A Guide’s Advice to the Saltwater Fly Fishing Newbie

Catching your first Redfish on the Texas Coast

On a spring afternoon drive home from the boat ramp I got the call I most enjoy receiving; a saltwater fly fishing newbie asking about the possibility of landing his first redfish on the fly. Jeff’s call included all the normal questions. “Hey Capt. Randy, what is the best time of year to fish? Does the wind always blow down there? And where exactly is the Lower Laguna Madre located on the Texas coast?” I quickly gave him the standard answers that I am accustomed to providing all first time visitors to my home waters. Answers: 1. “Generally speaking, May through November are the safest months to visit.” 2. “Yes, for the most part, the wind does blow. But keep in mind that we always pole and cast downwind and most mornings begin with low wind conditions for a couple of hours.” 3. “We are located as far south as you can fly before entering Mexico; meaning the Harlingen International Airport.”

 Two months later Jeff arrived late on a Tuesday afternoon. He was stunned by the summertime heat and a bit concerned by the wind. I calmed his fears with news that the wind was predicted to lay down completely overnight and I explained to Jeff the fact that full sun in the sight fishing world is way more important than low wind. “We can deal with the wind but clouds make seeing fish in the 10 inches of gin clear water very difficult”, I said.

The redfish is an incredibly willing participant in South Texas’s saltwater fly fishing endeavors.  Like most newbies, Jeff had to get used to how closely the fly can be presented (and must be presented) to the redfish. The redfish will not shy away from a fly delicately presented six inches from its snout. But, a fly presented six feet away will be completely ignored because the redfish simply does not see the fly. Redfish rarely ignore what they see.

After a good night’s sleep and some breakfast and hot coffee at the dock, we launched the Stilt just a few minutes before it was realistically light enough to motor down the Intracoastal Waterway. The “water highway” is our main thoroughfare on our way to the crazy shallow waters we sight fish. I assured Jeff that I could see well enough to make our early morning boat ride a safe one.

First stop, a favorite west side venue of mine on the Lower Laguna Madre. The LLM, or “mother lagoon” is the shallowest and clearest hyper saline lagoon (it is the only hyper saline lagoon) along the Texas Coast. With an average depth of just under 12 inches, it takes a special boat and a keen sense of depth and current conditions to navigate these waters. A few minutes before we reached our first fishing destination of the day Jeff looked over the gunnel and said what all first timers say, “Wow, this boat runs skinny! Are there fish this shallow?”I said, “Yes, there are fish here!”On cue, a strong wake shot off the bow of the boat. A large redfish with it’s back partially exposed quickly fled from the skiff. I came off the throttle and in a couple of minutes I was on the poling platform and Jeff was working the rust off his casting arm. Soon, redfish were tailing all around the skiff. After making a few rough casts that resulted in spooking the fish, Jeff made a surgical 40-foot cast to within inches of the redfish’s mouth. A valiant fight ensued and upon landing the fish we took some photos, then gently slipped the redfish into the water as the sun was just beginning to rise. Jeff caught several other redfish that day, but the first is always the sweetest.

 Fishing is typically excellent throughout the summer months. Summer mornings are generally marked by calm winds and sun. But, this past summer was even more spectacular than usual. Couple the beautiful weather with the aggressive pods of redfish that have been moving through one of my favorite early morning venues, gorging themselves on migratory shrimp, and we have enjoyed unforgettable, high-catching days.

I was out last week with two fine gentlemen from Dallas who made their first trip to Kingfisher Inn and the Lower Laguna Madre. They assured me it wouldn’t be their last. Barry and Wayne woke up on their first morning to calm, favorable conditions. As we motored down the ICW I was hopeful and confident; emotions become more prevalent as the instability of spring gives way to predictable summer patterns. Don’t get me wrong. Spring offers certain fishing opportunities that are fast and furious and unforgettable, such as casting to tailing pods under laughing gulls. But, summer ushers in the most stable fly fishing patterns of the year. And guides and clients alike appreciate predictability!

