They are known as bull reds. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. 2. For targeting bulls over 20pounds, a 10-weight works best and handles the bigger flies those fish prefer. 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. Candy Corn Crawler is a great choice when targeting redfish. They simply cannot resist the flicker and flutter as it moves through the water. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. Fly Tyer Magazine, "Guide Flies for Louisiana Redfish", Spring 2016 "Texas Redfish", Patagonia Blog, 2015. The Spoonfly is an epoxy creation of Capt. I fell in love with the Spoonfly the first time I held one. 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. I set the hook, and the fish rocketed along the shoreline, throwing mud and water. Truthfully, there are a lot of different redfish fly patterns that all work well. Mylar is tied on both sides of the hook and on top. Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the water! In fall and winter months, the Biloxi Marsh and the coast of Louisiana can properly boast the best redfishing in the world. It's a great pattern for sight fishing. The middle Texas coast can offer world class sight-fishing opportunities for Redfish, Black Drum and Trout. Calm conditions are best for spotting redfish in dark water, but sometimes during strong autumn noreasters great flats action can be had. Leaders can measure 9 to 12 feet, with a 40-pound butt section tapering to a 15- or 20-pound tippet. Call Captain Kenjo direct ASAP 361-500-2552 or BOOK NOW online! 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). Fiddler, stone and mud crabs inhabit the Charleston marshes, and their colors are muted, from brown to a dark tan to almost chocolate. Fiddler crabs, shrimp, and baitfish are on the menu, so its essential to have flies that imitate them. Its an excellent pattern for the muddier waters where some surface movement is needed to grab the fishs attention. Some popular patterns include the Merkin, KungFu, Contraband, Flexo, Fleeing Crabs, and many more. 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. On a calm day, you can see spinner sharks launch out of the water from a mile away. The central-coast redfish waters include the jetties of Port OConnor and the grass flats of Rockport, all with shorelines similar to those in Louisiana. with Rick Hartman. One or two flying sharks is worth a look, but a dozen simultaneous eruptions deserves full throttle and a shout on the radio, she says. When poling in the marsh, anglers look for wakes, tails and bodies near oyster bars and mud flats. Tie on a bushy fly in either white or brown with bead or lead eyes, such as this Chernobyl shrimp. Dure wont divulge exactly how he molds epoxy into just the right shape to produce a replica wobble of the Johnson spoon. The angel hairs hollow body gives bulk, and the bucktail and long hackle feathers give the tail lovely movement. Much of the action is found around spartina grass marsh, where reds forage for crab when the tide is high. 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. Traveling angler and world-record holder Meredith McCord lives in Texas and fishes its flats for redfish every chance she gets. From baitfish to shrimp to crabs and almost anything in between, Reds are opportunistic feeders. 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. The record red drum was 94 pounds and was caught on the East coast. However, if you venture out in the summer evenings, youll quickly understand how the area acquired its name. Dustin's Destroyer, Bluegill. I like it in the colors of tans, beiges, and reds with some crystal flash and legs. 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. Experience world-class accommodations and cuisine. There are many variants of topwater flies, the classic Gurgleris just one example. 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. If fishing for tailing reds, a crab pattern or spoon fly will do the job. The best description I have heard for a redfish is a Clumsy confident fly eating machine. Charlie Paradoski, charlieparadoski.com, 713-725-2401; Lower Laguna Madre: Capt. The shrimp-tipped jig is the icing on the cake, and the redfish can't resist the smell. Leaving them with the "shell" on makes the filets look amazing too. Also, take note of the depth of the water and the type of bottom (grass, sand, etc)you are fishing in. Saltwater fly fishing for redfish is a lot of fun! No top ten list can be without the most used and prolific fly in the world, the classic Clouser Minnow pattern. Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and will trigger a natural reflex that makes fish want to eat. Rick Hartman, an expert fly fisherman and guide, poles a skiff in the Lower Laguna Madre while a friend casts for redfish. Gold Frizzy Redfish are opportunistic feeders and often forage in shallow mudflats with their noses stuck to the bottom, where they mainly feed on crustaceans. Featuring a textured shell body and bright orange claw tips, they closely resemble a juvenile blue crab. Kennedy nicknamed this all-black cone-headed Wooly Bugger the American Express Fly because he never leaves home without it. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. 