But for Bill Harvey, a biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Aquatic Resource Protection . Great fly-rod redfishing in northeast Florida can be found in the creeks and bays off the Intracoastal Waterway just north and south of the St. Johns River. 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. For information, visit . My guide, Capt. 4. Copyright 2023 Salt Water Sportsman. Mosquito Lagoon Redfish - Indian River Redfish - Florida Redfish Greens and golds are the first choices in smaller #2 and #4. 5 Best Flies for Redfish Fly Fishing - The Fly Crate Read -> What is the Biggest Redfish Caught. Sign up to get the latest sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! With a mix of unpredicted weather conditions, we were in for quite the weekend. Candy Corn Crawler is a great choice when targeting redfish. Most of the flies featured in this article are available for sale in the Saltwater Fly Shop and are designed to target inshore species in the Gulf Coast region. It needs to be small. 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. Alderman is careful to keep the fly small, never more than 2 inches overall, so few redfish are missed at the strike. But, thanks in large part to the Coastal Conservation Association that day is long gone. The Electric Slider is another classic redfish pattern designed for muddy and stained water. It is very productive in a root beer color with gold tinsel and redhead profile. The best fly choice: a good-size shrimp that sinks quickly. 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. Because redfish usually feed in grass and often cruise in murky water, fly anglers must throw something the fish can see. 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. For targeting bulls over 20 pounds, a 10-weight works best and handles the bigger flies those fish prefer. Top Redfish Flies | Salt Water Sportsman He called in Alderman, who cast, dropped the Zap-A-Crab 4 feet from one of the fish and waggled his fly rod to make the rattles pulsate, and instantly the red turned to the fly, rushed it and took. Yes, there are a few minor differences, but they feed and act in the same way for the most part. Like Charleston, certain parts in the South have what we call a flood tide. 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. Bushy shrimp patterns and white or chartreuse Clousers work best, depending on how deep the fish hold. Conditions - 55-degrees. Some popular patterns include the Merkin, KungFu, Contraband, Flexo, Fleeing Crabs, and many more. It is tied in in smaller sizes, so it doesnt make much disturbance when it lands. Its tied on a size 1 through 2/0 Mustad 34007 hook, unweighted or with lead dumbbell eyes. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. For more about chasing redfish with a fly rod, find Chico Fernandezs book Fly Fishing for Redfish. Retrieve this fly with steady, slow strips and it will mimic the movement of a fleeing crab. Next the tubing is poked at liberally with a needle or ice pick to unfurl the mylar, giving it a frizzy appearance. They tolerate a wide range of water temperatures and salinities, and eat everything from crustaceans and mollusks to baitfish. Electric Slider Fly. They simply cannot resist the flicker and flutter as it moves through the water. Mayfly emergers are often stuck in the film for quite some time making them easy pray for hungry trout. As mentioned in the above setup section, fly rods, reels, and lines are entirely up to you. Fly Fish Rockport - Texas Saltwater Fly Fishing Guide Service Fly fishing in Texas doesn't get the credit it deserves, and we're here to change that. 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. 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 Devils River is legendary to anglers in Texas. Fools Gold crab pattern is my first choice for tailing Redfish. Getting down quickly also avoids the albies, which grab the lighter offerings, she says. We respect your privacy. In fall and winter, the Biloxi Marsh comes alive for fly anglers targeting big bull reds that cruise the ponds and channels. We respect your privacy. To round out our species-centered blog posts, we've written this post to help you choose the best flies. 5 Best Places to Catch Redfish in Texas - Freshwater Fishing Advice Once they spot your fly, they will open up their mouth and take it. 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. Use larger hook sizes in Fall and Winter months as you prepare to hunt down larger redfish game. 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. These large-shouldered predators spend time cruising marshy coastlines searching for crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish. 