Calm conditions are best for spotting redfish in dark water, but sometimes during strong autumn noreasters great flats action can be had. Along with the flies you like most, give us the general location (not spots but east Coast of Florida, South Carolina or Texas etc. Texas Red Fish Adventures. The setup you choose to use depends entirely on your ability as a fly fisher. Use larger hook sizes in Fall and Winter months as you prepare to hunt down larger redfish game. When: Summer and fall; Who: The following guides specialize in Texas redfishing: Middle Texas Coast: Capt. 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. Youll find good numbers of 18- to 27-inch fish. The bull reds, on average, top the 20-pound mark, and they seem to number in the thousands. Anglers watch for birds wheeling around bait in open water. From baitfish to shrimp to crabs and almost anything in between, Reds are opportunistic feeders. All of the fish you choose to keep must measure between 20-28 inches. Watch the waves roll close to the beach, and look for a red as breaking water crests. Add the sizes you fish most often too. Dustin's Destroyer, Bluegill. 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. Sarah Gardner, out of Nags Head on the Outer Banks, actually target them. Other examples include a modified Diver variant and the Popcorn Shrimp (pictured above). Head down south to the Louisiana fishing playgrounds in and around New Orleans and the Biloxi Marsh area, an estuary network of 210,000 acres of coastal wetlands located on the eastern side of Louisiana, which borders the Gulf of Mexico, you will find yourself in the mecca of redfish fly fishing. With flat boats, casting can be done within 50 feet. He wants the fly right on the bottom, where a redfish can find it. In addition to redfish, we have the option to target inshore and offshore species such as tarpon, jacks, kingfish, cobia, bonito, snapper, etc when conditions allow in a 23 foot . 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." Almost every saltwater fly shop will have a selection of spoons available and if you pay close attention and compare different patterns you will notice slight differences. I, for one, have a boat bag that has all my gear and flies in. Earth-tone colors seem to work best, a sandy brown head paired with a striped light beige body that resembles the pattern of a shrimp. Anglers must be ready to cast as soon as the boat lines up. I bump up to a 5- to 6-inch mostly synthetic yet very puffy white fly for the big bull reds. Keep your leader short and straightforward. Baitfish, crab, and shrimp patterns are . Fast, free shipping, expedited shipping available, earn 5% Rewards.A list of the most popular flies in Texas, along with hatch charts, river reports, and other helpful information to make your next trip to Texas the best trip yet. From WildFly Productions: "Back in November, I made it down to the Texas Coast for a DIY saltwater trip with my buddy, Bryant. SWS Planner: Texas Gulf Coast Redfish Action. If you find redfish feeding near the surface, a topwater fly works really well. The lagoon runs from the southern tip of New Smyrna Beach to the north end of Merritt Island and encompasses more than 21,000 acres of shallow, clear flats with less than a foot of tidal flow. Easy to cast, and light enough to manipulate in a variety of ways once in the water. However, if you venture out in the summer evenings, youll quickly understand how the area acquired its name. The weed guard is essential to the success of the fly. The pattern excels in stained/murky water thats very common along the Texas and Louisiana coast. Gurgler flies are the top waters of saltwater fly fishing. Current fly fishing reports and conditions for Gulf Coast Rockport in TX! 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. Big Y Fly Co best fishing flies for Texas, for your next fly fishing trip. 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.. Waders and boots are great to have. The bulls chase baitfish in the shallows, and the Everglades Special is the key! 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. Some popular patterns include the Merkin, KungFu, Contraband, Flexo, Fleeing Crabs, and many more. Its perfect to use right up against a grassy shoreline where shrimp are plentiful. The daily bag on redfish in Texas is three fish in a slot limit of 20 to 28 inches . We spent 3 days exploring the area in search of Redfish. It all depends on the flies you are using and what depth of water you are fishing in. About the Author: Now a retired Miami attorney, Pat Ford spends his time taking photos and writing about fishing destinations around the world. View the Candy Corn Crawler pattern on our Online Fly Shop. Redfish are a staple on fly down South, and many a fly angler love to catch these fish throughout the year. If you cast this in front of a Redfish, allow it to slowly flutter down, and then give it very short small strips, youll be hooked up in no time. Out in the St. Johns River channel, the bull reds congregate. 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. The fly is then adorned with a bit of colored hackle and a wire weed guard. Tackle choices aside, the size of your fly can be the most important . Spoonfly Dont try to feed a redfish a bonefish-size gotcha. This fish is looking for a meal, and it will eat just about anything it thinks it can fit in its mouth. 