Its important to remember that thousands of redfish flies work very well. But for Bill Harvey, a biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Aquatic Resource Protection . Mayfly emergers are often stuck in the film for quite some time making them easy pray for hungry trout. The best is to get the fish to see the fly, and you will generally hook them. Fish often have trouble tracking their prey in these conditions. You do not want to miss your chance to experience the classic Fall Run along the Texas Gulf Coast. The marsh features a series of shallow ponds connected by channels, all of which come lined with even shallower oyster bars and mud flats. Read where to go in this article > Where to Fly Fish in Florida, How big do Tarpon, Redfish and Snook get? These eyes are much lighter and will give you a slower sink rate. This allows the crab to stand upright in a defensive posture with claws dancing in the current when resting on the bottom. Its death on redfish, with gold and silver models remarkably effecive. Sheka Shrimp Flies must get deep quickly to appeal to upper Gulf Coast redfish, he says. Seven hot flies for chasing red drum throughout the coastal south. A floating line will be just fine for most scenarios, but an intermediate line is excellent for the deeper water. The cost is $11.00 per person per day. They are superb at grabbing the attention of fish and will trigger a natural reaction bite that Redfish can simply not resist. Its tied on a size 1 through 2/0 Mustad 34007 hook, unweighted or with lead dumbbell eyes. The water is air-clear. Usually most crab flies you find in the big box stores are designed to target permit or bonefish. The middle Texas coast can offer world class sight-fishing opportunities for Redfish, Black Drum and Trout. Corpus Christi, Texas, guide Bill Sheka (512-991-7191) has fished Baffin Bay and lower Laguna Madre for many years and devised a bright-colored fly called the Sheka Shrimp. We are lucky in that Redfish tell us how they are feeding. 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. I am a South African based fly fisherman who loves nothing more than spending a day on the water. Check out, Picture Source A huge thanks to the great folks at, Some of the amazing redfish pictures were provided by my buddies at. These large-shouldered predators spend time cruising marshy coastlines searching for crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish. Most are very bright-colored, which work well in the clear waters he fishes, where shrimp are an important forage. Sheka ties them on a size 2 to 1/0 Mustad hook. Its a pretty basic fly, with a small head and burnt nylon eyes. Michael Stravato for The . 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. After enduring day after day of heat, humidity and seemingly incessant southwest winds; October will give . Candy Corn Crawler is a great choice when targeting redfish. Traveling pro angler Pat Ford offers tips on tackle, flies and hot spots. Clouser Minnow needs no introductions or explanations! During the winter months, the water on the flats clears. It has a deer hair head thats designed to push water and has a perfect baitfish profile that fish find hard to resist. If you fish in the marsh and mangroves, dont even think of leaving the house without flies with weed guards! Leaving them with the "shell" on makes the filets look amazing too. Because redfish usually feed in grass and often cruise in murky water, fly anglers must throw something the fish can see. I use large, black bead eyes most of the time, but always tie some flies with lead eyes for deeper water. Some even believe that this is an evolved strain of redfish, different from its relatives in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters. He and his clients fish it slow, slower and slower still. For food and shelter, they seek out sea-grass beds, mangroves, marshes, oyster bars, mud and sand flats and beaches. Its just a matter of selecting the right flies. Gin clear water makes these fish very skittish when in shallow water situations. 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. 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. Anglers can accidently bump into these schools, but many guides, such as Capt. It's not uncommon to see Reds tailing in shallow water and some would consider sight casting to a 30+lb Bull Redfish the pinnacle of the sport. You still must put the fly in the right place, but you definitely need a 10-weight rod and a really big fly. They will generally eat a second time if they spook or miss the fly. Fly fishing is more than catching fish, being in the outdoors with good friends and family is what it is all about. Let's take a closer look at what awaits you on a Texas redfish adventure. You can play with tippet strengths but stick to what you are happy to fish and go from there. 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. Its a simple Superglue fly Ben can make in about 10 minutes. The Merkin Crab is widely considered the most effective Permit fly ever conceived. Ive almost been tempted to tie some very small ones for trout. The body is bulky, shrimp-like, made of bright cactus chenille. The lakes, ponds and coves in these areas prove deeper, so you wont see too many tailing fish. Gene Montgomery (334-478-7440) is a Mobile, Alabama, high-school teacher with a passion for fly fishing. My hands shook. The grass beds of South Florida waters (above) attract school-size reds in great numbers. 