texas redfish flies

For targeting bulls over 20pounds, a 10-weight works best and handles the bigger flies those fish prefer. My own personal favorite stomping grounds for redfish include South Florida and Louisiana. Usually a wake is seen, or a small part of the fish is spotted breaking the waters surface. 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. This has all the characteristics of the Seaducer yet adds more of a shrimp look. 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. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. If you're wondering which fly rod you should choose to chase Reds, we've covered that topic here. 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. Yes, there are a few minor differences, but they feed and act in the same way for the most part. 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. Add the sizes you fish most often too. Consequently, those are the best hues for Aldermans Zap-A-Crab. Gear up with giant Clouser flies and sinking lines that range from 450 to 700 grains. Anywhere you can flats-fish for Texas reds, youll find that sensory overload. As with all flats-fishing, you look for wakes, tails and bodies. That means using stout tackle for casting: Try a 9-weight for fish to 20 pounds and a 10-weight for heavier bulls. I have found that light flies and long, long, long leaders are the ticket in these situations. 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. This simple fly has heavy eyes and sinks quickly. 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. The shrimp-tipped jig is the icing on the cake, and the redfish can't resist the smell. Thanks for signing up! Normally, youll scout reds in less than 2 feet of water by looking for wakes, tails and bodies. Chasing schools of bull reds offshore is an entirely different operation than flats-, channel and surf fishing, but that spectacular scene happens from North Carolina through northeast Florida and in the Gulf from Floridas panhandle past Louisiana. One fish though, when it's a nice redfish like those we caught that day, can do the soul a world of good. Most come with bead eyes, are weedless and measure about 3inches long. 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. Microscopic Monsters of the Ocean: King Mackerel, Protect the Blue Key West: Remote Control. Salt Water Sportsman may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. When redfish are tailing on the flats and are cruising super skinny, placing a popper or streamer quietly in its path may be the only way to catch them. It would be great to book a fishing charter to fish for redfish. My guide, Capt. The Texas coast between Port O'Conner and Rockport offers excellent opportunities to sight cast for redfish, as well as occasional shots at black drum, speckled trout, and sheepshead. So, there you have it. To see more of his photography go to patfordphotos.com. The deer hair body gives it the topwater element, and I love throwing these flies at cruising redfish trackers as they are often called. You still must put the fly in the right place, but you definitely need a 10-weight rod and a really big fly. Dupre Spoon Fly is one of those debatable patterns that some purists argue isnt a fly but more a lure. Possibly the most unique redfish destination is Mosquito Lagoon in east central Florida. The other captain stalked close to two big foraging reds and worked the fish with different flies for 10 minutes without a take. The fly is only available in one size, but colors are almost limitless. 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. Im one of those fly fishers. About the Author: Now a retired Miami attorney, Pat Ford spends his time taking photos and writing about fishing destinations around the world. Before you go, know the rules for reds in your target area. If I had to guess at the most popular coastal saltwater fly-rod fish in the United States, Id have to pick redfish. It has a large front collar that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. Dure wont divulge exactly how he molds epoxy into just the right shape to produce a replica wobble of the Johnson spoon. 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. Tailing fish set any anglers heart aflutter. Saltwater fly fishing for redfish is a lot of fun! 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. 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. They eat with ease and love to chase the fly. SWS Planner: Texas Gulf Coast Redfish Action. Galveston is one of the best places to target redfish in Texas and its surrounding areas. August 30, 2022 by Brent Pollock. Because reds often cruise in murky water, anglers must throw a big enough fly for them to see. Along with the flies you like most, give us the general location (not spots but east Coast of Florida, South Carolina or Texas etc. The record red drum was 94 pounds and was caught on the East coast. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Everyone has to know where the big rods are on the boat and how to quickly stash albie gear. They get a lot bigger. Size #1 and #2 are best. The water is air-clear. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. Many anglers prefer an 8-weight fly rod for smaller redfish, but I usually throw big bushy redfish flies. 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. The Mangrove Baitfish is great for Florida and Lowcountry redfish thanks to its wide profile and snag-resistant design. Sheka Shrimp come in weighted and unweighted versions, with or without weed guards. Easy to cast, and light enough to manipulate in a variety of ways once in the water. 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.. It is hand-tied by Jim Dupre and finished with an epoxy coating, making it bulletproof. 