A local captain knows where the fish were yesterday and runs a proper skiff designed to navigate the target waters. That said, Im an 8wt shooter myself, and I feel an 8wt setup is ample to target most reds in their environment. 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. This is a great fly for shallow water and smaller fish that aren't looking for a huge meal. The fly doesnt really resemble anything specific, but it catches fish. The Spoonfly is an epoxy creation of Capt. 1 artificial lure of all time for redfish. Additional tail materials can consist of marabou, bucktail, calf tail or Krystal Flash. Getting the fly to drop deep gains more bites. Your fishing license can be purchased 24/7 online or over the phone (800) 895-4248 Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm central time. Also, take note of the depth of the water and the type of bottom (grass, sand, etc)you are fishing in. Traveling angler and world-record holder Meredith McCord lives in Texas and fishes its flats for redfish every chance she gets. Greens and golds are the first choices in smaller #2 and #4. The Devils River is legendary to anglers in Texas. 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. You need a set of flies in your arsenal that covers the entire water column, from topwater, to bottom crawling, and everything in between. Redfish range from Virginia (technically Massachusetts) south to the Keys, and then north and west along the entire Gulf Coast. If youre going to have an arsenal of Redfish flies at your disposal, then you need to cover the entire depth of the water column, and that includes topwater! Most any color combination will work, but I like brown or white and hardly ever use anything else. For targeting bulls over 20 pounds, a 10-weight works best and handles the bigger flies those fish prefer. Its a simple Superglue fly Ben can make in about 10 minutes. 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. I like tans, greens, and lighter colors. 3. Here are our favorite flies for Redfish. . The good news is that Redfish are highly aggressive feeders and are usually not too picky. The author, left, made his first trip to Louisiana waters after bull reds on fly in 2006. Other shrimp patterns to consider are grass shrimp and hybrids like redfish Ritalin. It has a large front collar that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. Iknow it works because the guides keep all my leftovers. Consequently, those are the best hues for Aldermans Zap-A-Crab. Saltwater Fly Fishing for Redfish (Beginner Guide) - Man Cave Classifieds January and February is redfish time in the many sheltered potholes and ponds of the Biloxi, Mississippi, marsh. 5 Best Places to Catch Redfish in Texas - Freshwater Fishing Advice Traveling pro angler Pat Ford offers tips on tackle, flies and hot spots. Redfish, especially in the area between Tampa Bay and Crystal River, tend to be some of the spookiest fish in the state of Florida. Blackened Redfish. In the beginning, the most incredible, unexplained marks appeared on our bottom machines. If youve fished for Redfish before or are researching Redfish flies, you will undoubtedly run across the Kwan fly. Fly Fishing the Texas Coast for Redfish and Speckled Trout 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 flashes and dances so well that its easy to spot even 100 feet out in thick grass and cattails. Reds can spot a bright Sheka Shrimp fly from a long distance and can be counted on to home in quickly for a fast meal. 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. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. In reds and greens on a size #1, this pattern wiggles and swims like an injured baitfish or crab. 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. 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. You still must put the fly in the right place, but you definitely need a 10-weight rod and a really big fly. Scientists have documented this redfish population as the first ever known to spawn in an estuary (versus offshore). If the precise concave shape isnt made, the spoon will plane to the surface during the retrieve rather than wobble. This fly has a slow sink rate and suspends just below the surface of the water making this a great choice when sight fishing on the shallow flats. 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. Trident Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop. Kennedy nicknamed this all-black cone-headed Wooly Bugger the American Express Fly because he never leaves home without it. Factors that affect casting, such as wind and bushy flies, also affect rod choice. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. Luckily, for coastal anglers in Virginia all the way to the southern tip of Texas, redfish, also commonly referred to as red drum, can be successfully targeted with a fly rod via kayak or stand-up paddle . Size #1 and #2 are best. 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. Much of the action is found around spartina grass marsh, where reds forage for crab when the tide is high. Thanks for signing up! Sign up to get the latest sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! Zap-A-Crab It is tied in in smaller sizes, so it doesnt make much disturbance when it lands. 