He's doing well. Still fishes 3 or 4 times per week and is training his son to guide. He's also helping a younger guide get started in the trade. All around good guy.
Saltwater Flyfishing
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Last: 4 days ago by RobSawyer
Probably in the thousands.bmfvet said:
I'd recognize that hells bay logo anytime, wonder how many redfish have seen it?
Another trip to Louisiana is in the books. We caught some fish , endured some weather but didn't catch the big one we've been after for a while!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DD93PX-pCIt/?igsh=MXhncGQ3OGtoOXN1Zw==
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DD93PX-pCIt/?igsh=MXhncGQ3OGtoOXN1Zw==
Good to see this thread bumped. My favorite thread on the OB. I owe you guys an update or two.
Way to go LRHF! Those are some chief reds. Fish are so fat over there. Looks like you got into a few of them sigtcasting and not working under birds in the bays, which makes it even more special. Can't wait to get over there for another trip.
Way to go LRHF! Those are some chief reds. Fish are so fat over there. Looks like you got into a few of them sigtcasting and not working under birds in the bays, which makes it even more special. Can't wait to get over there for another trip.
We fished Cocodrie two weeks ago. 15 of us rented a place at the Marina, which is really well done. They've spent some money on it. Spent 5 days battling the wind/weather but finally was able to get some clear water. Even took my little Drake out to Timbalier one day. It's a great place, we didn't land anything over 40" like we hoped but did get some PB's upgraded. I think the biggest was 39". We're going to try to go again in February. I started tying my own flies a few months back and was pretty cool feeling watching reds eat them.
Try tying up some Borski Sliders. You will learn some deer hair techniques and it's just a great fly! Don't make the head too thick, it needs to get into the water column and swim 
LRHF said:
Try tying up some Borski Sliders. You will learn some deer hair techniques and it's just a great fly! Don't make the head too thick, it needs to get into the water column and swim
My go to early spring sheepshead fly!
Thanks Cory. I'll try that out. Been meaning to dabble with deer hair. They didn't say but assuming a 1/0 hook would be fine?
A 1/0 would be great. I found this fly worked perfect in fairly skinny water. We caught a lot of table far with this fly!
Post pics of the fly when you tie a few!
Post pics of the fly when you tie a few!
RickSawyer said:LRHF said:
Try tying up some Borski Sliders. You will learn some deer hair techniques and it's just a great fly! Don't make the head too thick, it needs to get into the water column and swim
My go to early spring sheepshead fly!
A Sawyer sighting!!
The legend lives!!!
TarponChaser said:RickSawyer said:LRHF said:
Try tying up some Borski Sliders. You will learn some deer hair techniques and it's just a great fly! Don't make the head too thick, it needs to get into the water column and swim
My go to early spring sheepshead fly!
A Sawyer sighting!!
Haha, I am still around and still fly fish quite a bit just don't have as much time to share. Hopefully that changes soon!
Well you're doing better than me bro. My knees have gotten so bad that I've barely fished the last 18 months or so- it's hard for me to stand on the platform or deck for very long. But, getting one knee replaced next week and the other will follow depending on my rehab timeline.RickSawyer said:TarponChaser said:RickSawyer said:LRHF said:
Try tying up some Borski Sliders. You will learn some deer hair techniques and it's just a great fly! Don't make the head too thick, it needs to get into the water column and swim
My go to early spring sheepshead fly!
A Sawyer sighting!!
Haha, I am still around and still fly fish quite a bit just don't have as much time to share. Hopefully that changes soon!
I've got a few buddies like me who are broken-down ex-jocks who've had their knees replaced in their 40's like me and they've said it's a game-changer. One dude even had his done in like April or May a couple years back and was snow-skiing that winter. So I'll be looking to do that, be able to surf again, and of course chase fish.
TarponChaser said:Well you're doing better than me bro. My knees have gotten so bad that I've barely fished the last 18 months or so- it's hard for me to stand on the platform or deck for very long. But, getting one knee replaced next week and the other will follow depending on my rehab timeline.RickSawyer said:TarponChaser said:RickSawyer said:LRHF said:
Try tying up some Borski Sliders. You will learn some deer hair techniques and it's just a great fly! Don't make the head too thick, it needs to get into the water column and swim
My go to early spring sheepshead fly!
