Therefore, I recommend having some experience . Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and will trigger a natural reflex that makes fish want to eat. These 2hours are golden and what every redfish angler dreams of. 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. The fools gold pattern is ideal for this as it sinks fast and has excellent movement in the water. Quickly toss the fly in front of the fish before it heads back out to sea. 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. So our guides have begun to compile a collection of our favorite patterns here, for all to see. These are the times when having an arsenal of flies that resembles all the prevalent bait fish in your particular location is a must. The original was white and silver but the color combinations and sizes are infinite. As you move farther north in the redfish's range, you may have to wait until later in the year to find reds in the surf. These omnivores, with their underslung mouths, scour the grass and mud for prey. Texas Redfish: An Angler's Guide (Updated 2023) - FishingBooker Blog It has a large front collar that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. SWS Planner: Texas Gulf Coast Redfish Action. 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 are lucky that Redfish are such a forgiving fish to target. I like it in the colors of tans, beiges, and reds with some crystal flash and legs. For small stream trout, smaller fly fishing hook sizes like a 6 or 10 may be sufficient. Before you go, know the rules for reds in your target area. It also helped a bit that the first cast I made with a Spoonfly hooked a fish. She coaches clients in advance of these opportunities: Drum prep is like a fire drill, she says. Those are the good days. Let a good casts worth of line drag behind you and start wading in about a foot of water. If you find schools of glass minnows, tie on a Clouser and youll find the fish. This allows the crab to stand upright in a defensive posture with claws dancing in the current when resting on the bottom. Carry an intermediate line for the deeper waters, just in case. If your interested in having true experts teach how to chase reds get ahold of INDIGO GUIDE SERVICE. Fly Fishing Texas Flats for Redfish | DIY Saltwater Fishing trip Fly Tyer Magazine, "Guide Flies for Louisiana Redfish", Spring 2016 "Texas Redfish", Patagonia Blog, 2015. 9 Best Places to Fly Fish in Texas (Maps, Flies and More) 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. Fish often have trouble tracking their prey in these conditions. All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish and big Trout up on the flats. 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 . The shrimp-tipped jig is the icing on the cake, and the redfish can't resist the smell. These fish fight strongly and stubbornly, but they dont make long runs and theyre usually caught in shallow water. 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. The cost is $16.00 per person per day. Tailing fish set any anglers heart aflutter. Fish it near the bottom with slow and erratic retrieves for best results. Captain Jeff offers fantastic half day, full day, and multi day trips fly fishing for redfish along the Texas Coastal Bend. Fishing Baffin Bay in Texas for Trophy Trout and Redfish Having the right fly for these conditions is essential. Most any color combination will work, but I like brown or white and hardly ever use anything else. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. The King Fu Crab swims hook point up, which is excellent, and the weed guard just makes double sure there arent any snags. Zap-A-Crab What size hooks for redfish flies? [Expert Review!] Use a smaller hook in seasons with small game in great numbers, such as the Spring and Summer. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. 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. 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. The Finest Coastal Fly-Fishing in Texas - Bay Flats Lodge To find out more about the regulations for the reservoirs call (210) 635-8289 or visit the TPWD website https://tpwd.texas.gov/. Redfish Kayak Fly Fishing - Flymen Fishing Company Clouser Minnow needs no introductions or explanations! Pair the rod with a smooth drag reel and a floating line, and you are good to go. Because redfish usually feed in grass and often cruise in murky water, fly anglers must throw something the fish can see. That expert also comes with a trained pair of eyes to help spot the fish before they spot you. 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. Gold Frizzy. Read about, Both Tarpon and Redfish can haunt the same waters. Creating high quality flies made for those that live and breathe the shallow flats and backwater marshes is our main focus. All rights reserved. In the coastal waters off North Carolina, captains have found enormous schools of redfish in 20 to 60 feet of water. It is hand-tied by Jim Dupre and finished with an epoxy coating, making it bulletproof. The Redfish Crack fly is a proven and very successful fly increasing in popularity in the Texas and Louisiana fisheries. 