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. In these conditions, its not so much the pattern, but rather how it swims that is important. I like to have an intermediate spool ready to roll if needed, but it isnt necessary. 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. Here in North Florida, this is usually in mid to late spring. Starting at $6.16. I, for one, have a boat bag that has all my gear and flies in. But many cutting-edge anglers are using flies that are constantly being tested by the ever-growing numbers of fly-rod redfishermen. This pattern has many variations, but the concept remains the same. Read about the BIGGEST Caught >, Casting a Fly to Snook is amazing. Whether stalking some grass flats, making your way through the Everglades, or heading to the marsh to try and land that big bull red, make sure your fly box is properly stocked. Turkey in the Straw Tie on a bushy fly in either white or brown with bead or lead eyes, such as this Chernobyl shrimp. Boats leave from dozens of ports, and the runs to the flats can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. Here is a list of the best nine places to fly fish in Texas: 1. 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. Cone-Head Wooly Bugger Next the tubing is poked at liberally with a needle or ice pick to unfurl the mylar, giving it a frizzy appearance. With hundreds of creeks, bays and tidal washes that abound in the area, this region is a vast labyrinth of dark-stained tidewater. Fly Fisherman Magazine, 2015. The lakes, ponds and coves in these areas prove deeper, so you wont see too many tailing fish. They succeeded by producing a smaller, thumb-size fly version of the Johnson lure that every inshore saltwater angler worth his skiff owns. Traveling pro angler Pat Ford offers tips on tackle, flies and hot spots. Wyld on the Fly offers fly fishing guide services for the Corpus Christi, Rockport, Aransas Pass, Laguna Madre, Land Cut, and Baffin Bay waters. Suppose you arent accustomed to casting the heavier rods its best to practice on the grass and get more confident. The hook sizes and eye weight can greatly vary and give you the flexibility to fish any depth of water. Some quick online research will show you hundreds of Crab patterns available. 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). Texas Fly Caster Location: Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX Waters: Lake Ray Roberts, Lewisville Lake, Trinity River, Other Local Waters Fish: Bass, Carp . The Deceiver is another famous pattern known by many fly fishermen. The EP fibers really changed how we could tie baitfish patterns, and the advancements are spectacular. I set the hook, and the fish rocketed along the shoreline, throwing mud and water. Below are some articles to guide you to a TROPHY. 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. The dumbbell eyes can vary from tungsten to bead chain for weight changes. Most reds top 20 pounds, and again, if they see your fly, theyll eat it. 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". Find an area near any of the local inlets with clear water. Fishalicious, is another baitfish pattern worthy of the fly box. Polling around on that flood tide is a special time to fish, and it should be cherished. Equip your fly line with cast foam poppers, deer-hair bugs or shrimp and baitfish patterns for the classic approach to Snook fly fishing. Learn More. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. The cost is $11.00 per person per day. Zap-A-Crab Crab flies are deadly for targeting Redfish and Sheepshead in the Gulf Coast region. 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. You do not want to miss your chance to experience the classic Fall Run along the Texas Gulf Coast. Just sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! Excellent numbers of redfish will come out of the woodwork. 3 thoughts on " Redfish Flies " Scott Kor says . . Give us a call here at the shop at (888) 413-5211 or email us anytime at[emailprotected]. We promise we won't spam your inbox with stuff you don't care about. The key to this flys success is its slow sinking rate combined with the fluid pulsing motion of the hackles on the tail. If you find redfish feeding near the surface, a topwater fly works really well. Getting the fly to drop deep gains more bites. It has a large head that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. Its tied on a size 1 through 2/0 Mustad 34007 hook, unweighted or with lead dumbbell eyes. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. For more about chasing redfish with a fly rod, find Chico Fernandezs book Fly Fishing for Redfish. At the eye a few turns of crystal-red chenille are wound on to produce a head. They typically have heavy amounts of weight and little bulk to get the fly down to the sandy bottom fast. The Kwan is a hybrid pattern and imitates shrimp, crab, and baitfish. The fly is best used in the colder months when the shrimps and crabs are absent. 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. Let's take a closer look at what awaits you on a Texas redfish adventure. 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. The Redfish tend to like its smaller profiling in the colder months, especially on the clearer days. 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. If theres any wind at all, a 9-weight makes casting easier. They will usually eat a well-placed fly with reckless abandon and can even be caught on topwater flies for redfish. Thats when Alderman became a believer in rattling redfish flies. 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. For food and shelter, they seek out sea-grass beds, mangroves, marshes, oyster bars, mud and sand flats and beaches. Its simple design is very deadly for many species, especially Redfish. Ten of the other 14 fly-tippet-class records came from Louisiana. 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. Read about, Both Tarpon and Redfish can haunt the same waters. View the Candy Corn Crawler pattern on our Online Fly Shop. Starting at $6.16. While these large flies are still useful to have during the summer . Floating on the surface, they pop, splash, and create noise when being stripped. Once they spot your fly, they will open up their mouth and take it. 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. While we have only been able to add a select few for now, we will continue to add to this page as we can and . Tackle choices aside, the size of your fly can be the most important factor. With all the grass around, a weed guard is a must to be in with a shot at hooking a Red. 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. Mylar is tied on both sides of the hook and on top. In this guide, we'll take you through the top species you can target, the best locales to cast your fly in, and much more, such as seasons, gear, and rules and regulations. The Spoonfly is about as weedless as the Johnson lure. Like Charleston, certain parts in the South have what we call a flood tide. 1. The customary natural colors of brown, tan, orange, and white are a very popular choice among saltwater fly fishermen. Sarah Gardner, out of Nags Head on the Outer Banks, actually target them. Fished in the Gulf Coast region, you cant go wrong with a chartreuse and white color that has a large eye. The cost is $16.00 per person per day. It is a mix of a number of different patterns and works great as a shrimp, crab or even a baitfish. 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. All the way from Florida to Texas anglers and tyers are hard at work designing patterns to fool redfish. 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. Fly Fishing Laguna Madre on the Texas Coast. The weighted versions can help in the deeper waters, and a weed guard is imperative for this pattern. Featuring a textured shell body and bright orange claw tips, they closely resemble a juvenile blue crab. Texas claims two others, and North Carolina one. Fools Gold crab pattern is my first choice for tailing Redfish. Its a simple Superglue fly Ben can make in about 10 minutes. When handling and releasing any fish, particularly the larger bull reds, remember to hold them horizontally to support their internal organs. The Clouser closely resembles a glass minnow, one of the most plentiful bait fishes seen in back lakes and coves. The basic design is made with four to six saddle hackles tied near the back at the bend of the hook. But as every angler knows, there are days where the fish are picky and are only keying in on one food source. Redfish, red drum, or spot-tailed bass are all names that refer to this fish. Fish often have trouble tracking their prey in these conditions. 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. My choice would be a medium to fast action rod with some backbone to roll over the larger patterns. The best colors are chartreuse and pink chenille, and I will fish this pattern if nothing else is working. Boat shoes are great, so you dont slip and slide around on deck. Of course, flats-fishing requires some level of experience and the ability to cast 50feet accurately regardless of weather conditions. Those regions abut the narrow, winding canals of the back marshes and ponds near Galveston and Freeport. Then one day I was casting a spoon-fly to redfish when I spotted a huge sheepie tailing on oysters. It needs to be small. Flies must get deep quickly to appeal to upper Gulf Coast redfish, he says. It has a unique wobbling action when retrieved thats identical to a Johnson wobbling spoon. Saltwater fly fishing is another craze that has taken root from Texas to Florida, and for good reason. 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. Some even believe that this is an evolved strain of redfish, different from its relatives in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters. January and February is redfish time in the many sheltered potholes and ponds of the Biloxi, Mississippi, marsh. 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. 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. But for Bill Harvey, a biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Aquatic Resource Protection . Do some research beforehand by asking local experts and guides which flies are likely . I love this! 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. I fell in love with the Spoonfly the first time I held one. Alderman is adamant that the rattles make a big difference in attracting redfish. Spoonfly What makes the Spoonfly so unique and such a fish-catcher are the same things that make the Johnson Weedless Minnow a hit for bait-casters and spin fishermen. They simply cannot resist the flicker and flutter as it moves through the water. If you cant get the fly to the fish, you wont catch any, period. This is the story behind the action in Marjie's words: "In August 2014, I was taking photos of Ospreys in flight at the . Location: Houston, Texas. 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. Check this first and try again. Sport Fishing Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. 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. Ive caught a lot of big fish in my day, but nothing like this. Candy Corn Crawler is a great choice when targeting redfish. Located in the southern portion of the state, this river doesn't seem to belong in the desert. 