It's not always the catch that makes fishing fun
Weather in the Lowcountry can be highly variable. Last week, the wind chill factor was 19 degrees. This week, I have been fishing in shorts and a t-shirt. When it comes to weather conditions, I prefer the latter. It seems the Redfish do as well. They have been eating everything they can catch and fit in their mouths. The bite has been fantastic. Given a highly cooperative target species, I quit fishing with my favorite soft plastic lures and started fishing with my new TFO 6 weight fly rod (a Christmas present to myself). Typically, when fly fishing for Redfish, I use a heavier weight rod (ranging from 7 to 9 weight). I purchased the TFO 6 weight to make things a lot more challenging. Of course, I got more challenge than I bargained for.
When fishing with such a lightweight rod, you have to downsize the fly you are using (making it easier to cast). So I sat down at my fly-tying bench and tied a series of smaller Clouser Minnow files. Wanting to make things really challenging, I also downsized my fly tippet (leader) to 6-pound test. Turns out, this was not a particularly smart thing to do. While locating, casting and hooking a Redfish was pretty easy. Actually catching one proved to be quite difficult. Every fish I hooked broke me off by running into the marsh grass or behind an oyster bar. While kind of frustrating, it was also great fun. This week, there is no picture with my report because I failed to catch one with my new fly rod. The weather this week is forecast to be warm with light winds. Favorable conditions for targeting Redfish with a lightweight fly rod. I may not catch anything but I will have fun!
If you want to learn more about fly fishing in the Lowcountry, the Daniel Island Fishing Club is hosting an educational event at the Charleston Angler in Mt. Pleasant on January 26 beginning at 6:00 p.m. All are welcome to join.
Contact Captain Greg Peralta at captgregp@gmail.com or call (843) 224-0099.