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Saltwater Flyfishing

463,451 Views | 3064 Replies | Last: 26 days ago by TarponChaser
elnaco
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AG
I was unaware that they even made a 5-piece BVK so no I've never casted one. My guess is it probably wouldn't cast as well as the 4 piece, but I wouldn't imagine it'd be too noticeable either.
Duncan Idaho
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AlexAggie said:

Has anyone fished the BVK 8wt in a 5 piece? Is it any different from the 4 piece other than the obvious? SteepanCheap has them on sale for $179......
damn you for posting this
AGricola08
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AG
+1 to what he said....

Haha. Damnit
elnaco
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AG
Recent tying escapades for all the fishing I haven't been doing

No 6 kwans for when they want something small



No 6 olive shrimp. Been messing with propping craft fur up against a palmered hackle. Keeps the craft fur from fowling and really makes the material breath in the water.





Muy Wows



Salt of the water
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AG
Dust off your Uggs, slip on your favorite North Face fleece, and snort a line of pumpkin spice *****es! It's almost FALL!

(language not safe for work)


If you fly fish the TX coast and fall doesn't get you excited, let me give you a couple reasons:
  • pods of redfish
  • tailing redfish
  • shrimp migration
  • cooler weather
  • shoreline burning tower boaters getting out of the bays to hunt and watch football
  • airborne flounder
  • lighter winds
  • falling tides in the morning


It can't come fast enough.
RickSawyer
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AG
Finn Maccumhail
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AG
BKClark
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AG
SSSSShhh. Don't invite unnecessary vermin. We have enough of that during the summer
Newoldarmy
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AG
Taking my last shot at permit for the year next weekend. Kind of a long shot between my casting skill and late season for northern Quintana Roo, but I'm a degenerate at this point: I'm gonna throw some coin in the slot machine before I get dragged out of the casino for the year.

I'm hoping for a big end to the summer season with a victory over Clemson this weekend and a permit next weekend.



Edit for dumb.
Salt of the water
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AG
Talmbout!

Northern Mexico? I thought you were a Yucatan regular. Are there permit much North of there?
Newoldarmy
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AG
Meant north Yucatan!

Just got to put it all together once...or maybe hope for kind of a "slow" sort of permit.

Natural selection in saltwater is pretty vigorous, though, so....we'll see.
elnaco
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AG
Dumb fish are my favorite kind of fish
Salt of the water
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Newoldarmy said:

Taking my last shot at permit for the year next weekend. Kind of a long shot between my casting skill and late season for northern Quintana Roo, but I'm a degenerate at this point: I'm gonna throw some coin in the slot machine before I get dragged out of the casino for the year.

I'm hoping for a big end to the summer season with a victory over Clemson this weekend and a permit next weekend.

Hopefully you get to grip some permit like TLK did in Belize.

I'm not saying that the fact that he was fishing out of a panga had anything to do with his permit success, but... I'm not saying that it didn't. Still willing to trade you my panga for that chittum if you're feeling desperate.
Newoldarmy
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AG
Looks like a window between the storms this weekend so I'm hoping for luck like theirs!

The Chittum is at Stiffy getting some nicks cleaned up and ready for Fall.

I worked on it quite a bit this summer. Went through the trailer with all new lights, bunks, one new step fender, reworked the hubs, drained all the old fuel, replaced filters, replaced helm seal that was leaking a little, ordered a sissy bar for the back platform from Hal, got the network going on the Garmin for gauges, etc. I love that crap so lots of fun.

Now, Kevin is fixing a couple of spots here and there that have been bugging me and Stephen Lasolla is reworking the prop to put some metal back on it that has been ground off over time.

I'm going to take it to Seadrift and try to drop in at Charlie's a few weekdays this Fall to see if the sissy bar is engineered well enough to keep me up there.
Newoldarmy
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AG
Went to Holbox this past weekend. Pretty good trip but still no permit. Only saw a few and had shots at two small ones with no eats.

Jumped four tarpon from 8-20 pounds which was fun. I had on a small permit crab so they either jumped off, straightened the hook, or cut the 12# leader. Had two or three other flash/eats but couldn't stick them.

Spent yesterday morning poling to rays to see if they had permit on them and every single one had a jack on it...no permit.

Started practicing casting at them at 80 feet or so and trying to get out all my line. I really struggle with that last 10-15 feet tangling up and not shooting. Sucks. Anyway, ended up having a lot of fun with them as only a couple were over five pounds.

