I was out Saturday watching the sun set and casting a DOA around when I came upon some ladyfish ripping up bait on the surface. I got in position and started throwing the fly at them. The Dupre spoonfly worked best until I got cut off. They also hit a deerhair mullet. ■■■■ they’re fun! They are every bit as acrobatic as a tarpon but twice as aggressive.
Sounds like a blast. Where can you find the ladys? Any specific structure or bottom that they prefer?
Frenzy,
This was in a creek mouth behind an oyster rake where the current was swirling. I spotted the bait busting from a good distance away. I haven’t put together a reliable pattern for finding ladyfish either but sure wish I could.
That’s what I get from everyone else, too. No rhyme or reason - they’re just there or they’re not.
Several years ago we used to find them at the south end of yellowhouse(which is now a restricted area).We would catch them on all white poppers,ladyfish are a blast on the fly.
I have had good luck with green and white clousers. Tie it sparse with a little bit of red krystal flash on the throat. You will lose a bunch of flies to these fish. The hit very hard and break offs are common.
OC
Up here in NC we usually find Ladyfish around the backside of our inlets and in the surf. I like to use all white Gurglers with alot of flash. Coincidently this is my go to topwater pattern for spanish and blues, which we find is the same areas. I tie 'em from size 4’s for small ladies and tailor blues up to 3/0s for spanish and big blues.
Good luck.
Hooked one on the fly in the kayak the other day lost her on the second jump. Lots of fun.
<’’)))))><
i find them predominately at lower tide phases. anywhere there are lots of oyster beds and current should be a good place to start looking. keep poling until you find them, they are not at all subtle when feeding, they are sometimes picky, often not, but a small gurgler stripped quickly usually does the trick. keep moving as they dont stay in one place for too long. they have saved many a fly fishing charter this time of year. one more thing, they dont mind the heat, feeding on top through the hottest part of the day.
Newman
www.gtownkingfisher.com