. My choice is an 8wt setup, but you should fish what you feel comfortable with. That expert also comes with a trained pair of eyes to help spot the fish before they spot you. 1. All five of the flies featured in this article are available in the Sight Cast Redfish Pack and are designed to target Redfish in the Gulf Coast region. For food and shelter, they seek out sea-grass beds, mangroves, marshes, oyster bars, mud and sand flats and beaches. While it was initially intended to target Redfish, it does equally as well for large Speckled Trout up on the flats. No top ten list can be without the most used and prolific fly in the world, the classic Clouser Minnow pattern. You might see individual fish or, in certain areas, schools of a dozen or more. My idea of a nice red was a 7-pounder in Floridas Everglades National Park. Redfish are resourceful and feed on a variety of crabs, shrimp, and baitfish. Stretching 367 miles from the Sabine River at the Louisiana border to the Rio Grande on the Mexican border, the Texas coast is a varied and unique fishery that is relatively unnoticed on the national level. It flashes and dances so well that its easy to spot even 100 feet out in thick grass and cattails. Most of the flies featured in this article are available for sale in the Saltwater Fly Shop and are designed to target inshore species in the Gulf Coast region. Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and imitating a fleeing shrimp or wounded baitfish. Red drum is a fast growing fish reaching approximately 11 inches and one pound in its first year, 17-22 inches and 3 1/2 pounds in two years, and 22-24 inches and 6-8 pounds in three years. Saltwater Flies. So our guides have begun to compile a collection of our favorite patterns here, for all to see. The Lower Laguna Madre is one of the finest spots to fly fish for red fish (red drum), black drum, speckled trout, flounder, tarpon, snook, sheepshead, and ladyfish. This is my summer flats first choice in the colors closet to the mullet in your areatans and beige with whites and black markings. The colors can be mixed and matched in an endless array, but here on the Texas Coast a blend of natural browns with orange flare seems to be a winning combination. The most common color is reddish-bronze. The Merkin Crab is widely considered the most effective Permit fly ever conceived. Michael Stravato for The . Polling around on that flood tide is a special time to fish, and it should be cherished. Here is a brief overview of some hot fly patterns in vogue today among the in the know coastal redfish angling set. Redfish Backstory Back in the 1970s, red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus (aka redfish, reds, or puppy drum) were rare as rocking horse teeth due to unsustainable harvests. Those regions abut the narrow, winding canals of the back marshes and ponds near Galveston and Freeport. Dupre can make custom colors if necessary. Just deals and news! However, the Electric Slider's dark coloration, coupled with the intelligent use of ingredients, gives it great movement, making it the perfect choice for the marsh. Pair the rod with a smooth drag reel and a floating line, and you are good to go. Crab flies are deadly for targeting Redfish (and Sheepshead) in the Gulf Coast region. When the cork pops in the water it creates a slurping sound, and this gets the fish interested. This pattern has many variations, but the concept remains the same. If youre fortunate enough to hit a warm day, youll find hordes of reds rushing up on the flats to feed over the warm, dark mud left exposed by an earlier low tide. Below are some articles to guide you to a TROPHY. Rick Hartman, an expert fly fisherman and guide, poles a skiff in the Lower Laguna Madre while a friend casts for redfish. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. In fall and winter months, the Biloxi Marsh and the coast of Louisiana can properly boast the best redfishing in the world. But the visual experience can be breathtaking. This article will cover the flies that every fisherman should have in their box and the ones that work best when sight fishing to Redfish and Speckled Trout in the Gulf Coast region. I love nothing more than being out on the water chasing a few reds with friends. Offshore, in the surf, or next to deep channels are the ideal locations to use this fly. Before you go, know the rules for reds in your target area. Best Time: Fall months: late August through November. When youre seeing lots of Redfish up on the flats, tie this fly on and let the good times roll. The straight style, like the Straight-Shooter Crab pictured, has the hook shank positioned perpendicular to the crab body. On warmer days, work a surface-popper or gurgler pattern in white or in dark colors such as black and purple. This fly was designed for Bonefish in the Florida Keys, but with some slight modifications it is perfect for Redfish and Trout here in the Gulf Coast inshore waters. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. Possibly the most unique redfish destination is Mosquito Lagoon in east central Florida. Much like all other crab flies, it should be able to perform crawling along the bottom and the legs and claws should flutter with bite-enticing movement. Salt Water Sportsman may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. The cost is $16.00 per person per day. 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. Boats leave from dozens of ports, and the runs to the flats can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. It is hand-tied by Jim Dupre and finished with an epoxy coating, making it bulletproof. Leaders can measure 9 to 12 feet, with a 40-pound butt section tapering to a 15- or 20-pound tippet. Its important to remember that thousands of redfish flies work very well. 2 stainless Tiemco hook and keeps the Zap-A-Crab glue body well away from the hook point to improve the flys ability to hook reds. 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). It has a large head that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. The Mangrove Baitfish is great for Florida and Lowcountry redfish thanks to its wide profile and snag-resistant design. It is tied in in smaller sizes, so it doesnt make much disturbance when it lands. Gold Frizzy. Redfish are opportunistic feeders and often forage in shallow mudflats with their noses stuck to the bottom, where they mainly feed on crustaceans. 