A Sawyer sighting!!
Haha, I am still around and still fly fish quite a bit just don't have as much time to share. Hopefully that changes soon!
I've got a few buddies like me who are broken-down ex-jocks who've had their knees replaced in their 40's like me and they've said it's a game-changer. One dude even had his done in like April or May a couple years back and was snow-skiing that winter. So I'll be looking to do that, be able to surf again, and of course chase fish.
Best of luck with that sincerely. Guess that's one of the perks of being an undersized Quarterback coming out if middle school and having the high school coaches tell you there's no spot for you on this roster haha!
Love to see all the Louisiana reports on here! That's something I have missed for the last couple years and want to get back out there again one of these days.
DV04
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Rick -
Man I just wanted to say thanks for starting this thread. I was invited to take my first saltwater fly trip w my uncle in late 2018. I found the thread and read it all, asked a few questions about gear and you guys were really helpful and encouraging - way different vibe than I had gotten from trout fly guys in a lot of shops over the years.
Caught my first red on the fly that day and that was all it took. Completely changed my life. Fast forward 5 years and I've been putting in the time to get better at this thing, but it's really become a lifestyle. Started by fishing w guides on the Texas coast. Found a great fishing partner in a former trainee now my best friend. Started fishing together a lot. Collected lots of rods and reels and gear.
Fortunate to have been all over the Texas coast, Belize, Louisiana, Mexico, even caught sea bass and stripers on the fly in cape cod. My species on the fly list is one of a kind. Not many guys have caught a permit, bonefish, tarpon, dorado, and stripers and sea robbin on the fly.
Decided to go all in and we bought our own poling skiff. Lucked into the chance to buy a 2 year old mint skiff, one of the best on the water. We fish middle coast a lot with occasional trips to LLM.
Might have a blue water trip lined up this year, taking casting lessons, interested in becoming a CCI. Gonna start tying my own flies this year. 2 weeks ago I caught my PB Texas red in the fly. 29.5 inch fish on my own boat with my best friend and son on board. Something special about grinding it out on the poling platform and on the front w a fly rod and pulling a fish like that off a flat.
Anyway, your thread inspired me to jump in and try this thing and you and the other fellas on this thread (TC, sun chaser, LRHF, ag fly guy, alto…all the rest of you boys) encouraged me to chase these fish on the fly in some of the most beautiful locations in the world.
Here's a pic of my first red on the fly in 2018 w an 8 wt TFO and an Allen kraken reel, and the next fish is my PB Texas red from 2 weeks ago caught on a HT8 and Abel. Can't wait to see what the next 5 years brings!!! Let's go!!!
Man I just wanted to say thanks for starting this thread. I was invited to take my first saltwater fly trip w my uncle in late 2018. I found the thread and read it all, asked a few questions about gear and you guys were really helpful and encouraging - way different vibe than I had gotten from trout fly guys in a lot of shops over the years.
Caught my first red on the fly that day and that was all it took. Completely changed my life. Fast forward 5 years and I've been putting in the time to get better at this thing, but it's really become a lifestyle. Started by fishing w guides on the Texas coast. Found a great fishing partner in a former trainee now my best friend. Started fishing together a lot. Collected lots of rods and reels and gear.
Fortunate to have been all over the Texas coast, Belize, Louisiana, Mexico, even caught sea bass and stripers on the fly in cape cod. My species on the fly list is one of a kind. Not many guys have caught a permit, bonefish, tarpon, dorado, and stripers and sea robbin on the fly.
Decided to go all in and we bought our own poling skiff. Lucked into the chance to buy a 2 year old mint skiff, one of the best on the water. We fish middle coast a lot with occasional trips to LLM.
Might have a blue water trip lined up this year, taking casting lessons, interested in becoming a CCI. Gonna start tying my own flies this year. 2 weeks ago I caught my PB Texas red in the fly. 29.5 inch fish on my own boat with my best friend and son on board. Something special about grinding it out on the poling platform and on the front w a fly rod and pulling a fish like that off a flat.
Anyway, your thread inspired me to jump in and try this thing and you and the other fellas on this thread (TC, sun chaser, LRHF, ag fly guy, alto…all the rest of you boys) encouraged me to chase these fish on the fly in some of the most beautiful locations in the world.
