(Also posted this in the Fly Fishing section)
Figure this goes for spinning gear too…
Hooked my first red in the grass on the fly Saturday AM. I am new to fly fishing and I am ok at casting and have a lot to learn. This weekend I went Saturday and Sunday in the AM and saw a total of 6 tailing and hooked one. Based on what I have red about fly choice etc it boils down to me not putting the fly in the right spot. I had a chip shot Sunday AM and couldn’t get the fly in the fishes wheel house.
Question one: Is it better to get on them as the tide is still rising? I have had a better time seeing them on the rise when it goes slack and starts to fall I cant find them at all.
I was fishing the rise and getting in at about 5.0 of the tide when its rising to 5.8. Is it better to go in and set up where they typically are so get in the grass at 4.5 and wait for the water to fill in?
How close are you dropping the fly to them? I don’t want to line them and as I said I am learning and I don’t want to spook them.
As for spinning gear what plastics do guys have the most confidence in?
All help and knowledge is appreciated!
-B
You caught one on the fly…you should throw away that spinning rod now.
I try to lead the fish by 5-10’ depending on conditions. If he’s meandering towards an opening in the grass, I’ll put it there and wait on him to get to the fly and then start twitching it. All it usually takes is him seeing that fly for him to attack or spook. Either way, it’ll be fun to watch.
You have seen fish; you’ve successfully casted and hooked them. You have the basics down. Continue what you are doing and you’ll get better and better at it. There’s nothing like practice. Keep at it.
Yes went 1-6 this weekend… Of course I hooked the second fish I saw call it beginners luck! I actually landed my first fish on a fly just this past Thursday. It was my birthday so I went out early with just the fly rod and caught 6 trout! It was incredibly cool and now I have the fever! I like the tides Sunday evening so I will be back at it again. I agree with you I would rather just fish that 1.5 hours in the grass then the rest of the day. One on the fly in the grass for me is like 10 out of the docks/points.
6 trout and 1/6 on reds? Thats killing it, congrats! I used to throw plastics at tailing reds with spinning gear way back in the day before i got the taste for offshore, but never got into the fly game. If i recall correctly, i used to use those plastic fiddlers a good bit… May be better stuff around nowadays. Out of curiosity, what kind of boat are you in?
The fish do start to move off the flats when the tide turns to go out, so incoming is better most days
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I’ve had more luck as the tide is coming tide. I think as the tide is falling they are more worried about getting to where they want to be to feed. I caught 2 reds on a flat Sunday 2 hrs before high tide. They were both in inches of water.
I’m really new to hunting them on the grass flats. That would explain why I didn’t see any on Friday when I arrived an hour after high tide.
quote:
Originally posted by whitty78
I’ve had more luck as the tide is coming tide. I think as the tide is falling they are more worried about getting to where they want to be to feed. I caught 2 reds on a flat Sunday 2 hrs before high tide. They were both in inches of water.
Reds move out before the tide falls often. Flipper keeps them from going too deep so fish the middle area as the tides starts to leave the flat.
big dog
Mallacd - 19’ sea pro so I am not pushing the flats I nose up and walk them.
Great info guys I appreciate it! Of course I have to fly to DC today for the rest of the week and then next week I am in Maine for a hunt. I know ruff life but I now have the itch and it must be scratched!
Fall is almost here and its about to get silly again… Shrimping and fishing boom!
Fly fishing is great. …But my time on the water is limited. I catch them mostly on artificials. Works fine for me. I have a few fly rods that I use when time permits.
Hookem, Hope you took that fly rod on your DC trip and caught the small mouth on the upper potomac. Almost as much fun.
16’ High Tide Flats (Green) w/Yamaha 90
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