    
Capt. Scott Sparrow
Unregistered guest
Rating: 
Votes: 1 | | Posted on Sunday, September 16, 2001 - 7:22 pm: | |
With the high tides generated in the western Gulf by Tropical Depression Gabrielle, we have seen an influx of fresh ocean water along with long-awaited rains. As a result, the bay waters have cooled, improving the fishing and triggering early schooling by pre-spawning redfish. Huge herds of redfish are being spotted on the east side of the lower Laguna, along with schools of black drum and ubiquitous sheepshead. The redfish are beginning to tail in pods and schools, creating spectacular sight casting opportunities for wading fly
fishers.
Schooling trout can still be found along the edges of the Intercoastal Waterway underneath schools of mullet in the morning for about an hour or more before the rishing sun pushes them lower in the water column. While scouting two mornings ago, my wife Kathy and I caught 20 trout on small VIP poppers at dawn, most of them small -- but a couple of larger fish struck our topwaters, too. Larger trout can still be found tailing around the spoil islands. I caught and released a 28" fish last week, and several of my recent clients have had shots at visible trou tover eight pounds. They are easy to spot, but very difficult to catch.
Fly Patterns: We've been using tiny topwaters for the tailing redfish action. Tailing redfish often spook when presented with a subsurface fly, because if it's close enough for them to see it,it often startles them, too. So, a tiny topwater that lands quietly, but speaks loudly, can draw them fron 3 or 4 feet away. I use a VIP popper that I've evolved over the years into a fly that I'd choose above all else for both major species down here. Instructions for tying this fly is at the
Kingfisher website, www.lagunamadre.net, and e-mail me if you have any questions.
Later in the day, we've been using lightweight shrimp and glass minnow-type patterns out on the east flats to catch trout and reds, and abundant ladyfish. I use a Mother's Day shrimp pattern that, once again, has evolved over many years of fishing the lower Laguna. Instructions are at our website for this fly, too.
My friend Fred Arbona, who fishes on the "white sand" on the east side of hte LLM most of the time, favors a mylar minnow with a flourescent head. This allows him to see the fly in relation to a pursuing fish, and to know what to do to draw a strike.
14-Day Forecast: Tides have been somewhat higher in the mornings for the last two weeks, permitting the reds to move out onto the east flats, as they were doing in May and June. Already,the "white sand" is heating up with cruising reds and a few big trout under optimum sight casting condition. While the high tides support fish migration onto the firm, east flats, the high tides also make it hard to see through the water's surface on cloudy, windy days. So we tend to shift toward the west side, hoping to find reds tailing along shallow, grassy banks.
Other Information: A myth has prevailed for some time that redfish are easy to catch. It is true that if you present just about anything to them well, they will usually strike the fly. But the presentation has to be right on the money while they are still 50 feet or more away. They are quick to hear you inside of 50 feet, and casually veer off before you could ever reach them.Soundless wading is a must.
Fred Arbona, founder of Climax and fly fishing legend, says that redfish are much tougher than bones to catch, and after fishing all around the world, spends over four months down here fishing every day.
Lani Waller of steelheading fame recently fished with us while we were hosting the new video "Coastal Fly Fishing with Ken Hanley and Friends." After presenting to several reds in 10 inches of crystal clear water, Lani said that fishing the LLM was one of the most technically demandingfly fishing experiences he's ever had.
So, if you fancy a challenge, this is a great place to sight cast to 4-10 lb juvenile redfish that have probably never seen a fly. And if you get a shot at a 5-8 lb trout, you'll discover why so many of the local fly fishers speak so reverently of this wary, elusive predator.
For more information, see our website, and read my article, "Trophy Trout Texas Style," in the June/July issue of Saltwater Fly Fishing.
Tight lines -- Capt. Scott
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