Sight-Fishing for Big Redfish
In my experience, sight-fishing for redfish typically involves reds from 22″- 28″. Why? These are the red most often found in shallow water were sight-fishing is done. But there are exceptions, such as a redfish recently caught by my friend Dave. This chunk is 35″ long; that’s a beast.
Dave tells me that he saw a group of reds traveling in a sand tough, a narrow trench-like structure often found running along the inside edge of a sand bar. In fact, I can see the bar in the background. He cast a fly ahead of the reds, allowing it to sink before retrieving it along the bottom. The largest red in the group shot out and nailed the fly. That bad boy torn off 50 yards into the backing more than once before Dave could land it. What a war and his biggest red in two years.
So what fly did the honors? It was Dave’s favorite shrimp pattern, seen above. Dave’s ties it on a number 2 Gamakatsu hook, with a long orange craft fur tail, orange crystal flash chenille and grizzle hackle. The fly is weighted, as you can see, and trimmed to ride hookup. Great job Dave!
