Went out to a flat on the weekend of NYE where we knew a large school of Redfish were hanging out. Water was green and crystal clear and the school was there, but couldn’t get anything to bite. Threw just about every soft plastic we could, as well as, MM’s but nothing doing. I’m sure a lot of you have been there, so I’m interested to hear what your strategy is in this type of situation? Do just you move on to a different spot and assume they have been too pressured, etc. or change tactics? It’s tough to leave an area where you have over-slot Reds swimming at your boat.
Very small , stealthy offerings on light line. Some days, the fly rod is king.
quote:
Originally posted by RADDADDYVery small , stealthy offerings on light line. Some days, the fly rod is king.
I am going to hit that spot again this sunday. I picked up a pack of trout trick plastics (didn’t have that day) I was going cut down and put on an 1/8 oz trout eye on 12lb mono. Thoughts? My buddy I was with that day fished the same spot about a week or so prior with the fly rod and got skunked too.
Key West 1720 Sportsman
Jig heads are virtually useless in the winter flats schools. Small mirrodine minnows, shallow hard plastic jerk baits, Texas rigged 3 inch plastics on unweighted hooks are your best bet. 1/8 oz flutter hooks are effective on days with some wind. Flutter hooked and Texas rigged plastics fall more naturally and makes ALL the difference when fishing shallow schools
quote:
Originally posted by RADDADDYJig heads are virtually useless in the winter flats schools. Small mirrodine minnows, shallow hard plastic jerk baits, Texas rigged 3 inch plastics on unweighted hooks are your best bet. 1/8 oz flutter hooks are effective on days with some wind. Flutter hooked and Texas rigged plastics fall more naturally and makes ALL the difference when fishing shallow schools
I have texas rigged DOA shrimp on flutter hooks I didn’t use, but will definitely try this go round. Thank you for the info!
Key West 1720 Sportsman
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Originally posted by RADDADDYThe fly rod is king.
I second this, and to go even further, leave off the lead or bead chain eyes. Just a hook and some sparse material is all you need. It will land soft as a feather and very slowly sink and suspend. Killer on real spooky flats fish
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
Sometimes when I know the reds are there and I want to fire them up I go up current and scale a mullet in the water and cut it up and chum. Usually within 30 minutes they become active. Some of these fish schools get a ton of pressure and if your not really stealthy, you have no chance, especially in clear calm water. Try trimming a 1/8 jig down to like 1/32 or 1/64. For me the 1/64 is enough to balance a slim swim, it slow swims perfect in the shallows and can suspend with a little bit of current. I roll it just over the oysters and it just bounces off instead of hanging up. It works well on the little reds.
quote:
Originally posted by Optikerquote:
Originally posted by RADDADDYThe fly rod is king.
I second this, and to go even further, leave off the lead or bead chain eyes. Just a hook and some sparse material is all you need. It will land soft as a feather and very slowly sink and suspend. Killer on real spooky flats fish
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
Hadn’t fly fished in years. Making wanna do it again
Key West 1720 Sportsman
quote:
Originally posted by RADDADDYJig heads are virtually useless in the winter flats schools. Small mirrodine minnows, shallow hard plastic jerk baits, Texas rigged 3 inch plastics on unweighted hooks are your best bet. 1/8 oz flutter hooks are effective on days with some wind. Flutter hooked and Texas rigged plastics fall more naturally and makes ALL the difference when fishing shallow schools
I will post a report but wanted to give you credit. I did what you said and this was one of the redfish
Key West 1720 Sportsman
quote:
Originally posted by Mississippi Leg Houndquote:
Originally posted by RADDADDYJig heads are virtually useless in the winter flats schools. Small mirrodine minnows, shallow hard plastic jerk baits, Texas rigged 3 inch plastics on unweighted hooks are your best bet. 1/8 oz flutter hooks are effective on days with some wind. Flutter hooked and Texas rigged plastics fall more naturally and makes ALL the difference when fishing shallow schools
I will post a report but wanted to give you credit. I did what you said and this was one of the redfish
Key West 1720 Sportsman
Nice going!
Fishing Nerd
“skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled”