Fishing for tailing reds on flooded flats is among the most-exciting angling opportunities available to South Carolina fishermen. Finding the ideal tide, wind direction and intensity and light levels are tough factors that contribute to getting those fish to cooperate. Luckily, getting the fish to bite natural baits and scented soft plastics is almost a gimme, but tossing a perfectly or imperfectly-tied fly will give even the most advanced angler satisfaction.
Capt. Newman Weaver prefers very lightly-weighted flies for catching tailing redfish.
“Use plastic dumbbell eyes because they land real soft and suspend up above the root zone right in the fish’s line of sight,” he said. “Heavier flies with leaded dumbbell eyes get lost on the bottom.”
While a variety of colors will work for redfish, Weaver relies on his gold standard, the purple/ black toad fly. This combination is very visible and will catch the fish’s attention under the right conditions. Weaver will even use a little bit of orange on the belly section to further get the fish’s attention.
The toad fly resembles a variety of food options the redfish is used to eating on the flats, including: mullet minnows, crabs and shrimp. Other natural colors will work as well, such as olives, tans, and browns.
Capt. Steve Thomas of Hobcaw Fly Fishing Adventures custom builds his fly creations to increase his odds of hooking up. He likes to incorporate some “bling” and zing to his flies.
“Always use a fly with glass rattles embedded in them,” he said. “That rattle definitely will get their attention as well as some flash. Gold and copper flashabou or Krystal flash helps attract a passing fish on the flats.”
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