Going to give some Redfish on a fly a try!

Started by bigjim5589, September 11, 2013, 03:19:21 PM

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bigjim5589

Heading down to Wachapreague, VA next week to do some fishing with a friend who lives there. He's a fly flinger like myself & has been catching Redfish on flies. I've never caught one on a fly, so hopefully that will change. I'll be taking my Gheenoe & perhaps a spinning rod too.

Although I have a bunch of flies already tied & ready, last weekend I tied up a few more. Can't have too many & I like to have some variety to cover any scenario.

Here's some Bendback patterns, some with no weight & the rest with brass barbell eyes. 2/0 stainless hooks, about 3 to 3 1/2" long.  ;D



BTW, anyone who likes to fish for bass with flies, this type is also great for them!  ~gf
Fanatical Fly Tyer & Tackle Maker!  It's An OBSESSION!!  J. Hester Fly & Tackle Co. LLC.

Mike Cork

WOW those look really cool, but what's more impressive is catching a 20 pound class red fish on a fly rod, that's has got to be a blast!!!

Fishing is more than just a hobby

Dobyns Rods - Monster Fishing Tackle
Cork's Reel Service

bigjim5589

Mike, thanks! I don't know, haven't been fortunate enough to have even caught a small one on a fly yet!  lo

My friend hasn't been living there very long yet, so he's learning the area. He's said most he's seen are 5 lbs or smaller, but has been told there are some bigger ones up to 50 lbs in the area. Not sure I want to tangle with one that big, but will be happy with at least one regardless of it's size!

This will be shallow water fishing, so I'm betting any we set a hook on will be like setting off an explosive!  ~bu

I'm really looking forward to this trip!  ;D
Fanatical Fly Tyer & Tackle Maker!  It's An OBSESSION!!  J. Hester Fly & Tackle Co. LLC.

Mike Cork

Even a five pounder is going to be a blast. They fight, and the explosives comparison is perfet ~c~

Fishing is more than just a hobby

Dobyns Rods - Monster Fishing Tackle
Cork's Reel Service

Lee Smith

Builder of Custom Personal Bassin' Rods

bigjim5589

Lee, thank you!

Mike, I've caught the small ones in the past on bait & on spoons & bucktail jigs, and that was a blast! They do fight good!  :)
Fanatical Fly Tyer & Tackle Maker!  It's An OBSESSION!!  J. Hester Fly & Tackle Co. LLC.

bigjim5589

I made it down to VA a little after noon on Sunday, and my friend Peter had me fishing that afternoon. My mission of finally catching a Redfish on a fly has now been accomplished. Both he & I hooked & landed one each before it got too dark. I stuck one other, but didn't get a good hook set, and it tossed the fly. Both fish caught were in the 4 to 5 lb range, not huge as far as Redfish go, but nice otherwise. We were fishing an area of flooded grass, and the Redfish were tailing in about 6 to 8 inches of water. We saw about 6 in there, made several casts, but getting the fly in the correct position was tough. We were casting about 35 to 50 ft to get to these fish, which over grass with a fly line is not the easiest casting I've ever done!  lo

The most amazing part of all of this, we were standing just off the shoulder of the road casting to these fish!  ~shade

We struck out today, got to the same spot late this afternoon but the tide was not up enough to flood the grass and we ran out of day light. We spent a good part of the day scouting areas, and are going to try it again in the morning. We found some places at low tide that had tailing fish, but will require getting to them by boat.

Except that we're fishing in saltwater, this fishing is much like some tidal water bass fishing I've done.

Looking forward to the morning! My first fly caught Redfish resulted in no picture unfortunately, as neither of us had a camera. We're going to try & get some pictures too, and if successful I'll get them posted.

My fish was taken on one of the flies that I posted above, one without weight added with the pink body, chartreuse hair & chartreuse grizzly hackle.

More later!  ;D
Fanatical Fly Tyer & Tackle Maker!  It's An OBSESSION!!  J. Hester Fly & Tackle Co. LLC.

Lee Smith

I bet a 5# red is awesome on a flyrod!!!  Good luck today!!
Builder of Custom Personal Bassin' Rods

bigjim5589

I'm back home now from my trip. I ended up hooking 4 fish, landing 2. The second one I landed was a nice one about 24". I'm guessing about 7 lbs. My friend landed 4 I think.

We discovered some other areas on the same grass flat, and waded. There were plenty of fish, but the water on the flat was only about 8-14" deep, and fairly clear. Everyday the weather was beautiful, but with the sunshine, they spooked easily.

My second landed fish was the result of a long cast of about 15'.  lo
It was literally hooked at my feet. There was a ditch across this marsh & the fish seemed to move into the flat via this deeper water. I was on the far side & spotted a fish tailing & cruising back near the road. I moved closer to the ditch with hopes of getting a cast at this fish. By the time I could have waded around the end of the ditch it would have likely been gone. Never got close enough to me & eventually faded into the grass. However, I just happen to look down & see a slight swirl on the far side of the ditch, about 15' from me & saw the grass moving. There was no wind at all. So, I simply swung the fly, like flipping a jig, and placed it near the edge of the grass. I waited several seconds, and started to lift the fly for another cast & my line moved sideways. I set the hook & it took several minutes to land the fish.

My friend Peter had his camera, but was down the flat a ways from me. I started to carry the Red over to get a picture, but in the process spotted another one tailing between he & I. I had to decide between a picture of my biggest Redfish, or a chance at another one. Easy choice & the Red was released. Unfortunately, I could not get close enough to the other fish to get the fly in front of it. Made several casts, of about 70-80', all falling short, or off target. A few landed behind it, but when they've got their nose down in that grass they only see what's in front of them. It disappeared into some deeper water, as the tide was falling. I spotted another fish, and hooked up, but it plowed into some heavy grass & broke me off ending my fishing for Redfish.

I know now why folks are so hyped about stalking Redfish on grass flats! Beautiful fish & they fight hard. That last fish put a good bend in my 8 weight fly rod.

My buddy lives 3 hours from me, but I'll certainly be going back! I had a great vacation week with some wonderful friends & some great fishing!  ;D
Fanatical Fly Tyer & Tackle Maker!  It's An OBSESSION!!  J. Hester Fly & Tackle Co. LLC.