First there's the weather. The Redfish Crack fly is a proven and very successful fly increasing in popularity in the Texas and Louisiana fisheries. The flats-fishing techniques and tackle for Texas mimic those elsewhere. True trophy fish can mean being in the right place, with the right flies, setup for success. Watching a redfish try to suck a surface fly or popper into its underslung bottom-feeding mouth can be hilarious. Anywhere you can flats-fish for Texas reds, youll find that sensory overload. Sign up to get the latest sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! Sharks can also be a drum indicator, she adds, because they like the same foods. Carry an intermediate line for the deeper waters, just in case. 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." Polling around on that flood tide is a special time to fish, and it should be cherished. There are various signs to look for to help us decide how to fish for them. 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. Redfish can be found in the waters of Galveston where the depth is about 6 - 12 feet. Redfish are generally in the surf when the water temperatures reach the mid-70s. March 14: Exec Mtg - ZOOM March 10-12: Bolivar Marshes March 24-26: Harmon Creek Outing March 28: Monthly Mtg. Next there is the side style like the Sidewinder Crab,this pattern has the hook shank parallel with the crab body. They typically have heavy amounts of weight and little bulk to get the fly down to the sandy bottom fast. 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. Call Captain Kenjo direct ASAP 361-500-2552 or BOOK NOW online! What are the top reasons to fly-fish at Bay Flats Lodge? Saltwater fly fishing for redfish is a lot of fun! Those regions abut the narrow, winding canals of the back marshes and ponds near Galveston and Freeport. Fly Fishing for Texas Redfish: Dolphin and Redfish photo by Marjie Glodberg: We're a big fan of awesome photos showing action and drama! With all the grass around, a weed guard is a must to be in with a shot at hooking a Red. Most any color combination will work, but I like brown or white and hardly ever use anything else. It flashes and dances so well that its easy to spot even 100 feet out in thick grass and cattails. Charlie Paradoski, charlieparadoski.com, 713-725-2401; Lower Laguna Madre: Capt. With all these factors in mind, lets go over five of the top producing Redfish fly patterns that every angler needs in their box. After enduring day after day of heat, humidity and seemingly incessant southwest winds; October will give . I think the craft fur body profile moves so well and has all the triggers. Learn More. Its a great pattern that has worked on many species for years now. Sarah Gardner, out of Nags Head on the Outer Banks, actually target them. The Merkin Crab is widely considered the most effective Permit fly ever conceived. 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. 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. We spend a lot of time testing gear and writing reviews to give you all of the tools to make your next trip a success. It is very productive in a root beer color with gold tinsel and redhead profile. My guide, Capt. Traveling angler and world-record holder Meredith McCord lives in Texas and fishes its flats for redfish every chance she gets. This one-two punch is a tried and true classic for catching reds. Similar to the Clouser Minnow, this is a bright baitfish pattern that sinks quickly and stays deep. Rick Hartman, an expert fly fisherman and guide, poles a skiff in the Lower Laguna Madre while a friend casts for redfish. Redfish are resourceful and feed on a variety of crabs, shrimp, and baitfish. Dure wont divulge exactly how he molds epoxy into just the right shape to produce a replica wobble of the Johnson spoon. A tailing red may be one of the easiest reds to catch, but they can be very particular at times as well. I like it in the colors of tans, beiges, and reds with some crystal flash and legs. Ponte Vedra Beach skiff guide Larry Miniard (904-285-7003) has a pet redfish fly he uses in this area called the Turkey in the Straw, which he and fishing pal Brent London devised. The great thing about redfish patterns is, for the most part, they are pretty darn simple fly and easy to tie. Texas Redfish Limits. But as every angler knows, there are days where the fish are picky and are only keying in on one food source. Read about the BIGGEST Caught >, Casting a Fly to Snook is amazing. Consider Fishing The Flats: Flat fishing is a great way to go sight fishing for redfish. These fish, without a doubt, make for an incredibly memorable fly fishing trip. I like the neutral colors for the Kwan in sizes #4. Leaving them with the "shell" on makes the filets look amazing too. What a rush. The carnage happens fast. Quickly toss the fly in front of the fish before it heads back out to sea. Much like other flies designed for the flats, it lands soft and quiet, sinks slow, and when tied with a weed guard can be used in the skinniest of water. 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. Often this sound carries across the marsh from two or three coves over. August 30, 2022 by Brent Pollock. Redfish range from Virginia (technically Massachusetts) south to the Keys, and then north and west along the entire Gulf Coast. 