In the colder months having the waders is excellent to have to keep you warm and dry. Reds can spot a bright Sheka Shrimp fly from a long distance and can be counted on to home in quickly for a fast meal. When you select Wyld on the Fly as your guide for your next adventure, you can expect the . We have a lot of folks ask us about the flies we are using while fly fishing the flats in Rockport and the surrounding area. This is an excellent fly for tailing fish digging crabs out of the mud. Here is a list of the best nine places to fly fish in Texas: 1. When youre seeing lots of Redfish up on the flats, tie this fly on and let the good times roll. Caudal and dorsal fins poking above the surface usually give away the fishs presence. The shrimp-tipped jig is the icing on the cake, and the redfish can't resist the smell. All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish up on the shallow flats of Gulf Coast fisheries. The cost is $11.00 per person per day. The Mylar tubing is folded over lengthwise, and secured to the hook shank. Many anglers prefer an 8-weight fly rod for smaller redfish, but I usually throw big bushy redfish flies. Redfish fishing tips for fly anglers should include examples of the right gear for the job. Days a . Fly Fishing Texas Flats for Redfish | DIY Saltwater Fishing trip 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. 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. Virtually every region of salt or brackish water in the greater Jacksonville area holds reds, according to local anglers. Fishing Baffin Bay in Texas for Trophy Trout and Redfish With all these factors in mind, lets go over five of the top producing Redfish fly patterns that every angler needs in their box. The golden color works well in the muddy water, and the reds love the movement of the fly. However, the Electric Sliders dark coloration, coupled with the intelligent use of ingredients, gives it great movement, making it the perfect choice for the marsh. Similar to the Clouser Minnow, this is a bright baitfish pattern that sinks quickly and stays deep. The Kwan is a hybrid pattern and imitates shrimp, crab, and baitfish. If you cant get the fly to the fish, you wont catch any, period. Almost every saltwater fly shop will have a selection of spoons available and if you pay close attention and compare different patterns you will notice slight differences. Many tyers will add in some small bead chain or lead eyes depending on the depth of water you intend to fish and additions such as silicone legs and/or mono-eyes into the tail section will give the fly a buggy look that Redfish cannot resist. A Bonnier LLC Company. The Kinky Muddler means business. Fishing For Texas Redfish - Salty Scales While I tend to agree in most aspects, I know this pattern catches fish. We spent 3 days exploring the area in search of Redfish. Tied on a #1 or 1/0 hook in the color that best covers your area. Best Month on the Calendar - Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine Turkey in the Straw Additional tail materials can consist of marabou, bucktail, calf tail or Krystal Flash. 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. We use giant Clouser flies teamed with super-fast-sinking fly lines that range from 450 to 700 grains. With all the grass around, a weed guard is a must to be in with a shot at hooking a Red. Jim, note Prof Salt's recent use of size 8 hooks on redfish flies. Catching Redfish On The Fly: 3 Things I Learned The Hard Way In Florid Michael Stravato for The . 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. 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. Need something interesting to read, so post up your favorite redfish flies. Fly Fishing for Texas Redfish: Dolphin and Redfish photo by Marjie Glodberg: We're a big fan of awesome photos showing action and drama! Truthfully, there are a lot of different redfish fly patterns that all work well. Silver Krystal Flash is used liberally on many patterns, snce its a long-range attractant in clear water. On a calm day, you can see spinner sharks launch out of the water from a mile away. If there's any wind at all, a 9-weight makes casting easier. It has a large front collar that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. The body is bulky, shrimp-like, made of bright cactus chenille. Next there is the side style like the Sidewinder Crab,this pattern has the hook shank parallel with the crab body. To round out our species-centered blog posts, we've written this post to help you choose the best flies. After enduring day after day of heat, humidity and seemingly incessant southwest winds; October will give . SWS Planner: Texas Gulf Coast Redfish Action. Most any color combination will work, but I like brown or white and hardly ever use anything else. 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. Southwest Fly Fishing Magazine, "Exposure" Photo Essay, April 2015. Fiddler crabs, shrimp, and baitfish are on the menu, so its essential to have flies that imitate them. Fishing for Redfish in Texas | Salt Water Sportsman Sharks can also be a drum indicator, she adds, because they like the same foods. Miniard fishes primarily for tailing redfish in tough, tangled spartina grass along the northeast Florida coast. If youre fishing in one foot of water, you can opt for a fly tied with bead-chain eyes. A floating line will be just fine for most scenarios, but an intermediate line is excellent for the deeper water. 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. Post by ellisredfish Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:50 pm. The weighted versions can help in the deeper waters, and a weed guard is imperative for this pattern. 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. 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). Traveling pro angler Pat Ford offers tips on tackle, flies and hot spots. 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. I love nothing more than being out on the water chasing a few reds with friends. Fish it near the bottom with slow and erratic retrieves for best results. These fish, without a doubt, make for an incredibly memorable fly fishing trip. Salt Water Sportsman may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. We are lucky that Redfish are such a forgiving fish to target. 