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. The bull reds, on average, top the 20-pound mark, and they seem to number in the thousands. Below are some articles to guide you to a TROPHY. This is where the high tide pushes an extra few feet, flooding the muddy grass banks. Of course, flats-fishing requires some level of experience and the ability to cast 50feet accurately regardless of weather conditions. Fly Fishing Texas Redfish - Kenjo Fly Fishing Charters Ten of the other 14 fly-tippet-class records came from Louisiana. Sometimes, they can be a bit more technical. Good luck out there on the water! Getting the fly to drop deep gains more bites. One fish though, when it's a nice redfish like those we caught that day, can do the soul a world of good. Consequently, those are the best hues for Aldermans Zap-A-Crab. What makes the fly different from other crab and glue-body designs, however, is that its extremely weedless. Crab flies mainly fall into two different categories and can be fished a few different ways. Try a white or chartreuse pattern, and if that doesnt work, switch to something dark in black or purple. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. 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." Use Light Flies and Long Leaders. Trinity Bay and East Bay. True trophy fish can mean being in the right place, with the right flies, setup for success. Rockport fly fishing is some of the best on the entire Texas Coast. He and his clients fish it slow, slower and slower still. If needed contact info - HERE, Disclosure: "This site is owned and operated by River Traditions LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Michigan, USA. Fish it near the bottom with slow and erratic retrieves for best results. Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and imitating a fleeing shrimp or wounded baitfish. Fast, free shipping, expedited shipping available, earn 5% Rewards.A list of the most popular flies in Texas, along with hatch charts, river reports, and other helpful information to make your next trip to Texas the best trip yet. Watch the waves roll close to the beach, and look for a red as breaking water crests. Gold Frizzy. Redfish are resourceful and feed on a variety of crabs, shrimp, and baitfish. It would be great to book a fishing charter to fish for redfish. Redfish Flies - TexasKayakFisherman.com March 24 - 2023 Texoma Ducks Unlimited Spring Event at the Mayor Arena of Loy Lake Park. Sharks can also be a drum indicator, she adds, because they like the same foods. 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 Thanks for signing up! Sheka Shrimps tied in subtle browns and cream colors perform best in stained water. For larger species, you might try a 2/0 to 4/0. 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. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Redfish Kayak Fly Fishing - Flymen Fishing Company Redfish fishing tips for fly anglers should include examples of the right gear for the job. I am a South African based fly fisherman who loves nothing more than spending a day on the water. When youre seeing lots of Redfish up on the flats, tie this fly on and let the good times roll. Turkey in the Straw The best is to get the fish to see the fly, and you will generally hook them. (Editors note: Wherever you plan to fish, check that states redfish regulations for licensing, season and bag-limit information.). Alderman is adamant that the rattles make a big difference in attracting redfish. Devils River - Legendary Among Texas Fly Anglers. He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. Tackle choices aside, the size of your fly can be the most important . Parks fishes the vast marshes around the town of Chalmette, Louisiana and uses a couple of poppers he says redfish go absolutely bonkers over. Fish often have trouble tracking their prey in these conditions. 1. It just seems to work and change my day around. Fly Fishing in Texas: The Complete Guide - FishingBooker Blog 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. If your interested in having true experts teach how to chase reds get ahold of INDIGO GUIDE SERVICE. Sometimes the bite is on and game fish will aggressively smack anything thats thrown in front of them. Longtime Georgia fly-fishing guide Larry Kennedy, owner of Bedford Sportsman Fly Shop (912-638-5454) on St. Simons Island, says that while a number of different flies work for Georgia redfish, his favorite is a small, all-black classic Wooly Bugger streamer. I set the hook, and the fish rocketed along the shoreline, throwing mud and water. 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. Spoonfly Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. These fish, without a doubt, make for an incredibly memorable fly fishing trip. 