Fiddler, stone and mud crabs inhabit the Charleston marshes, and their colors are muted, from brown to a dark tan to almost chocolate. Featuring a textured shell body and bright orange claw tips, they closely resemble a juvenile blue crab. But this doesnt always mean you will be successful. For example, this fly can be tied with the standard lead dumbbell eye that will make the fly sink fast and will give you a jig action. A small orange grizzly feather is tied in at the head to look like a fiddler-crab claw, with a single stiff mono weed guard positioned from the head toward the hook point. Imagine the crystal-clear waters of Mexico and the Caribbean, and then add in the bright copper of redfish cruising the white-sand flats and brilliantyellow grass beds. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. What the hell. For targeting bulls over 20 pounds, a 10-weight works best and handles the bigger flies those fish prefer. Traveling pro angler Pat Ford offers tips on tackle, flies and hot spots. These fish, without a doubt, make for an incredibly memorable fly fishing trip. Youll end up tying this fly on very often because once you get that rush of adrenaline watching Redfish and Trout blow it up out of the water, you'll be addicted. About the Author: Now a retired Miami attorney, Pat Ford spends his time taking photos and writing about fishing destinations around the world. You might see individual fish or, in certain areas, schools of a dozen or more. Year-round you can fish redfish, but in the changing season, you also have black drum, sheepshead, sea trout, tarpon, and . It is very productive in a root beer color with gold tinsel and redhead profile. Most any color combination will work, but I like brown or white and hardly ever use anything else. Find an area near any of the local inlets with clear water. In most cases, this will include a 9 or 10 weight fly rod, a 25 lb to 30 lb test 7.5 to 9 foot tapered leader, and crab patterns or poppers (depending on conditions). Kwan is the fly to have for those quiet, cold winter days on the water. Other examples include a modified Diver variant and the Popcorn Shrimp (pictured above). In the colder months having the waders is excellent to have to keep you warm and dry. 1 artificial lure of all time for redfish. Guide Tip: Redfish grow to true trophy sizes. ), water conditions the fly excels in, and how you like to fish it. It just seems to work and change my day around. The Redfish Crack fly is a proven and very successful fly increasing in popularity in the Texas and Louisiana fisheries. Experience world-class accommodations and cuisine. When youre seeing lots of Redfish up on the flats, tie this fly on and let the good times roll. Some of the most consistent saltwater fly fishing available today can be found on the grass flats of any number of states in the Southeast, where anglers by the thousands search every day for telltale tails rising above the surface. . They are known as bull reds. Alderman is careful to keep the fly small, never more than 2 inches overall, so few redfish are missed at the strike. Umpqua Signature Tyer Bob Quigley designed the Film Critic to match mayflies at their most vulnerable stage of the hatch while emerging from nymph to dun. Whats interesting about Texas is its variety of venues. Redfish will chase this fly from a mile away, so be ready. Starting at $6.16. Weighted Gold Frizzies are very popular in Alabama, according to Wesley Parks of McCoy Outdoors Fly Shop (334-432-3006) in Mobile. All of the fish you choose to keep must measure between 20-28 inches. We promise we won't spam your inbox with stuff you don't care about. The key to this flys success is its slow sinking rate combined with the fluid pulsing motion of the hackles on the tail. Look for big redfish laid up at the surface like tarpon. Yes, there are a few minor differences, but they feed and act in the same way for the most part. The pattern excels in stained/murky water thats very common along the Texas and Louisiana coast. Read about, Both Tarpon and Redfish can haunt the same waters. Tied on a #1 or 1/0 hook in the color that best covers your area. If you find schools of glass minnows, tie on a Clouser and youll find the fish. His favorite is the East-Cut Redfish Popper, made commercially by T.J. Neal of East Cut Saltwater Flies in Driftwood, Texas (512-461-4473). Each area offers something to the fly fisherman. There are many variants of topwater flies, the classic Gurgleris just one example. My own personal favorite stomping grounds for redfish include South Florida and Louisiana. When the pelicans, gannets and larger gull species start wheeling around in open water, dont hesitate to investigate, Gardner says. Keep your leader short and straightforward. No more sweat-soaked shirts the first hour into poling and smelling like a gym locker by the end of the day. Weed guards are beneficial when targeting reds in shallow and marshy water. Parks fishes the vast marshes around the town of Chalmette, Louisiana and uses a couple of poppers he says redfish go absolutely bonkers over. Luckily, for coastal anglers in Virginia all the way to the southern tip of Texas, redfish, also commonly referred to as red drum, can be successfully targeted with a fly rod via kayak or stand-up paddle . That allows her to keep an eye on the fast-moving schools instead of focusing on tying knots and digging for tackle. Flies must get deep quickly to appeal to upper Gulf Coast redfish, he says. It has a large front collar that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. The Redfish tend to like its smaller profiling in the colder months, especially on the clearer days. Theyre not as explosive or exciting as tarpon, or as elusive as bonefish and permit, but for East and Gulf coast fly-rod anglers, theyre easily accessible and extremely fun to catch. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The weighted versions can help in the deeper waters, and a weed guard is imperative for this pattern. Because of the guttural drumming sound they can make, the term "drum" was a given name. The bright shiny spoon-fly is the furthest thing from the typically suggested drab sheepshead flies as you can get. The fishing is good, but different, and the type of fly required to dupe reds is different too. They also have to know when to cast and how long to let their offerings sink. Id heard stories about redfish in the Biloxi Marsh, but on my first trip to Louisiana for monster drum in 2006, I saw a golden tail the size of a shovel break the surface 50 yards ahead. Marsh grasses remain a favorite destination for anglers hoping to hook reds. Jim West, 409-996-3054 Back in November, I made it down to the Texas Coast for a DIY saltwater trip with my buddy, Bryant. 1. . Much of the action is found around spartina grass marsh, where reds forage for crab when the tide is high. What a rush. The best is to get the fish to see the fly, and you will generally hook them. When retrieved with quick short strips it closely resembles a fleeing shrimp and the head pulses with bite-enticing movement. It retrieves through pencil reeds, spartina grass, over rocks, oysters and through brush as well as any weedless lure. Fools Gold crab pattern is my first choice for tailing Redfish. Suppose you arent accustomed to casting the heavier rods its best to practice on the grass and get more confident. One fish though, when it's a nice redfish like those we caught that day, can do the soul a world of good. All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish and big Trout up on the flats. In addition, the predominant species you might encounter in Texas Saltwater Fly Fishing is the red [fish] and black drum. My choice would be a medium to fast action rod with some backbone to roll over the larger patterns. Its tied on a size 1 through 2/0 Mustad 34007 hook, unweighted or with lead dumbbell eyes. The most common color is reddish-bronze. Watching redfish forage for crabs in mud or grass, or hunt mullet on an oyster bar is one of the most exciting experiences in flats fishing. He will say, however, t wasnt easy to develop. Its death on redfish, with gold and silver models remarkably effecive. I had never seen a tail that big or that color. We are lucky in that Redfish tell us how they are feeding. Colors run the gamut too, from pink to orange, and from yellow to hot green. Almost every saltwater fly shop has a variation of the traditional Kwan fly, or sometimes referred to as the Redfish Toad. Crab flies are deadly for targeting Redfish and Sheepshead in the Gulf Coast region. To illustrate, he tells of the time he and another captain were wading a grass flat three years ago when he was first experimenting with the fly. Getting the fly to drop deep gains more bites. This Louisiana classic is an easy and delicious way to serve redfish. They typically have heavy amounts of weight and little bulk to get the fly down to the sandy bottom fast. Best Time: Fall months: late August through November. Port O' Connor. Just deals and news! But the visual experience can be breathtaking. Thats when Alderman became a believer in rattling redfish flies. The Merkin Crab is widely considered the most effective Permit fly ever conceived. If theres any wind at all, a 9-weight makes casting easier. Swan Point Landing Fly Shop Location: Rockport, TX Waters: Texas Coast Fish: Redfish Website. Im all set to go a simple boat fly box with the above patterns! All rights reserved. He guides when not teaching and devised the Gold Frizzy for redfish because it does a good job of imitating a gold, flashing and wobbling spoon likely the No. I love nothing more than being out on the water chasing a few reds with friends. Its time Florida starts similar program.Snook The tackle. They will generally eat a second time if they spook or miss the fly. We have a lot of folks ask us about the flies we are using while fly fishing the flats in Rockport and the surrounding area. The full recipe for Redfish on the Half-Shell can be found here. A 6-10wt setup will work just fine. Here in North Florida, this is usually in mid to late spring. Turkey in the Straw If youre fishing in one foot of water, you can opt for a fly tied with bead-chain eyes. Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and imitating a fleeing shrimp or wounded baitfish. Dont try to feed a redfish a bonefish-size gotcha. This fish is looking for a meal, and it will eat just about anything it thinks it can fit in its mouth. Sheka ties them on a size 2 to 1/0 Mustad hook. Fly Fishing Laguna Madre on the Texas Coast. What makes the fly different from other crab and glue-body designs, however, is that its extremely weedless. Plan a winter fly-fishing trip around an afternoon rising tide. Re: Redfish Flies. Sarah Gardner, out of Nags Head on the Outer Banks, actually target them. These fish fight strongly and stubbornly, but they dont make long runs and theyre usually caught in shallow water. Those are the good days. Rick Hartman, an expert fly fisherman and guide, poles a skiff in the Lower Laguna Madre while a friend casts for redfish. Much like other flies designed for the flats, it lands soft and quiet, sinks slow, and when tied with a weed guard can be used in the skinniest of water. The Redfish Crack fly is a proven and very successful fly increasing in popularity in the Texas and Louisiana fisheries. The Electric Slider is another classic redfish pattern designed for muddy and stained water. There are so many fish feeding its actually ridiculous. Guide Tip: My buddies Kevin and Steve run Indigo Guide Service, theyre proving out to be some of the best redfish guides on the Louisiana Coast. This small collection are the top flies for Redfish that we have found. As you work up either Florida coast, the flats-fishing remains similar from a technical point of view. Our passion is saltwater fly fishing and we aim to provide top quality flies and fly tying materials designed for the Gulf Coast fly fisherman. 1.1 1. The central-coast redfish waters include the jetties of Port OConnor and the grass flats of Rockport, all with shorelines similar to those in Louisiana. It has a large head that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. Dupre can make custom colors if necessary. If you cant get the fly to the fish, you wont catch any, period. The result is a fly that is sleek and has little air-resistance during the back cast, but in the water it swims well with a blooming action. My favorite hi-tie, I'll often use a 4x-long size 6 . Mayfly emergers are often stuck in the film for quite some time making them easy pray for hungry trout. For a slow-sink fly, a bucktail tail is good. 9 ft leader is standard with 25-30lbs breaking strain tippet. This fly was designed for Bonefish in the Florida Keys, but with some slight modifications it is perfect for Redfish and Trout here in the Gulf Coast inshore waters. Follow Texas Flyfishers of Houston on WordPress.com Search TFF . Youll definitely need 10-weight rods and 400-plus-grain sink-tip lines with big lead-eye flies. Learn More. Of course, flats-fishing requires some level of experience and the ability to cast 50feet accurately regardless of weather conditions. From baitfish to shrimp to crabs and almost anything in between, Reds are opportunistic feeders. Redfish are prevalent from the southeastern coast of the US to Texas. Read about the BIGGEST Caught >, Casting a Fly to Snook is amazing. Ive also caught flounder, ladyfish, bluefish, jacks, Spanish mackerel and snook on Spoonflies. They eat with ease and love to chase the fly. With that said, I will break down my favorite redfish flies and explain why and when I fish them. We spend a lot of time testing gear and writing reviews to give you all of the tools to make your next trip a success. But if you've fished long enough, you've almost certainly experienced the times where they tend to focus on one prey type exclusively and seem to ignore every fly you tie on. I like tans, greens, and lighter colors. Big Y Fly Co best fishing flies for Texas, for your next fly fishing trip. At the eye a few turns of crystal-red chenille are wound on to produce a head. Saltwater Flies. This is a great fly for shallow water and smaller fish that aren't looking for a huge meal. Thanks for signing up! When you select Wyld on the Fly as your guide for your next adventure, you can expect the . Michael Stravato for The . View the Candy Corn Crawler pattern on our Online Fly Shop. In this guide, we'll take you through the top species you can target, the best locales to cast your fly in, and much more, such as seasons, gear, and rules and regulations. Iknow it works because the guides keep all my