McCord says theres nothing like the sight of redfish cruising a skinny shoreline with their backs fully out of the water, waving electric-turquoise spotted tails that can be seen from a hundred yards away. This simple fly has heavy eyes and sinks quickly. Choose some bright colors and Redfish won't be able to resist. Redfish, red drum, or spot-tailed bass are all names that refer to this fish. The fools gold pattern is ideal for this as it sinks fast and has excellent movement in the water. Best Time: Fall months: late August through November. Re: Redfish Flies. Theyll even attack poppers with gusto, at times. Sarah Gardner, out of Nags Head on the Outer Banks, actually target them. The Electric Slider is another classic redfish pattern designed for muddy and stained water. Aransas Pass Fly Fishing. These large-shouldered predators spend time cruising marshy coastlines searching for crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish. Turkey in the Straw Redfish range from Virginia (technically Massachusetts) south to the Keys, and then north and west along the entire Gulf Coast. Offshore, in the surf, or next to deep channels are the ideal locations to use this fly. For medium-sized species such as salmon or redfish, you might use a size 4, 2 or 1/0. 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 . 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. Most of the fish weigh less than 15pounds, but every so often youll find a school of 20-pounders. For example, this fly can be tied with the standard lead dumbbell eye that will make the fly sink fast and will give you a jig action. Post by ellisredfish Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:50 pm. The Kinky Muddler means business. 1.4 4. Fly Fishing Laguna Madre on the Texas Coast. Flies must get deep quickly to appeal to upper Gulf Coast redfish, he says. Its time Florida starts similar program.Snook The great thing about redfish patterns is, for the most part, they are pretty darn simple fly and easy to tie. Truthfully, there are a lot of different redfish fly patterns that all work well. Fish this fly slow and allow it to sink,then with very small, crawling strips you will mimic the movement of a defensive crab. The Merkin Crab is widely considered the most effective Permit fly ever conceived. The experience left him truly exhilarated. Sometimes the bite is on and game fish will aggressively smack anything thats thrown in front of them. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. But beyond that quintessential visual, if youre targeting reds in Texas, you might also hear the sound. The sound of a single red popping, gulping and smacking on shrimp. The Kwan is a hybrid pattern and imitates shrimp, crab, and baitfish. With diverse locations and ample opportunity, it is a great place to try fly fishing for the first time or the hundredth. The Baffin Blue Crab fly pictured is just one example of how you can modify this pattern to fit your target species. with Rick Hartman. It is very productive in a root beer color with gold tinsel and redhead profile. My guide, Capt. No more sweat-soaked shirts the first hour into poling and smelling like a gym locker by the end of the day. Crab flies are deadly for targeting Redfish and Sheepshead in the Gulf Coast region. 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. Do some research beforehand by asking local experts and guides which flies are likely . Next there is the side style like the Sidewinder Crab,this pattern has the hook shank parallel with the crab body. View the Candy Corn Crawler pattern on our Online Fly Shop. Sharks can also be a drum indicator, she adds, because they like the same foods. The weighted versions can help in the deeper waters, and a weed guard is imperative for this pattern. There's probably no reason to use larger than a size 2 hook on a redfish fly (I've caught kings on size 2 fly), and my go-to is size 6 for small shrimp and dock-fishing-size minnows. Sheka Shrimp come in weighted and unweighted versions, with or without weed guards. The middle Texas coast can offer world class sight-fishing opportunities for Redfish, Black Drum and Trout. 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". 7. However, once the guide finds fish, the rest is up to you. Kwan is the fly to have for those quiet, cold winter days on the water. Saltwater fly fishing is another craze that has taken root from Texas to Florida, and for good reason. In Georgia the water is dark and turbid, and the tides run hard and high. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. It has a deer hair head thats designed to push water and has a perfect baitfish profile that fish find hard to resist. Dupre can make custom colors if necessary. 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. Standard hues include gold, silver, copper, burnt orange, silver prismatic, pink-and-black and black prismatic. The Spoonfly is made of flashy Mylar covered and sealed with clear epoxy on a long-shank 2/0 Mustad. Michael Stravato for The . Its simple design and ease to fish are what I love about it. But, thanks in large part to the Coastal Conservation Association that day is long gone. Pair the rod with a smooth drag reel and a floating line, and you are good to go. Traveling pro angler Pat Ford offers tips on tackle, flies and hot spots. Chartreuse and white is a well-liked option. The carnage happens fast. 