They stick perfectly on top of the ray until they hear the fly hit. They then swim a circle around the ray looking for the crab, often swimming right past it. Funny to watch them tear up the water around the ray and aggressively hunting for the fly. Top water would be a kick for sure.

Good trip and now look forward to next season and maybe a permit. I've been trying to catch one for two years now without success.

RickSawyer
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AG
Sounds like a great trip, even without the permit. I love jack crevelle. Highly underrated species! My buddy stuck this 27 pounder on his 11 weight and it tore him up!

https://instagr.am/p/BKTjayKj70D
Newoldarmy
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AG
I caught a slightly smaller one at Key West a couple of years ago on a 12 weight and it kicked my butt.
Ayto Siks
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Newoldarmy said:


Spent yesterday morning poling to rays to see if they had permit on them and every single one had a jack on it...no permit.

They stick perfectly on top of the ray until they hear the fly hit. They then swim a circle around the ray looking for the crab, often swimming right past it. Funny to watch them tear up the water around the ray and aggressively hunting for the fly. Top water would be a kick for sure.




Love reading details like this.
Salt of the water
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Good report! Bummer about the permit.

Are the permit numbers lower at holbox than Punta Allen or just fewer acres of flats to chase them on? If you're not dead set on sealing the deal in Holbox maybe move your boat South one summer. I'd imagine the tarpon fishing is lower quality but falcatus fever is nothing to trifle with.
Newoldarmy
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Permit numbers are lower and the area is smaller so they see some boats.

I'll probably end up giving in and going down there or even Garbutt's, but I'd really like to catch one at Holbox. What's crazy is that the ones I've seen at Key West have been even spookier. At least those are bigger and easier to see.

Everyone tells me that Tarantula at Pta Allen has cured more cases of BPS than anyone.

Salt of the water
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AG
Paging Teddy Eyeballz - tell us about the new chittum that flies!
Ayto Siks
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Where's all the trip reports for fall reds?

I'm not sure what it is about late summer and early fall, but this is the time of year when juvi tarpon are really chewing. The evening storms fill up the landscape of the glades, provide shade and compliment the scenery. Been hitting the usual walk-in spots, looking for rollers, and listening for the distinctive sounds of happy tarpon enjoying the day's end.



I'd like to catch something on either end of the spectrum - either really small or really big - but I'm stuck in the medium class of fun-sized tarpon. Still need to work on my one-handed photography skills.

Newoldarmy
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AG
Beautiful
DV04
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dr_boogs
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Posted this on another fly rod thread on the OB but I know this thread has a lot of regulars so thought I'd post here too:

Been wanting to scratch the salt water fly fishing itch but a recent trip up to Cape Cod with a buddy of mine for blue fish, false albacore, and tuna has made me finally decide to take the plunge. I have some lighter rods and reels for fresh water fly fishing I've used in the past (still just a beginner with a fly rod), so I was looking at the 8 wt TFO BVK in 9 ft. You have a mid-range salt-water fly reel you'd recommend to pair with that rod while I get started?

I live in B/CS, so any recommendations for a guide who is patient with beginners in salt water fly fishing (out of Port-O, Rockport, or Galveston) would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
RickSawyer
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I highly recommend Baron Boyette. I will fully acknowledge that he is a good friend of mine but he is patient, works well with beginners and is a great person to be around. He primarily fishes West Galveston Bay but does move around a bit too.



https://www.3bflycharters.com
elnaco
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AG
dr_boogs said:

You have a mid-range salt-water fly reel you'd recommend to pair with that rod while I get started?

I live in B/CS, so any recommendations for a guide who is patient with beginners in salt water fly fishing (out of Port-O, Rockport, or Galveston) would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
Lots of options for the reels. My recommendation would be these, in no particular order of importance.

1. Allen Kraken or Alpha III - Great value and tough reels. I have the cheaper Alpha III and have put it through some serious abuse with minimal maintenance and it's still ticking. You'll have to step up to the kraken if you want a sealed drag, but it's not necessary.
https://www.allenflyfishing.com/kraken-fly-reel-series/

2. Orvis Hydros - Sealed drag, have landed slot reds with no problem on the 5-6wt size
https://www.orvis.com/p/hydros-sl-fly-reels/2fbt

3. Redington Behemoth - Beast of a reel for the money. Rough looking because it's cast, but a great performing reel.
https://www.redington.com/fly-fishing-reels/behemoth

4. 3-tand Reels - Don't have experience with these but have heard nothing but good things
http://www.3-tand.com/reels/

5. Danielsson Fly Reels - You'll have to get it delivered from Sweden bc they don't sell locally, but these are probably your best bang for your buck. Multiple price points for anything you're looking for
http://shop.danielsson-flyreels.se/en/fly-fishing/fly-reels/

Salt of the water
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AG
If you want to get a top tier reel like a Tibor, Nautilus, Hatch, or Abel I'd hunt for end of year closeouts to see if you can save some money. You can also keep an eye on the classifieds in microskiff.com for used reels.

