20070924188 | Texas Red Drum on Flies - Day Two

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Texas Red Drum on Flies - Day Two

Texas Red Drum on Flies - Day Two

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Written by Steve Faris
Monday, 24 September 2007
Capt. Paul Brown poles his skiff in search of Red Drum tails near California Hole. A morning thunderstorm looms in the background. Photo by David J. Sams Lightening danced across the sky in the pre-dawn of day two. I sat on the veranda of the Redfish Lodge sipping coffee wondering what the weather would be like once the sun began its daily journey. This day we would be fishing with Capt. Paul Brown, another renowned guide in this area. Both guides, Chuck and Paul, were very good. Each had distinct and unique guiding personalities, but for me they were both perfect. I was fed the information I needed to spot fish and make casts in a timely manner. They did not get cranky when I messed up and offered instructions only when I asked what I had done wrong. Neither was overbearing nor intimidating. As we motored out of the marina and turned what I think was south, the sun was trying very hard to break through an ominous, but beautiful, thundercloud to the east. The winds were blowing ever so slightly out of the south, just enough to put a small chop on the water. I feared I would not be able to spot any fish in these conditions, but after a short boat ride my insecurities were put to rest when Paul spied nervous water to our left. We had not been on the water more than thirty minutes and already we were on fish. . Paul poled us on a course to intersect the pod just south of a shallow channel that cut through the marsh. The sun was still fighting to make it through the clouds when I spotted a nice fish tailing in what appeared to be a small feeding pod. I threw the same fly I had thrown the day before, a white Scates shrimp pattern, slightly in front of the fish hoping it would find my fly too enticing to resist. Much to my surprise, the water exploded with what seemed like a thousand fish scampering in all directions, churning and frothing up the water. Some actually dove under the boat when the fly line landed on the water. Because of the lack of direct sunlight I had made the mistake of casting through the entire pod to get to the one fish. Needless to say I did not get a strike, but I did manage to scatter the first large pod of redfish I had ever seen. We stayed in the area hoping the fish would re-group and give us another shot at them, but they did not. Paul decided it was time to move to another location. Red Drum caught with a deceiver fly. Photo by David J. Sams Finally the sun was high enough in the sky and the thundercloud had drifted out into the gulf as we arrived at our next fishing spot. It wasn’t long before three distinct pods of fish were spotted. One smaller pod of “happy fish” was spotted to our left at the entry of a long canal or wide cut in the marsh leading to another “lake.” The Captain labeled them “happy” as they stayed in the same general vicinity and did not act very spooky. A nice swath of nervous water was to our right out in more open water, but moving erratically. The third possibility was a wide and long line of dark water about 800 yards directly in front of us just this side of a duck blind. This would be the first fish we would attempt to conquer. My partner was on deck as Paul poled us stealthily across what seemed like a Sahara of water. After some heavy pushing with a few stops to find the fish again, he managed to position us directly in the middle of the dark line that was moving toward us about one hundred feet in front of the bow. Again, seeing all these fish moving toward us not realizing we were there was another first for me. The cast was on target to a few stragglers in the line slightly to our right. The fly was a green deceiver. The take was as if on cue and the dark water simply moved passed us, still oblivious to our presence. We caught and released two more fish out of this same pod before the dark water dissipated. Our next target was the “happy fish” pod we had seen back north. Again, Paul poled us into perfect striking position. I cast and retrieved numerous times without a strike (but I did not spook the pod this time). The consensus was to change my fly to a green deceiver. Next, we moved to the nervous water we had seen earlier, and they were still in the general area. I cast to the fringe and immediately had my line tighten and the fish made a run to my right, away from the pod. It was not a big red, but it was a red nonetheless and it was fun to have a fish tightening my line after seeing so many that day. A pod of Red Drum feed in Redfish Bay. Photo by David J. Sams Capt. Paul pretty much staked us in one area and we waited as lines of dark water and pods of fish swam toward us one after another. At one point my partner was releasing a fish while Paul spotted fish tailing not more than thirty feet to our left. A hastened release and one cast later another fish was hooked. My plane was a few hours from departing so we had to get off the water. As I sat in the van to the airport I thought back on my first true Redfish expedition. The Redfish Lodge lived up to its reputation. The accommodations, service and exquisite food had been superb. Did I mention we had dined on lamb chops, a shrimp boil, duck, quail salad and deli style sandwiches while on the water? It was truly world class, and the service unmatched. The guides, they were great. And the fish cooperated. I had experienced many new firsts! You can bet I will try this again and hopefully soon. Check out Texas Red Drum on Flies - Day One here.
Last Updated ( Monday, 24 September 2007 )

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