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. This is where the big boys live. Its all sight fishing from small kayaks, canoes and flats skiffs, and the fish go crazy for popping bugs, according to Wesley Parks, avid fly rodder and manager of McCoy Outdoors Fly Shop (334-432-3006) in nearby Mobile. Launch - Louis's Bait Camp 3510 Texas 6 / Hitchcock, TX 77563 / (409) 935-9050. Rick Hartman, an expert fly fisherman and guide, poles a skiff in the Lower Laguna Madre while a friend casts for redfish. Yes, there are a few minor differences, but they feed and act in the same way for the most part. 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. One fish though, when it's a nice redfish like those we caught that day, can do the soul a world of good. 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. 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. Its a pretty basic fly, with a small head and burnt nylon eyes. If there's any wind at all, a 9-weight makes casting easier. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. Sometimes, they can be a bit more technical. If youve fished for Redfish before or are researching Redfish flies, you will undoubtedly run across the Kwan fly. 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. I love nothing more than being out on the water chasing a few reds with friends. Raz Reed, who created the fly, also uses it for bass, something I havent tried yet but plan on tying up a few for my next bass mission. I like the fly in the mud crab color of dark brown /green in size #2. 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. Here are our favorite flies for Redfish. Saltwater fly fishing for redfish is a lot of fun! Most reds top 20 pounds, and again, if they see your fly, theyll eat it. 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. Gin clear water makes these fish very skittish when in shallow water situations. While I tend to agree in most aspects, I know this pattern catches fish. Usually a wake is seen, or a small part of the fish is spotted breaking the waters surface. For targeting bulls over 20 pounds, a 10-weight works best and handles the bigger flies those fish prefer. As we mentioned above, you can keep one Redfish measuring over 28 inches per year with your Red Drum Tag. This area is chalked full of bayous and canals, dotted with innumerable lakes, bays, ponds, and . Its death on redfish, with gold and silver models remarkably effecive. This Kwan pattern, or sometimes called the Redfish Toad, has a long history of proven success. Out in the St. Johns River channel, the bull reds congregate. Leaving them with the "shell" on makes the filets look amazing too. Quickly toss the fly in front of the fish before it heads back out to sea. My favorite hi-tie, I'll often use a 4x-long size 6 . Also, take note of the depth of the water and the type of bottom (grass, sand, etc)you are fishing in. The setup you choose to use depends entirely on your ability as a fly fisher. Fish this fly slow and allow it to sink,then with very small, crawling strips you will mimic the movement of a defensive crab. My choice would be a medium to fast action rod with some backbone to roll over the larger patterns. Crab flies mainly fall into two different categories and can be fished a few different ways. 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. Charlie Paradoski, charlieparadoski.com, 713-725-2401; Lower Laguna Madre: Capt. 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. That means using stout tackle for casting: Try a 9-weight for fish to 20 pounds and a 10-weight for heavier bulls. Most come with bead eyes, are weedless and measure about 3inches long. Jim West, 409-996-3054 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. Fishalicious, is another baitfish pattern worthy of the fly box. (Editors note: Wherever you plan to fish, check that states redfish regulations for licensing, season and bag-limit information.). Sheka ties them on a size 2 to 1/0 Mustad hook. 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. 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. The Texas Toad, pictured above, is a good example of one such variation. Each area offers something to the fly fisherman. Anglers who dont know the areas can find a lot of trouble very quickly, but the fishing is amazing. . Dure wont divulge exactly how he molds epoxy into just the right shape to produce a replica wobble of the Johnson spoon. Fly fishing in Texas doesn't get the credit it deserves, and we're here to change that. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. 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. 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. This pattern has many variations, but the concept remains the same. The bug is copper-colored, traditional bass-bug size, with a stainless hook and a Flashabou tail. If needed contact info - HERE, Disclosure: "This site is owned and operated by River Traditions LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Michigan, USA. But as every angler knows, there are days where the fish are picky and are only keying in on one food source. Fly fishing has been my passion and pursuit for the past 20 years. My favorite colors are blue over white and chartreuse over white. My choice is an 8wt setup, but you should fish what you feel comfortable with. On warmer days, work a surface-popper or gurgler pattern in white or in dark colors such as black and purple. The water is air-clear. 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