Here's a pic of my first red on the fly in 2018 w an 8 wt TFO and an Allen kraken reel, and the next fish is my PB Texas red from 2 weeks ago caught on a HT8 and Abel. Can't wait to see what the next 5 years brings!!! Let's go!!!
dr_boogs said:
Rick -
Man I just wanted to say thanks for starting this thread. I was invited to take my first sal****er fly trip w my uncle in late 2018. I found the thread and read it all, asked a few questions about gear and you guys were really helpful and encouraging - way different vibe than I had gotten from trout fly guys in a lot of shops over the years.
Caught my first red on the fly that day and that was all it took. Completely changed my life. Fast forward 5 years and I've been putting in the time to get better at this thing, but it's really become a lifestyle. Started by fishing w guides on the Texas coast. Found a great fishing partner in a former trainee now my best friend. Started fishing together a lot. Collected lots of rods and reels and gear.
Fortunate to have been all over the Texas coast, Belize, Louisiana, Mexico, even caught sea bass and stripers on the fly in cape cod. My species on the fly list is one of a kind. Not many guys have caught a permit, bonefish, tarpon, dorado, and stripers and sea robbin on the fly.
Decided to go all in and we bought our own poling skiff. Lucked into the chance to buy a 2 year old mint skiff, one of the best on the water. We fish middle coast a lot with occasional trips to LLM.
Might have a blue water trip lined up this year, taking casting lessons, interested in becoming a CCI. Gonna start tying my own flies this year. 2 weeks ago I caught my PB Texas red in the fly. 29.5 inch fish on my own boat with my best friend and son on board. Something special about grinding it out on the poling platform and on the front w a fly rod and pulling a fish like that off a flat.
Anyway, your thread inspired me to jump in and try this thing and you and the other fellas on this thread (TC, sun chaser, LRHF, ag fly guy, alto…all the rest of you boys) encouraged me to chase these fish on the fly in some of the most beautiful locations in the world.
Here's a pic of my first red on the fly in 2018 w an 8 wt TFO and an Allen kraken reel, and the next fish is my PB Texas red from 2 weeks ago caught on a HT8 and Abel. Can't wait to see what the next 5 years brings!!! Let's go!!!
Sorry that we assisted in your inability to maintain healthy relationships and hold down good paying jobs my friend.
I hope in 5 years you're a beach bum fishing guide hahaha!
Howdy fellas! Good to see some old guard around here again. I haven't been active in quite a while but do check in once in a blue moon.
Slow year for me in 2024, it seemed like fall took forever to finally get here. Did manage to crack the 30" barrier a couple times though.
First one was in June at Gordy Galveston Classic this summer. Fishing was tough with high water after the tropical storm in June. A couple lucky overslot fish sent us home with some new 7wt rods so we can't complain.
Second one was in on an unseasonably warm October camping trip. Not a bad way to break the new 7wt.
Tight lines in 2025!
Slow year for me in 2024, it seemed like fall took forever to finally get here. Did manage to crack the 30" barrier a couple times though.
First one was in June at Gordy Galveston Classic this summer. Fishing was tough with high water after the tropical storm in June. A couple lucky overslot fish sent us home with some new 7wt rods so we can't complain.
Second one was in on an unseasonably warm October camping trip. Not a bad way to break the new 7wt.
Tight lines in 2025!
Howdy Ags, someone on here encouraged me to post on this thread. Honestly, I've been meaning to for awhile and haven't got around to it.
I took advantage of a little bit of sun last week and hit the Wilson's Cut area between Port A and North Padre last Thursday before heading to the ranch for the end of deer season.
Boy, I'm glad we did. We had a northeast wind 15-20 mph and the sun didn't stay out for long but we managed to get on the reds with a bonus sheepie to hand at the end of the day.
I found reds in almost all water from 3' shelf drops to shoulder backing sand, but the ones who were most interested in chewing on some flies were in that 1.5' tea stained water. I had a tan Avalon shrimp variant tied on initially and then went to a darker crack fly. They were active all day even through slacktide which surprised me. Fun day beating the winter blues.
