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. When it comes to fly fishing, Texas is an up-and-coming state with a lot to offer anglers. We are not a blog or a review site. Excellent numbers of redfish will come out of the woodwork. All of the fish you choose to keep must measure between 20-28 inches. There are various signs to look for to help us decide how to fish for them. 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. The Clouser is a classic saltwater pattern for a variety of species, and for good reason. Need something interesting to read, so post up your favorite redfish flies. Locals like the Surfin Wooly. In these conditions, its not so much the pattern, but rather how it swims that is important. 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, Sight cast, Fishing, Sunglasses, Sight Fishing, best sunglasses for fishing, best sunglasses for sight fishing, best sunglasses for sight casting, fishing sunglasses, sight fishing sunglasses, costa, smith, smith optics, rci optics, costa 580g, best polarized sunglasses, sunglasses to see fish. You need a set of flies in your arsenal that covers the entire water column, from topwater, to bottom crawling, and everything in between. I love this! Iknow it works because the guides keep all my leftovers. The Kung Fu Crab is a must when fishing the mangroves and grass plains. 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! What a rush. What makes the fly different from other crab and glue-body designs, however, is that its extremely weedless. Imagine the crystal-clear waters of Mexico and the Caribbean, and then add in the bright copper of redfish cruising the white-sand flats and brilliantyellow grass beds. 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 bright shiny spoon-fly is the furthest thing from the typically suggested drab sheepshead flies as you can get. For small redfish, we suggest that you use a #2, #1, or a 1/0 circle hook. 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. Find an area near any of the local inlets with clear water. Reds customarily feed on small crabs, shrimp and baitfish, such as mullet and mud minnows. (Editors note: Wherever you plan to fish, check that states redfish regulations for licensing, season and bag-limit information.). 3. It has a large head that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. The basic shape of the fly tends to replicate many sources of the Redfishs diet, such as shrimp, small baitfish, and crabs. In reds and greens on a size #1, this pattern wiggles and swims like an injured baitfish or crab. Re: Redfish Flies. by Ron Mc Tue Mar 10, 2020 10:18 am. Tied on a #1 or 1/0 hook in the color that best covers your area. Use larger hook sizes in Fall and Winter months as you prepare to hunt down larger redfish game. 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. This is a variation of a fly tied by Jim Misiura. Its just a matter of selecting the right flies. Those regions abut the narrow, winding canals of the back marshes and ponds near Galveston and Freeport. It would be great to book a fishing charter to fish for redfish. The bug is copper-colored, traditional bass-bug size, with a stainless hook and a Flashabou tail. With excellent year-round populations of Redfish, Speckled Trout and Black Drum. The spoon fly excels by flashing and emitting low frequency vibration sounds as its being stripped. Here are our favorite flies for Redfish. The flats-fishing techniques and tackle for Texas mimic those elsewhere. The cost is $11.00 per person per day. The customary natural colors of brown, tan, orange, and white are a very popular choice among saltwater fly fishermen. While these large flies are still useful to have during the summer . Flies for Redfish. Most gurglers are built with a foam body with an aggressive front head and have a marabou, buck tail, or synthetic fiber tail. The Charleston, South Carolina, area has vast inshore areas offering fly rodders great opportunities for red-drum fishing. In fall and winter months, the Biloxi Marsh and the coast of Louisiana can properly boast the best redfishing in the world. Watching a redfish try to suck a surface fly or popper into its underslung bottom-feeding mouth can be hilarious. In the summer, mullet start to move through the surf, and that signals game on for fly fishermen. If I had to guess at the most popular coastal saltwater fly-rod fish in the United States, Id have to pick redfish. Use a smaller hook in seasons with small game in great numbers, such as the Spring and Summer. Redfish are opportunistic feeders and often forage in shallow mudflats with their noses stuck to the bottom, where they mainly feed on crustaceans. 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. In Georgia the water is dark and turbid, and the tides run hard and high. Candy Corn Crawler is a great choice when targeting redfish. Usually a wake is seen, or a small part of the fish is spotted breaking the waters surface. We are lucky in that Redfish tell us how they are feeding. The record red drum was 94 pounds and was caught on the East coast. Fish often have trouble tracking their prey in these conditions. Redfish are strong, hearty, and fight really good. When handling and releasing any fish, particularly the larger bull reds, remember to hold them horizontally to support their internal organs. This small collection are the top flies for Redfish that we have found. You can keep a maximum of 3 fish per angler per day. This simple fly has heavy eyes and sinks quickly. Fools Gold crab pattern is my first choice for tailing Redfish. Like Charleston, certain parts in the South have what we call a flood tide. Silver Krystal Flash is used liberally on many patterns, snce its a long-range attractant in clear water. Parks fishes the vast marshes around the town of Chalmette, Louisiana and uses a couple of poppers he says redfish go absolutely bonkers over. For food and shelter, they seek out sea-grass beds, mangroves, marshes, oyster bars, mud and sand flats and beaches. Blackened Redfish. SWS Planner: Texas Gulf Coast Redfish Action. 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. 