2023All Rights Reserved -www.sightcastfishing.com - Sight Cast Fishing Company, Saltwater Fly Fishing - Apparel, Flies, and Tying Materials, Sheepshead, Fly Fishing, Sight Fishing, Sheepshead Flies, texas fly fishing, sheepshead fly fishing, how to catch sheepshead on fly, best sheepshead flies, sight fishing to sheepshead, sheepshead fly, best way to catch sheepshead. The fly is best used in the colder months when the shrimps and crabs are absent. Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and imitating a fleeing shrimp or wounded baitfish. Texas Sporting Journal, "The Real Laguna Madre", July 2013 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. No more sweat-soaked shirts the first hour into poling and smelling like a gym locker by the end of the day. Retrieve this fly with steady, slow strips and it will mimic the movement of a fleeing crab. Back in November, I made it down to the Texas Coast for a DIY saltwater trip with my buddy, Bryant. The carnage happens fast. Is this getting you excited? Redfish will chase this fly from a mile away, so be ready. Weed guards are beneficial when targeting reds in shallow and marshy water. 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. Possibly the most unique redfish destination is Mosquito Lagoon in east central Florida. Redfish are very forgiving in that they will eat again on a second attempt and often follow anything that looks like food. 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. 4. Tie on a bushy fly in either white or brown with bead or lead eyes, such as this Chernobyl shrimp. I set the hook, and the fish rocketed along the shoreline, throwing mud and water. About the Author: Now a retired Miami attorney, Pat Ford spends his time taking photos and writing about fishing destinations around the world. This is where the big boys live. Sheka Shrimps tied in subtle browns and cream colors perform best in stained water. These 2hours are golden and what every redfish angler dreams of. As you move south and west to the Venice and Grand Isle areas of Louisiana, the fishing changes a bit. In addition to redfish, we have the option to target inshore and offshore species such as tarpon, jacks, kingfish, cobia, bonito, snapper, etc when conditions allow in a 23 foot . The 8 Best Redfish Flies - Trident Fly Fishing 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). To illustrate, he tells of the time he and another captain were wading a grass flat three years ago when he was first experimenting with the fly. Captain Jeff offers fantastic half day, full day, and multi day trips fly fishing for redfish along the Texas Coastal Bend. Fished in the Gulf Coast region, you cant go wrong with a chartreuse and white color that has a large eye. Tackle choices aside, the size of your fly can be the most important factor. This allows the crab to "swim" while being stripped. 5 Best Places to Catch Redfish in Texas - Freshwater Fishing Advice 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. Fly fishing in Texas doesn't get the credit it deserves, and we're here to change that. 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. Gold Frizzy. When handling and releasing any fish, particularly the larger bull reds, remember to hold them horizontally to support their internal organs. Ford is a founding member of the conservation group Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, has held multiple IGFA world records and published two books on fly-fishing destinations. For information, visit . The Kwan fly is a great shrimp imitation as well. Because redfish usually feed in grass and often cruise in murky water, fly anglers must throw something the fish can see. In fall and winter months, the Biloxi Marsh and the coast of Louisiana can properly boast the best redfishing in the world. To find the best guides, contact a local fly shop. Its perfect to use right up against a grassy shoreline where shrimp are plentiful. The experience left him truly exhilarated. The author, left, made his first trip to Louisiana waters after bull reds on fly in 2006. Gear up with giant Clouser flies and sinking lines that range from 450 to 700 grains. Its tied on a size 1 through 2/0 Mustad 34007 hook, unweighted or with lead dumbbell eyes. It can be tied in countless color variations and weights to suit all water clarities and depths. The grass beds of South Florida waters (above) attract school-size reds in great numbers. Experience world-class accommodations and cuisine. Fly fishing trips are limited to two anglers per boat. Fishalicious, is another baitfish pattern worthy of the fly box. Saltwater fly fishing for redfish is a lot of fun! 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. Getting the fly deep gets more bites, even when the reds are busting on top. Top 10 Redfish Flies | Fly Fishing - Gink and Gasoline The bulls chase baitfish in the shallows, and the Everglades Special is the key! The Redfish will follow this fly until it commits. 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. We respect your privacy. Leaders can measure 9 to 12 feet, with a 40-pound butt section tapering to a 15- or 20-pound tippet. The key is to use a fly-and-line combo that will drop down in the water column. In spring, the reds work the edges of bars and creek mouths. 9 Best Places to Fly Fish in Texas (Maps, Flies and More) But the visual experience can be breathtaking. 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. They will generally eat a second time if they spook or miss the fly. Welcome to the Texas Coastal Bend. 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. Often this sound carries across the marsh from two or three coves over. The Razmatz is an excellent choice for a shallow, dirty water fly pattern. 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. In reds and greens on a size #1, this pattern wiggles and swims like an injured baitfish or crab. This Louisiana classic is an easy and delicious way to serve redfish. Re: Redfish Flies. Best Time: Fall months: late August through November. This is a variation of a fly tied by Jim Misiura. Top Redfish Flies | Salt Water Sportsman 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. Fly Fish Rockport Half Day in Rockport - captainexperiences.com The Mangrove Baitfish is great for Florida and Lowcountry redfish thanks to its wide profile and snag-resistant design. The best description I have heard for a redfish is a Clumsy confident fly eating machine. These large-shouldered predators spend time cruising marshy coastlines searching for crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish. With hundreds of creeks, bays and tidal washes that abound in the area, this region is a vast labyrinth of dark-stained tidewater. Clouser Minnow needs no introductions or explanations! Saltwater Flies - Fly Fish Rockport 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. 