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. Best Time: Fall months: late August through November. When the pelicans, gannets and larger gull species start wheeling around in open water, dont hesitate to investigate, Gardner says. The EP Baitfish is a Gurgler-like pattern that moves water and pops on the surface to trigger an aggressive Redfish eat. The Crafty Shrimp is one of those flies that should always be in your fly box. Jim West, 409-996-3054 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.. The Electric Bunny doesnt seemingly resemble one particular redfish menu item, but they find its crabby silhouette irresistible. Port O' Connor. I love this! What a rush. The fly hit the water and the redfish inhaled it like it was the best meal it had ever seen. Chartreuse and white is a well-liked option. Keep your leader short and straightforward. If you find schools of glass minnows, tie on a Clouser and youll find the fish. August 30, 2022 by Brent Pollock. This stunning shot was taken by professional photograher Marjie Goldberg from Florida. 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). Chasing Redfish Off the South Texas Gulf Coast. The basic shape of the fly tends to replicate many sources of the Redfishs diet, such as shrimp and crabs, and can be tied in countless color variations to suit all water clarities. 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. Fly Fish Rockport Half Day in Rockport - captainexperiences.com 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. Some quick online research will show you hundreds of Crab patterns available. Tackle choices aside, the size of your fly can be the most important factor. Ive almost been tempted to tie some very small ones for trout. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. That expert also comes with a trained pair of eyes to help spot the fish before they spot you. Along with the flies you like most, give us the general location (not spots but east Coast of Florida, South Carolina or Texas etc. These fish fight strongly and stubbornly, but they dont make long runs and theyre usually caught in shallow water. The Best Way to Cook Redfish [10 Amazing Redfish Recipes] Many anglers prefer an 8-weight fly rod for smaller redfish, but I usually throw big bushy redfish flies. My favorite hi-tie, I'll often use a 4x-long size 6 . Anglers must be ready to cast as soon as the boat lines up. Other examples include modified Divervariants and the Popcorn Shrimp. 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 basic design is made with four to six saddle hackles tied near the back at the bend of the hook. WYLD ON THE FLY - Corpus Christi Fly Fishing Guide All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish up on the shallow flats of Gulf Coast fisheries. Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the water! 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. Gurgler flies are the top waters of saltwater fly fishing. We are lucky that Redfish are such a forgiving fish to target. But many cutting-edge anglers are using flies that are constantly being tested by the ever-growing numbers of fly-rod redfishermen. It also helped a bit that the first cast I made with a Spoonfly hooked a fish. Many tyers will add in some small bead chain or lead eyes depending on the depth of water you intend to fish and additions such as silicone legs and/or mono-eyes into the tail section will give the fly a buggy look that Redfish cannot resist. Take a look at the Sight Cast Spoon, it comes after years of research and field testing. Colors run the gamut too, from pink to orange, and from yellow to hot green. While it was initially intended to target Redfish, it does equally as well for large Speckled Trout up on the flats. How To Catch A Redfish: The Many Ways To Catch A Red Drum In Texas 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. Working that fly to get the eat, fighting well, and then gently releasing the fish after a few photos is what its all about. 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 simple fly has heavy eyes and sinks quickly. For information, visit . 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. Fly-fishing, Light Tackle, Sight Casting, Shallow Water Fishing Charters in The Lower Laguna Madre in South . 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. With all these factors in mind, lets go over five of the top producing Redfish fly patterns that every angler needs in their box. Gold Frizzy 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. 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. A 6-10wt setup will work just fine. 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. The Everglades Special is one of those baitfish patterns that will just about catch any predatory fish. Kwan is the fly to have for those quiet, cold winter days on the water. Fiddler, stone and mud crabs inhabit the Charleston marshes, and their colors are muted, from brown to a dark tan to almost chocolate. Each area offers something to the fly fisherman. But the visual experience can be breathtaking. Aransas Pass Fly Fishing - TotalFlyFishing.com Fly Fishing in Texas: The Complete Guide - FishingBooker Blog 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. Blue-Collar Bonefish: Wading the Texas Coast for Reds Most reds top 20 pounds, and again, if they see your fly, theyll eat it. The fly is only available in one size, but colors are almost limitless. If you're not a Texas resident you need to purchase a non-resident one-day all water fishing license (code 214). The bright shiny spoon-fly is the furthest thing from the typically suggested drab sheepshead flies as you can get. Fish it near the bottom with slow and erratic retrieves for best results. This area is chalked full of bayous and canals, dotted with innumerable lakes, bays, ponds, and . The key to this flys success is its slow sinking rate combined with the fluid pulsing motion of the hackles on the tail. The angel hairs hollow body gives bulk, and the bucktail and long hackle feathers give the tail lovely movement. The King Fu Crab swims hook point up, which is excellent, and the weed guard just makes double sure there arent any snags. Read about, Both Tarpon and Redfish can haunt the same waters. 