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. The middle Texas coast can offer world class sight-fishing opportunities for Redfish, Black Drum and Trout. Big Carolina bull reds can weigh up to 80 pounds (the all-tackle world-record redfish a 94-plus-pounder was caught in 1984 out of Avon, North Carolina), so obviously they prefer larger bait, such as smelt, bunker and croaker, which also attract bigger birds. Chartreuse and white is a well-liked option. The original pattern was tied with a tan Craft Fur tail, an orange/red Catcus Chenille body, and an olive streamer brush head; but, this fly is highly versatile and can be tied in many different colors, materials, and eyes. Redfish are strong, hearty, and fight really good. His favorite is the East-Cut Redfish Popper, made commercially by T.J. Neal of East Cut Saltwater Flies in Driftwood, Texas (512-461-4473). In fall and winter, the Biloxi Marsh comes alive for fly anglers targeting big bull reds that cruise the ponds and channels. A 6-10wt setup will work just fine. Its a pretty basic fly, with a small head and burnt nylon eyes. 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. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. This fly was designed for Bonefish in the Florida Keys, but with some slight modifications it is perfect for Redfish and Trout here in the Gulf Coast inshore waters. Pair the rod with a smooth drag reel and a floating line, and you are good to go. For small stream trout, smaller fly fishing hook sizes like a 6 or 10 may be sufficient. Anglers watch for birds wheeling around bait in open water. From WildFly Productions: "Back in November, I made it down to the Texas Coast for a DIY saltwater trip with my buddy, Bryant. Almost every saltwater fly shop has a variation of the traditional Kwan fly, or sometimes referred to as the Redfish Toad. Baitfish, crab, and shrimp patterns are . From throwing flies to tailing fish in the marshes to chasing large bulls in the surf, there is a place in the Lone Star State for everything. It is a mix of a number of different patterns and works great as a shrimp, crab or even a baitfish. If the fish arent committing fully to the fly, it doesnt mean they arent interested in it, and it could mean its a little big or isnt swimming correctly. My favorite redfish fly pattern is a fuzzy variation of Tim Borskis Chernobyl shrimp. These trips are great for 1-2 anglers of all skill levels. Many tyers will add in some small bead chain or lead eyes depending on the depth of water you intend to fish and additions such as silicone legs and/or mono-eyes into the tail section will give the fly a buggy look that Redfish cannot resist. Offshore, in the surf, or next to deep channels are the ideal locations to use this fly. The fly body is black ice chenille wrapped Palmer-style with black hackles, and a black marabou tail. If youre not ready when a school appears, youre out of luck. Microscopic Monsters of the Ocean: King Mackerel, Protect the Blue Key West: Remote Control. If you fish in the marsh and mangroves, dont even think of leaving the house without flies with weed guards! The Deceiver is another famous pattern known by many fly fishermen. Fish often have trouble tracking their prey in these conditions. Candy Corn Crawler is a great choice when targeting redfish. This is where the big boys live. Kwan is the fly to have for those quiet, cold winter days on the water. Post by ellisredfish Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:50 pm. These Texas reds demonstrate typical shallow-water feeding behavior. With all these factors in mind, lets go over five of the top producing Redfish fly patterns that every angler needs in their box. Conditions - 55-degrees. The fly is then adorned with a bit of colored hackle and a wire weed guard. Some even believe that this is an evolved strain of redfish, different from its relatives in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters. Galveston. The Devils River is legendary to anglers in Texas. The Electric Slider is another classic redfish pattern designed for muddy and stained water. Gene Montgomery (334-478-7440) is a Mobile, Alabama, high-school teacher with a passion for fly fishing. These omnivores, with their underslung mouths, scour the grass and mud for prey. Ford is a founding member of the conservation group Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, has held multiple IGFA world records and published two books on fly-fishing destinations. The basic design is made with four to six saddle hackles tied near the back at the bend of the hook. Longtime Georgia fly-fishing guide Larry Kennedy, owner of Bedford Sportsman Fly Shop (912-638-5454) on St. Simons Island, says that while a number of different flies work for Georgia redfish, his favorite is a small, all-black classic Wooly Bugger streamer. 