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. Ive caught a lot of big fish in my day, but nothing like this. Head down south to the Louisiana fishing playgrounds in and around New Orleans and the Biloxi Marsh area, an estuary network of 210,000 acres of coastal wetlands located on the eastern side of Louisiana, which borders the Gulf of Mexico, you will find yourself in the mecca of redfish fly fishing. All of the fish you choose to keep must measure between 20-28 inches. The Devils River is legendary to anglers in Texas. 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. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. But because tides run so strong, flats fishing can be difficult, more difficult than that found elsewhere in the Southeast, even in areas as close as Florida and South Carolina. The fish reside in the lagoon year-round, making it the best area to target trophy redfish on the flats along Floridas east coast. 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! The basic shape of the fly tends to replicate many sources of the Redfishs diet, such as shrimp, small baitfish, and crabs. Redfish Flies - Texas Flyfishers of Houston Boats leave from dozens of ports, and the runs to the flats can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) - Texas While it was initially intended to target Redfish, it does equally as well for large Speckled Trout up on the flats. Because reds often cruise in murky water, anglers must throw a big enough fly for them to see. Greens and golds are the first choices in smaller #2 and #4. I like the neutral colors for the Kwan in sizes #4. 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. Colors run the gamut too, from pink to orange, and from yellow to hot green. These fish, without a doubt, make for an incredibly memorable fly fishing trip. Take for example, the Shrimpadillo fly, its a combination of a crab fly, shrimp fly, and a spoon fly thats guaranteed to get engulfed by a hungry Redfish. Fly Fishing Laguna Madre on the Texas Coast. Creating high quality flies made for those that live and breathe the shallow flats and backwater marshes is our main focus. That allows her to keep an eye on the fast-moving schools instead of focusing on tying knots and digging for tackle. Fishalicious, is another baitfish pattern worthy of the fly box. This makes the fly feel exactly like a crab in the fishs mouth, he says, so a redfish rarely rejects the fly before an angler can set the hook. 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. Fishing For Texas Redfish - Salty Scales Most times, anglers fish shallow water thats clear enough to spot a 30-pound red, but it can quickly become quite murky after a cold front. Here in North Florida, this is usually in mid to late spring. If you fish in the marsh and mangroves, dont even think of leaving the house without flies with weed guards! "Top 4" Redfish Flies - Backwater Fly Fishing / Jesse Males 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. 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. While flies with bead chain eyes (or no eyes at all) are best in water depths of 1 foot or less when you want your fly to stay out of the grass and near the surface. Take a look at the Sight Cast Spoon, it comes after years of research and field testing. The author says many fly patterns tempt red drum, but he usually keeps a selection of bead-eye and lead-eye flies on hand. Swan Point Landing Fly Shop Location: Rockport, TX Waters: Texas Coast Fish: Redfish Website. Jim, note Prof Salt's recent use of size 8 hooks on redfish flies. The body is made from gold Mylar tubing with the cotton stuffing removed from the inside. My favorite hi-tie, I'll often use a 4x-long size 6 . Sheepshead: Too Weird For Confidence 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. He and his clients fish it slow, slower and slower still. Gulf Coast | TX Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions | Orvis Thanks for signing up! 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. Chasing Redfish Off the South Texas Gulf Coast. Im all set to go a simple boat fly box with the above patterns! There are various signs to look for to help us decide how to fish for them. 1.2 2. This is an excellent fly for tailing fish digging crabs out of the mud. (Editors note: Wherever you plan to fish, check that states redfish regulations for licensing, season and bag-limit information.). Scientists have documented this redfish population as the first ever known to spawn in an estuary (versus offshore). Fly Fishing for Redfish (Tips & Beginner's Guide) - CAST and SPEAR 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." The King Fu Crab swims hook point up, which is excellent, and the weed guard just makes double sure there arent any snags. All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish up on the shallow flats of Gulf Coast fisheries. The straight style, like the Straight-Shooter Crab pictured, has the hook shank positioned perpendicular to the crab body. The Clouser is a classic saltwater pattern for a variety of species, and for good reason. Hook Sizes for Redfish Flies? - TexasKayakFisherman.com Both styles are highly effective when fished properly under the right conditions. Like Charleston, certain parts in the South have what we call a flood tide. Having the right fly for these conditions is essential. Then one day I was casting a spoon-fly to redfish when I spotted a huge sheepie tailing on oysters. It has a large head that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. Everglades National Park offers prime redfish habitat with miles of flats.