leftovers. The Redfish Crack fly, or maybe youve heard of the variations Redfish Cracklin, Redfish Meth or Redfish Ritalin, is another fly with a proven track record. By the time you're done reading this, you'll be ready to head to Texas to . Summer Redfish Flies. Devils River - Legendary Among Texas Fly Anglers. Sheka Shrimps tied in subtle browns and cream colors perform best in stained water. Saltwater fly fishing is another craze that has taken root from Texas to Florida, and for good reason. You need a set of flies in your arsenal that covers the entire water column, from topwater, to bottom crawling, and everything in between. The Fishing Experience at Baffin Bay! East Cut Redfish Popper Retrieve this fly with steady, slow strips and it will mimic the movement of a fleeing crab. These are the times when having an arsenal of flies that resembles all the prevalent bait fish in your particular location is a must. Sheka Shrimp come in weighted and unweighted versions, with or without weed guards. So our guides have begun to compile a collection of our favorite patterns here, for all to see. The Redfish will follow this fly until it commits. This is where the big boys live. Stretching 367 miles from the Sabine River at the Louisiana border to the Rio Grande on the Mexican border, the Texas coast is a varied and unique fishery that is relatively unnoticed on the national level. Pair the rod with a smooth drag reel and a floating line, and you are good to go. Some popular patterns include the Merkin, KungFu, Contraband, Flexo, Fleeing Crabs, and many more. Is this getting you excited? Light tackle and fly fishing charters for redfish are world renowned on these inshore flats for because of the crystal clear water and numerous shots . However, the Electric Slider's dark coloration, coupled with the intelligent use of ingredients, gives it great movement, making it the perfect choice for the marsh. Use Light Flies and Long Leaders. Choose some bright colors and Redfish won't be able to resist. I bump up to a 5- to 6-inch mostly synthetic yet very puffy white fly for the big bull reds. Cone-Head Wooly Bugger The fly is tied to look like a gaudy shrimp, which is something to keep in mind when viewing it. Zap-A-Crab Clouser Minnow needs no introductions or explanations! The only difference between here and southern Florida and Texas: These reds range from 15 pounds up to almost 50. I like to have an intermediate spool ready to roll if needed, but it isnt necessary. Location: Houston, Texas. What makes the Spoonfly so unique and such a fish-catcher are the same things that make the Johnson Weedless Minnow a hit for bait-casters and spin fishermen. We spent 3 days exploring the area in search of Redfish. These trips are great for 1-2 anglers of all skill levels. The golden color works well in the muddy water, and the reds love the movement of the fly. Big bull reds love this fly. The Clouser is a classic saltwater pattern for a variety of species, and for good reason. I use large, black bead eyes most of the time, but always tie some flies with lead eyes for deeper water. The bull reds are singular fish, generally a lot bigger, and are more specific in what they eat. Jim Dupre (352-371-6153), a Gainesville, Florida, fishing guide who, with his father A.J., spent countless hours testing and perfecting a fly-rod lure that had the same fish-attracting action as the venerable Johnson Weedless Minnow. The hook sizes and eye weight can greatly vary and give you the flexibility to fish any depth of water. Travel pristine Matagorda Island as you stalk redfish along 38 miles of uninhabited shorelines teaming with hundreds of species of birds, alligators, deer, and various other 1.4 4. Often, you'll need flat, calm conditions to consistently see fish. If youre fortunate enough to hit a warm day, youll find hordes of reds rushing up on the flats to feed over the warm, dark mud left exposed by an earlier low tide. The fly hit the water and the redfish inhaled it like it was the best meal it had ever seen. Let a good casts worth of line drag behind you and start wading in about a foot of water. Try white, chartreuse or black colors on a 2/0 Gamakatsu stinger hook. Mens and womens redfish fly records top out with the 43-pounder caught by Greg Braunstein on 16-pound tippet in 1995 out of the Banana River Lagoon in Florida. This one-two punch is a tried and true classic for catching reds. As a general rule,the darker/muddier the water, the darker the fly should be; and, when the water is gin-clear you should pick flies that are more of a natural color such as tans, whites, and browns. Fly Fishing for Texas Redfish: Dolphin and Redfish photo by Marjie Glodberg: We're a big fan of awesome photos showing action and drama! The Clouser closely resembles a glass minnow, one of the most plentiful bait fishes seen in back lakes and coves. It has a large head that pushes water and the head to tail contrast makes it highly visible and attractive to fish. Redfish are big crab and shrimp eaters, and the Ragin Craven does a great job of imitating both. And Id bet striped bass and salmon would go bonkers for em too. Sheka Shrimp The middle Texas coast can offer world class sight-fishing opportunities for Redfish, Black Drum and Trout. He ties several versions of it, making it suitable for redfish in a wide variety of waters and angling conditions. This is where the high tide pushes an extra few feet, flooding the muddy grass banks. On warmer days, work a surface-popper or gurgler pattern in white or in dark colors such as black and purple. From throwing flies to tailing fish in the marshes to chasing large bulls in the surf, there is a place in the Lone Star State for everything. Redfish are resourceful and feed on a variety of crabs, shrimp, and baitfish. However, once the guide finds fish, the rest is up to you. The shrimp-tipped jig is the icing on the cake, and the redfish can't resist the smell. Most come with bead eyes, are weedless and measure about 3inches long. The author, left, made his first trip to Louisiana waters after bull reds on fly in 2006. Galveston. But as every angler knows, there are days where the fish are picky and are only keying in on one food source. The fly is then adorned with a bit of colored hackle and a wire weed guard. Thanks for signing up! You want to be in Port Aransas during the Fall Run to catch your next personal best sight casted Texas red drum on the fly. Leaving them with the "shell" on makes the filets look amazing too. All five of the flies featured in this article are available in the Sight Cast Redfish Pack and are designed to target Redfish in the Gulf Coast region. The spoon fly excels by flashing and emitting low frequency vibration sounds as its being stripped. Most of them imitate the crabs, shrimp, and baitfish that make up the majority of the redfish diet. The fly is finished by tying in three dark but iridescent wild-turkey breast feathers that splay outward from the head over the hook point and bend, which makes it look very crab-like. 7. When you want a good all-around fly that will catch any game fish you can see, tie on one of the most well-known saltwater flies, the Kwan fly. Chasing schools of bull reds offshore is an entirely different operation than flats-, channel and surf fishing, but that spectacular scene happens from North Carolina through northeast Florida and in the Gulf from Floridas panhandle past Louisiana. You do not want to miss your chance to experience the classic Fall Run along the Texas Gulf Coast. The lagoon runs from the southern tip of New Smyrna Beach to the north end of Merritt Island and encompasses more than 21,000 acres of shallow, clear flats with less than a foot of tidal flow. Its a pretty basic fly, with a small head and burnt nylon eyes. Sport Fishing Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. It also helped a bit that the first cast I made with a Spoonfly hooked a fish. No spam. As much as I love wading the south Texas flats, redfish in the Laguna Madre are smallpuppy drum, in local parlancethat rarely weigh more than 6 or 7 pounds. But because tides run so strong, flats fishing can be difficult, more difficult than that found elsewhere in the Southeast, even in areas as close as Florida and South Carolina. March 14: Exec Mtg - ZOOM March 10-12: Bolivar Marshes March 24-26: Harmon Creek Outing March 28: Monthly Mtg. Redfish can be found all along the coast, stretching from Texas, around the Gulf to Florida, and up the Atlantic to parts of the Northeast, preferring water temperatures between 65-85 degrees. (Editors note: Wherever you plan to fish, check that states redfish regulations for licensing, season and bag-limit information.). With diverse locations and ample opportunity, it is a great place to try fly fishing for the first time or the hundredth. The experience left him truly exhilarated. It reminds me of a Perdigon, and that makes it ok for me to fish because I am a huge Perdi fan. Possibly the most unique redfish destination is Mosquito Lagoon in east central Florida. These Texas reds demonstrate typical shallow-water feeding behavior. The daily bag on redfish in Texas is three fish in a slot limit of 20 to 28 inches . I like it in the colors of tans, beiges, and reds with some crystal flash and legs. Colors I do not leave home without are: Black/Purple, and Brown/Tan. The great thing about redfish patterns is, for the most part, they are pretty darn simple fly and easy to tie. SWS Planner: Texas Gulf Coast Redfish Action. The Kwan is a hybrid pattern and imitates shrimp, crab, and baitfish. 