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). 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). Fly fishing for redfish on the flats of Texas in a video from WildFly Productions. While it was initially intended to target Redfish, it does equally as well for large Speckled Trout up on the flats. How To Catch A Redfish: The Many Ways To Catch A Red Drum In Texas 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 . Aransas Pass Fly Fishing - TotalFlyFishing.com To round out our species-centered blog posts, we've written this post to help you choose the best flies. It has a unique wobbling action when retrieved thats identical to a Johnson wobbling spoon. Boat shoes are great, so you dont slip and slide around on deck. At the eye a few turns of crystal-red chenille are wound on to produce a head. Redfish are a staple on fly down South, and many a fly angler love to catch these fish throughout the year. 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. In spring, the reds work the edges of bars and creek mouths. Sight cast to schools of tailing redfish in ankle-deep, gin-clear water. Hook Sizes for Redfish Flies? - TexasKayakFisherman.com Welcome to the Texas Coastal Bend. This simple fly has heavy eyes and sinks quickly. It is very productive in a root beer color with gold tinsel and redhead profile. The EP fibers really changed how we could tie baitfish patterns, and the advancements are spectacular. If you fish in the marsh and mangroves, dont even think of leaving the house without flies with weed guards! For more about chasing redfish with a fly rod, find Chico Fernandezs book Fly Fishing for Redfish. Redfish in the lagoon and Indian River systems of Florida's space coast have an obsession with this type of fly. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Montgomery designed the fly for chasing world-record-size reds around the clear waters of the Chandeleur Islands in Louisiana, which he does with client Robert Cunningham Jr., who has boated several potential record fish wit this streamer. Gurgler flies are the top waters of saltwater fly fishing. Doors open up at 6 p.m. and tickets are $60 for individuals and $70 for couples. Potential Freshwater Walk in outing - (from Rob McConnell's Fly Fishing Houston book) Feb 28: Monthly Mtg. For large redfish, you will want to employ a 3/0, 4/0, or 5/0 circle hook. 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. Fish this fly slow and allow it to sink,then with very small, crawling strips you will mimic the movement of a defensive crab. In these conditions, its not so much the pattern, but rather how it swims that is important. 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. The great thing about redfish patterns is, for the most part, they are pretty darn simple fly and easy to tie. Getting the fly deep gets more bites, even when the reds are busting on top. Rockport fly fishing is some of the best on the entire Texas Coast. Crab flies come in two different styles and can be fished two different ways. How To Catch Redfish In Texas - Fishing Hacking Skill The 8 Best Redfish Flies - Trident Fly Fishing Of course, flats-fishing requires some level of experience and the ability to cast 50feet accurately regardless of weather conditions. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. The fly hit the water and the redfish inhaled it like it was the best meal it had ever seen. The deer hair body gives it the topwater element, and I love throwing these flies at cruising redfish trackers as they are often called. He ties several versions of it, making it suitable for redfish in a wide variety of waters and angling conditions. Blackened Redfish. The current Texas record is 59 1/2 pounds. This gives the Redfish a feeding zone they cant get on other occasions. Texas Coast Alvin Dedeaux Fly Fishing Here is a brief overview of some hot fly patterns in vogue today among the in the know coastal redfish angling set. Leaders can measure 9 to 12 feet, with a 40-pound butt section tapering to a 15- or 20-pound tippet. 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. Fly fishing trips are limited to two anglers per boat. The bug is copper-colored, traditional bass-bug size, with a stainless hook and a Flashabou tail. Experience world-class accommodations and cuisine. The redfish game is simple. While it was initially intended to target Redfish, it does equally as well for large Speckled Trout up on the flats. All rods, reels, tackle, and flies are provided- all you need is a current Texas fishing license, snacks, and polarized sunglasses. Watching a redfish try to suck a surface fly or popper into its underslung bottom-feeding mouth can be hilarious. Redfish, red drum, or spot-tailed bass are all names that refer to this fish. The bright shiny spoon-fly is the furthest thing from the typically suggested drab sheepshead flies as you can get. They are superb at grabbing the attention of fish from a distance, in murky water, or when the visibility is low. Keep flies with bead eyes and lead eyes available. Thanks to its heavy lead eyes, it drops like a crab, but its movement is more shrimp-like. If needed contact info -, Snook, Reds and Tarpon can be found all over Florida. 