Ive caught a lot of big fish in my day, but nothing like this. Its simple design is very deadly for many species, especially Redfish. with Rick Hartman. Bags and packs are entirely optional. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. Its a great pattern that has worked on many species for years now. We are lucky that Redfish are such a forgiving fish to target. One variation of this pattern is the Redfish Cracklin, it adds in tons of movement with legs in the tail and a super buggy brush head. I have found that light flies and long, long, long leaders are the ticket in these situations. If youve fished for Redfish before or are researching Redfish flies, you will undoubtedly run across the Kwan fly. There are many variants of topwater flies, the classic Gurgleris just one example. Redfish will chase this fly from a mile away, so be ready. I had never seen a tail that big or that color. Texas Sporting Journal, "Light Tackling Tarpon", May 2015. However, the Electric Slider's dark coloration, coupled with the intelligent use of ingredients, gives it great movement, making it the perfect choice for the marsh. Equip your fly line with cast foam poppers, deer-hair bugs or shrimp and baitfish patterns for the classic approach to Snook fly fishing. Chartreuse and white is a well-liked option. Anglers can accidently bump into these schools, but many guides, such as Capt. Fish often have trouble tracking their prey in these conditions. Waders and boots are great to have. Jim Dupre (352-371-6153), a Gainesville, Florida, fishing guide who, with his father A.J., spent countless hours testing and perfecting a fly-rod lure that had the same fish-attracting action as the venerable Johnson Weedless Minnow. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. Fly fishing has been my passion and pursuit for the past 20 years. When you select Wyld on the Fly as your guide for your next adventure, you can expect the . Those are the good days. 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. Wyld on the Fly offers fly fishing guide services for the Corpus Christi, Rockport, Aransas Pass, Laguna Madre, Land Cut, and Baffin Bay waters. The EP fibers really changed how we could tie baitfish patterns, and the advancements are spectacular. These trips are great for 1-2 anglers of all skill levels. Plan a winter fly-fishing trip around an afternoon rising tide. Im all set to go a simple boat fly box with the above patterns! Anglers who dont know the areas can find a lot of trouble very quickly, but the fishing is amazing. Tackle choices aside, the size of your fly can be the most important factor. Most of them imitate the crabs, shrimp, and baitfish that make up the majority of the redfish diet. Each area offers something to the fly fisherman. Redfish are generally in the surf when the water temperatures reach the mid-70s. 1.2 2. 1. Redfish are big crab and shrimp eaters, and the Ragin Craven does a great job of imitating both. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. Crab flies are deadly for targeting Redfish and Sheepshead in the Gulf Coast region. When handling and releasing any fish, particularly the larger bull reds, remember to hold them horizontally to support their internal organs. 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. With hundreds of creeks, bays and tidal washes that abound in the area, this region is a vast labyrinth of dark-stained tidewater. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. Out in the St. Johns River channel, the bull reds congregate. Just deals and news! The Kinky Muddler means business. The author, left, made his first trip to Louisiana waters after bull reds on fly in 2006. Colors run the gamut too, from pink to orange, and from yellow to hot green. All rights reserved. The bug is copper-colored, traditional bass-bug size, with a stainless hook and a Flashabou tail. The fly has a monofilament weed guard and burnt-mono eyes. The redfish game is simple. The great thing about redfish patterns is, for the most part, they are pretty darn simple fly and easy to tie. 7. After enduring day after day of heat, humidity and seemingly incessant southwest winds; October will give . The marsh features a series of shallow ponds connected by channels, all of which come lined with even shallower oyster bars and mud flats. Sign up to get the latest sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! . The fly doesnt really resemble anything specific, but it catches fish. When poling in the marsh, anglers look for wakes, tails and bodies near oyster bars and mud flats. Starting at $6.16. Crab flies mainly fall into two different categories and can be fished a few different ways. Mens and womens redfish fly records top out with the 43-pounder caught by Greg Braunstein on 16-pound tippet in 1995 out of the Banana River Lagoon in Florida. 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. Electric Slider Fly. Thanks for signing up! Just sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! Days a . The Spoonfly is an epoxy creation of Capt. It can be tied in countless color variations and weights to suit all water clarities and depths. Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and imitating a fleeing shrimp or wounded baitfish. My guide, Capt. This allows the crab to stand upright in a defensive posture with claws dancing in the current when resting on the bottom. 3. Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and will trigger a natural reflex that makes fish want to eat. Next there is the side style like the Sidewinder Crab,this pattern has the hook shank parallel with the crab body. Once they spot your fly, they will open up their mouth and take it. Similar to the Clouser Minnow, this is a bright baitfish pattern that sinks quickly and stays deep. Most any color combination will work, but I like brown or white and hardly ever use anything else. Leaders can measure 9 to 12 feet, with a 40-pound butt section tapering to a 15- or 20-pound tippet. Below are some articles to guide you to a TROPHY. If needed contact info -, Snook, Reds and Tarpon can be found all over Florida. 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. For large redfish, you will want to employ a 3/0, 4/0, or 5/0 circle hook. As you work up either Florida coast, the flats-fishing remains similar from a technical point of view. Luckily, for coastal anglers in Virginia all the way to the southern tip of Texas, redfish, also commonly referred to as red drum, can be successfully targeted with a fly rod via kayak or stand-up paddle . Gin clear water makes these fish very skittish when in shallow water situations. If you find redfish feeding near the surface, a topwater fly works really well. 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. Use Light Flies and Long Leaders. Gene Montgomery (334-478-7440) is a Mobile, Alabama, high-school teacher with a passion for fly fishing. A 6-10wt setup will work just fine. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. . 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. 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. Whether stalking some grass flats, making your way through the Everglades, or heading to the marsh to try and land that big bull red, make sure your fly box is properly stocked. For a slow-sink fly, a bucktail tail is good. The fly is then adorned with a bit of colored hackle and a wire weed guard. That said, Im an 8wt shooter myself, and I feel an 8wt setup is ample to target most reds in their environment. You do not want to miss your chance to experience the classic Fall Run along the Texas Gulf Coast. This allows the crab to stand upright in a defensive posture with claws dancing in the current when resting on the bottom. Redfish are opportunistic feeders and often forage in shallow mudflats with their noses stuck to the bottom, where they mainly feed on crustaceans. Unless you know the area and own a flats boat, youll need a guide. Along with the flies you like most, give us the general location (not spots but east Coast of Florida, South Carolina or Texas etc. The fish reside in the lagoon year-round, making it the best area to target trophy redfish on the flats along Floridas east coast. Most of your casting will be done in . Those regions abut the narrow, winding canals of the back marshes and ponds near Galveston and Freeport. Yet it has good fish-hooking capabilities. Sneaky speckled trout can also be caught year-round moreover the seatrout here grow to trophy proportions like in the Laguna Madre. 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. Redfish are prevalent from the southeastern coast of the US to Texas. Thats when Alderman became a believer in rattling redfish flies. In fall and winter months, the Biloxi Marsh and the coast of Louisiana can properly boast the best redfishing in the world. Rockport fly fishing is some of the best on the entire Texas Coast. 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. You can keep a maximum of 3 fish per angler per day. Keep your leader short and straightforward. I like the fly in the mud crab color of dark brown /green in size #2. All fishing is done out of a 2016 Hell's Bay Professional poling skiff, although we do occasionally wade fish. Gold Frizzy. . The Electric Slider is another classic redfish pattern designed for muddy and stained water. Sheka Shrimp With excellent year-round populations of Redfish, Speckled Trout and Black Drum. Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the water! No spam. The bull reds are singular fish, generally a lot bigger, and are more specific in what they eat. Port O' Connor. In Georgia the water is dark and turbid, and the tides run hard and high. The water systems in the South are rich in food sources, and this is where the redfish concentrate. 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. Consequently, those are the best hues for Aldermans Zap-A-Crab. Low summer tides mean baitfish being flushed into the shallows and the reds having a field day. You might see individual fish or, in certain areas, schools of a dozen or more. All of the fish you choose to keep must measure between 20-28 inches. In weedy water, the Sheka is tied with a monofilament-loop weed guard. State regulations throughout the redfishs range have helped these hardy gamesters to rebound.