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. Image hooking into a red weighting over 50lbs. Check this first and try again. Re: Redfish Flies. Bags and packs are entirely optional. Sight cast to schools of tailing redfish in ankle-deep, gin-clear water. Kwan is the fly to have for those quiet, cold winter days on the water. Fish often have trouble tracking their prey in these conditions. Dupre Spoon Fly is one of those debatable patterns that some purists argue isnt a fly but more a lure. The fish looks unnatural and uncoordinated, but its the most exciting surface-lure strike youll see. If youre not ready when a school appears, youre out of luck. Its tied in a size 2 hook, with a dark Furry Foam diamond-shaped body and lead eyes tied on the shank top, just forward of the hook bend. 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. They can be in water from 6 inches to 3feet, based on varying conditions of tide and temperature. Factors that affect casting, such as wind and bushy flies, also affect rod choice. 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." We spent 3 days exploring the area in search of Redfish. Conditions - 55-degrees. Traditionally it's tied with two splayed hackles in the rear that act as claws, paired up with a wide profile body made of EP fibers intertwined with silicone legs that is shaped to match the natural profile of a crab, and topped off with some lead eyes to get it down to the bottom quick. Much like other flies designed for the flats, it lands soft and quiet, sinks slow, and when tied with a weed guard can be used in the skinniest of water. This is where the big boys live. 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. These fish, without a doubt, make for an incredibly memorable fly fishing trip. 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. Traditionally it is tied with a Craft Fur tail, a little flash, a small attractor/egg hot spot, a palmered hackle collar, segmented sections of yarn or EP fibers, and some beadchain or lead eyes. The basic design is made with four to six saddle hackles tied near the back at the bend of the hook. Call Captain Kenjo direct ASAP 361-500-2552 or BOOK NOW online! Magnify that sound and it results in a musical popcorn symphony performed by an entire school of reds feeding on fleeing white shrimp. The straight style, like the Straight-Shooter Crab pictured, has the hook shank positioned perpendicular to the crab body. If needed contact info -, Snook, Reds and Tarpon can be found all over Florida. Offshore, in the surf, or next to deep channels are the ideal locations to use this fly. Sarah Gardner, out of Nags Head on the Outer Banks, actually target them. Most times, anglers fish shallow water thats clear enough to spot a 30-pound red, but it can quickly become quite murky after a cold front. Year-round you can fish redfish, but in the changing season, you also have black drum, sheepshead, sea trout, tarpon, and . 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. Marsh grasses remain a favorite destination for anglers hoping to hook reds. For small redfish, we suggest that you use a #2, #1, or a 1/0 circle hook. Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the water! My idea of a nice red was a 7-pounder in Floridas Everglades National Park. These trips are great for 1-2 anglers of all skill levels. Calm conditions are best for spotting redfish in dark water, but sometimes during strong autumn noreasters great flats action can be had. During the full-moon periods both months, anglers anchor along the edges of the channel between Blount Island and Mayport. Of course, flats-fishing requires some level of experience and the ability to cast 50feet accurately regardless of weather conditions. SWS Planner: Texas Gulf Coast Redfish Action. If you're wondering which fly rod you should choose to chase Reds, we've covered that topic here. Dustin's Destroyer, Chartreuse and White. The Kinky Muddler means business. For small stream trout, smaller fly fishing hook sizes like a 6 or 10 may be sufficient. But, thanks in large part to the Coastal Conservation Association that day is long gone. These 2hours are golden and what every redfish angler dreams of. One variation of this pattern is the Redfish Cracklin, it adds in tons of movement with legs in the tail and a super buggy brush head. Boats leave from dozens of ports, and the runs to the flats can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. Fish this fly slow and allow it to sink,then with very small, crawling strips you will mimic the movement of a defensive crab. Thanks for signing up! Redfish, especially in the area between Tampa Bay and Crystal River, tend to be some of the spookiest fish in the state of Florida. Other examples include a modified Diver variant and the Popcorn Shrimp (pictured above). It is tied in in smaller sizes, so it doesnt make much disturbance when it lands. Saltwater Flies. While it was initially intended to target Redfish, it does equally as well for large Speckled Trout up on the flats. As a general rule,the darker/muddier the water, the darker the fly should be; and, when the water is gin-clear you should pick flies that are more of a natural color such as tans, whites, and browns. Sign up to get the latest sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! Redfish are strong, hearty, and fight really good. Use larger hook sizes in Fall and Winter months as you prepare to hunt down larger redfish game. Colors run the gamut too, from pink to orange, and from yellow to hot green. Generally, the Deceiver fits into a open-water category as these flies are rather large compared to others. 