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. 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. Jim, note Prof Salt's recent use of size 8 hooks on redfish flies. The bug is copper-colored, traditional bass-bug size, with a stainless hook and a Flashabou tail. To find the best guides, contact a local fly shop. The wind did what it usually does to a spoon-fly and sailed it several feet off target. Gjuro Bruer, maneuvered his skiff into casting range, and I managed to place one of my best redfish flies just a few feet ahead of this thing, which looked like a giant koi. In the beginning, the most incredible, unexplained marks appeared on our bottom machines. 4. Fly Fishing for Redfish in the - Laguna Madre Outfitters Victor Browning Lake and Calaveras Lake. Youll definitely need 10-weight rods and 400-plus-grain sink-tip lines with big lead-eye flies. For information, visit . We spent 3 days exploring the area in search of Redfish. For a slow-sink fly, a bucktail tail is good. A popping cork is ideal when the fish are acting particularly lethargic. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. If youre going to have an arsenal of Redfish flies at your disposal, then you need to cover the entire depth of the water column, and that includes topwater! In the colder months having the waders is excellent to have to keep you warm and dry. Most come with bead eyes, are weedless and measure about 3inches long. I use large, black bead eyes most of the time, but always tie some flies with lead eyes for deeper water. 6 Texas Redfish Fishing Tips for First-timers 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. Best Times & Seasons to Catch Redfish in Texas (Full Guide) Texas fishing calendar: In October head to Gulf beaches for redfish 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. When poling in the marsh, anglers look for wakes, tails and bodies near oyster bars and mud flats. The Kinky Muddler means business. Crab flies are deadly for targeting Redfish and Sheepshead in the Gulf Coast region. 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. If needed contact info - HERE, Disclosure: "This site is owned and operated by River Traditions LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Michigan, USA. The tackle. Ive caught a lot of big fish in my day, but nothing like this. If you find redfish feeding near the surface, a topwater fly works really well. The record red drum was 94 pounds and was caught on the East coast. Traveling angler and world-record holder Meredith McCord lives in Texas and fishes its flats for redfish every chance she gets. Add the sizes you fish most often too. 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. 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. They are known as bull reds. Top Redfish Flies | Salt Water Sportsman Gulf Coast | TX Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions | Orvis 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. This Louisiana classic is an easy and delicious way to serve redfish. For targeting bulls over 20pounds, a 10-weight works best and handles the bigger flies those fish prefer. After enduring day after day of heat, humidity and seemingly incessant southwest winds; October will give . Top 10 Redfish Flies | Fly Fishing - Gink and Gasoline They are superb at grabbing the attention of fish and will trigger a natural reaction bite that Redfish can simply not resist. Top 10 Flies for Texas Saltwater Fly Fishing Fishalicious, is another baitfish pattern worthy of the fly box. As with all flats-fishing, you look for wakes, tails and bodies. One fish though, when it's a nice redfish like those we caught that day, can do the soul a world of good. 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. Usually most crab flies you find in the big box stores are designed to target permit or bonefish. 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. 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. Earth-tone colors seem to work best, a sandy brown head paired with a striped light beige body that resembles the pattern of a shrimp. With all these factors in mind, lets go over five of the top producing Redfish fly patterns that every angler needs in their box. It flashes and dances so well that its easy to spot even 100 feet out in thick grass and cattails. I like the fly in the mud crab color of dark brown /green in size #2. Chasing Redfish Off the South Texas Gulf Coast. Tackle choices aside, the size of your fly can be the most important . For targeting bulls over 20 pounds, a 10-weight works best and handles the bigger flies those fish prefer. The basic shape of the fly tends to replicate many sources of the Redfishs diet, such as shrimp, small baitfish, and crabs.