Ponte Vedra Beach skiff guide Larry Miniard (904-285-7003) has a pet redfish fly he uses in this area called the Turkey in the Straw, which he and fishing pal Brent London devised. Plus, we've also written about the best fly reel for Reds and the best fly line for Reds. True trophy fish can mean being in the right place, with the right flies, setup for success. Learn More. Aransas Pass Fly Fishing. All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish and big Trout up on the flats. Just deals and news! But this doesnt always mean you will be successful. They are known as bull reds. Easy to cast, and light enough to manipulate in a variety of ways once in the water. A Bonnier LLC Company. Reds customarily feed on small crabs, shrimp and baitfish, such as mullet and mud minnows. Flies must get deep quickly to appeal to upper Gulf Coast redfish, he says. It is very productive in a root beer color with gold tinsel and redhead profile. My hands shook. Dupre can make custom colors if necessary. Thanks to its heavy lead eyes, it drops like a crab, but its movement is more shrimp-like. They typically have heavy amounts of weight and little bulk to get the fly down to the sandy bottom fast. Image hooking into a red weighting over 50lbs. Furthermore, be aware of the water clarity as this will factor into the colors of flies that will tend to be more effective. The only difference between here and southern Florida and Texas: These reds range from 15 pounds up to almost 50. The Redfish tend to like its smaller profiling in the colder months, especially on the clearer days. Sign up to get the latest sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! The best colors are chartreuse and pink chenille, and I will fish this pattern if nothing else is working. 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. Gold Frizzy Jim, note Prof Salt's recent use of size 8 hooks on redfish flies. Salt Water Sportsman may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. 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. Ive also caught flounder, ladyfish, bluefish, jacks, Spanish mackerel and snook on Spoonflies. Creating high quality flies made for those that live and breathe the shallow flats and backwater marshes is our main focus. 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. This area is chalked full of bayous and canals, dotted with innumerable lakes, bays, ponds, and . At the eye a few turns of crystal-red chenille are wound on to produce a head. Standard hues include gold, silver, copper, burnt orange, silver prismatic, pink-and-black and black prismatic. 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. Big Y Fly Co best fishing flies for Texas, for your next fly fishing trip. This Kwan pattern, or sometimes called the Redfish Toad, has a long history of proven success. I like to have an intermediate spool ready to roll if needed, but it isnt necessary. Leaders can measure 9 to 12 feet, with a 40-pound butt section tapering to a 15- or 20-pound tippet. The basic design is made with four to six saddle hackles tied near the back at the bend of the hook. Just deals and news! For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Many anglers prefer an 8-weight fly rod for smaller redfish, but I usually throw big bushy redfish flies. Those regions abut the narrow, winding canals of the back marshes and ponds near Galveston and Freeport. When youre seeing lots of Redfish up on the flats, tie this fly on and let the good times roll. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Fools Gold Fly - a favorite for Redfish. My favorite hi-tie, I'll often use a 4x-long size 6 . 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. Read about the BIGGEST Caught >, Casting a Fly to Snook is amazing. The fly has a monofilament weed guard and burnt-mono eyes. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. We respect your privacy. For more about chasing redfish with a fly rod, find Chico Fernandezs book Fly Fishing for Redfish. Blackened Redfish. Possibly the most unique redfish destination is Mosquito Lagoon in east central Florida. All the way from Florida to Texas anglers and tyers are hard at work designing patterns to fool redfish. The EP Baitfish is a Gurgler-like pattern that moves water and pops on the surface to trigger an aggressive Redfish eat. Need something interesting to read, so post up your favorite redfish flies. It has a deer hair head thats designed to push water and has a perfect baitfish profile that fish find hard to resist. Redfish are very forgiving in that they will eat again on a second attempt and often follow anything that looks like food. Magnify that sound and it results in a musical popcorn symphony performed by an entire school of reds feeding on fleeing white shrimp. Its a great pattern that has worked on many species for years now. Miniard fishes primarily for tailing redfish in tough, tangled spartina grass along the northeast Florida coast. He ties several versions of it, making it suitable for redfish in a wide variety of waters and angling conditions. The straight style, like the Straight-Shooter Crab pictured, has the hook shank positioned perpendicular to the crab body. Out in the St. Johns River channel, the bull reds congregate. This gives the Redfish a feeding zone they cant get on other occasions. Saltwater Flies. Crab