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. This pattern has many variations, but the concept remains the same. Redfish will chase this fly from a mile away, so be ready. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. In fall and winter, the Biloxi Marsh comes alive for fly anglers targeting big bull reds that cruise the ponds and channels. But this doesnt always mean you will be successful. All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish up on the shallow flats of Gulf Coast fisheries. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. There are many variants of topwater flies, the classic Gurgleris just one example. Redfish are predominantly found in shallow waters, so a floating line will be just fine. 7. Mens and womens redfish fly records top out with the 43-pounder caught by Greg Braunstein on 16-pound tippet in 1995 out of the Banana River Lagoon in Florida. So, there you have it. I like to think of it as the woolly bugger for reds. 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. All of the fish you choose to keep must measure between 20-28 inches. Watching redfish forage for crabs in mud or grass, or hunt mullet on an oyster bar is one of the most exciting experiences in flats fishing. When you select Wyld on the Fly as your guide for your next adventure, you can expect the . Unless you know the area and own a flats boat, youll need a guide. Fished in the Gulf Coast region, you cant go wrong with a chartreuse and white color that has a large eye. Here is a list of the best nine places to fly fish in Texas: 1. While flies with bead chain eyes (or no eyes at all) are best in water depths of 1 foot or less when you want your fly to stay out of the grass and near the surface. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. The defining characteristics are a Craft Fur tail, a few wraps of chenille, and then some type of brush to build the head of the fly. Launch - Louis's Bait Camp 3510 Texas 6 / Hitchcock, TX 77563 / (409) 935-9050. I like it in the colors of tans, beiges, and reds with some crystal flash and legs. Wading the surf with a fly rod ranks right near the top of most peoples list of favorite things to do, and the only guidance youll need can come from a quick visit to a local fly shop. March 24 - 2023 Texoma Ducks Unlimited Spring Event at the Mayor Arena of Loy Lake Park. Parks fishes the vast marshes around the town of Chalmette, Louisiana and uses a couple of poppers he says redfish go absolutely bonkers over. Get the latest up to date fly fishing report for Redfish, sea trout, tarpon, mackeral jack crevalle fishing in Gulf Coast with the top producing flies and recommended equipment to get you into fish. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. 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 handling and releasing any fish, particularly the larger bull reds, remember to hold them horizontally to support their internal organs. Its a great pattern that has worked on many species for years now. They simply cannot resist the flicker and flutter as it moves through the water. All the way from Florida to Texas anglers and tyers are hard at work designing patterns to fool redfish. 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. These are all suggestions and please wear what you feel comfortable in. Is this getting you excited? Texas Redfish Limits. Its simple design and ease to fish are what I love about it. It flashes and dances so well that its easy to spot even 100 feet out in thick grass and cattails. While I tend to agree in most aspects, I know this pattern catches fish. The Fishing Experience at Baffin Bay! 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. Most come with bead eyes, are weedless and measure about 3inches long. 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 fish fight strongly and stubbornly, but they dont make long runs and theyre usually caught in shallow water. March 14: Exec Mtg - ZOOM March 10-12: Bolivar Marshes March 24-26: Harmon Creek Outing March 28: Monthly Mtg. What makes the fly different from other crab and glue-body designs, however, is that its extremely weedless. It's an extremely beautiful river filled with large and catchable bass. 