Ed Mitchell Outdoors

Well, I decided to take a day off from those fussy, frustrating, rolling, refusing, uncooperative tarpon. Those unwilling beast can drive you crazy. So I paddled back to the flats instead, and ran into Dave.  I continue to be impressed with his ability to catch redfish. He truly is a flats master. The man has it down. Believe me catching reds on a fly in these skinny waters requires serious skill.  But Dave makes it look easy. I’m learning mucho from the maestro.

Dave Does it Again!

In the picture Dave is holding a chunky red. Check out the surprised look on that red’s face! How the hell did this happened to me? Dave caught it on a crab fly with rubber legs. You know I’m a believer in those dangling latex fingers. They seem to attract reds. Note too, the touch of orange in the fly. Orange is a great color down here. It works, plain and simple. Yes, earth tones are very useful too, but just like a burrito you want to add a touch of heat – orange, yellow or chartreuse.

Crab Fly with Rubber Legs

Notice how light colored this redfish is? Many game fish take on the color of their surroundings.  Makes it easier to hide, right? Obviously this red has been spending much of its time over the sandbar. Hence the pale look. Over a grass bottom, redfish turn a deep bronze. If you have ever fished for striped bass you have seen the same effect. In a river like the Hudson or even in Long Island Sound, stripers are often very dark. Their backs may be solid black. But up on Cape Cod – with its crystal clear waters and pure sand bottoms – striped bass get milky white.