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. Working that fly to get the eat, fighting well, and then gently releasing the fish after a few photos is what its all about. It is tied in in smaller sizes, so it doesn't make much disturbance when it lands. Fools Gold Fly - a favorite for Redfish. Chasing Redfish Off the South Texas Gulf Coast. 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. The result is a fly that is sleek and has little air-resistance during the back cast, but in the water it swims well with a blooming action. These patters offer a solid profile and tied with the right materials and weight move beautifully throught the water. He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. Baitfish, crab, and shrimp patterns are . This stunning shot was taken by professional photograher Marjie Goldberg from Florida. 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. Devils River - Legendary Among Texas Fly Anglers. Calm conditions are best for spotting redfish in dark water, but sometimes during strong autumn noreasters great flats action can be had. Its an excellent pattern for the muddier waters where some surface movement is needed to grab the fishs attention. What the hell. A Redfish is a Redfish, no matter if you are in Texas, Florida, or Virginia. As mentioned in the above setup section, fly rods, reels, and lines are entirely up to you. Its a simple Superglue fly Ben can make in about 10 minutes. . 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. Its tied in a size 2 hook, with a dark Furry Foam diamond-shaped body and lead eyes tied on the shank top, just forward of the hook bend. There are many variants of topwater flies, the classic Gurgleris just one example. These trips are great for 1-2 anglers of all skill levels. Sometimes the bite is on and game fish will aggressively smack anything thats thrown in front of them. Crab flies are deadly for targeting Redfish and Sheepshead in the Gulf Coast region. Its important to remember that thousands of redfish flies work very well. Next the tubing is poked at liberally with a needle or ice pick to unfurl the mylar, giving it a frizzy appearance. True trophy fish can mean being in the right place, with the right flies, setup for success. 1 Where to Catch Redfish in Texas. The lakes, ponds and coves in these areas prove deeper, so you wont see too many tailing fish. Plus, we've also written about the best fly reel for Reds and the best fly line for Reds. That means using stout tackle for casting: Try a 9-weight for fish to 20 pounds and a 10-weight for heavier bulls. Redfish are a staple on fly down South, and many a fly angler love to catch these fish throughout the year. Starting at $6.16. He ties the fly on a barbless 34011 Mustad size 4 hook, with a bright-gold cone head to help get it deep. Factors that affect casting, such as wind and bushy flies, also affect rod choice. 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. This has all the characteristics of the Seaducer yet adds more of a shrimp look. But as every angler knows, there are days where the fish are picky and are only keying in on one food source. Ive caught a lot of big fish in my day, but nothing like this. Each area offers something to the fly fisherman. They eat with ease and love to chase the fly. Texas Coast Alvin Dedeaux Fly Fishing Fly Fishing for Redfish, Best Redfish Flies & Patters - Sport Fishing Mag They typically have heavy amounts of weight and little bulk to get the fly down to the sandy bottom fast. A popping cork is ideal when the fish are acting particularly lethargic. I think the craft fur body profile moves so well and has all the triggers. That allows her to keep an eye on the fast-moving schools instead of focusing on tying knots and digging for tackle. The fly has a monofilament weed guard and burnt-mono eyes. Spoonfly Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) - Texas Read -> What is the Biggest Redfish Caught. Unless you know the area and own a flats boat, youll need a guide. Fly Fishing Texas Redfish - Kenjo Fly Fishing Charters Sight cast to schools of tailing redfish in ankle-deep, gin-clear water. I had never seen a tail that big or that color. ), water conditions the fly excels in, and how you like to fish it. For larger species, you might try a 2/0 to 4/0. Some popular patterns include the Merkin, KungFu, Contraband, Flexo, Fleeing Crabs, and many more. 11 Best Flies for Redfish (Plus Fishing Tips) - Guide Recommended My favorite redfish fly pattern is a fuzzy variation of Tim Borskis Chernobyl shrimp. Rockport fly fishing is some of the best on the entire Texas Coast. . It's an extremely beautiful river filled with large and catchable bass. Image hooking into a red weighting over 50lbs. Mayfly emergers are often stuck in the film for quite some time making them easy pray for hungry trout. Anywhere you can flats-fish for Texas reds, youll find that sensory overload. Most of them imitate the crabs, shrimp, and baitfish that make up the majority of the redfish diet. The bull reds, on average, top the 20-pound mark, and they seem to number in the thousands. "Top 4" Redfish Flies - Backwater Fly Fishing / Jesse Males Those regions abut the narrow, winding canals of the back marshes and ponds near Galveston and Freeport. 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 . It has a deer hair head thats designed to push water and has a perfect baitfish profile that fish find hard to resist. 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. Boats leave from dozens of ports, and the runs to the flats can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. I'll gladly give up February or August to expand the finest month on the calendar along the Texas coast. So, there you have it. 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. 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.