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. 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. Dupre can make custom colors if necessary. Fly Fishing for Texas Redfish: Dolphin and Redfish photo by Marjie Glodberg: We're a big fan of awesome photos showing action and drama! Tie it on a 1/0 hook and use bead eyes, even though its a shallow-water fly. Best of all, redfish love it. Ive almost been tempted to tie some very small ones for trout. With that said, I will break down my favorite redfish flies and explain why and when I fish them. It isnt uncommon for us to find bull reds in 20 to 60 feet of water while were chasing schools of busting albies, Gardner says. They will generally eat a second time if they spook or miss the fly. With excellent year-round populations of Redfish, Speckled Trout and Black Drum. The Deceiver is another famous pattern known by many fly fishermen. Fly Tyer Magazine, "Guide Flies for Louisiana Redfish", Spring 2016 "Texas Redfish", Patagonia Blog, 2015. The Clouser is a classic saltwater pattern for a variety of species, and for good reason. 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. 1. This is where the big boys live. It needs to be small. With all these factors in mind, lets go over five of the top producing Redfish fly patterns that every angler needs in their box. Colors I do not leave home without are: Black/Purple, and Brown/Tan. But as every angler knows, there are days where the fish are picky and are only keying in on one food source. The fools gold pattern is ideal for this as it sinks fast and has excellent movement in the water. Use a smaller hook in seasons with small game in great numbers, such as the Spring and Summer. We respect your privacy. Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the water! It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. Potential Freshwater Walk in outing - (from Rob McConnell's Fly Fishing Houston book) Feb 28: Monthly Mtg. To find the best guides, contact a local fly shop. Thats when Alderman became a believer in rattling redfish flies. Like Charleston, certain parts in the South have what we call a flood tide. The Chornobyl Crab is similar to the Ragin' Craven, with a deer hair body that traps air bubbles and makes a commotion in the water. South Texas Sight Fishing Location: Aransas Pass, TX Waters: Port Aransas Area Waters Fish: Redfish Website. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. A subtle fly or plug pulled gently in front of a . 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. Observe the size and type of baitfish that are up on the flats in high numbers and pick a fly that most closely resembles that. They simply cannot resist the flicker and flutter as it moves through the water. The straight style, like the Straight-Shooter Crab pictured, has the hook shank positioned perpendicular to the crab body. Saltwater fly fishing is another craze that has taken root from Texas to Florida, and for good reason. Almost every saltwater fly shop has a variation of the traditional Kwan fly, or sometimes referred to as the Redfish Toad. That expert also comes with a trained pair of eyes to help spot the fish before they spot you. Offshore, in the surf, or next to deep channels are the ideal locations to use this fly. 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. The kinky muddler is excellent for these summer conditions. My own personal favorite stomping grounds for redfish include South Florida and Louisiana. 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. 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. The Redfish Crack fly, or maybe youve heard of the variations Redfish Cracklin, Redfish Meth or Redfish Ritalin, is another fly with a proven track record. Summer Redfish Flies. The Crafty Shrimp is one of those flies that should always be in your fly box. The EP fibers really changed how we could tie baitfish patterns, and the advancements are spectacular. As you approach the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf coasts, all that changes. This is my summer flats first choice in the colors closet to the mullet in your areatans and beige with whites and black markings. 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. We spent 3 days exploring the area in search of Redfish. Located in the southern portion of the state, this river doesn't seem to belong in the desert. The tackle. Getting the fly deep gets more bites, even when the reds are busting on top. A Bonnier LLC Company. 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. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. . The record red drum was 94 pounds and was caught on the East coast. Colors run the gamut too, from pink to orange, and from yellow to hot green. Greens and golds are the first choices in smaller #2 and #4. Most are very bright-colored, which work well in the clear waters he fishes, where shrimp are an important forage. 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. Here are our favorite flies for Redfish. 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. Boat shoes are great, so you dont slip and slide around on deck. The saltwater flats near Aransas Pass and Port Aranasas are a mecca for flyanglers hoping to hook redfish or speckled trout. Image hooking into a red weighting over 50lbs. Yes, there are a few minor differences, but they feed and act in the same way for the most part. You might see individual fish or, in certain areas, schools of a dozen or more. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The basic design is made with four to six saddle hackles tied near the back at the bend of the hook. Doors open up at 6 p.m. and tickets are $60 for individuals and $70 for couples. Fools Gold Fly - a favorite for Redfish. But because tides run so strong, flats fishing can be difficult, more difficult than that found elsewhere in the Southeast, even in areas as close as Florida and South Carolina. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. If you find schools of glass minnows, tie on a Clouser and youll find the fish. 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. He ties several versions of it, making it suitable for redfish in a wide variety of waters and angling conditions. Dure wont divulge exactly how he molds epoxy into just the right shape to produce a replica wobble of the Johnson spoon. Most of the time fly-rodders are working from kayaks and canoes, casting to pushing fish or blind-casting to creek mouths. While these large flies are still useful to have during the summer . Those regions abut the narrow, winding canals of the back marshes and ponds near Galveston and Freeport. You need to ensure to scan the course with your eyes, particularly when fishing in shallow waters. Is this getting you excited? That allows her to keep an eye on the fast-moving schools instead of focusing on tying knots and digging for tackle. Crab flies mainly fall into two different categories and can be fished a few different ways. To see more of his photography go to patfordphotos.com. Fly Fisherman Magazine, 2015. 1.3 3. Crab flies are deadly for targeting Redfish and Sheepshead in the Gulf Coast region. What makes the fly different from other crab and glue-body designs, however, is that its extremely weedless. Consequently, those are the best hues for Aldermans Zap-A-Crab. Fly fishing is more than catching fish, being in the outdoors with good friends and family is what it is all about. I like to have an intermediate spool ready to roll if needed, but it isnt necessary. These are the times when having an arsenal of flies that resembles all the prevalent bait fish in your particular location is a must. Snook thrive in water temperatures 70 degrees and above, so they'll be more easily spotted in the flats year-round or around coastal bays and beaches by late spring. This pattern has many variations, but the concept remains the same. The lakes, ponds and coves in these areas prove deeper, so you wont see too many tailing fish. The redfish game is simple. Guide Tip: My buddies Kevin and Steve run Indigo Guide Service, theyre proving out to be some of the best redfish guides on the Louisiana Coast. The shrimp-tipped jig is the icing on the cake, and the redfish can't resist the smell. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. A good deviation of this pattern that works well from Texas to Florida is the Brown-Noser fly. The angel hairs hollow body gives bulk, and the bucktail and long hackle feathers give the tail lovely movement. Its death on redfish, with gold and silver models remarkably effecive. He and his clients fish it slow, slower and slower still. A floating line will be just fine for most scenarios, but an intermediate line is excellent for the deeper water. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. Launch - Louis's Bait Camp 3510 Texas 6 / Hitchcock, TX 77563 / (409) 935-9050. It's a great pattern for sight fishing. The bug is copper-colored, traditional bass-bug size, with a stainless hook and a Flashabou tail. A tailing red may be one of the easiest reds to catch, but they can be very particular at times as well. 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. Northeast Florida anglers seldom see cruising redfish beneath the surface. Gold Frizzy by Ron Mc Tue Mar 10, 2020 10:18 am. Its simple design is very deadly for many species, especially Redfish. From the gulf coast of Texas to Virginia, redfish can be found along nearly 2000 miles worth of coastline. We promise we won't spam your inbox with stuff you don't care about. This recipe is extremely fast and easy! The best description I have heard for a redfish is a Clumsy confident fly eating machine. A local captain knows where the fish were yesterday and runs a proper skiff designed to navigate the target waters. Gear up with giant Clouser flies and sinking lines that range from 450 to 700 grains. He uses a No. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. These are all suggestions and please wear what you feel comfortable in. The key to this flys success is its slow sinking rate combined with the fluid pulsing motion of the hackles on the tail. The author, left, made his first trip to Louisiana waters after bull reds on fly in 2006. Texas Sporting Journal, "The Real Laguna Madre", July 2013 My guide, Capt. But this doesnt always mean you will be successful. It's one . The body is made from gold Mylar tubing with the cotton stuffing removed from the inside. So our guides have begun to compile a collection of our favorite patterns here, for all to see. This is where the high tide pushes an extra few feet, flooding the muddy grass banks.

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