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. While it was initially intended to target Redfish, it does equally as well for large Speckled Trout up on the flats. The Spoonfly is an epoxy creation of Capt. Dustin's Destroyer, Bluegill. Getting the fly deep gets more bites, even when the reds are busting on top. A small orange grizzly feather is tied in at the head to look like a fiddler-crab claw, with a single stiff mono weed guard positioned from the head toward the hook point. One fish though, when it's a nice redfish like those we caught that day, can do the soul a world of good. Sometimes the bite is on and game fish will aggressively smack anything thats thrown in front of them. You can keep a maximum of 3 fish per angler per day. Each area offers something to the fly fisherman. Check out, Picture Source A huge thanks to the great folks at, Some of the amazing redfish pictures were provided by my buddies at. Floating on the surface, Gurglers will pop, splash, and create noise when being retrieved. Plus, we've also written about the best fly reel for Reds and the best fly line for Reds. He ties several versions of it, making it suitable for redfish in a wide variety of waters and angling conditions. Sight cast to schools of tailing redfish in ankle-deep, gin-clear water. Fly fishing has been my passion and pursuit for the past 20 years. I have found that light flies and long, long, long leaders are the ticket in these situations. Electric Slider Fly. Magnify that sound and it results in a musical popcorn symphony performed by an entire school of reds feeding on fleeing white shrimp. . 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 medium-sized species such as salmon or redfish, you might use a size 4, 2 or 1/0. He ties the fly on a barbless 34011 Mustad size 4 hook, with a bright-gold cone head to help get it deep. The shrimp-tipped jig is the icing on the cake, and the redfish can't resist the smell. That expert also comes with a trained pair of eyes to help spot the fish before they spot you. This brute weighed more than 30 pounds. When: Summer and fall; Who: The following guides specialize in Texas redfishing: Middle Texas Coast: Capt. Traveling angler and world-record holder Meredith McCord lives in Texas and fishes its flats for redfish every chance she gets. We are lucky in that Redfish tell us how they are feeding. They are known as bull reds. The Texas Toad, pictured above, is a good example of one such variation. The key is to use a fly-and-line combo that will drop down in the water column. Excellent numbers of redfish will come out of the woodwork. Read about the BIGGEST Caught >, Casting a Fly to Snook is amazing. This small collection are the top flies for Redfish that we have found. State regulations throughout the redfishs range have helped these hardy gamesters to rebound. with Rick Hartman. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. Redfish can be found in the waters of Galveston where the depth is about 6 - 12 feet. 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. . If you're not a Texas resident you need to purchase a non-resident one-day all water fishing license (code 214). Charlie Paradoski, charlieparadoski.com, 713-725-2401; Lower Laguna Madre: Capt. 1.2 2. To find the best guides, contact a local fly shop. The fools gold pattern is ideal for this as it sinks fast and has excellent movement in the water. Reds customarily feed on small crabs, shrimp and baitfish, such as mullet and mud minnows. Traditionally it's tied with two splayed hackles in the rear that act as claws, paired up with a wide profile body made of EP fibers intertwined with silicone legs that is shaped to match the natural profile of a crab, and topped off with some lead eyes to get it down to the bottom quick. Next there is the side style like the Sidewinder Crab,this pattern has the hook shank parallel with the crab body. Big Y Fly Co best fishing flies for Texas, for your next fly fishing trip. Port O' Connor. Traveling pro angler Pat Ford offers tips on tackle, flies and hot spots. The bull reds, on average, top the 20-pound mark, and they seem to number in the thousands. Retrieve this fly with steady, slow strips and it will mimic the movement of a fleeing crab. Leaving them with the "shell" on makes the filets look amazing too. The kinky muddler is excellent for these summer conditions. This area is chalked full of bayous and canals, dotted with innumerable lakes, bays, ponds, and . The cost is $16.00 per person per day. Getting down quickly also avoids the albies, which grab the lighter offerings, she says. Redfish are generally in the surf when the water temperatures reach the mid-70s. The pattern excels in stained/murky water thats very common along the Texas and Louisiana coast. The colors can be mixed and matched in an endless array, but here on the Texas Coast a blend of natural browns with orange flare seems to be a winning combination. Sometimes, they can be a bit more technical. While I tend to agree in most aspects, I know this pattern catches fish. We spent 3 days exploring the area in search of Redfish. The fly is only available in one size, but colors are almost limitless. 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. 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. It is a day that will live forever in infamy for Americans: the date of Dec. 7. On a calm day, you can see spinner sharks launch out of the water from a mile away. Zap-A-Crab Surrounded by the crystal clear waters of Copano and Aransas Bays, and nearby San Antonio and Matagora Bays, Rockport, TX is our home and base of operations. The wind did what it usually does to a spoon-fly and sailed it several feet off target. When handling and releasing any fish, particularly the larger bull reds, remember to hold them horizontally to support their internal organs. Flies must get deep quickly to appeal to upper Gulf Coast redfish, he says. Chartreuse is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish. But, thanks in large part to the Coastal Conservation Association that day is long gone. Gold Frizzy. Just deals and news! With a mix of unpredicted weather conditions, we were in for quite the weekend. 