flies are deadly for targeting Redfish and Sheepshead in the Gulf Coast region. In these conditions, its not so much the pattern, but rather how it swims that is important. Low summer tides mean baitfish being flushed into the shallows and the reds having a field day. Consider Fishing The Flats: Flat fishing is a great way to go sight fishing for redfish. This pattern performs extremely well in murkier waters or on overcast days, and just like any other fly the spoon has many variants that can cater to any situation. These eyes are much lighter and will give you a slower sink rate. Suppose you arent accustomed to casting the heavier rods its best to practice on the grass and get more confident. If youre fishing in one foot of water, you can opt for a fly tied with bead-chain eyes. Its simple design is very deadly for many species, especially Redfish. But if you've fished long enough, you've almost certainly experienced the times where they tend to focus on one prey type exclusively and seem to ignore every fly you tie on. One fish though, when it's a nice redfish like those we caught that day, can do the soul a world of good. It all depends on the flies you are using and what depth of water you are fishing in. You want to be in Port Aransas during the Fall Run to catch your next personal best sight casted Texas red drum on the fly. Read about, Both Tarpon and Redfish can haunt the same waters. Baitfish, crab, and shrimp patterns are . 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." The Everglades Special is one of those baitfish patterns that will just about catch any predatory fish. With that said, I will break down my favorite redfish flies and explain why and when I fish them. 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 I like the fly in the mud crab color of dark brown /green in size #2. I like it in the colors of tans, beiges, and reds with some crystal flash and legs. They can be in water from 6 inches to 3feet, based on varying conditions of tide and temperature. That means using stout tackle for casting: Try a 9-weight for fish to 20 pounds and a 10-weight for heavier bulls. You need a set of flies in your arsenal that covers the entire water column, from topwater, to bottom crawling, and everything in between. But as every angler knows, there are days where the fish are picky and are only keying in on one food source. Most are designed to have the perfect amount of weight to slowly flutter down to the bottom and not rapidly sink into the weeds where fish cant see it. This is the story behind the action in Marjie's words: "In August 2014, I was taking photos of Ospreys in flight at the . Eric Glass, @captainericg, 956-434-1422; Galveston Bay: Capt. Keep your leader short and straightforward. Days a . Fly fishing is more than catching fish, being in the outdoors with good friends and family is what it is all about. This is a variation of a fly tied by Jim Misiura. Texas Red Fish Adventures. Youll definitely need 10-weight rods and 400-plus-grain sink-tip lines with big lead-eye flies. Most of the fish weigh less than 15pounds, but every so often youll find a school of 20-pounders. The Electric Slider is another classic redfish pattern designed for muddy and stained water. 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. The daily bag on redfish in Texas is three fish in a slot limit of 20 to 28 inches . Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and imitating a fleeing shrimp or wounded baitfish. 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. 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. If you fish in the marsh and mangroves, dont even think of leaving the house without flies with weed guards! Jim West, 409-996-3054 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. 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". These patters offer a solid profile and tied with the right materials and weight move beautifully throught the water. 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. The weed guard is essential to the success of the fly. Getting the fly to drop deep gains more bites. Alderman is careful to keep the fly small, never more than 2 inches overall, so few redfish are missed at the strike. For large redfish, you will want to employ a 3/0, 4/0, or 5/0 circle hook. 1. As much as I love wading the south Texas flats, redfish in the Laguna Madre are smallpuppy drum, in local parlancethat rarely weigh more than 6 or 7 pounds. Sheka Shrimp The Devils River is legendary to anglers in Texas. Polling around on that flood tide is a special time to fish, and it should be cherished. Silver Krystal Flash is used liberally on many patterns, snce its a long-range attractant in clear water. Wyld on the Fly offers fly fishing guide services for the Corpus Christi, Rockport, Aransas Pass, Laguna Madre, Land Cut, and Baffin Bay waters. They are superb at grabbing the attention of fish from a distance, in murky water, or when the visibility is low. Once they spot your fly, they will open up their mouth and take it. (Editors note: Wherever you plan to fish, check that states redfish regulations for licensing, season and bag-limit information.). The Electric Chicken was originally tied to mimic the electric chicken plastic bait. A Redfish is a Redfish, no matter if you are in Texas, Florida, or Virginia. East Cut Redfish Popper The fly is best used in the colder months when the shrimps and crabs are absent. 