It can be tied in countless color variations and weights to suit all water clarities and depths. Do some research beforehand by asking local experts and guides which flies are likely . Anglers can accidently bump into these schools, but many guides, such as Capt. Alderman is careful to keep the fly small, never more than 2 inches overall, so few redfish are missed at the strike. 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. by Ron Mc Tue Mar 10, 2020 10:18 am. 5 Best Places to Catch Redfish in Texas - Freshwater Fishing Advice It can be tied in sizes 10 - 20. 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. Fly Fishing the texas coast. All rights reserved. A couple of small rubber legs are tied fore and aft of the Furry Foam body, which is then coated with a quick-drying two-part epoxy. You need to ensure to scan the course with your eyes, particularly when fishing in shallow waters. 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. It rides high in the water column and will attract a red from some distance off. Clouser Minnow needs no introductions or explanations! So, there you have it. I like the fly in the mud crab color of dark brown /green in size #2. My idea of a nice red was a 7-pounder in Floridas Everglades National Park. 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. The redfish game is simple. This brute weighed more than 30 pounds. A local captain knows where the fish were yesterday and runs a proper skiff designed to navigate the target waters. 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. Saltwater Fly Fishing for Redfish (Beginner Guide) - Man Cave Classifieds Best Redfish Flies for Sale Online | Louisiana Redfish Flies | Texas But if youre targeting Redfish here along the Gulf Coast, usually over grass flats and skinny water, you want a lighter weight fly with a little more bulk so that it will slowly flutter down to the bottom and not rapidly sink into the grass where fish cant see it. Most of them are caught in the marshes and coastal waters, but a few are targeted offshore. I think the craft fur body profile moves so well and has all the triggers. The King Fu Crab swims hook point up, which is excellent, and the weed guard just makes double sure there arent any snags. Youll definitely need 10-weight rods and 400-plus-grain sink-tip lines with big lead-eye flies. Days a . The EP Baitfish is a Gurgler-like pattern that moves water and pops on the surface to trigger an aggressive Redfish eat. Its simple design is very deadly for many species, especially Redfish. Now healthy populations of reds root in the coastal shallows from Massachusetts to Mexico. Colors I do not leave home without are: Black/Purple, and Brown/Tan. WYLD ON THE FLY - Corpus Christi Fly Fishing Guide For larger species, you might try a 2/0 to 4/0. 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. My choice is an 8wt setup, but you should fish what you feel comfortable with. Dupre Spoon Fly is one of those debatable patterns that some purists argue isnt a fly but more a lure. 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. Proven fly patterns for summer Redfish are baitfish and shrimp patterns! But the visual experience can be breathtaking. The Devils River is legendary to anglers in Texas. On warmer days, work a surface-popper or gurgler pattern in white or in dark colors such as black and purple. Tailing fish set any anglers heart aflutter. Its tied on a size 1 through 2/0 Mustad 34007 hook, unweighted or with lead dumbbell eyes. Catching Redfish On The Fly: 3 Things I Learned The Hard Way In Florid 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. What the hell. Montgomery designed the fly for chasing world-record-size reds around the clear waters of the Chandeleur Islands in Louisiana, which he does with client Robert Cunningham Jr., who has boated several potential record fish wit this streamer. The cost is $16.00 per person per day. A subtle fly or plug pulled gently in front of a . Both styles are highly effective when fished properly under the right conditions. Next there is the side style like the Sidewinder Crab,this pattern has the hook shank parallel with the crab body. If you fish in the marsh and mangroves, dont even think of leaving the house without flies with weed guards! Parks fishes the vast marshes around the town of Chalmette, Louisiana and uses a couple of poppers he says redfish go absolutely bonkers over. Best Times & Seasons to Catch Redfish in Texas (Full Guide) Getting the fly deep gets more bites, even when the reds are busting on top. Fly-fishing, Light Tackle, Sight Casting, Shallow Water Fishing Charters in The Lower Laguna Madre in South . The Charleston, South Carolina, area has vast inshore areas offering fly rodders great opportunities for red-drum fishing. With a mix of unpredicted weather conditions, we were in for quite the weekend. This is where the high tide pushes an extra few feet, flooding the muddy grass banks. The EP fibers really changed how we could tie baitfish patterns, and the advancements are spectacular. 