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. There are many variants of topwater flies, the classic Gurgleris just one example. For small redfish, we suggest that you use a #2, #1, or a 1/0 circle hook. Colors I do not leave home without are: Black/Purple, and Brown/Tan. Check this first and try again. The fly doesnt really resemble anything specific, but it catches fish. Consider Fishing The Flats: Flat fishing is a great way to go sight fishing for redfish. For the leader, a standard nine-foot leader with a tippet rating of 15 to 20-pound test works best. Saltwater Flies - Fly Fish Rockport Best Month on the Calendar - Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine Miniard fishes primarily for tailing redfish in tough, tangled spartina grass along the northeast Florida coast. Some even believe that this is an evolved strain of redfish, different from its relatives in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters. On warmer days, work a surface-popper or gurgler pattern in white or in dark colors such as black and purple. Traveling angler and world-record holder Meredith McCord lives in Texas and fishes its flats for redfish every chance she gets. These are all suggestions and please wear what you feel comfortable in. McCord says theres nothing like the sight of redfish cruising a skinny shoreline with their backs fully out of the water, waving electric-turquoise spotted tails that can be seen from a hundred yards away. Fly Fishing for Red Drum 101 | Baitshop.com Crab flies come in two different styles and can be fished two different ways. Most are very bright-colored, which work well in the clear waters he fishes, where shrimp are an important forage. Therefore, tackle choices revolve more around casting and presentation ease than on fighting the fish. In the summer, mullet start to move through the surf, and that signals game on for fly fishermen. Just deals and news! Fools Gold Fly - a favorite for Redfish. Most of them imitate the crabs, shrimp, and baitfish that make up the majority of the redfish diet. 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. Big bull reds love this fly. For food and shelter, they seek out sea-grass beds, mangroves, marshes, oyster bars, mud and sand flats and beaches. The Clouser is a classic saltwater pattern for a variety of species, and for good reason. 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. Crab flies are deadly for targeting Redfish (and Sheepshead) in the Gulf Coast region. These fish fight strongly and stubbornly, but they dont make long runs and theyre usually caught in shallow water. 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. Both styles are highly effective when fished properly under the right conditions. They typically have heavy amounts of weight and little bulk to get the fly down to the sandy bottom fast. Virtually every region of salt or brackish water in the greater Jacksonville area holds reds, according to local anglers. The straight style, like the Straight-Shooter Crab pictured, has the hook shank positioned perpendicular to the crab body. The grass beds of South Florida waters (above) attract school-size reds in great numbers. Just sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! The daily bag on redfish in Texas is three fish in a slot limit of 20 to 28 inches . Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the water! Chasing Redfish Off the South Texas Gulf Coast. For medium-sized species such as salmon or redfish, you might use a size 4, 2 or 1/0. 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. Most of the time fly-rodders are working from kayaks and canoes, casting to pushing fish or blind-casting to creek mouths. The fools gold pattern is ideal for this as it sinks fast and has excellent movement in the water. Redfish are big crab and shrimp eaters, and the Ragin Craven does a great job of imitating both. I like the fly in the mud crab color of dark brown /green in size #2. 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. 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. Anglers who dont know the areas can find a lot of trouble very quickly, but the fishing is amazing. Dupre Spoon Fly is one of those debatable patterns that some purists argue isnt a fly but more a lure. Michael Stravato for The . If you cant get the fly to the fish, you wont catch any, period. Outdoors Digest - Herald Democrat The fishing is good, but different, and the type of fly required to dupe reds is different too. Add the sizes you fish most often too. Best Times & Seasons to Catch Redfish in Texas (Full Guide) While these large flies are still useful to have during the summer . The bright shiny spoon-fly is the furthest thing from the typically suggested drab sheepshead flies as you can get. Fished in the Gulf Coast region, you cant go wrong with a chartreuse and white color that has a large eye. The productive color combinations are plenty, but the pattern always remains the same, a dark back with a light belly. Saltwater fly fishing is another craze that has taken root from Texas to Florida, and for good reason. First there's the weather. Low summer tides mean baitfish being flushed into the shallows and the reds having a field day. The angel hairs hollow body gives bulk, and the bucktail and long hackle feathers give the tail lovely movement. 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.