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. Much of the action is found around spartina grass marsh, where reds forage for crab when the tide is high. SWS Planner: Texas Gulf Coast Redfish Action. Crab flies mainly fall into two different categories and can be fished a few different ways. Fiddler crabs, shrimp, and baitfish are on the menu, so its essential to have flies that imitate them. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. Here are our favorite flies for Redfish. Plan a winter fly-fishing trip around an afternoon rising tide. It always lands with the hook point up and away from snags; it swims very crab-like when retrieved; and most important, Ben says, it comes with a pair of small, redfish-attracting rattles. 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. 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. Anglers who dont know the areas can find a lot of trouble very quickly, but the fishing is amazing. Now healthy populations of reds root in the coastal shallows from Massachusetts to Mexico. Some popular patterns include the Merkin, KungFu, Contraband, Flexo, Fleeing Crabs, and many more. Leaders can measure 9 to 12 feet, with a 40-pound butt section tapering to a 15- or 20-pound tippet. The dumbbell eyes can vary from tungsten to bead chain for weight changes. The experience left him truly exhilarated. 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. 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. Galveston. We spent 3 days exploring the area in search of Redfish. 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. Normally, youll scout reds in less than 2 feet of water by looking for wakes, tails and bodies. Tackle choices aside, the size of your fly can be the most important factor. 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. With all the grass around, a weed guard is a must to be in with a shot at hooking a Red. The Deceiver is another famous pattern known by many fly fishermen. Consequently, those are the best hues for Aldermans Zap-A-Crab. Most gurglers are built with a foam body with an aggressive front head and have a marabou, buck tail, or craft fur tail. 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). Redfish range from Virginia (technically Massachusetts) south to the Keys, and then north and west along the entire Gulf Coast. This allows the crab to stand upright in a defensive posture with claws dancing in the current when resting on the bottom. Youll find good numbers of 18- to 27-inch fish. As you move south and west to the Venice and Grand Isle areas of Louisiana, the fishing changes a bit. It lands lightly, hangs in the water column, and when tied with a weed guard, it is the perfect fly to fish over grassy structures in shallow water. 3. Starting at $6.16. 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. Redfish, big ones, are abundant, with fish in the 20- to 30-pound class available at times on barrier-island shoals that kiss the entire coastline of the Peach State. The Kwan is a hybrid pattern and imitates shrimp, crab, and baitfish. 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. It is a mix of a number of different patterns and works great as a shrimp, crab or even a baitfish. Microscopic Monsters of the Ocean: King Mackerel, Protect the Blue Key West: Remote Control. Do some research beforehand by asking local experts and guides which flies are likely . Zap-A-Crab Use Light Flies and Long Leaders. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. The water systems in the South are rich in food sources, and this is where the redfish concentrate. My own personal favorite stomping grounds for redfish include South Florida and Louisiana. From WildFly Productions: "Back in November, I made it down to the Texas Coast for a DIY saltwater trip with my buddy, Bryant. I'll gladly give up February or August to expand the finest month on the calendar along the Texas coast. He and his clients fish it slow, slower and slower still. Check this first and try again. Anglers can accidently bump into these schools, but many guides, such as Capt. 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. Use larger hook sizes in Fall and Winter months as you prepare to hunt down larger redfish game. Most of the time fly-rodders are working from kayaks and canoes, casting to pushing fish or blind-casting to creek mouths. Because of the guttural drumming sound they can make, the term "drum" was a given name. Most come with bead eyes, are weedless and measure about 3inches long. Saltwater fly fishing is another craze that has taken root from Texas to Florida, and for good reason. The customary natural colors of brown, tan, orange, and white are a very popular choice among saltwater fly fishermen. But many cutting-edge anglers are using flies that are constantly being tested by the ever-growing numbers of fly-rod redfishermen. The Redfish will follow this fly until it commits. A small orange grizzly feather is tied in at the head to look like a fiddler-crab claw, with a single stiff mono weed guard positioned from the head toward the hook point. There are so many fish feeding its actually ridiculous. Its an excellent pattern for the muddier waters where some surface movement is needed to grab the fishs attention. Texas claims two others, and North Carolina one. The Electric Slider is another classic redfish pattern designed for muddy and stained water. Also, take note of the depth of the water and the type of bottom (grass, sand, etc)you are fishing in. Use a 9- to 10-foot leader with a 50-pound butt section tapered to a 20-pound class tippet and add afoot of 30-pound fluorocarbon as shock tippet for insurance. As you approach the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf coasts, all that changes. 