Saltwater fly fishing is another craze that has taken root from Texas to Florida, and for good reason. Check out, Picture Source A huge thanks to the great folks at, Some of the amazing redfish pictures were provided by my buddies at. 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. Many anglers prefer an 8-weight fly rod for smaller redfish, but I usually throw big bushy redfish flies. Keep flies with bead eyes and lead eyes available. Spoonfly Located in the southern portion of the state, this river doesn't seem to belong in the desert. 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. Dupre Spoon Fly is one of those debatable patterns that some purists argue isnt a fly but more a lure. Salt Water Sportsman may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. The Spoonfly is an epoxy creation of Capt. With that said, I will break down my favorite redfish flies and explain why and when I fish them. When the pelicans, gannets and larger gull species start wheeling around in open water, dont hesitate to investigate, Gardner says. Anglers must be ready to cast as soon as the boat lines up. It rides high in the water column and will attract a red from some distance off. No spam. During the winter months, the water on the flats clears. Sport Fishing Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. The weighted versions can help in the deeper waters, and a weed guard is imperative for this pattern. The Kwan is a hybrid pattern and imitates shrimp, crab, and baitfish. Seven hot flies for chasing red drum throughout the coastal south. Fools Gold Fly - a favorite for Redfish. Im all set to go a simple boat fly box with the above patterns! If you cast this in front of a Redfish, allow it to slowly flutter down, and then give it very short small strips, youll be hooked up in no time. There are many variants of topwater flies, the classic Gurgleris just one example. If fishing for tailing reds, a crab pattern or spoon fly will do the job. It reminds me of a Perdigon, and that makes it ok for me to fish because I am a huge Perdi fan. Colors I do not leave home without are: Black/Purple, and Brown/Tan. 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. The EP Baitfish is a Gurgler-like pattern that moves water and pops on the surface to trigger an aggressive Redfish eat. This brute weighed more than 30 pounds. I love nothing more than being out on the water chasing a few reds with friends. You need a set of flies in your arsenal that covers the entire water column, from topwater, to bottom crawling, and everything in between. 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. 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 This stunning shot was taken by professional photograher Marjie Goldberg from Florida. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. 1.3 3. Use Light Flies and Long Leaders. The experience left him truly exhilarated. Locals like the Surfin Wooly. Gurgler flies are the top waters of saltwater fly fishing. Look for big redfish laid up at the surface like tarpon. I like the fly in the mud crab color of dark brown /green in size #2. 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). Boats leave from dozens of ports, and the runs to the flats can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. Those are the good days. Proven fly patterns for summer Redfish are baitfish and shrimp patterns! 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. Tailing fish set any anglers heart aflutter. Good luck out there on the water! Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. You can keep a maximum of 3 fish per angler per day. 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. However, if you venture out in the summer evenings, youll quickly understand how the area acquired its name. Choose some bright colors and Redfish won't be able to resist. Dustin's Destroyer, Bluegill. Additional tail materials can consist of marabou, bucktail, calf tail or Krystal Flash. He uses a No. Most of them are caught in the marshes and coastal waters, but a few are targeted offshore. Give us a call here at the shop at (888) 413-5211 or email us anytime at[emailprotected]. In fall and winter, the Biloxi Marsh comes alive for fly anglers targeting big bull reds that cruise the ponds and channels. Reds customarily feed on small crabs, shrimp and baitfish, such as mullet and mud minnows. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. After enduring day after day of heat, humidity and seemingly incessant southwest winds; October will give . Yes, there are a few minor differences, but they feed and act in the same way for the most part. Let's take a closer look at what awaits you on a Texas redfish adventure. 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 needed contact info -, Snook, Reds and Tarpon can be found all over Florida. If your interested in having true experts teach how to chase reds get ahold of INDIGO GUIDE SERVICE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REDFISH PATTERNS FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE. The Fishing Experience at Baffin Bay! Some even believe that this is an evolved strain of redfish, different from its relatives in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters. Its simple design is very deadly for many species, especially Redfish. Polling around on that flood tide is a special time to fish, and it should be cherished. The cost is $16.00 per person per day. I love this! If you're wondering which fly rod you should choose to chase Reds, we've covered that topic here. Redfish are resourceful and feed on a variety of crabs, shrimp, and baitfish. This is my summer flats first choice in the colors closet to the mullet in your areatans and beige with whites and black markings. The Razmatz is an excellent choice for a shallow, dirty water fly pattern. This allows the crab to "swim" while being stripped. The basic shape of the fly tends to replicate many sources of the Redfishs diet, such as shrimp, small baitfish, and crabs. They eat with ease and love to chase the fly. Getting down quickly also avoids the albies, which grab the lighter offerings, she says. Current fly fishing reports and conditions for Gulf Coast Rockport in TX! There are so many fish feeding its actually ridiculous. Youll find good numbers of 18- to 27-inch fish. When the cork pops in the water it creates a slurping sound, and this gets the fish interested. Possibly the most unique redfish destination is Mosquito Lagoon in east central Florida. This is the story behind the action in Marjie's words: "In August 2014, I was taking photos of Ospreys in flight at the . It also helped a bit that the first cast I made with a Spoonfly hooked a fish. The Texas Toad, pictured above, is a good example of one such variation. He guides when not teaching and devised the Gold Frizzy for redfish because it does a good job of imitating a gold, flashing and wobbling spoon likely the No. 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. 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. 1.4 4. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. Most are very bright-colored, which work well in the clear waters he fishes, where shrimp are an important forage. The bug is copper-colored, traditional bass-bug size, with a stainless hook and a Flashabou tail. Learn More. This allows the crab to stand upright in a defensive posture with claws dancing in the current when resting on the bottom. Retrieve this fly with steady, slow strips and it will mimic the movement of a fleeing crab. Days a . From WildFly Productions: "Back in November, I made it down to the Texas Coast for a DIY saltwater trip with my buddy, Bryant. The hook sizes and eye weight can greatly vary and give you the flexibility to fish any depth of water. 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. 1.1 1. 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. Is this getting you excited? If youve fished for Redfish before or are researching Redfish flies, you will undoubtedly run across the Kwan fly. But as every angler knows, there are days where the fish are picky and are only keying in on one food source. Flies for Redfish. My hands shook. The fly is best used in the colder months when the shrimps and crabs are absent. A local captain knows where the fish were yesterday and runs a proper skiff designed to navigate the target waters. We use giant Clouser flies teamed with super-fast-sinking fly lines that range from 450 to 700 grains. Plan a winter fly-fishing trip around an afternoon rising tide. So, get out there and get your rod bent, line stretched, and net wet. On a calm day, you can see spinner sharks launch out of the water from a mile away. In most cases, this will include a 9 or 10 weight fly rod, a 25 lb to 30 lb test 7.5 to 9 foot tapered leader, and crab patterns or poppers (depending on conditions). Do some research beforehand by asking local experts and guides which flies are likely . The original pattern was tied with a tan Craft Fur tail, an orange/red Catcus Chenille body, and an olive streamer brush head; but, this fly is highly versatile and can be tied in many different colors, materials, and eyes. This adds bulk to the streamer and allows the loose Mylar threads to catch and reflect light in every possible direction much like a spoon. Sneaky speckled trout can also be caught year-round moreover the seatrout here grow to trophy proportions like in the Laguna Madre. This gives the Redfish a feeding zone they cant get on other occasions. Zap-A-Crab Leaving them with the "shell" on makes the filets look amazing too. All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish and big Trout up on the flats. Redfish, red drum, or spot-tailed bass are all names that refer to this fish. Its for this style of hunt-and-cast redfishing that guide Ben Alderman (843-906-3630) devised his favorite redfish fly, the Zap-A-Crab. Fish often have trouble tracking their prey in these conditions. Of course, flats-fishing requires some level of experience and the ability to cast 50feet accurately regardless of weather conditions. 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. Factors that affect casting, such as wind and bushy flies, also affect rod choice.