Tailing redfish is one of the most exciting ways to stretch a line in saltwater. It is often more like hunting because anglers are looking for fish across the grassy flats and stalking ever so stealthily. If sight-fishing in shallow water isn’t enough, throwing surface flies to reds will sure get an angler’s blood flowing.
Mark Young of Hobcaw Fly Fishing Adventures will throw plenty of things at fish that they will eat, but the real fun for Young is the topwater offerings.
“The gurglers provide everything that you need to get these fish super-excited and ready to eat. You just need to be patient when one bites, because redfish aren’t very efficient at feeding on top. Let them take it before you strip set the line,” he said.
During flood tides, Young studies the water’s movement and how the fish enter and leave tailing flats. While he enjoys showing his anglers a redfish nose-diving after a crab, the real excitement for Young is moments before the fish hit the flats; he loves to strip a gurgler across the water’s surface.
“You cannot even look at the fly when you throw it in there. When they blow up on it, you cannot stand it and will usually pull the fly out of their mouth. It can be total chaos,” said Young, who teaches his clients throw gurglers in pools adjacent to tailing flats.
Right before the fish slide up on the flats, they stage in holding pools anxiously awaiting the water to begin flooding the flats.
“Fish will hold in these pools before they hit the flats, and they are hungry and fired up,” he said.
There are generally several holding pools or runways adjacent to these tailing flats that will give anglers different options to target fish before they move up on the flats. Since Young is approaching on foot from the hill, he can attack stealthly.
Young urges anglers that this early attack can be problematic.
“Don’t harass the fish too much in the pools before they come up, because they may get discouraged and decide not to come up at all,” he said.
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