hey guys,
I’m new to inshore fishing. I’ve been trying at a redfish for a while with no success. I fish spinning and fly tackle. I’ll be in Folley this weekend (10/28) and thought i’d give it a shot, however i don’t know where to go. Do any of you guys know spots/flats around Folley accessible by canoe? or any place not too far from Folley? Any tackle/technique suggestions?
I’d appreciate your wisdom,
Chuck
Hey Chuck
Can’t help you with Folly, don’t fish there much. For Reds, I’m a big fan of a 3/0 circle hook on 30 or 40 pound mono leader baited with live shrimp, mud minnows, or thawed frozen finger mullet whole or cut in half. Dee and the staff at Haddrell’s Point bait and tackle on Folly Road (behind Earthfare and Staples) are a good source of information. If you haven’t used circle hooks before talk with the bait shop staff on how to use them, you don’t set them like a standard “J” hook, the fish will hook themselves with light pressure to start. The advantages to circle hooks are you rarely gut hook/kill a fish with them and it’s harder to hang up on the bottom with them too. Hope that helps.
Stinky Fingers (a.k.a Bob H.)
tiger,
since you have a canoe, you can get real shallow, more shallow than even flats boats…so use this to your advantage…
i’ve found that finding reds is easiest on wide, shallow flats around any major inlet or creek mouth or oyster bars at low tide…and those times of the year where we get the high-high tides those are good as well for tailers…the skinny water makes sight fishing easy, and now that the water is starting to clear up, you’ll be able to sight fish swimming and maybe even schooling reds…sorry, can’t give ya any spots that takes all the fun out of it trust me, nothing is better than finding your own, or at least what you think is your own, honey hole…
as far as gear setup…i’ve got my power pro (8lb diameter 30lb strength) and i tie about 2ft of 25lb mono leader…if your fishing with live or dead bait (which i never do) definitely go with the circle hooks like bob says, this is really good for the fish…if you go down the artifical route, i’d tie a loop knot to a 1/0 offset shank EWG worm hook (i think thats what they’re called, i know them from sight)…then slide a 1/8ounce bullet weight on the top and rig up w/ your favorite (cannot go wrong w/ the gulp shrimp, i always catch my first of each session w/ them then move on to a challenge)…
reds are a challenge, and you will have a bunch of sessions where you wont catch a thing at first…but after a while you’ll figure them out, but they’ll always be a challenge and thats the best part
let me know if you have any more specific questions…i love talking about fishing when i’m on lockdown in law school
i have been right up in the middle of em in the canoe already.like stoked says you can fish really shallow.i have had good luck fishing grubs,saltwater assassin(electric chicken) color on 1/4 oz leadhead jig.live shrimp might be the real ticket right now though.also the refish magic works real well although i have had better luck lately just fishin the jigs.find oyster bars during the low and come back to em later.should find some fish.
14 ft oldtown “troutkiller”
livestoked, I’ve been using power pro for just over a year. Have had good and bad luck on different knots between mono(or flora) and power pro. Just wondering what type of knot(or knots) do you use?
Mud and a four legged mutt
Tarpon 140
this knot will get the j.d. (job done)
Hey i appreciate all your help guys. And Livestocked, i hear you man. I’m in lockdown at architecture school. i stay up all night in studio dreaming of dolphin on the end of my flyline instead of doing work.
Do you guys recommend any place in the charleston area to get started in? Do i just drop the canoe at a public landing and paddle upcreek, or should i find a dock? I’ve read about riding the tide in and out to ease the paddling. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Chuck