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. My idea of a nice red was a 7-pounder in Floridas Everglades National Park. 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. Most of them imitate the crabs, shrimp, and baitfish that make up the majority of the redfish diet. 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. Seven hot flies for chasing red drum throughout the coastal south. The original was white and silver but the color combinations and sizes are infinite. You do not want to miss your chance to experience the classic Fall Run along the Texas Gulf Coast. Check this first and try again. The flats-fishing techniques and tackle for Texas mimic those elsewhere. Excellent numbers of redfish will come out of the woodwork. When: Summer and fall; Who: The following guides specialize in Texas redfishing: Middle Texas Coast: Capt. Guide Tip: Redfish grow to true trophy sizes. If the precise concave shape isnt made, the spoon will plane to the surface during the retrieve rather than wobble. For large redfish, you will want to employ a 3/0, 4/0, or 5/0 circle hook. Here is a list of the best nine places to fly fish in Texas: 1. Working that fly to get the eat, fighting well, and then gently releasing the fish after a few photos is what its all about. Many anglers prefer an 8-weight fly rod for smaller redfish, but I usually throw big bushy redfish flies. In the colder months having the waders is excellent to have to keep you warm and dry. Chasing Redfish Off the South Texas Gulf Coast. They succeeded by producing a smaller, thumb-size fly version of the Johnson lure that every inshore saltwater angler worth his skiff owns. Most of the time fly-rodders are working from kayaks and canoes, casting to pushing fish or blind-casting to creek mouths. By the time you're done reading this, you'll be ready to head to Texas to . The best colors are chartreuse and pink chenille, and I will fish this pattern if nothing else is working. 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. When youre seeing lots of Redfish up on the flats, tie this fly on and let the good times roll. The full recipe for Redfish on the Half-Shell can be found here. Almost any fly that imitates such forage works well. For targeting bulls over 20pounds, a 10-weight works best and handles the bigger flies those fish prefer. When you select Wyld on the Fly as your guide for your next adventure, you can expect the . Some even believe that this is an evolved strain of redfish, different from its relatives in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters. As you approach the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf coasts, all that changes. With diverse locations and ample opportunity, it is a great place to try fly fishing for the first time or the hundredth. Most of the fish weigh less than 15pounds, but every so often youll find a school of 20-pounders. The Kung Fu Crab is a must when fishing the mangroves and grass plains. The shrimp-tipped jig is the icing on the cake, and the redfish can't resist the smell. My hands shook. Check out, Picture Source A huge thanks to the great folks at, Some of the amazing redfish pictures were provided by my buddies at. Most of them are caught in the marshes and coastal waters, but a few are targeted offshore. Redfish are predominantly found in shallow waters, so a floating line will be just fine. Magnify that sound and it results in a musical popcorn symphony performed by an entire school of reds feeding on fleeing white shrimp. 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. Just sales, new product updates, fly tying tutorials, and important news! Doors open up at 6 p.m. and tickets are $60 for individuals and $70 for couples. Devils River - Legendary Among Texas Fly Anglers. 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 bead-chain or lead eyes. When handling and releasing any fish, particularly the larger bull reds, remember to hold them horizontally to support their internal organs. She coaches clients in advance of these opportunities: Drum prep is like a fire drill, she says. You can play with tippet strengths but stick to what you are happy to fish and go from there. Floating on the surface, Gurglers will pop, splash, and create noise when being retrieved. Back in November, I made it down to the Texas Coast for a DIY saltwater trip with my buddy, Bryant. While it was initially intended to target Redfish, it does equally as well for large Speckled Trout up on the flats. Youll end up tying this fly on very often because once you get that rush of adrenaline watching Redfish and Trout blow it up out of the water, you'll be addicted. Most are designed to have the perfect amount of weight to slowly flutter down to the bottom and not rapidly sink into the weeds where fish cant see it. Saltwater fly fishing for redfish is a lot of fun! Electric Slider Fly. Jim, note Prof Salt's recent use of size 8 hooks on redfish flies. Dupre can make custom colors if necessary. Watching a redfish try to suck a surface fly or popper into its underslung bottom-feeding mouth can be hilarious. 