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. Factors that affect casting, such as wind and bushy flies, also affect rod choice. This Louisiana classic is an easy and delicious way to serve redfish. Some even believe that this is an evolved strain of redfish, different from its relatives in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters. Theyre not as explosive or exciting as tarpon, or as elusive as bonefish and permit, but for East and Gulf coast fly-rod anglers, theyre easily accessible and extremely fun to catch. From the shape of the spoon, to the angle of the hook, to the amount of material tied at the bend of the hook; it all factors in to how the spoon sinks, wobbles, and flutters in the water. Read about, Both Tarpon and Redfish can haunt the same waters. Other examples include a modified Diver variant and the Popcorn Shrimp (pictured above). State regulations throughout the redfishs range have helped these hardy gamesters to rebound. Bags and packs are entirely optional. He wants the fly right on the bottom, where a redfish can find it. Back in November, I made it down to the Texas Coast for a DIY saltwater trip with my buddy, Bryant. The setup you choose to use depends entirely on your ability as a fly fisher. This adds bulk to the streamer and allows the loose Mylar threads to catch and reflect light in every possible direction much like a spoon. Call Captain Kenjo direct ASAP 361-500-2552 or BOOK NOW online! Miniard fishes primarily for tailing redfish in tough, tangled spartina grass along the northeast Florida coast. The experience left him truly exhilarated. Saltwater fly fishing is another craze that has taken root from Texas to Florida, and for good reason. The record red drum was 94 pounds and was caught on the East coast. There are many variants of topwater flies, the classic Gurgleris just one example. My own personal favorite stomping grounds for redfish include South Florida and Louisiana. Redfish are generally in the surf when the water temperatures reach the mid-70s. Getting the fly deep gets more bites, even when the reds are busting on top. It also helped a bit that the first cast I made with a Spoonfly hooked a fish. About the Author: Now a retired Miami attorney, Pat Ford spends his time taking photos and writing about fishing destinations around the world. Like Charleston, certain parts in the South have what we call a flood tide. 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.. Scientists have documented this redfish population as the first ever known to spawn in an estuary (versus offshore). After enduring day after day of heat, humidity and seemingly incessant southwest winds; October will give . 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. My favorite hi-tie, I'll often use a 4x-long size 6 . Texas Red Fish Adventures. It has a unique wobbling action when retrieved thats identical to a Johnson wobbling spoon. Fly-fishing, Light Tackle, Sight Casting, Shallow Water Fishing Charters in The Lower Laguna Madre in South . Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and will trigger a natural reflex that makes fish want to eat. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. Tie it on a 1/0 hook and use bead eyes, even though its a shallow-water fly. 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. But as every angler knows, there are days where the fish are picky and are only keying in on one food source. The Kung Fu Crab is a must when fishing the mangroves and grass plains. Need something interesting to read, so post up your favorite redfish flies. 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. They eat with ease and love to chase the fly. It's a great pattern for sight fishing. Locals like the Surfin Wooly. Fish it near the bottom with slow and erratic retrieves for best results. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REDFISH PATTERNS FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE. 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. Big Carolina bull reds can weigh up to 80 pounds (the all-tackle world-record redfish a 94-plus-pounder was caught in 1984 out of Avon, North Carolina), so obviously they prefer larger bait, such as smelt, bunker and croaker, which also attract bigger birds. Look for big redfish laid up at the surface like tarpon. Sometimes the bite is on and game fish will aggressively smack anything thats thrown in front of them. The Spoonfly is about as weedless as the Johnson lure. Big bull reds love this fly. The Clouser closely resembles a glass minnow, one of the most plentiful bait fishes seen in back lakes and coves. Fiddler, stone and mud crabs inhabit the Charleston marshes, and their colors are muted, from brown to a dark tan to almost chocolate. March 24 - 2023 Texoma Ducks Unlimited Spring Event at the Mayor Arena of Loy Lake Park. The central-coast redfish waters include the jetties of Port OConnor and the grass flats of Rockport, all with shorelines similar to those in Louisiana. The fly is tied to look like a gaudy shrimp, which is something to keep in mind when viewing it. These eyes are much lighter and will give you a slower sink rate. By the time you're done reading this, you'll be ready to head to Texas to . Location: Houston, Texas. In Georgia the water is dark and turbid, and the tides run hard and high. In the southern parts of Florida and Texas, redfish generally run smaller than their cousins in other regions, and they spend most of their time on the flats. 2. Check this first and try again. Most guides say the best fly rod for redfish is a 9-foot, 8- or 9-weight rod paired to most any brand of saltwater reel and spooled with a warm-water, weight-forward floating line. I think the craft fur body profile moves so well and has all the triggers. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. by Ron Mc Tue Mar 10, 2020 10:18 am. 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. This allows the crab to "swim" while being stripped. They will generally eat a second time if they spook or miss the fly. Youll end up tying this fly on very often because once you get that rush of adrenaline watching Redfish and Trout blow it up out of the water, you'll be addicted.
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