So, we were motoring down the ICW and I was hopeful and calm...As the sun was making its first appearance of the day we skimmed over the shallow water of the previously mentioned favorite west side spot. I shut down the Evinrude a little earlier than the anglers expected (evidence of the confidence I was feeling) and we began our first “hunt” of the morning. Some mornings take a bit more time to unfold than others. And this was one of those mornings. I could have easily pulled the plug on our first attempt and moved on. But, the morning and the spot just felt right. And there were laughing gulls in the distance displaying the same hopeful confidence that I was feeling. So, we continued to pole along waiting and watching. And, our patience was rewarded. As the light of day became a little more favorable for sight fishers, we began spotting, then stalking pods of aggressively feeding redfish; tails wagging out of the water and snouts buried in the grass. These pods were made of big fish chasing big shrimp. I know that because several fleeing shrimp jumped right into the boat. The rest of the morning was spent stalking pods of redfish from the skiff; in the afternoon we motored over to the white sands on the east side of our lagoon, got out of the skiff, and waded to redfish under the high summer sun. All in all a great day of fly fishing the LLM. Barry, Wayne and I had two great days of fishing, laughing, and enjoying sights that few anglers are blessed to have experienced. This photo records Wayne’s first redfish on the fly.

I am always excited when I get the call from the angler who has never caught a redfish on a fly. He is a little intimidated, looking for some solid instruction from a seasoned guide who is patient and encouraging throughout the duration of the trip. This is a new experience for the novice angler, there is a learning curve, and the angler will eventually hook up on a solid redfish if the anger and guide work together as a team.

In summary, here are my tips for a good time as you make you first attempt at catching a redfish on the fly on the Lower Texas Coast.

1.    Come at the right time of year.

So the obvious question is, “when is the best time of year?” My friend and guide mentor, Capt. Scott Sparrow, always answers, “when you are here and everything comes together”. And I totally agree with that mindset. However, there are some times of year when your odds of catching are increased. For instance, the wind blows hard out of the North in February. So, don’t come in February. While there are some great days of fishing in March, and April, I would recommend May through November as the prime time for catching redfish-especially your first on the fly.

 2.    Listen to your guides advice-all of it.

One of my horror story days involved a couple that came to fish after spending several years catching stocker fresh water species on small private waters. With sheer luck on their side, they both had hooked and landed a redfish on the fly rod before 8 am. I celebrated their accomplishment, took several pictures, and congratulated them. Believe it or not, they spent the rest of the day questioning my fly selection, complaining that the fish were uncooperative (meaning the fish would not respond to their less than accurate casting) and often expressing their desire to move to another fishing spot. I was a nervous wreck by the end of the day!

 3.    “Throw at the fish” means throw at the fish!

If he didn’t eat the fly, he hasn’t seen the fly yet! I chuckle when fishing with a good friend and he chastises me when the fish doesn’t take the fly on the first presentation with the words “Randy, the fish eats with the other end!”

I have had numerous clients who have fished for bonefish for years and, therefore,  insist on leading the redfish by several feet in spite of my instructions to through right at his head.  After the first catch of the day the client usually admits, “You weren’t kidding! I threw right at that redfish and he pounced on that fly!”

 4.    Slow down!

The first day should be your most fun. No pressure. You are learning the new water and how to fish this new environment. No pressure. Slow down, decompress, and learn by listening.

5.    Take great satisfaction in your first fish before moving on in your attempt to catch more. 

There will be more. Probably this trip. Certainly on subsequent trips. Don’t worry about that. Just enjoy your first fish and take some really above par photos.

 6.    Leave the spinning rod at the lodge/dock. 

If this is your first time to go after redfish with a fly rod, you may end up missing a fish that you think you could have caught with a spinning rod. The fact is, if you always have a spinning rod in your hand you will never catch you first redfish on the fly! I have known guides who have told their clients before 8 am on the first day, “if that is as good as you can cast, you will not catch a fish on this trip.” That is a tragedy and I believe speaks to the lack of confidence of the guide.

I have had clients who, surprisingly, could not cast 20 feet accurately on the first morning of their trip.  I understand that clients have often left work at 6PM, spent  the evening franticly packing, boarded a plane at 6 am the next morning, and are just beginning to decompress the first morning on my skiff. So, we take the morning to find the casting groove necessary to catch fish. If I can help a client get to the point where he can cast accurately out to 30 feet, he will catch a fish on his trip. Being able to cast 60 or 70 feet is certainly a great advantage. However, I have seen too many clients make long, inaccurate casts all day long, and struggle to catch a single fish. In contrast, I have seen clients who can throw a fly 35 feet and land on a dinner plate consistently catch fish after fish throughout the day. I will take an accurate casting client over a “long bomber” any day.

The truth is, I’ve stopped working with guides who insist on taking a spinning rod along and tempting the clients with that opportunity. My clients came to catch a fish on a fly rod so that’s all we take on the boat.

So, if you have made it through this article you are now ready for your first day on the water as a fly fishing newbie. See you soon!