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. Fish often have trouble tracking their prey in these conditions. Next there is the side style like the Sidewinder Crab,this pattern has the hook shank parallel with the crab body. The bug is copper-colored, traditional bass-bug size, with a stainless hook and a Flashabou tail. A good deviation of this pattern that works well from Texas to Florida is the Brown-Noser fly. They are known as bull reds. Post by ellisredfish Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:50 pm. Galveston Fly Fishing Guide | Casting Tales Fishing Charters The body is bulky, shrimp-like, made of bright cactus chenille. But, thanks in large part to the Coastal Conservation Association that day is long gone. Best Times & Seasons to Catch Redfish in Texas (Full Guide) The Best Fly Fishing For Redfish Tips You Can't Miss At the eye a few turns of crystal-red chenille are wound on to produce a head. The Mangrove Baitfish is great for Florida and Lowcountry redfish thanks to its wide profile and snag-resistant design. The olive and brown combo is my favorite on a size #1 hook. Theyll even attack poppers with gusto, at times. To illustrate, he tells of the time he and another captain were wading a grass flat three years ago when he was first experimenting with the fly. Thanks to its heavy lead eyes, it drops like a crab, but its movement is more shrimp-like. 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. Redfish are opportunistic feeders and often forage in shallow mudflats with their noses stuck to the bottom, where they mainly feed on crustaceans. Image hooking into a red weighting over 50lbs. It needs to be small. These are the times when having an arsenal of flies that resembles all the prevalent bait fish in your particular location is a must. Marsh grasses remain a favorite destination for anglers hoping to hook reds. For food and shelter, they seek out sea-grass beds, mangroves, marshes, oyster bars, mud and sand flats and beaches. Swan Point Landing Fly Shop Location: Rockport, TX Waters: Texas Coast Fish: Redfish Website. Silver Krystal Flash is used liberally on many patterns, snce its a long-range attractant in clear water. Sneaky speckled trout can also be caught year-round moreover the seatrout here grow to trophy proportions like in the Laguna Madre. Let a good casts worth of line drag behind you and start wading in about a foot of water. Give us a call here at the shop at (888) 413-5211 or email us anytime at[emailprotected]. The best is to get the fish to see the fly, and you will generally hook them. Top 17 Places to Fly Fish in Texas - And What Flies to Use - Drifthook Best Redfish Flies for Sale Online | Louisiana Redfish Flies | Texas Some of the most consistent saltwater fly fishing available today can be found on the grass flats of any number of states in the Southeast, where anglers by the thousands search every day for telltale tails rising above the surface. If your interested in having true experts teach how to chase reds get ahold of INDIGO GUIDE SERVICE. Tie on a bushy fly in either white or brown with bead or lead eyes, such as this Chernobyl shrimp. The experience left him truly exhilarated. Anywhere you can flats-fish for Texas reds, youll find that sensory overload. Electric Slider Fly. The bug is copper-colored, traditional bass-bug size, with a stainless hook and a Flashabou tail. With hundreds of creeks, bays and tidal washes that abound in the area, this region is a vast labyrinth of dark-stained tidewater. Youll find good numbers of 18- to 27-inch fish. 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. When: Summer and fall; Who: The following guides specialize in Texas redfishing: Middle Texas Coast: Capt. 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. 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 is the story behind the action in Marjie's words: "In August 2014, I was taking photos of Ospreys in flight at the . The tackle. For targeting bulls over 20pounds, a 10-weight works best and handles the bigger flies those fish prefer. Use a smaller hook in seasons with small game in great numbers, such as the Spring and Summer. Top Redfish Flies | Salt Water Sportsman Therefore, tackle choices revolve more around casting and presentation ease than on fighting the fish. He and his clients fish it slow, slower and slower still. Proven fly patterns for summer Redfish are baitfish and shrimp patterns! Redfish Flies - Texas Flyfishers of Houston Laguna Madre Outfitters: Premiere Fly Fishing with Capt. Ben Paschal 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. Travel pristine Matagorda Island as you stalk redfish along 38 miles of uninhabited shorelines teaming with hundreds of species of birds, alligators, deer, and various other Texas Fly Caster Location: Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX Waters: Lake Ray Roberts, Lewisville Lake, Trinity River, Other Local Waters Fish: Bass, Carp . During the full-moon periods both months, anglers anchor along the edges of the channel between Blount Island and Mayport. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The body is made from gold Mylar tubing with the cotton stuffing removed from the inside.