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. Both styles are highly effective when fished properly under the right conditions. No more sweat-soaked shirts the first hour into poling and smelling like a gym locker by the end of the day. 1.2 2. Plus, we've also written about the best fly reel for Reds and the best fly line for Reds. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. My idea of a nice red was a 7-pounder in Floridas Everglades National Park. Consequently, those are the best hues for Aldermans Zap-A-Crab. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REDFISH PATTERNS FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE. It also helped a bit that the first cast I made with a Spoonfly hooked a fish. 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 . Its just a matter of selecting the right flies. All of the fish you choose to keep must measure between 20-28 inches. The fish looks unnatural and uncoordinated, but its the most exciting surface-lure strike youll see. 1.3 3. It isnt uncommon for us to find bull reds in 20 to 60 feet of water while were chasing schools of busting albies, Gardner says. Tie on a bushy fly in either white or brown with bead or lead eyes, such as this Chernobyl shrimp. Mylar is tied on both sides of the hook and on top. Look for big redfish laid up at the surface like tarpon. I like to have an intermediate spool ready to roll if needed, but it isnt necessary. If your interested in having true experts teach how to chase reds get ahold of INDIGO GUIDE SERVICE. Year-round you can fish redfish, but in the changing season, you also have black drum, sheepshead, sea trout, tarpon, and . 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. 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. Chartreuse is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish. The fly hit the water and the redfish inhaled it like it was the best meal it had ever seen. 3 thoughts on " Redfish Flies " Scott Kor says . In the colder months having the waders is excellent to have to keep you warm and dry. The Everglades Special is one of those baitfish patterns that will just about catch any predatory fish. If all goes as planned, hooking reds well over 30 pounds is the welldeserved reward.. 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. The Redfish will follow this fly until it commits. In this guide, we'll take you through the top species you can target, the best locales to cast your fly in, and much more, such as seasons, gear, and rules and regulations. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. 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. 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. Jim West, 409-996-3054 Watching redfish forage for crabs in mud or grass, or hunt mullet on an oyster bar is one of the most exciting experiences in flats fishing. You do not want to miss your chance to experience the classic Fall Run along the Texas Gulf Coast. For information, visit . 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. 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. 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. Other shrimp patterns to consider are grass shrimp and hybrids like redfish Ritalin. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Magnify that sound and it results in a musical popcorn symphony performed by an entire school of reds feeding on fleeing white shrimp. The daily bag on redfish in Texas is three fish in a slot limit of 20 to 28 inches . Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. Marsh grasses remain a favorite destination for anglers hoping to hook reds. 1.4 4. 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. The redfish run from average, 4 to 7 pounds, to big, 12 to 15 pounds. If you're not a Texas resident you need to purchase a non-resident one-day all water fishing license (code 214). Most have been well tested via the school of hard fishing knocks endorsed by the anglers who cast them and the redfish that eat them. The hook sizes and eye weight can greatly vary and give you the flexibility to fish any depth of water. Like Charleston, certain parts in the South have what we call a flood tide. My own personal favorite stomping grounds for redfish include South Florida and Louisiana. Crab flies come in two different styles and can be fished two different ways. In weedy water, the Sheka is tied with a monofilament-loop weed guard. Now healthy populations of reds root in the coastal shallows from Massachusetts to Mexico. My choice is an 8wt setup, but you should fish what you feel comfortable with. Having the right fly for these conditions is essential. Unless you know the area and own a flats boat, youll need a guide. To see more of his photography go to patfordphotos.com. (Editors note: Wherever you plan to fish, check that states redfish regulations for licensing, season and bag-limit information.). Miniard fishes primarily for tailing redfish in tough, tangled spartina grass along the northeast Florida coast. You need to ensure to scan the course with your eyes, particularly when fishing in shallow waters. For small stream trout, smaller fly fishing hook sizes like a 6 or 10 may be sufficient.