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. Try white, chartreuse or black colors on a 2/0 Gamakatsu stinger hook. Furthermore, be aware of the water clarity as this will factor into the colors of flies that will tend to be more effective. My favorite colors are blue over white and chartreuse over white. In the beginning, the most incredible, unexplained marks appeared on our bottom machines. For information, visit . I like the fly in the mud crab color of dark brown /green in size #2. I like to think of it as the woolly bugger for reds. 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. This is my summer flats first choice in the colors closet to the mullet in your areatans and beige with whites and black markings. Almost every saltwater fly shop has a variation of the traditional Kwan fly, or sometimes referred to as the Redfish Toad. He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. (Editors note: Wherever you plan to fish, check that states redfish regulations for licensing, season and bag-limit information.). A floating line will be just fine for most scenarios, but an intermediate line is excellent for the deeper water. 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. Locals like the Surfin Wooly. Victor Browning Lake and Calaveras Lake. Most are very bright-colored, which work well in the clear waters he fishes, where shrimp are an important forage. 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. 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. In reds and greens on a size #1, this pattern wiggles and swims like an injured baitfish or crab. It is tied in in smaller sizes, so it doesn't make much disturbance when it lands. Electric Slider Fly. The Razmatz is an excellent choice for a shallow, dirty water fly pattern. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. They will generally eat a second time if they spook or miss the fly. In Texas,the redfish population was going into a serious decline in the80's..So with help of CCA one was started with later help of a $10mil.grant from Federal fish and wildlife.Now every year,they put 10-20 millions redfish fingerlings back into the water. Sight cast to schools of tailing redfish in ankle-deep, gin-clear water. The Lower Laguna Madre is one of the finest spots to fly fish for red fish (red drum), black drum, speckled trout, flounder, tarpon, snook, sheepshead, and ladyfish. To round out our species-centered blog posts, we've written this post to help you choose the best flies. Year-round you can fish redfish, but in the changing season, you also have black drum, sheepshead, sea trout, tarpon, and . There are many variants of topwater flies, the classic Gurgleris just one example. A tailing red may be one of the easiest reds to catch, but they can be very particular at times as well. Baitfish, crab, and shrimp patterns are . This is a great fly for shallow water and smaller fish that aren't looking for a huge meal. The best is to get the fish to see the fly, and you will generally hook them. 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. 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. Flies for Redfish. They are superb at grabbing the attention of fish and will trigger a natural reaction bite that Redfish can simply not resist. Check out, Picture Source A huge thanks to the great folks at, Some of the amazing redfish pictures were provided by my buddies at. All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish and big Trout up on the flats. He ties several versions of it, making it suitable for redfish in a wide variety of waters and angling conditions. Seven hot flies for chasing red drum throughout the coastal south. 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. Gin clear water makes these fish very skittish when in shallow water situations. A lot of times they'll eat a fly just because it's moving drop it close to them, one strip, and they engulf it. Fly-fishing, Light Tackle, Sight Casting, Shallow Water Fishing Charters in The Lower Laguna Madre in South . Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. We use giant Clouser flies teamed with super-fast-sinking fly lines that range from 450 to 700 grains. There are many variants of topwater flies, the classic Gurgleris just one example. Tie it on a 1/0 hook and use bead eyes, even though its a shallow-water fly. Because of the guttural drumming sound they can make, the term "drum" was a given name. As mentioned in the above setup section, fly rods, reels, and lines are entirely up to you. They are known as bull reds. The middle Texas coast can offer world class sight-fishing opportunities for Redfish, Black Drum and Trout. Need something interesting to read, so post up your favorite redfish flies. Copyright 2023 Salt Water Sportsman. The bull reds, on average, top the 20-pound mark, and they seem to number in the thousands. 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. They also have to know when to cast and how long to let their offerings sink. Fly fishing trips are limited to two anglers per boat. 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. Leaving them with the "shell" on makes the filets look amazing too. Its a pretty basic fly, with a small head and burnt nylon eyes. My favorite redfish fly pattern is a fuzzy variation of Tim Borskis Chernobyl shrimp. On a calm day, you can see spinner sharks launch out of the water from a mile away. Often, you'll need flat, calm conditions to consistently see fish. Many anglers prefer an 8-weight fly rod for smaller redfish, but I usually throw big bushy redfish flies. These omnivores, with their underslung mouths, scour the grass and mud for prey. 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. Light tackle and fly fishing charters for redfish are world renowned on these inshore flats for because of the crystal clear water and numerous shots . 3. If all goes as planned, hooking reds well over 30 pounds is the welldeserved reward..

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