I'm going to get out to scout post-freeze so fingers crossed we skipped any significant fish kill this freeze. I'll update on what I'm seeing. I've got a charter scheduled on Friday so hopefully the weather holds and happy fish are found!
Bonus photo from New Year's Eve down in Belize where I was able to put the rib on some bones and a few shots at juvi tarpon (they were picky).
I took advantage of a little bit of sun last week and hit the Wilson's Cut area between Port A and North Padre last Thursday before heading to the ranch for the end of deer season.
Boy, I'm glad we did. We had a northeast wind 15-20 mph and the sun didn't stay out for long but we managed to get on the reds with a bonus sheepie to hand at the end of the day.
I found reds in almost all water from 3' shelf drops to shoulder backing sand, but the ones who were most interested in chewing on some flies were in that 1.5' tea stained water. I had a tan Avalon shrimp variant tied on initially and then went to a darker crack fly. They were active all day even through slacktide which surprised me. Fun day beating the winter blues.
I'm going to get out to scout post-freeze so fingers crossed we skipped any significant fish kill this freeze. I'll update on what I'm seeing. I've got a charter scheduled on Friday so hopefully the weather holds and happy fish are found!
Bonus photo from New Year's Eve down in Belize where I was able to put the rib on some bones and a few shots at juvi tarpon (they were picky).
Heck yeah! That was me who suggested you post on this thread. Welcome aboard!
Great photos and loved the details in your trip report. Tell your better half she's got great taste in hats, I fished Belize in that exact lid 2 years ago. Love the drone shot.
How'd you sort out renting a panga to DIY down there? We fished out of Punta Gorda with the Garbutts family. Trip of a lifetime, caught my first bones and permit with them.
Great photos and loved the details in your trip report. Tell your better half she's got great taste in hats, I fished Belize in that exact lid 2 years ago. Love the drone shot.
How'd you sort out renting a panga to DIY down there? We fished out of Punta Gorda with the Garbutts family. Trip of a lifetime, caught my first bones and permit with them.
Thanks Boogs! I'll pass along the compliment but I know she'll see it. She's a long time lurker on the board.
Re: the panga. We own a house just outside San Pedro and I have my captain's license down there too. I borrowed it from my local buddy. I normally support by booking days on the water down there and fill in gaps DIYing but this trip was a R&R/home maintenance trip.
Milwaukees Best Light
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AG
Are there any flies for redfish on Amazon that are worth buying? Here is one that looks ok
https://a.co/d/ilDe5Ib
What about the flies for sale in the fly room at bass pro? They any good? If not, where should I look? I am in Kemah. I have no interest in tying my own at this point.
https://a.co/d/ilDe5Ib
What about the flies for sale in the fly room at bass pro? They any good? If not, where should I look? I am in Kemah. I have no interest in tying my own at this point.
The Houston area is lucky to have some high quality fly shops. A thread on Texas fly shops could be its own thread.
Funny thing is that until about 10 years ago we didn't have a single one. I forget exactly when iFly/Anglers Edge closed their Uptown spot on Post Oak but there was a gap of a few years between that and when Gordy and Bayou City opened. The only place to go was FTU or Orvis and even Orvis's actual fly shop was dwarfed by their clothing and dog bed stock. At least they both had really good people back then- Andy Packmore, Marcos Enriquez, Jim @ FTU (forget his last name), and Benjamin Gossett. The dude at the Woodlands Orvis was a good dude too but I forget his name, @87Flyfisher might remember it, but that dude has moved.Mega Lops said:
The Houston area is lucky to have some high quality fly shops. A thread on Texas fly shops could be its own thread.
Now we have Gordy and Bayou City plus FTU and Orvis with Bayou City being a dedicated fly shop and Gordy's fly shop section being very extensive. And both Gordy & BCA have great people.
Anyway, tomorrow is 3-weeks post-knee replacement surgery. I'll get the left done later this year but you can see bone-on-bone before (and still in the left) and the space from the implant. Plus, I asked the surgeon to take of my knee laid open during surgery after the replacement parts have been installed.
Before:
After:
During surgery:
Before:
After:
During surgery:
Love the ortho images, you may want to crop that second image, your name and perhaps surgeons names are included in the image.
We do a handful of total knees on dogs, mostly total hips. We don't resurface the patella. Our femoral component is cementless, our tibial component is either fully cemented poly or cementless like yours.
