can haunt the same waters. Thanks for signing up! We respect your privacy. Fly fishing is more than catching fish, being in the outdoors with good friends and family is what it is all about. Michael Stravato for The . This is where the high tide pushes an extra few feet, flooding the muddy grass banks. Working that fly to get the eat, fighting well, and then gently releasing the fish after a few photos is what its all about. Fly fishing in Texas doesn't get the credit it deserves, and we're here to change that. Back in November, I made it down to the Texas Coast for a DIY saltwater trip with my buddy, Bryant. While it was initially intended to target Redfish, it does equally as well for large Speckled Trout up on the flats. The Everglades Special is one of those baitfish patterns that will just about catch any predatory fish. Redfish are very forgiving in that they will eat again on a second attempt and often follow anything that looks like food. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. Clouser Minnow needs no introductions or explanations! It's an extremely beautiful river filled with large and catchable bass. Seriously, it is less than 25 minute's total prep time! What the hell. Then one day I was casting a spoon-fly to redfish when I spotted a huge sheepie tailing on oysters. Unless you know the area and own a flats boat, youll need a guide. In reds and greens on a size #1, this pattern wiggles and swims like an injured baitfish or crab. If you find redfish feeding near the surface, a topwater fly works really well. The Mylar tubing is folded over lengthwise, and secured to the hook shank. 1.4 4. Redfish are strong, hearty, and fight really good. Tailing fish set any anglers heart aflutter. Flies with lead eyes are going to sink fast and are best used in water depths of 2+ feet or when you want to crawl your fly along a sandy bottom. Look for big redfish laid up at the surface like tarpon. The key is to use a fly-and-line combo that will drop down in the water column. I like it in the colors of tans, beiges, and reds with some crystal flash and legs. In the beginning, the most incredible, unexplained marks appeared on our bottom machines. Sign up to get the latest sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! When these marks started erupting in huge, gold splashes, we figured out that they were huge schools of redfish and that we had to be ready for them to pop up at any time.. Redfish, especially in the area between Tampa Bay and Crystal River, tend to be some of the spookiest fish in the state of Florida. All of the fish you choose to keep must measure between 20-28 inches. Flies must get deep quickly to appeal to upper Gulf Coast redfish, he says. All the way from Florida to Texas anglers and tyers are hard at work designing patterns to fool redfish. The lakes, ponds and coves in these areas prove deeper, so you wont see too many tailing fish. Redfish are opportunistic feeders and often forage in shallow mudflats with their noses stuck to the bottom, where they mainly feed on crustaceans. Texas claims two others, and North Carolina one. When youre seeing lots of Redfish up on the flats, tie this fly on and let the good times roll. Crab flies mainly fall into two different categories and can be fished a few different ways. It has a large front collar that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. Boat shoes are great, so you dont slip and slide around on deck. This is the story behind the action in Marjie's words: "In August 2014, I was taking photos of Ospreys in flight at the . Leaving them with the "shell" on makes the filets look amazing too. In most cases, this will include a 9 or 10 weight fly rod, a 25 lb to 30 lb test 7.5 to 9 foot tapered leader, and crab patterns or poppers (depending on conditions). The Fishing Experience at Baffin Bay! That expert also comes with a trained pair of eyes to help spot the fish before they spot you. From the gulf coast of Texas to Virginia, redfish can be found along nearly 2000 miles worth of coastline. A Bonnier LLC Company. I'll gladly give up February or August to expand the finest month on the calendar along the Texas coast. This is an excellent fly for tailing fish digging crabs out of the mud. 4. My idea of a nice red was a 7-pounder in Floridas Everglades National Park. Getting down quickly also avoids the albies, which grab the lighter offerings, she says. SWS Planner: Texas Gulf Coast Redfish Action. They can be in water from 6 inches to 3feet, based on varying conditions of tide and temperature. The original was white and silver but the color combinations and sizes are infinite. Theyll even attack poppers with gusto, at times. Gardner always keeps two rods rigged and ready. The hook sizes and eye weight can greatly vary and give you the flexibility to fish any depth of water. Weed guards are beneficial when targeting reds in shallow and marshy water. The Redfish tend to like its smaller profiling in the colder months, especially on the clearer days. Its tied on a size 1 through 2/0 Mustad 34007 hook, unweighted or with lead dumbbell eyes. Ive caught a lot of big fish in my day, but nothing like this. Below are some articles to guide you to a TROPHY. For small redfish, we suggest that you use a #2, #1, or a 1/0 circle hook. Raz Reed, who created the fly, also uses it for bass, something I havent tried yet but plan on tying up a few for my next bass mission. It has a unique wobbling action when retrieved thats identical to a Johnson wobbling spoon. Surrounded by the crystal clear waters of Copano and Aransas Bays, and nearby San Antonio and Matagora Bays, Rockport, TX is our home and base of operations. 