Outings Outlook - June 2009
by Todd Fleming, AFF Outings Director
Summer is on the horizon, and we are approaching the beginning of my favorite fishing season of the year. I enjoy catching anything that will stretch a fly line, but I am addicted to sight casting to redfish in shallow water. I try to fish somewhere year-round, and I follow the prime time fishing seasons for whatever species will take my fly, but my mind is never far from dreaming of tails – redfish tails that is. Saltwater is a twelve month fishery, but there are certainly better times of the year to fish than others – especially for the fly fisherman. We are now just beginning the longest and most productive season of the year. I can barely contain myself. Opening ceremonies are about to start, and then I say, “Let the games begin!” Good luck to everyone.
Sight casting to redfish is more than just fishing. It is the pinnacle of visual excitement. The added elements of hunting, stalking, and setting up the cast multiply the thrill of hooking these fish. Without question, fishermen everywhere will say the most exciting moment in fishing is seeing the explosion of a fish on a topwater lure, but sight casting to fish with a fly rod will surpass even this very exciting moment. Topwater action is exciting, but it’s only a “haunted house” kind of thrill – most of the time you never see them coming and it’s just that momentary visual surprise that provides the excitement. By comparison, sight casting is more like a theme park roller coaster ride. From the moment you start moving it all happens in front of your eyes. You see everything headed your way, and still you’re barely able to do much more than hold on for the ride. Yet when the ride is over, all you can think about is getting back in line to do it again. That, my friends, is visual excitement with an adrenalin rush!
As a kid growing up, our family shared our home with various dogs and cats – usually one of each at a time. Fritz, a beer drinking black Dachshund was a faithful companion, but it was the cats, Cinder and Mouse, that provided the most entertainment. I remember sometimes getting in trouble for tormenting the cats that normally wouldn’t have anything to do with me unless I had a ball of yarn or a piece of string. In retrospect, that must have been my early training for the sight casting sport I love today. If you have ever twitched the end of a string to get the playful attention of a crouching kitten, you have a good idea of what it is like to sight cast to a redfish. I fine tuned the art of getting a sometimes sleeping cat to spring to life and pounce on the trailing end of ribbon or piece of yarn with reckless abandon. After capturing their attention with some seductive serpentine motion, I would pause to watch as they coiled an internal spring of energy, ready to burst on to the next tantalizing movement of that lifelike object. Teasing a redfish with a fly is even more thrilling than this.
To successfully spot a cruising redfish before he senses you, and make a cast that places a fly in front of his face without spooking him, and strip the line in a way that gets his interested attention, then watch the gills flare and the tail kick, and see him nail your fly with a cobra-like strike is truly awesome! And the excitement doesn’t end there. After seeing this striking action, you’ll receive an electrical jolt of energy transmitted through a tight line and a sensitive fly rod to the hands you’ve trained to instinctively perform a strip set and allow the line to cleanly clear the guides. If it is a big fish racing to the far edge of the flat, you will scarcely notice the end of the fly line leaving the rod tip, and backing coming off the spool at alarming speed. The experienced hand will know to avoid the razor-sharp line movement, and the blur of a
knuckle busting reel handle spinning out of control. If your knots hold, and the hook stays set, and a jillion other fateful things don’t happen, you will be able to reel that fish in, take a few pictures for the next newsletter, and release that fish to fight another day. And then, after a few deep breaths, you’ll be ready for that roller coaster ride all over again – guaranteed!
There is no more time for dreaming of bent rods and screaming reels. It’s time to get out there and experience it first hand. Don’t waste a single opportunity to put yourself in front of some willing subjects – especially if weather and tidal flow are favorable. Being successful takes practice and probably some helpful instruction from those more experienced. It doesn’t happen overnight. You can study books and magazine articles on the subject, watch video clips of others doing it, and even take a class taught by experts, but there is no substitution for on water experience. So get out there and go fishing. Ask to join others on an outing, and ask questions. It’s the only way to learn.
There are two jetty outings coming up that coincide with the full moon in June (6th) and July (4th). These are overnight outings to fish the North Jetty at Port Aransas. We will be trying to get some hook-ups with jacks and tarpon on these trips. The full moon provides big tidal exchange and a bright sky to navigate the jetty at night with almost no artificial light. Click on our website link http://www.alamoflyfishers.org/node/184 to read an article by Bill Slough that explains everything you will want to know about night fishing for tarpon. If you are not sure you want to make the jetty an overnight trip, consider coming out Sunday morning on the first run of the day at 6:30am. Those weekend dates will also be good flats fishing opportunities. Let me know if you can join me for some flats fishing before heading to the jetty on Saturday evening.
June 20th is our first outing of the year to Fence Lake aboard the Skimmer. The conditions should be ideal. I can’t wait to get back over there. This area is remote and too shallow for most boats to access. I have rarely had a bad day in Fence Lake. The sign-up sheet is full, but I am taking alternates in case some have to drop. There is a second Fence Lake trip planned for August 1-2. This will be an exploratory overnight camping trip. If that interests you, please contact me as soon as possible. If you can make this date, but only as a day trip let me know that too.
On July 18 is the Lydia Ann Fly Masters. This is a fly fishing tournament to benefit Casting for Recovery, and it’s organized by the Lighthouse Fly Fishing Co. and Alamo Fly Fishers. Headquarters for the event will be Crabman Marina near Aransas Pass. If you have not yet signed up to participate in this very fun event, go to www.lydiaannflymasters.com right now, download the entry application and send it in. There are separate divisions for boats and kayakers. Believe me, you do not want to miss this event. Get signed up now!
One last item to mention. All Alamo Fly Fishers current members are encourage to participate in the first annual Redfish Spot Contest. The object is to catch a redfish with the most spots on one side. The contest runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, and an unaltered digital photograph of your fish is required to enter. Submit photos to Rob Burlingame or Todd Fleming for posting on the club website.
Be safe out there, and good luck fishing! I hope to see you on the water.