We do a handful of total knees on dogs, mostly total hips. We don't resurface the patella. Our femoral component is cementless, our tibial component is either fully cemented poly or cementless like yours.
Milwaukees Best Light
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So, is the lack of an answer to my question my answer? Anything from amazon is likely crap, and bass pro as well.
I got an 8wt for my birthday so I need some flies to give it a go. I prefer amazon, because I don't really like to talk to store people. Sure, they are nice and all, but just not my thing if I don't have to.
I got an 8wt for my birthday so I need some flies to give it a go. I prefer amazon, because I don't really like to talk to store people. Sure, they are nice and all, but just not my thing if I don't have to.
Milwaukees Best Light said:
So, is the lack of an answer to my question my answer? Anything from amazon is likely crap, and bass pro as well.
I got an 8wt for my birthday so I need some flies to give it a go. I prefer amazon, because I don't really like to talk to store people. Sure, they are nice and all, but just not my thing if I don't have to.
I can't name any specific "stores" on Amazon to buy flies but I don't tie. I'll go into a shop but I've ordered online from a ton of places. If you're buying commercially tied flies from a shop whether it's online or not they're usually buying mass produced stuff from Vietnam or something.
I also buy from these guys. They're based out of Sargent, tie their own stuff and IIRC, one of the guys is an Aggie.
https://www.sightcastfishing.com/
I wouldn't order from amazon. A lot of their stock may be advertised as 'redfish flies' to push cheap Chinese flies but in reality they are flies that are way too heavy for our waters and tied on cheap hooks that will rust. BP is a mixed bag but I've never been impressed with their saltwater selection.
Sightcast has some great products. If you shoot me a message with your address I'll send you a few flies to get you started and to give you a point of reference.
Etsy is another decent option if you read the reviews from the seller. Especially if you have a point of reference on what you're looking for.
That said, I'm always a proponent of supporting local and chatting with a fly shop employeee they are a huge wealth of knowledge for your local fishery.
Sightcast has some great products. If you shoot me a message with your address I'll send you a few flies to get you started and to give you a point of reference.
Etsy is another decent option if you read the reviews from the seller. Especially if you have a point of reference on what you're looking for.
That said, I'm always a proponent of supporting local and chatting with a fly shop employeee they are a huge wealth of knowledge for your local fishery.
I like the flies from bass pro. I think a lot are Umpqua or reasonable dupes. I've also had very good experiences with the workers there, but that probably depends on location.
Bought plenty from ebay, etsy, and independent fly shops as well, but never Amazon. I'm losing faith in Amazon across the board, honestly. Anyway, the front side of my fly box is full of bass pro flies. These are the ones I re-buy the most.
Bought plenty from ebay, etsy, and independent fly shops as well, but never Amazon. I'm losing faith in Amazon across the board, honestly. Anyway, the front side of my fly box is full of bass pro flies. These are the ones I re-buy the most.
Milwaukees Best Light
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Heck of a nice offer, but give them to a kid just starting out.
If you'll tell us a little more about where you might fish for reds, wading or from a skiff, we can help make some suggestions. Water depth/color?
Sight cast would also be my recommendation for online fly tiers. Redfish crack would be a standard starter set, they come w bead eyes or lead eyes depending on what sink you want.
You'll catch the heck out of salt water fish w a collection of clousers and deceivers, but if you fish shallow or over grass the clousers will grass up almost immediately because of their lead eyes.
But a clouser at night under lights is lethal on specs.
Sight cast would also be my recommendation for online fly tiers. Redfish crack would be a standard starter set, they come w bead eyes or lead eyes depending on what sink you want.
You'll catch the heck out of salt water fish w a collection of clousers and deceivers, but if you fish shallow or over grass the clousers will grass up almost immediately because of their lead eyes.
But a clouser at night under lights is lethal on specs.
Milwaukees Best Light
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Mid coast, shallow back lakes. Sometimes grass, sometimes mud. Not a lit of shell where I am going. I will be in the kayak, but I can get out and wade when I want to use the buggy whip. Never tried it out of the yak before, so will probably plan on wading. Trip is 2/28-3/2. Water is usually pretty muddy, maybe muddy green in good conditions. .
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