Fly-Fishing for Tailing Redfish

Fly-fishing for tailing redfish is becoming an increasingly popular sport. Redfish are the perfect game fish for the beginner as well as the seasoned pro. You can find redfish just about everywhere along the Gulf of Mexico, from the beaches to the bays, as well, brackish waters of rivers and streams. Depending on their size or their slot limit, 18 to 27 inches, they are called slot reds, rats or bulls. In Florida, slot reds have a one-bag limit. Which means you can keep one slot sized fish between 18 to 27 inches. All others must be released. Those redfish, which fall over the slot at twenty-seven plus inches, are considered Bull Reds. Those that are less than eighteen inches in length are Rat Reds, with the slot reds being the legal reds. Redfish, regardless of size are extremely aggressive fish. They will forage in areas where they barely have enough water to cover their bodies in search of morsels to eat, hence called tailing reds. Fast moving, fall tides in the bays or on the bars at the beach will produce tailing reds. This is the target for fly-fisherman when in search for tailing reds.

Fishing with a medium to fast action fly rod, teamed with a fly reel designed for saltwater and a weight-forward line matching your rod weight is a great combination set up in the catching of redfish. Selection of a fly reel is determined by your targeted species you are fishing for matched to your line weight. When fishing with monofilament fishing line found on conventional or spinning reels lines are determined by pound class, where as in fly-fishing it is in line weight. When selecting a fly reel remember, select one with a good drag system capable of holding the line weight that matches the rod with enough room for your backing. For the novice ( beginner ), a slow or full-flex rod may be easier to learn on and " backing " means; extra line that will allow long runs that saltwater game fish are apt to make. Generally speaking, a 9-foot rod in a medium to fast action, in the 6 to 8 class weight is the standard, for saltwater fly-fishing. Fly selection should include any streamer or shrimp pattern and anything that pushes the water attached to a 9-foot tapered leader terminating in eight to twelve pound test is adequate for catching our game. Flies with heavy patterns that push water are perfect for aggressive fish and redfish are very aggressive. Fly presentation, across the top of a water surface pushing or creating a wake about it, will cause the redfish to become agitated and strikes at the bait wither foraging or not.

My favorite fly is the Clauser Minnow or a Woolley Bugger. The Clauser is a suspended medium range fly resembling a darting glass bait or similar minnow, while the Woolley bugger is a floater that looks like a fallen insect, shrimp or other juvenile coruscation. Both are worked in short skips or quick line retrieval with a short pause in-between. This pause or stop is when you will get that twitch revealing a strike, to which you rod tip must rise up, grasping your line in the other hand while firmly setting the hook!

Water in depths of 2 to 6 feet, with grass interspersed among oysters and sandy areas are the best ambush points for waiting redfish. The best sanctuaries and ambush points are potholes found in these grassy interspersed areas. Redfish, as well as other game fish, are found in most of these potholes. Finding these honey-holes is easy, if while drift fishing or when wading. A pair of good quality, polarized sunglasses is a must. Always avoid a cast into the center of the hole when first approached. The same is true if wading only your water depths will alter slightly and you should be looking for dark spots; grass. Treat each hole, regardless of size, as a potential honey hole and carefully work it on all sides. Fish can be stacked or positioned on either side as well as in this hole. Usually, the surrounding water is relatively shallow and the potholes are deeper. Do not leave after one fish, it may contain your limit and these potholes, can range in size from a few feet to a hundred yards long. While drifting in a boat or wading around these potholes, you should stop just within casting distance before spooking the fish out of them. Redfish are notoriously difficult to spot on any broken bottom, so the best place to see them is on the sandy areas or to look for broken silhouettes against the grass of a lighter color.

If a weighted fly is elected to use instead of a floater or dry fly, allow the fly to sink and then give it a relatively long, quick strip and pause. This is known as “hopping the fly ", a method much like its counter-partner “jigging “on spinning tackle. This allows the fly to sink back down in the water column. Most strikes occur on this fall back and often go unfelt. If you notice a twitch or a jerk on the fall back, somebody is mouthing dinner. More times than not, on your next strip you will have a hook up. You can also use your dry flies as weighted flies by adding a small split shot to the tippet just ahead of the fly. The only problem with this method is that if the water is clear, your prey may attack the split-shot instead of your hook and this will result in a break-off. Avoid laying your line across the hole because the line hitting the water may spook the game. Upon hook-up, raising the tip upward while steadily pulling your stripped line tight. Feeling the run or Redfish on the other end is a rush as your stripped line will vigorously run out till tight and but it is straight on the spool of the reel. Reel in your fish, allowing slippage as head shakes occur. With time, mastery of this phase will become second nature and you too will enjoy the thrill of flying for tailing reds.

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There is a lot to think about...