1 artificial lure of all time for redfish. Gin clear water makes these fish very skittish when in shallow water situations. Add the sizes you fish most often too. This is followed up with some flashing and then some buck tail tied towards the front of the hook on all sides that extends just beyond the hook bend. Almost any fly that imitates such forage works well. I bump up to a 5- to 6-inch mostly synthetic yet very puffy white fly for the big bull reds. These Texas reds demonstrate typical shallow-water feeding behavior. Similar to the Clouser Minnow, this is a bright baitfish pattern that sinks quickly and stays deep. Kennedy nicknamed this all-black cone-headed Wooly Bugger the American Express Fly because he never leaves home without it. Re: Redfish Flies. Youll find good numbers of 18- to 27-inch fish. They tolerate a wide range of water temperatures and salinities, and eat everything from crustaceans and mollusks to baitfish. One or two flying sharks is worth a look, but a dozen simultaneous eruptions deserves full throttle and a shout on the radio, she says. From WildFly Productions: "Back in November, I made it down to the Texas Coast for a DIY saltwater trip with my buddy, Bryant. Other examples include a modified Diver variant and the Popcorn Shrimp (pictured above). The fly hit the water and the redfish inhaled it like it was the best meal it had ever seen. Usually most crab flies you find in the big box stores are designed to target permit or bonefish. The weed guard is essential to the success of the fly. Keep your leader short and straightforward. For deeper redfishing, Sheka includes lead under the chenille or substitutes lead eyes for nylon ones, and he ties it large to be a more visible target, usually with a marabou tail that absorbs water to help it get down. He wants the fly right on the bottom, where a redfish can find it. For information, visit . There are so many fish feeding its actually ridiculous. The redfish run from average, 4 to 7 pounds, to big, 12 to 15 pounds. For food and shelter, they seek out sea-grass beds, mangroves, marshes, oyster bars, mud and sand flats and beaches. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To find out more about the regulations for the reservoirs call (210) 635-8289 or visit the TPWD website https://tpwd.texas.gov/. The daily bag on redfish in Texas is three fish in a slot limit of 20 to 28 inches . Redfish are predominantly found in shallow waters, so a floating line will be just fine. You can play with tippet strengths but stick to what you are happy to fish and go from there. 2023All Rights Reserved -www.sightcastfishing.com - Sight Cast Fishing Company, Saltwater Fly Fishing - Apparel, Flies, and Tying Materials, Sheepshead, Fly Fishing, Sight Fishing, Sheepshead Flies, texas fly fishing, sheepshead fly fishing, how to catch sheepshead on fly, best sheepshead flies, sight fishing to sheepshead, sheepshead fly, best way to catch sheepshead. The bright shiny spoon-fly is the furthest thing from the typically suggested drab sheepshead flies as you can get. They are superb at grabbing the attention of fish from a distance, in murky water, or when the visibility is low. Redfish feed on a variety of marsh-like critters. So, there you have it. Each area offers something to the fly fisherman. The great thing about redfish patterns is, for the most part, they are pretty darn simple fly and easy to tie. My favorite colors are blue over white and chartreuse over white. This pattern performs extremely well in murkier waters or on overcast days, and just like any other fly the spoon has many variants that can cater to any situation. 7. An oversized head with a long tail made of saddle hackles. March 24 - 2023 Texoma Ducks Unlimited Spring Event at the Mayor Arena of Loy Lake Park. All rights reserved. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. Most of the time fly-rodders are working from kayaks and canoes, casting to pushing fish or blind-casting to creek mouths. Gjuro Bruer, maneuvered his skiff into casting range, and I managed to place one of my best redfish flies just a few feet ahead of this thing, which looked like a giant koi. The dark color and bulky body make an easy-to-find target for Georgia reds, Kennedy says. Because reds often cruise in murky water, anglers must throw a big enough fly for them to see. Sheka Shrimps tied in subtle browns and cream colors perform best in stained water. Year-round you can fish redfish, but in the changing season, you also have black drum, sheepshead, sea trout, tarpon, and . Redfish weighing less than 15 pounds can be landed using most any fly rod. You want to be in Port Aransas during the Fall Run to catch your next personal best sight casted Texas red drum on the fly. Let a good casts worth of line drag behind you and start wading in about a foot of water. If needed contact info - HERE, Disclosure: "This site is owned and operated by River Traditions LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Michigan, USA. Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and will trigger a natural reflex that makes fish want to eat. The EP fibers really changed how we could tie baitfish patterns, and the advancements are spectacular. Colors I do not leave home without are: Black/Purple, and Brown/Tan. It also helped a bit that the first cast I made with a Spoonfly hooked a fish. Try a white or chartreuse pattern, and if that doesnt work, switch to something dark in black or purple. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | About | Contact | The Team | Advertise with Guide Recommended, Disclosure: "This site is owned and operated by River Traditions LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Michigan, USA. Ford is a founding member of the conservation group Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, has held multiple IGFA world records and published two books on fly-fishing destinations. Days a . A good deviation of this pattern that works well from Texas to Florida is the Brown-Noser fly. Follow up question to types of flies for redfish - I am in the process of converting from conventional setups to fly fishing and am doing so on my own - w/o a friend to show me the ropes. These are all suggestions and please wear what you feel comfortable in. Just deals and news! My guide, Capt. Fly Fishing Laguna Madre on the Texas Coast. ), water conditions the fly excels in, and how you like to fish it. Factors that affect casting, such as wind and bushy flies, also affect rod choice. August 30, 2022 by Brent Pollock. Iknow it works because the guides keep all my leftovers. These large-shouldered predators spend time cruising marshy coastlines searching for crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish. Its simple design is very deadly for many species, especially Redfish. His favorite is the East-Cut Redfish Popper, made commercially by T.J. Neal of East Cut Saltwater Flies in Driftwood, Texas (512-461-4473). One of the elements of fly fishing for reds that I enjoy so much is the variety of experiences it offers from one location to another. The Kwan fly is a great shrimp imitation as well. Salt Water Sportsman may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. The tackle. Leaders can measure 9 to 12 feet, with a 40-pound butt section tapering to a 15- or 20-pound tippet. If your interested in having true experts teach how to chase reds get ahold of INDIGO GUIDE SERVICE. My own personal favorite stomping grounds for redfish include South Florida and Louisiana. Featuring a textured shell body and bright orange claw tips, they closely resemble a juvenile blue crab. Use Light Flies and Long Leaders. If youve fished for Redfish before or are researching Redfish flies, you will undoubtedly run across the Kwan fly. They succeeded by producing a smaller, thumb-size fly version of the Johnson lure that every inshore saltwater angler worth his skiff owns. Greens and golds are the first choices in smaller #2 and #4. This gives the Redfish a feeding zone they cant get on other occasions. Out in the St. Johns River channel, the bull reds congregate. In Texas,the redfish population was going into a serious decline in the80's..So with help of CCA one was started with later help of a $10mil.grant from Federal fish and wildlife.Now every year,they put 10-20 millions redfish fingerlings back into the water. Most are designed to have the perfect amount of weight to slowly flutter down to the bottom and not rapidly sink into the weeds where fish cant see it. As far as fly anglers are concerned, it is primarily a super-shallow water redfish destination . Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. On some versions, the chenille body is wrapped with a contrasting-color hackle feather, which gives the fly very buggy shrimp look when the hackle is trimmed with scissors to simulate legs. It has a large head that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. Plan a winter fly-fishing trip around an afternoon rising tide. On the inshore saltwater scene the Spoonfly has few peers. We have a lot of folks ask us about the flies we are using while fly fishing the flats in Rockport and the surrounding area. A local captain knows where the fish were yesterday and runs a proper skiff designed to navigate the target waters. During the winter months, the water on the flats clears. by Ron Mc Tue Mar 10, 2020 10:18 am. 100% of our funding comes from your gear purchases, so if this blog post helps you on your next fly fishing adventure, please support us by buying your gear from us. Keep flies with bead eyes and lead eyes available. Its death on redfish, with gold and silver models remarkably effecive. While it was initially intended to target Redfish, it does equally as well for large Speckled Trout up on the flats. There are literally thousands of flies out there that imitate the crabs, shrimp, and baitfish that make up the diet of a Redfish on the shallow flats and backwater marshes. Read -> What is the Biggest Redfish Caught. In the summer, mullet start to move through the surf, and that signals game on for fly fishermen. Some even believe that this is an evolved strain of redfish, different from its relatives in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters. Anglers watch for birds wheeling around bait in open water. If there's any wind at all, a 9-weight makes casting easier. He