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. Next the tubing is poked at liberally with a needle or ice pick to unfurl the mylar, giving it a frizzy appearance. It is a day that will live forever in infamy for Americans: the date of Dec. 7. The Merkin Crab is widely considered the most effective Permit fly ever conceived. Rick Hartman, an expert fly fisherman and guide, poles a skiff in the Lower Laguna Madre while a friend casts for redfish. Floating on the surface, Gurglers will pop, splash, and create noise when being retrieved. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REDFISH PATTERNS FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE. Here is a list of the best nine places to fly fish in Texas: 1. Saltwater fly fishing for redfish is a lot of fun! To find out more about the regulations for the reservoirs call (210) 635-8289 or visit the TPWD website https://tpwd.texas.gov/. She coaches clients in advance of these opportunities: Drum prep is like a fire drill, she says. Redfish are a staple on fly down South, and many a fly angler love to catch these fish throughout the year. "Top 4" Redfish Flies - Backwater Fly Fishing / Jesse Males The carnage happens fast. All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish and big Trout up on the flats. We could fill a whole book with discussions of what Redfish eat in any given situation, but when deciding which fly to tie on,start with "matching the hatch". This is a variation of a fly tied by Jim Misiura. This has all the characteristics of the Seaducer yet adds more of a shrimp look. This pattern has many variations, but the concept remains the same. He and his clients fish it slow, slower and slower still. With all these factors in mind, lets go over five of the top producing Redfish fly patterns that every angler needs in their box. Leaving them with the "shell" on makes the filets look amazing too. How to Tie the Crappie Killer Fly Pattern, How to Tie the Film Critic Emerger Fly Pattern, How to Tie the Puterbaugh Foam Caddis Fly Pattern, How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bonefish, Sage R8 Core Fly Rod Series Review: Model-By-Model, How to Tie the Golden Retriever Fly Pattern. Creating high quality flies made for those that live and breathe the shallow flats and backwater marshes is our main focus. Fly fishing in Texas doesn't get the credit it deserves, and we're here to change that. Some even believe that this is an evolved strain of redfish, different from its relatives in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters. 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." Weed guards are beneficial when targeting reds in shallow and marshy water. Some quick online research will show you hundreds of Crab patterns available. We spend a lot of time testing gear and writing reviews to give you all of the tools to make your next trip a success. On a calm day, you can see spinner sharks launch out of the water from a mile away. I love this! Because redfish usually feed in grass and often cruise in murky water, fly anglers must throw something the fish can see. January and February is redfish time in the many sheltered potholes and ponds of the Biloxi, Mississippi, marsh. 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. Easy to cast, and light enough to manipulate in a variety of ways once in the water. But a fishing trip can also go terribly wrong without the right gear. The setup you choose to use depends entirely on your ability as a fly fisher. Aransas Pass Fly Fishing. 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. 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. 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. 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. These large-shouldered predators spend time cruising marshy coastlines searching for crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish. It has a deer hair head thats designed to push water and has a perfect baitfish profile that fish find hard to resist. Mayfly emergers are often stuck in the film for quite some time making them easy pray for hungry trout. The redfish run from average, 4 to 7 pounds, to big, 12 to 15 pounds. The angel hairs hollow body gives bulk, and the bucktail and long hackle feathers give the tail lovely movement. I like to have an intermediate spool ready to roll if needed, but it isnt necessary. This gives the Redfish a feeding zone they cant get on other occasions. Located in the southern portion of the state, this river doesn't seem to belong in the desert. Those regions abut the narrow, winding canals of the back marshes and ponds near Galveston and Freeport. The Best Way to Cook Redfish [10 Amazing Redfish Recipes] The Crafty Shrimp is one of those flies that should always be in your fly box. In the summer, mullet start to move through the surf, and that signals game on for fly fishermen. If there's any wind at all, a 9-weight makes casting easier. Unless you know the area and own a flats boat, youll need a guide. Texas Red Fish Adventures. It all depends on the flies you are using and what depth of water you are fishing in. Of course, flats-fishing requires some level of experience and the ability to cast 50feet accurately regardless of weather conditions. It is tied in in smaller sizes, so it doesn't make much disturbance when it lands. When the cork pops in the water it creates a slurping sound, and this gets the fish interested. This allows the crab to stand upright in a defensive posture with claws dancing in the current when resting on the bottom. Launch - Louis's Bait Camp 3510 Texas 6 / Hitchcock, TX 77563 / (409) 935-9050. While other colors are effective I have found these to be best . Longtime Georgia fly-fishing guide Larry Kennedy, owner of Bedford Sportsman Fly Shop (912-638-5454) on St. Simons Island, says that while a number of different flies work for Georgia redfish, his favorite is a small, all-black classic Wooly Bugger streamer. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. This is a great fly for shallow water and smaller fish that aren't looking for a huge meal. As we mentioned above, you can keep one Redfish measuring over 28 inches per year with your Red Drum Tag. Top 10 Redfish Flies | Fly Fishing - Gink and Gasoline The best colors are chartreuse and pink chenille, and I will fish this pattern if nothing else is working. They are superb at grabbing the attention of fish and will trigger a natural reaction bite that Redfish can simply not resist. 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 use giant Clouser flies teamed with super-fast-sinking fly lines that range from 450 to 700 grains. Seriously, it is less than 25 minute's total prep time! As you move south and west to the Venice and Grand Isle areas of Louisiana, the fishing changes a bit. The olive and brown combo is my favorite on a size #1 hook. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. ), water conditions the fly excels in, and how you like to fish it. with Rick Hartman. 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. South Texas Sight Fishing Location: Aransas Pass, TX Waters: Port Aransas Area Waters Fish: Redfish Website. Jim West, 409-996-3054 They tolerate a wide range of water temperatures and salinities, and eat everything from crustaceans and mollusks to baitfish. 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. No more sweat-soaked shirts the first hour into poling and smelling like a gym locker by the end of the day. Thanks for signing up! Caudal and dorsal fins poking above the surface usually give away the fishs presence. 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. Its important to remember that thousands of redfish flies work very well. Starting at $6.16. Reds there are primarily crab eaters, especially little oyster crabs and fiddler crabs, and the Turkey in the Straw is dead ringer for a little crab. 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. It has a large head that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. This is an excellent fly for tailing fish digging crabs out of the mud. 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. These anglers are chasing red drum, the target of choice for a growing legion of fly anglers, thanks to the fact that there are more red drum in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico waters today than weve seen in years. Crab flies mainly fall into two different categories and can be fished a few different ways. Redfish in the lagoon and Indian River systems of Florida's space coast have an obsession with this type of fly. All fishing is done out of a 2016 Hell's Bay Professional poling skiff, although we do occasionally wade fish. Salt Water Sportsman may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. . The fly is best used in the colder months when the shrimps and crabs are absent. The Redfish Crack fly is a proven and very successful fly increasing in popularity in the Texas and Louisiana fisheries. This fly is particularly good on the flood tide in those highwater grass areas. 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. My favorite colors are blue over white and chartreuse over white. It just seems to work and change my day around. 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. If fishing for tailing reds, a crab pattern or spoon fly will do the job. Baitfish, crab, and shrimp patterns are . Sarah Gardner, out of Nags Head on the Outer Banks, actually target them. SUMMARY. The Spoonfly is made of flashy Mylar covered and sealed with clear epoxy on a long-shank 2/0 Mustad. Video: Fly Fishing for Redfish on the Texas Coast Current fly fishing reports and conditions for Gulf Coast Rockport in TX! You need a set of flies in your arsenal that covers the entire water column, from topwater, to bottom crawling, and everything in between. As with all flats-fishing, you look for wakes, tails and bodies. 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. Truthfully, there are a lot of different redfish fly patterns that all work well. The best fly choice: a good-size shrimp that sinks quickly. Magnify that sound and it results in a musical popcorn symphony performed by an entire school of reds feeding on fleeing white shrimp. With diverse locations and ample opportunity, it is a great place to try fly fishing for the first time or the hundredth.