|
Tackle
& Flies
Reels:
Redfish
are not difficult fighters when compared to bonefish
or tarpon. A 9-weight reel is more than adequate for
most redfishing situations. You do not have to worry
about having a minimum 200 yards of backing as you do
with other fish. Redfish make short, powerful runs before
they expend their energy.
Rods:
The
best rod for general flats and shallows fishing is a
9 weight. A nine foot rod is the optimum length for
both it's casting and fighting abilities. A 9 weight
combo will easily handle the conditions you'll likely
encounter while redfishing.
Line
& Leaders:
Your
reel should be lined with at least 100 yards of backing
matched to a brightly colored fly line. The colored
line improves your accuracy because you can visually
track your cast as it unrolls toward your target.
Redfish
leaders should be roughly 10 feet long with a thirty
pound butt section. A fifteen to thirty pound shock
leader is necessary to prevent the redfish from breaking
the line. Hooked redfish try to take out the fly by
rubbing their head against the bottom. Their vision
is poor so you do not have to be overly concerned with
leader visibility.
When
tying on your flies it is best to use the nonslip knot.
When tied correctly, this knot offers maximum strength
while allowing the fly to move more freely and naturally.
Flies:
A
redfish's diet consists mainly of crabs, shrimp, and
small baitfish. The more successful patterns imitate
this diet. Although redfish will take any colored fly,
the more popular combinations are chartreuse and white,
orange and red, red and white, olive and brown, and
olive with yellow. The contrasting colors help grab
the attention of the redfish who has relatively poor
eyesight.
You
can add redfish to the list of species that loves Clouser
Minnows. This deadly fly pattern catches redfish extremely
well when equipped with a weed guard. A weed guard is
essential because redfish are primarily caught over
grass beds that entangles other flies.
A
Bend Back garnished with generous amounts of flash is
also an excellent fly pattern for redfish. It also performs
well over grassy bottoms.
A
popping bug, though sometimes scares the fish, is a
pattern that when working well is by far the most fun.
They can be fished in very shallow water due to their
buoyancy and produce hair-rising takes. It is an overwhelming
thrill to see a monster redfish chase down and slam
a popper in six inches of water!
|