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.. 1 Where to Catch Redfish in Texas. The fly is finished by tying in three dark but iridescent wild-turkey breast feathers that splay outward from the head over the hook point and bend, which makes it look very crab-like. Clouser Minnow needs no introductions or explanations! When the pelicans, gannets and larger gull species start wheeling around in open water, dont hesitate to investigate, Gardner says. They succeeded by producing a smaller, thumb-size fly version of the Johnson lure that every inshore saltwater angler worth his skiff owns. 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. Choose some bright colors and Redfish won't be able to resist. The current Texas record is 59 1/2 pounds. This is an excellent fly for tailing fish digging crabs out of the mud. The flashing and the low frequency vibration sounds it emits when being stripped excels in murkier waters. 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. Im all set to go a simple boat fly box with the above patterns! Re: Redfish Flies. Turkey in the Straw State regulations throughout the redfishs range have helped these hardy gamesters to rebound. The setup you choose to use depends entirely on your ability as a fly fisher. It retrieves through pencil reeds, spartina grass, over rocks, oysters and through brush as well as any weedless lure. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. 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. If youre fortunate enough to hit a warm day, youll find hordes of reds rushing up on the flats to feed over the warm, dark mud left exposed by an earlier low tide. He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. Fly Fishing Laguna Madre on the Texas Coast. 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. 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 the precise concave shape isnt made, the spoon will plane to the surface during the retrieve rather than wobble. During the full-moon periods both months, anglers anchor along the edges of the channel between Blount Island and Mayport. This pattern has many variations, but the concept remains the same. 9 ft leader is standard with 25-30lbs breaking strain tippet. These 2hours are golden and what every redfish angler dreams of. 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. 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. Excellent numbers of redfish will come out of the woodwork. Sometimes the bite is on and game fish will aggressively smack anything thats thrown in front of them. Gardner always keeps two rods rigged and ready. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REDFISH PATTERNS FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE. Fly fishing has been my passion and pursuit for the past 20 years. Theyll even attack poppers with gusto, at times. We respect your privacy. The productive color combinations are plenty, but the pattern always remains the same, a dark back with a light belly. I like tans, greens, and lighter colors. Usually most crab flies you find in the big box stores are designed to target permit or bonefish. 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. She coaches clients in advance of these opportunities: Drum prep is like a fire drill, she says. The Redfish Crack fly is a proven and very successful fly increasing in popularity in the Texas and Louisiana fisheries. 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. While I tend to agree in most aspects, I know this pattern catches fish. The Mylar tubing is folded over lengthwise, and secured to the hook shank. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. It is tied in in smaller sizes, so it doesn't make much disturbance when it lands. Just sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! The best fly choice: a good-size shrimp that sinks quickly. Offshore, in the surf, or next to deep channels are the ideal locations to use this fly. The Texas Toad, pictured above, is a good example of one such variation. For larger species, you might try a 2/0 to 4/0. The fish reside in the lagoon year-round, making it the best area to target trophy redfish on the flats along Floridas east coast. Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the water! Below are some articles to guide you to a TROPHY. Working that fly to get the eat, fighting well, and then gently releasing the fish after a few photos is what its all about. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Northeast Florida anglers seldom see cruising redfish beneath the surface. by Ron Mc Tue Mar 10, 2020 10:18 am. Traveling pro angler Pat Ford offers tips on tackle, flies and hot spots. It has a large head that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish.
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