If you're OK with mid tier reels, naco gave you some good options. I'd throw sage into that list also.

Someone on here a while back was trying to sell a 3 tand 8 weight they only used once or twice. I forget who but maybe you can find the post.

Edit to add: there are wade fishing spots that are day trip distance from BCS if you have the bug bad enough... A guide would definitely help cut down the learning curve though.
dr_boogs
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Thanks fellas. Really appreciate the advice.
LRHF
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Anybody been to the coast in the last few days (within 4 hours of Houston)? Heading to Sabine or POC in the morning... any advice appreciated. Will follow up with trip report and pics if successful. We are using a poling skiff if helps influence any free beta.
RickSawyer
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Fished every week for last month. Has been very good. Right now we are flooded with water... it's tough right now. Everything is real spread out. We found them today but it wasn't easy.

Literally poled a section and thought, "I think this is normally a cow pasture." Ten seconds later saw a cow patty... water was a foot deep there....
SabineAg
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Heard the conditions were textbook for a good day in POC last Saturday but that's all I got
Salt of the water
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Spent all weekend on the coast. Water was still super high but was dropping all weekend. Reds were tailing in the grass and would disappear quickly into deeper water quickly after grabbing their snack. Seemed like more of a crab eating pattern than full blown fall shrimp murder.







Also got a current student who'd thrown a fly rod a couple times in Colorado a few good shots a some tailing fish. Didn't connect but I think we got him hooked anyway.
LRHF
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AG
Thanks for the responses on latest conditions. We ended up heading to Calcasieu on Saturday and intended to hit Sabine on Sunday. My fishing buddy and I both had busy schedules this week but he was able to pick up the boat from a mechanic and take the skiff to his house Friday evening. We were super excited, 100 hour service completed and new water pump... Smooth sailing in the future!

Relaxed start to the morning, friend added a 24 volt trolling motor and we needed to slide in new batteries. On our last trip, we fixed some wiring issues but "good enough" for the trip and this revisited us on this morning! The wiring on this boat is a nightmare from previous owners and sliding the new batteries in caused a few wiring harness issues that needed resolution prior to leaving.



Pulled into the launch at Keith Lake and the wind was howling and people were pouring off the lake with great reports until 9 am when the bite stopped. Time for a plan change.

We finally made our launch on Calcasieu and made it to our destination to start fishing. The bayou we were fishing was incredibly high and water from the marsh was pouring back in. We made a slight move when we heard the motor "beep"! 35 minutes of running time and the new water pump was moving zero water The tide was still high but ripping out, might as well fish our way back to the channel.



Pulled out two keepers in an area we wouldn't typically spend much time in. Caught the first fish while drifting then power poled down and caught another while my buddy swapped flies.



Another keeper! We caught 5 Red's and able to keep 3. We fished to a main channel then realized the tide had quickly swapped and was rushing back in! We had overstayed our welcome, we spooled up and did a combined trolling motor/ poling effort to get back to the ship channel. Figured we could make it back to the channel but we were worried about the tide/ wind/ night combo heading our way...



Thanks to the Cajun Navy! These guys graciously swung by and had a tow rope ready before we could even explain what was wrong.



Finally time for a couple of beers and a tow back to the boat launch. There is no way our pole/ trolling motor combo would have made it back to the dock! (at least my part on the pole) Many thanks again to our new friends from Louisiana.



Time to relax, watch a quick replay of the Aggie Football win over SC and prep dinner for the Astro's game.




We were very bummed to miss a day of fly fishing on Sunday but thankful for a successful trip despite mechanical issues.

They say you should always be planning your trips with the following formula: N+2. I'm not 100% clear on my next trip but the 2nd next trip is to Chile (I like to mix my Fresh and Saltwater Fly Fishing posts on Texags!) in December. Finished up a few new streamers earlier in the week.



LRHF
Ayto Siks
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Consecutive trip reports.
 
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