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. Tied on a #1 or 1/0 hook in the color that best covers your area. The fools gold pattern is ideal for this as it sinks fast and has excellent movement in the water. Redfish are generally in the surf when the water temperatures reach the mid-70s. For information, visit . So our guides have begun to compile a collection of our favorite patterns here, for all to see. Almost every saltwater fly shop will have a selection of spoons available and if you pay close attention and compare different patterns you will notice slight differences. They simply cannot resist the flicker and flutter as it moves through the water. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. Image hooking into a red weighting over 50lbs. 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. Conditions - 55-degrees. Both styles are highly effective when fished properly under the right conditions. Parks fishes the vast marshes around the town of Chalmette, Louisiana and uses a couple of poppers he says redfish go absolutely bonkers over. This is a great fly for shallow water and smaller fish that aren't looking for a huge meal. (Editors note: Wherever you plan to fish, check that states redfish regulations for licensing, season and bag-limit information.). For a slow-sink fly, a bucktail tail is good. Sheka ties them on a size 2 to 1/0 Mustad hook. The basic shape of the fly tends to replicate many sources of the Redfishs diet, such as shrimp, small baitfish, and crabs. What makes the fly different from other crab and glue-body designs, however, is that its extremely weedless. Redfish in the lagoon and Indian River systems of Florida's space coast have an obsession with this type of fly. 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. It has a large head that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. 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. The weed guard is essential to the success of the fly. The EP Baitfish is a Gurgler-like pattern that moves water and pops on the surface to trigger an aggressive Redfish eat. Like Charleston, certain parts in the South have what we call a flood tide. That allows her to keep an eye on the fast-moving schools instead of focusing on tying knots and digging for tackle. Wyld on the Fly offers fly fishing guide services for the Corpus Christi, Rockport, Aransas Pass, Laguna Madre, Land Cut, and Baffin Bay waters. Youll definitely need 10-weight rods and 400-plus-grain sink-tip lines with big lead-eye flies. Find an area near any of the local inlets with clear water. 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. These anglers are chasing red drum, the target of choice for a growing legion of fly anglers, thanks to the fact that there are more red drum in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico waters today than weve seen in years. There are many variants of topwater flies, the classic Gurgleris just one example. Below are some articles to guide you to a TROPHY. Days a . This is a variation of a fly tied by Jim Misiura. The water systems in the South are rich in food sources, and this is where the redfish concentrate. Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the water! The body profile and hook riding upwards make it deadly. If you fish in the marsh and mangroves, dont even think of leaving the house without flies with weed guards! Locals like the Surfin Wooly. The spoon fly excels by flashing and emitting low frequency vibration sounds as its being stripped. All fishing is done out of a 2016 Hell's Bay Professional poling skiff, although we do occasionally wade fish. What a rush. Jim West, 409-996-3054 In Texas,the redfish population was going into a serious decline in the80's..So with help of CCA one was started with later help of a $10mil.grant from Federal fish and wildlife.Now every year,they put 10-20 millions redfish fingerlings back into the water. Furthermore, be aware of the water clarity as this will factor into the colors of flies that will tend to be more effective. 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. Gold Frizzy It has a large front collar that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. As with all flats-fishing, you look for wakes, tails and bodies. Boat shoes are great, so you dont slip and slide around on deck. At the eye a few turns of crystal-red chenille are wound on to produce a head. Those are the good days. Easy to cast, and light enough to manipulate in a variety of ways once in the water. There are so many fish feeding its actually ridiculous. Michael Stravato for The . Alderman is adamant that the rattles make a big difference in attracting redfish. But many cutting-edge anglers are using flies that are constantly being tested by the ever-growing numbers of fly-rod redfishermen. It always lands with the hook point up and away from snags; it swims very crab-like when retrieved; and most important, Ben says, it comes with a pair of small, redfish-attracting rattles. Those regions abut the narrow, winding canals of the back marshes and ponds near Galveston and Freeport. The redfish game is simple. It's one . I like the fly in the mud crab color of dark brown /green in size #2. Reds customarily feed on small crabs, shrimp and baitfish, such as mullet and mud minnows. Marsh grasses remain a favorite destination for anglers hoping to hook reds. Carry an intermediate line for the deeper waters, just in case. Sometimes the bite is on and game fish will aggressively smack anything thats thrown in front of them. Theyll even attack poppers with gusto, at times. Flies for Redfish.