REDFISH, DRUN AND A CLOUSER’S FLY
As the water starts to warm in the spring and early summer the larger Redfish and Drum start to move into the shallower waters. As they move into the shallower the saltwater fly fishing starts to really turn on. The thrill of catching an eighteen or twenty pound Redfish or Drum on a nine weight fly rod is like nothing you have ever done before and you will be hooked.
Probably the most productive saltwater fly fishing fly for just about any type of fish is the Clouser’s Minnow. When it comes to Reds and Drum there is no fly more productive saltwater flies than the Clouser’s Minnow. All colors of the Clouser’s will work well but my favorite is the chartreuse and the chartreuse and white. When properly tied this fly should be fairly thin with a small amount of krystal flash. Work the clouser over and by any oyster beds you can find. Also look for flats with shallow water with deeper faster running water along side. The Drum and Redfish will lie in the slower water and wait for baitfish to move through the faster running water. Anywhere you have marsh grass with deeper water near is also a great place to find fish.
The Gulf Coast has good saltwater fly fishing all year long with the larger fish being taken in late spring, summer and early fall. North Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina start seeing Redfish and Drum as the water warms. Later in the summer, around mid June, you even start to find good populations of Redfish and Drum as far north as northern Virginia.
In closing, if you are going to the coast to do some saltwater fly fishing and you are not equipped with a few dozen Clouser’s you are not going to catch as many fish as you could.
Tight lines and clear water,
Brian