2. Doors open up at 6 p.m. and tickets are $60 for individuals and $70 for couples. Gurgler flies are the top waters of saltwater fly fishing. With all these factors in mind, lets go over five of the top producing Redfish fly patterns that every angler needs in their box. Texas Redfish Limits. Below are some articles to guide you to a TROPHY. Everglades National Park offers prime redfish habitat with miles of flats. I am a South African based fly fisherman who loves nothing more than spending a day on the water. Leaders can measure 9 to 12 feet, with a 40-pound butt section tapering to a 15- or 20-pound tippet. The Kwan fly is a great shrimp imitation as well. Short, quick, aggressive stripping will have the fly gurgling through the water and will trigger a natural reflex that makes fish want to eat. It can be tied in sizes 10 - 20. Some even believe that this is an evolved strain of redfish, different from its relatives in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters. First there's the weather. Use a 9- to 10-foot leader with a 50-pound butt section tapered to a 20-pound class tippet and add afoot of 30-pound fluorocarbon as shock tippet for insurance. Easy to cast, and light enough to manipulate in a variety of ways once in the water. Gene Montgomery (334-478-7440) is a Mobile, Alabama, high-school teacher with a passion for fly fishing. Traditionally it's tied with two splayed hackles in the rear that act as claws, paired up with a wide profile body made of EP fibers intertwined with silicone legs that is shaped to match the natural profile of a crab, and topped off with some lead eyes to get it down to the bottom quick. Seriously, it is less than 25 minute's total prep time! Anglers must be ready to cast as soon as the boat lines up. Its tied in a size 2 hook, with a dark Furry Foam diamond-shaped body and lead eyes tied on the shank top, just forward of the hook bend. In Texas,the redfish population was going into a serious decline in the80's..So with help of CCA one was started with later help of a $10mil.grant from Federal fish and wildlife.Now every year,they put 10-20 millions redfish fingerlings back into the water. Boat shoes are great, so you dont slip and slide around on deck. Strip this fly slow and with short pauses to allow it time to shimmer down into the water column. Description - Fly fishing for red drum in the shallow marshes near Galveston using kayaks right after a cool front. Guiderecommended.com and River Traditions LLC participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and others, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other companies." Rockport fly fishing is some of the best on the entire Texas Coast. Ford is a founding member of the conservation group Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, has held multiple IGFA world records and published two books on fly-fishing destinations. Redfish feed on a variety of marsh-like critters. Post by ellisredfish Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:50 pm. Take a look at the Sight Cast Spoon, it comes after years of research and field testing. Factors that affect casting, such as wind and bushy flies, also affect rod choice. I like the neutral colors for the Kwan in sizes #4. Calm conditions are best for spotting redfish in dark water, but sometimes during strong autumn noreasters great flats action can be had. The dumbbell eyes can vary from tungsten to bead chain for weight changes. Thanks to its heavy lead eyes, it drops like a crab, but its movement is more shrimp-like. Ive caught a lot of big fish in my day, but nothing like this. Its simple design is very deadly for many species, especially Redfish. But for Bill Harvey, a biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Aquatic Resource Protection . They can be in water from 6 inches to 3feet, based on varying conditions of tide and temperature. Everyone has to know where the big rods are on the boat and how to quickly stash albie gear. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Mylar is tied on both sides of the hook and on top. 1.2 2. Fish this fly slow and allow it to sink,then with very small, crawling strips you will mimic the movement of a defensive crab. In the southern parts of Florida and Texas, redfish generally run smaller than their cousins in other regions, and they spend most of their time on the flats. All rights reserved. These are all suggestions and please wear what you feel comfortable in. This article will cover the flies that every fisherman should have in their box and the ones that work best when sight fishing to Redfish and Speckled Trout in the Gulf Coast region. My favorite redfish fly pattern is a fuzzy variation of Tim Borskis Chernobyl shrimp. The kinky muddler is excellent for these summer conditions. Redfish in the lagoon and Indian River systems of Florida's space coast have an obsession with this type of fly. Most gurglers are built with a foam body with an aggressive front head and have a marabou, buck tail, or craft fur tail. All of these flies are absolutely deadly for Redfish up on the shallow flats of Gulf Coast fisheries.