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. The angel hairs hollow body gives bulk, and the bucktail and long hackle feathers give the tail lovely movement. The Fishing Experience at Baffin Bay! To round out our species-centered blog posts, we've written this post to help you choose the best flies. The only difference between here and southern Florida and Texas: These reds range from 15 pounds up to almost 50. Starting at $6.16. To find the best guides, contact a local fly shop. Youll find good numbers of 18- to 27-inch fish. My own personal favorite stomping grounds for redfish include South Florida and Louisiana. With all the grass around, a weed guard is a must to be in with a shot at hooking a Red. Welcome to the Texas Coastal Bend. Its simple design is very deadly for many species, especially Redfish. As we mentioned above, you can keep one Redfish measuring over 28 inches per year with your Red Drum Tag. The grass beds of South Florida waters (above) attract school-size reds in great numbers. The fishing for trophy trout and redfish on Texas' Baffin Bay is nothing short of spectacular and our experienced guides can't wait to show you our neck of the woods. It rides high in the water column and will attract a red from some distance off. The great thing about redfish patterns is, for the most part, they are pretty darn simple fly and easy to tie. The redfish game is simple. I love nothing more than being out on the water chasing a few reds with friends. Also, take note of the depth of the water and the type of bottom (grass, sand, etc)you are fishing in. Redfish in the lagoon and Indian River systems of Florida's space coast have an obsession with this type of fly. Anglers watch for birds wheeling around bait in open water. It just seems to work and change my day around. When: Summer and fall; Who: The following guides specialize in Texas redfishing: Middle Texas Coast: Capt. Thanks for signing up! All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish and big Trout up on the flats. 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. The bug is copper-colored, traditional bass-bug size, with a stainless hook and a Flashabou tail. But, thanks in large part to the Coastal Conservation Association that day is long gone. Redfish are very forgiving in that they will eat again on a second attempt and often follow anything that looks like food. The body profile and hook riding upwards make it deadly. 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. The EP Baitfish is a Gurgler-like pattern that moves water and pops on the surface to trigger an aggressive Redfish eat. The Razmatz is an excellent choice for a shallow, dirty water fly pattern. Read -> What is the Biggest Redfish Caught. 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. East Cut Redfish Popper The Merkin Crab is widely considered the most effective Permit fly ever conceived. In spring, the reds work the edges of bars and creek mouths. He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. 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. The daily bag on redfish in Texas is three fish in a slot limit of 20 to 28 inches . Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. 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 fly is tied to look like a gaudy shrimp, which is something to keep in mind when viewing it. This stunning shot was taken by professional photograher Marjie Goldberg from Florida. The King Fu Crab swims hook point up, which is excellent, and the weed guard just makes double sure there arent any snags. Miniard fishes primarily for tailing redfish in tough, tangled spartina grass along the northeast Florida coast. He and his clients fish it slow, slower and slower still. Seven hot flies for chasing red drum throughout the coastal south. Easy to cast, and light enough to manipulate in a variety of ways once in the water. He uses a No. While other colors are effective I have found these to be best . Its a great pattern that has worked on many species for years now. Turkey in the Straw January and February is redfish time in the many sheltered potholes and ponds of the Biloxi, Mississippi, marsh. The tackle. Location: Houston, Texas. The Kwan is a hybrid pattern and imitates shrimp, crab, and baitfish. 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. We promise we won't spam your inbox with stuff you don't care about. As far as fly anglers are concerned, it is primarily a super-shallow water redfish destination . Sight cast to schools of tailing redfish in ankle-deep, gin-clear water. That allows her to keep an eye on the fast-moving schools instead of focusing on tying knots and digging for tackle. with Rick Hartman. The water systems in the South are rich in food sources, and this is where the redfish concentrate. It is a mix of a number of different patterns and works great as a shrimp, crab or even a baitfish. 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." Other shrimp patterns to consider are grass shrimp and hybrids like redfish Ritalin. The weighted versions can help in the deeper waters, and a weed guard is imperative for this pattern. Tie it on a 1/0 hook and use bead eyes, even though its a shallow-water fly. We respect your privacy. 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. In weedy water, the Sheka is tied with a monofilament-loop weed guard. Gear up with giant Clouser flies and sinking lines that range from 450 to 700 grains. Gin clear water makes these fish very skittish when in shallow water situations. 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. Carry an intermediate line for the deeper waters, just in case. The straight style, like the Straight-Shooter Crab pictured, has the hook shank positioned perpendicular to the crab body. There are so many fish feeding its actually ridiculous. Colors run the gamut too, from pink to orange, and from yellow to hot green. The cost is $16.00 per person per day. 7. Proven fly patterns for summer Redfish are baitfish and shrimp patterns! In fall and winter, the Biloxi Marsh comes alive for fly anglers targeting big bull reds that cruise the ponds and channels. Kennedy nicknamed this all-black cone-headed Wooly Bugger the American Express Fly because he never leaves home without it. 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. Redfish range from Virginia (technically Massachusetts) south to the Keys, and then north and west along the entire Gulf Coast. It's one . . In the colder months having the waders is excellent to have to keep you warm and dry. Gold Frizzy Redfish are generally in the surf when the water temperatures reach the mid-70s. 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. These are the times when having an arsenal of flies that resembles all the prevalent bait fish in your particular location is a must. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. You can play with tippet strengths but stick to what you are happy to fish and go from there. The redfish run from average, 4 to 7 pounds, to big, 12 to 15 pounds. In addition, the predominant species you might encounter in Texas Saltwater Fly Fishing is the red [fish] and black drum. August 30, 2022 by Brent Pollock. A couple of small rubber legs are tied fore and aft of the Furry Foam body, which is then coated with a quick-drying two-part epoxy. Plus, we've also written about the best fly reel for Reds and the best fly line for Reds. 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. 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. 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." While I tend to agree in most aspects, I know this pattern catches fish. Most of your casting will be done in .