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). But this doesnt always mean you will be successful. You need a set of flies in your arsenal that covers the entire water column, from topwater, to bottom crawling, and everything in between. We use giant Clouser flies teamed with super-fast-sinking fly lines that range from 450 to 700 grains. 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. They typically have heavy amounts of weight and little bulk to get the fly down to the sandy bottom fast. Fiddler crabs, shrimp, and baitfish are on the menu, so its essential to have flies that imitate them. A Bonnier LLC Company. Rockport fly fishing is some of the best on the entire Texas Coast. It is very productive in a root beer color with gold tinsel and redhead profile. The body is made from gold Mylar tubing with the cotton stuffing removed from the inside. When it comes to fly fishing, Texas is an up-and-coming state with a lot to offer anglers. The daily bag on redfish in Texas is three fish in a slot limit of 20 to 28 inches . Theyre not as explosive or exciting as tarpon, or as elusive as bonefish and permit, but for East and Gulf coast fly-rod anglers, theyre easily accessible and extremely fun to catch. Fish this fly slow and allow it to sink,then with very small, crawling strips you will mimic the movement of a defensive crab. Texas Sporting Journal, "The Real Laguna Madre", July 2013 Read where to go in this article > Where to Fly Fish in Florida, How big do Tarpon, Redfish and Snook get? There are literally thousands of flies out there that imitate the crabs, shrimp, and baitfish that make up the diet of a Redfish on the shallow flats and backwater marshes. The most common color is reddish-bronze. Most of the fish weigh less than 15pounds, but every so often youll find a school of 20-pounders. Most come with bead eyes, are weedless and measure about 3inches long. Yet it has good fish-hooking capabilities. It has a large head that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. This simple fly has heavy eyes and sinks quickly. Low summer tides mean baitfish being flushed into the shallows and the reds having a field day. Welcome to the Texas Coastal Bend. Usually a wake is seen, or a small part of the fish is spotted breaking the waters surface. Cone-Head Wooly Bugger Texas claims two others, and North Carolina one. Thanks for signing up! A Bonnier LLC Company. This is where the high tide pushes an extra few feet, flooding the muddy grass banks. 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. Most any color combination will work, but I like brown or white and hardly ever use anything else. 2 stainless Tiemco hook and keeps the Zap-A-Crab glue body well away from the hook point to improve the flys ability to hook reds. But the visual experience can be breathtaking. Georgia also has vast areas of inshore spartina grass flats. Anglers can accidently bump into these schools, but many guides, such as Capt. Its just a matter of selecting the right flies. Fly fishing in Texas doesn't get the credit it deserves, and we're here to change that. Dure wont divulge exactly how he molds epoxy into just the right shape to produce a replica wobble of the Johnson spoon. Most of them are caught in the marshes and coastal waters, but a few are targeted offshore. What makes the fly different from other crab and glue-body designs, however, is that its extremely weedless. Anywhere you can flats-fish for Texas reds, youll find that sensory overload. Keep flies with bead eyes and lead eyes available. The Kung Fu Crab is a must when fishing the mangroves and grass plains. 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. The best colors are chartreuse and pink chenille, and I will fish this pattern if nothing else is working. Bushy shrimp patterns and white or chartreuse Clousers work best, depending on how deep the fish hold. 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. However, once the guide finds fish, the rest is up to you. The best is to get the fish to see the fly, and you will generally hook them. Watch the waves roll close to the beach, and look for a red as breaking water crests. Some quick online research will show you hundreds of Crab patterns available. Umpqua Signature Tyer Bob Quigley designed the Film Critic to match mayflies at their most vulnerable stage of the hatch while emerging from nymph to dun. It also helped a bit that the first cast I made with a Spoonfly hooked a fish. That means using stout tackle for casting: Try a 9-weight for fish to 20 pounds and a 10-weight for heavier bulls. It has a deer hair head thats designed to push water and has a perfect baitfish profile that fish find hard to resist. (Editors note: Wherever you plan to fish, check that states redfish regulations for licensing, season and bag-limit information.). Most of the time fly-rodders are working from kayaks and canoes, casting to pushing fish or blind-casting to creek mouths. My own personal favorite stomping grounds for redfish include South Florida and Louisiana. Look for big redfish laid up at the surface like tarpon. Just deals and news! On the inshore saltwater scene the Spoonfly has few peers. With that said, I will break down my favorite redfish flies and explain why and when I fish them. My idea of a nice red was a 7-pounder in Floridas Everglades National Park.