Fly Fished Redfish

[Bruce Edward Litton]

My son & I fly fished redfish behind Isle of Palms, SC, recently. The first one I hooked was more than 10 pounds, the largest fish I've ever had on a fly rod. Here the water was clear; I saw the fish approach with two others just as big. Since we had been practicing our double hauling on a soccer field for a couple of months, with the 9 weight I managed to get the Seducer past the track the fish were taking, and strip right into view. The fish really meant to take it, and I fought it for a full five minutes before the hook pulled. It was a tough day. We never saw a single cloud and temperatures had fallen from 80 plus the day before to a high of 64 with a pretty brisk wind. My son caught two, about 6 pounds and about 4 pounds, and I got a little one of about 2 pounds. It was thrilling, something we may do again in Louisiana in 2016.

 

[lightenup]

Sounds like a great time, post some pictures next time.....


those redfish are delicious......

 

[Thursthouse]

Did you go out with a guide? Sounds like you guys prepared well...I definitely was not prepared for the salt rod and quick see-and-chuck technique...but a blast none the less. Did you see any tailing? Picturrreesssss...

 

[Bruce Edward Litton]

Did you go out with a guide? Sounds like you guys prepared well...I definitely was not prepared for the salt rod and quick see-and-chuck technique...but a blast none the less. Did you see any tailing? Picturrreesssss...

Yes, we went out with Jeremy Mehlhaff, excellent guy. We prepared, thanks to Oliver10 who lent me his 10 wt., but we each got plenty criticism, instruction, and feint praise too. I have to say getting it pretty right on a soccer field is far from fully adequate once you're out there. I asked my son to take the first shots and he backed down, sensing that it would be way over his head, and he did have a hard time at it. He watched me first, and in the wind I found it difficult, disorienting, yet very interesting. To hook the big one, I made a perfect 50 foot double haul, setting the fly down right where it belonged, so I could strip it directly into the fish's oncoming path. The thrill was worth every cent I paid.

That said, God can Mehlhaff cast. I will never forget that first cast I witnessed him make. I saw a world of possibility in that, which I will never have time and money to fully fulfill, but I may yet be able to improve and have more adventures like this. And in the time being, there is so much right here in our Highlands streams I've hardly scratched the surface of.

 

[babyblue]

Tried to upload pics, keep getting fatal error message. Pics too big.

 

[Bruce Edward Litton]

Did you go out with a guide? Sounds like you guys prepared well...I definitely was not prepared for the salt rod and quick see-and-chuck technique...but a blast none the less. Did you see any tailing? Picturrreesssss...

Didn't see any tailing, not many do this time of year. Very few. But we did see a huge school I wish didn't get spooked. My thought was that we should have just backed off & returned to that area, but we did find a lot of fish up a creek, next spot.