Fly-fishing is a privilege and a responsibility. It is important that you are educated about your responsibilities when fly-fishing and stay informed with the latest information and different organizations of anglers. We provide you with detailed fly-fishing information so you do not make any mistakes when starting out! Key elements you need to know:

Fly Fishing Basics

• How to Spot Fish
• Keeping Your Fish
• Cleaning Your Fish
• Transporting and Storing Fish

Fly Fishing Secrets and Techniques

• Fly Casting Instructions
• Fly Casting Techniques
• Useful Tips, Secrets, and Techniques
• Using Boats (Canoes, Drift Boats, Fins, Floats Tubes, Kayaks, Pontoon Boats, etc.)

Fly Tying

• Tying Materials
• Fly Tying Patterns
• Common Fishing Knots
• Using Fly Tying Vises
• Tips and Techniques
• Other Equipment (Desks, Benches, Tools, etc.)

Introduction

• What is Fly Fishing?
• Types of Fly Fishing (Freshwater, Saltwater, etc.)
• Dry Fly Fishing vs. Wet Fly Fishing
• Best Places to Fly Fish

Getting Starting with Fly Fishing

• Buying a Rod vs. Building a Rod
• Rod Building Components
• Organizing a Fly Box
• Designing and Building Leaders
• Choosing the Right Flies
• Fly Fishing Hooks

Essential Fly Fishing Equipment

• Choosing the Right Equipment
• Fly Fishing Rods (Discuss the different types.)
• Fly Fishing Reels (Freshwater Reels, Saltwater Reels, Reel Cases)
• Fly Fishing Lines (Floating, Sink-Tip, Sinking, Multi-Tip, Shooting Heads, Accessories)
• Fly Fishing Leaders (Trout Leaders, Braided Leaders, Specialty Leaders, Leader Accessories)
• Fly Fishing Clothing (Bug Jackets, Clothing, Gloves, Hats, Vests, etc)
• Fly Fishing Accessories
• Accessories: Belts/Organizers, Chemicals & Dressings, Clippers/Nippers, Creels, Entomology, Floatants, Lanyards, Scales & Measuring Tape, Sharpeners, Thermometers, Water Purification, Weights, Trade)

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All this and more helping you become a better angler.

• Fresh Water & Salt Water Fishing
• How To Build Your Own Fly Fishing Rod
• Organizing a Fly Box
• Designing and Building Leaders
• Choosing the Right Flies
• Fly Fishing Hooks
• Choosing the Right Equipment
• Fly Fishing Rods
• Fly Fishing Reels
• Reel Cases
• Fly Fishing Lines
• Fly Fishing Leaders
• Fly Fishing Clothing
• Fly Fishing Accessories
• Fly Fishing Basics
• Casting Instructions
• Boats and Floatation Equipment
• Fly Tying
• The Types and Descriptions of Flies
• Tying Materials
• Fly Tying Patterns
• Common Fishing Knots
• Planning Your Fly Fishing Trip

In addition, as this was not enough, how about some of the secrets it reveals:

• How to use the "60/20/20" principle to create leaders that mimic flies.
• The most crucial piece of equipment and how to select it.
• Why barbless hooks are sometimes the best option for big fish.
• The four basic types of rod and which ones are best for action, flexibility, strength and value.
• The most important feature of the fly reel and how to use it.
• One of the quickest and easiest ways to spot fish (it is not a fish finder!)
• How to land that monster fish when it strikes.
• The most common casting mistakes and how to avoid them.
• The best way for beginners to catch trout.
• Ways to repel bugs, stay warm, and is safe.
• The benefits of belts & organizers, chemicals & dressings, clippers & nippers.

From novice to an experienced fly angler in no time. All you need now is a little practice, so what are you waiting for? It is like having your own private fly-fishing coach in your vest pocket! Learn the tips and techniques in this book and you will soon be impressing your friends with beautiful mounted trophies and tales of the fighting whoppers that did not get away!

But wait, there's more! Included within the book are links to the top five websites hosting a magnitude of information on America's (and the world's) best places to fish, links to 11 professional associations and other helpful resources.

Do not let this one get away! This is a special introductory price and may go up at any time, so do not wait.

Order now and you can be discovering the incredible value of "The Fly Fishing Guidebook" within just 5 minutes. It is a digital book. You will receive simple instructions on how to download it right onto your computer. No shipping fees, no waiting for the mail. Order now and start planning your fly-fishing trip today!

You have absolutely nothing to lose, and a creel full of fish to gain!

The Fly Fishing Guidebook™ comes in eBook Format. EBooks are simply books that are available in digital format. EBooks have many advantages over paper books. They are ordered online, and delivered instantly to your computer. You save money with no shipping, no taxes, and the lowest prices. EBooks offer a new dimension to the written word, allowing our popular guide to be distributed and enjoyed so much more easily. The Fly Fishing Guidebook™ can be downloaded in just seconds and accessed on any computer.

P.S. - Still undecided? Then consider this totally risk-free guarantee. Buy "The Fly Fishing Guidebook" today, and take up to 56 days to decide if its comprehensive information, expert advice and fish-catching secrets are worth the price. If you are not satisfied for any reason, you get every penny back. This is probably your only fishing expense that will make such a guarantee, so take advantage of it!