called in Alderman, who cast, dropped the Zap-A-Crab 4 feet from one of the fish and waggled his fly rod to make the rattles pulsate, and instantly the red turned to the fly, rushed it and took. To round out our species-centered blog posts, we've written this post to help you choose the best flies. There's probably no reason to use larger than a size 2 hook on a redfish fly (I've caught kings on size 2 fly), and my go-to is size 6 for small shrimp and dock-fishing-size minnows. No matter if you are chasing them in the muddy mangroves or off a pier amongst some weed banks, if you find the fish feeding, you should be able to hook one. The grass beds of South Florida waters (above) attract school-size reds in great numbers. Usually a wake is seen, or a small part of the fish is spotted breaking the waters surface. Additional tail materials can consist of marabou, bucktail, calf tail or Krystal Flash. The Deceiver is another famous pattern known by many fly fishermen. These patters offer a solid profile and tied with the right materials and weight move beautifully throught the water. The fishing for trophy trout and redfish on Texas' Baffin Bay is nothing short of spectacular and our experienced guides can't wait to show you our neck of the woods. The straight style, like the Straight-Shooter Crab pictured, has the hook shank positioned perpendicular to the crab body. Our passion is saltwater fly fishing and we aim to provide top quality flies and fly tying materials designed for the Gulf Coast fly fisherman. The Spoonfly is an epoxy creation of Capt. The Electric Slider is another classic redfish pattern designed for muddy and stained water. The fools gold pattern is ideal for this as it sinks fast and has excellent movement in the water. Guiderecommended.com and River Traditions LLC participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and others, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other companies." This is where the big boys live. These are the times when having an arsenal of flies that resembles all the prevalent bait fish in your particular location is a must. Spoonfly The record red drum was 94 pounds and was caught on the East coast. It can be tied in countless color variations and weights to suit all water clarities and depths. The Spoonfly is made of flashy Mylar covered and sealed with clear epoxy on a long-shank 2/0 Mustad. The water systems in the South are rich in food sources, and this is where the redfish concentrate. 1.3 3. Our passion is saltwater fly fishing and we aim to provide top quality flies and fly tying materials designed for the Gulf Coast fly fisherman. These eyes are much lighter and will give you a slower sink rate. For more about chasing redfish with a fly rod, find Chico Fernandezs book Fly Fishing for Redfish. 2. Blackened Redfish. Light tackle and fly fishing charters for redfish are world renowned on these inshore flats for because of the crystal clear water and numerous shots . The Electric Slider is another classic redfish pattern designed for muddy and stained water. The result is a fly that is sleek and has little air-resistance during the back cast, but in the water it swims well with a blooming action. Sheka Shrimp come in weighted and unweighted versions, with or without weed guards. Anywhere you can flats-fish for Texas reds, youll find that sensory overload. Description - Fly fishing for red drum in the shallow marshes near Galveston using kayaks right after a cool front. Take a look at the Sight Cast Spoon, it comes after years of research and field testing. Sign up to get the latest sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! The Merkin Crab is widely considered the most effective Permit fly ever conceived. The body is bulky, shrimp-like, made of bright cactus chenille. My choice would be a medium to fast action rod with some backbone to roll over the larger patterns. When it comes to fly fishing, Texas is an up-and-coming state with a lot to offer anglers. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. A Redfish is a Redfish, no matter if you are in Texas, Florida, or Virginia. The angel hairs hollow body gives bulk, and the bucktail and long hackle feathers give the tail lovely movement. This recipe is extremely fast and easy! Quickly toss the fly in front of the fish before it heads back out to sea. Devils River - Legendary Among Texas Fly Anglers. To see more of his photography go to patfordphotos.com. Its a great pattern that has worked on many species for years now. The basic design is made with four to six saddle hackles tied near the back at the bend of the hook. Copyright 2023 Salt Water Sportsman. 1 Where to Catch Redfish in Texas. All you need is a nine foot long 7 or 8 weight rod matched with a floating line and a fly reel that can carry 150 yards of backing. That allows her to keep an eye on the fast-moving schools instead of focusing on tying knots and digging for tackle. Jim Dupre (352-371-6153), a Gainesville, Florida, fishing guide who, with his father A.J., spent countless hours testing and perfecting a fly-rod lure that had the same fish-attracting action as the venerable Johnson Weedless Minnow. Ponte Vedra Beach skiff guide Larry Miniard (904-285-7003) has a pet redfish fly he uses in this area called the Turkey in the Straw, which he and fishing pal Brent London devised.
