Ed Mitchell Outdoors

Wasn’t able to get to the waters over the holidays. And since then, we have experienced high winds and mornings as low as 36. Not good. Today, however, things improved. Dawn was in the low 50s, the tide was right and the winds reduced. Had to get out and cast a fly. And boy I’m glad I did. I got my first redfish of 2017.

My First Redfish of 2017

I arrived at my favorite flat just before sunrise. The wind was variable, 10-15 knots or so, out of the northeast. Would have liked less, but that wind wasn’t enough to be a  deal killer. On the other hand the water was clear and low. So all told the conditions were fairly good for “tailing” reds. Yet after an hour and a half of poling my Adios up and down the flat, I hadn’t see a single “tail” or even a cruising red. Ouch. It was time to boogie out of there.

The next flat was one I fish from time-to-time. “Tailers” are less common here, but I have caught them. Hence, I figured it was worth the paddle. Turned out I was right. As soon as I got there a “tail” popped up about 200 feet away. Great! I staked out my Adios upwind from the redfish, strapped on my lumber pack, and grabbed my fly rod. Then while wading slowly in the fish’s direction, I worked out some fly line in anticipation.

By the time I was in position, however, the “tail” had disappeared. Hate it when that happens. Hate it. But the redfish was swirling occasionally, revealing its location. Moving closer, I dropped the fly nearby. Two strips and the redfish charged it.  Not a big red, still it fought very well, tearing across the flat, and put my 6-weight fly rod to the test. The fly, you ask? The Neon Crab fly once again!

The last redfish in 2016? Well, maybe… maybe not. Still I’m comfortable in saying these are the last two redfish caught on fly in 2016…… at least in Charlotte Harbor!

Andy and Dave fish together a fair bit, so its no surprise they were on the water on December 31. And its no surprise they both got a red. Both of them have fished these waters for years.Experience counts, believes me.

Andy’s red was a “tailer”. You gotta love that. “Tailers” are always challenging in Charlotte Harbor. (I told you why back in a January post last year.) Lotsa things need to go right. Lotsa things. The fly Andy used is shown below. To my eye it looks like a variation on the Seaducer, a time tested pattern. For the record, many folks credit Mark Sosin with the Seaducer. Actually Homer Rhode Jr. created the original pattern.

Andy’s Last Redfish of 2016

Andy’s Fly

Not to be outdone, Dave nailed a larger red. I believe he caught his off the deep side of sandbar. On low water, some reds exit the flat and cruise the outside edge of the sandbar, awaiting the tide’s return. The trick here is to see the “cruiser” coming along the bar.  Not always easy. Next you have to drop a crab fly ahead of the red, allowing the fly to settle to the bottom. As the red nears, you twitch the fly and slowly retrieve it away. If all goes well the red darts over and sucks in your offering. Sweet when that happens!

Dave’s Last Red of 2016

Do redfish “tail” in the fog? Absolutely. In fact foggy mornings with low water are some of  my best opportunities to find “tailing” reds. Why? Fog typically mean no wind. That’s a good thing. Fog also means no boat traffic. Another good thing. And last, but not least, fog delays the sun reaching the water. And that extends the fishing.You gotta love that too.

Do redfish “tail” in the fog?

Well, well, this morning we had a wicked low tide and thick fog. Paddled out in the pea soup around 7 AM to one of my favorite spots, hoping to find some “tailing” reds. Bingo they were there. Don’t you love it when a plan works? Unfortunately the first two “tailers” totally ignored my fly, preferring to keep their heads buried in the turtle grass. Okay I get it. Why chase a fly when you have a real blue crab in your sights? Makes more sense to stick with the food in front of you. The tasty stuff Mother Nature provided.  Damn. Hate when that happens. And believe me, it happens a fair bit. But the third “tailer” was a hungry young lad and gobbled my crab fly with gusto.

Do redfish”tail” in the fog?

It wasn’t a huge red, about 25 inches. Which is average for these waters. Still it put up a great scrap on a 6-weight fly rod. Why am I using a 6-weight? In shin deep water you don’t need a rod with lifting power.  You need a rod that delivers a fly with stealth. A 6-weight does that in spades. The rest of the rig was a floating line, a 12 foot leader tapered to 12 pound test, a size  4# crab fly. The same fly we looked at few posts back.

Neon Crab Fly

11/27/2016  Hit the water before dawn this morning. We had a good low tide enhanced by a night of north winds. Had my fingers crossed I find a few “tailing ” reds, head down chewing on crabs in the turtle grass. But luck wasn’t with me. No “tails” today.

No “Tails” Today

Finding “tailing” reds isn’t easy in my home waters of Charlotte Harbor. Damn,  every thing has to be just right.  You need low light, low water, low winds,  and no boat traffic.

That’s a tall order, believe me. Akin to hitting the trifecta. And even when all is well with the universe, there is no guarantee the reds will “tail”. And even when they do “tail” they may be spooky as hell, ignore your fly and flat out refuse to bite. Crazy.

All you can do is put your time in and hope for the best. Persevere. Grit your teeth and push onward.

Why bother? Frankly this “tailing” red business is far and away the most challenging and interesting fly game down here. If you get “tails” to shoot at, you’ll also need eagle eyes, be able to sneak up like a commando, cast accurately, have a good fly, and use the right retrieve. Yeah there is a lot to it.  But when the planets aligne amigo, wow! The “tail” slips out of sight, the red glides over, grabs the fly, feels the steel, and then rips off across the flats like a rocket, rod bent, reel screaming. Suddenly you’re king for the day!