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. But many cutting-edge anglers are using flies that are constantly being tested by the ever-growing numbers of fly-rod redfishermen. If needed contact info - HERE, Disclosure: "This site is owned and operated by River Traditions LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Michigan, USA. The main exception exists in the rugged beauty of the south Texas, Port Mansfield and South Padre areas. The key to this flys success is its slow sinking rate combined with the fluid pulsing motion of the hackles on the tail. The shrimp-tipped jig is the icing on the cake, and the redfish can't resist the smell. 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. Umpqua Signature Tyer Bob Quigley designed the Film Critic to match mayflies at their most vulnerable stage of the hatch while emerging from nymph to dun. Reds customarily feed on small crabs, shrimp and baitfish, such as mullet and mud minnows. Read about the BIGGEST Caught >, Casting a Fly to Snook is amazing. Choose some bright colors and Redfish won't be able to resist. If youve fished for Redfish before or are researching Redfish flies, you will undoubtedly run across the Kwan fly. Some quick online research will show you hundreds of Crab patterns available. With all the grass around, a weed guard is a must to be in with a shot at hooking a Red. When it comes to fly fishing, Texas is an up-and-coming state with a lot to offer anglers. He guides when not teaching and devised the Gold Frizzy for redfish because it does a good job of imitating a gold, flashing and wobbling spoon likely the No. If you find redfish feeding near the surface, a topwater fly works really well. Easy to cast, and light enough to manipulate in a variety of ways once in the water. This brute weighed more than 30 pounds. Turkey in the Straw Polling around on that flood tide is a special time to fish, and it should be cherished. We use giant Clouser flies teamed with super-fast-sinking fly lines that range from 450 to 700 grains. Sheka Shrimps tied in subtle browns and cream colors perform best in stained water. Need something interesting to read, so post up your favorite redfish flies. All fishing is done out of a 2016 Hell's Bay Professional poling skiff, although we do occasionally wade fish. So our guides have begun to compile a collection of our favorite patterns here, for all to see. Getting down quickly also avoids the albies, which grab the lighter offerings, she says. Table of Contents show. Texas Sporting Journal, "Light Tackling Tarpon", May 2015. Suppose you arent accustomed to casting the heavier rods its best to practice on the grass and get more confident. Chasing schools of bull reds offshore is an entirely different operation than flats-, channel and surf fishing, but that spectacular scene happens from North Carolina through northeast Florida and in the Gulf from Floridas panhandle past Louisiana. Greens and golds are the first choices in smaller #2 and #4. The Electric Slider is another classic redfish pattern designed for muddy and stained water. Port O' Connor. Theyll even attack poppers with gusto, at times. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Experience world-class accommodations and cuisine. For a slow-sink fly, a bucktail tail is good. It is a mix of a number of different patterns and works great as a shrimp, crab or even a baitfish. The weighted versions can help in the deeper waters, and a weed guard is imperative for this pattern. It rides high in the water column and will attract a red from some distance off. If your interested in having true experts teach how to chase reds get ahold of INDIGO GUIDE SERVICE. So, get out there and get your rod bent, line stretched, and net wet. We are lucky that Redfish are such a forgiving fish to target. Devils River - Legendary Among Texas Fly Anglers. with Rick Hartman. A Bonnier LLC Company. The body is made from gold Mylar tubing with the cotton stuffing removed from the inside. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. No top ten list can be without the most used and prolific fly in the world, the classic Clouser Minnow pattern. This is where the high tide pushes an extra few feet, flooding the muddy grass banks. Locals like the Surfin Wooly. 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. 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. It retrieves through pencil reeds, spartina grass, over rocks, oysters and through brush as well as any weedless lure. Kennedy nicknamed this all-black cone-headed Wooly Bugger the American Express Fly because he never leaves home without it. Do some research beforehand by asking local experts and guides which flies are likely . Wyld on the Fly offers fly fishing guide services for the Corpus Christi, Rockport, Aransas Pass, Laguna Madre, Land Cut, and Baffin Bay waters. This stunning shot was taken by professional photograher Marjie Goldberg from Florida. Saltwater fly fishing for redfish is a lot of fun! Imagine the crystal-clear waters of Mexico and the Caribbean, and then add in the bright copper of redfish cruising the white-sand flats and brilliantyellow grass beds. If the fish arent committing fully to the fly, it doesnt mean they arent interested in it, and it could mean its a little big or isnt swimming correctly. My guide, Capt. Quickly toss the fly in front of the fish before it heads back out to sea. Georgia also has vast areas of inshore spartina grass flats. In the colder months having the waders is excellent to have to keep you warm and dry.