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Texas Red Drum on Flies PDF Print E-mail
Written by Steve Faris   
Tuesday, 04 September 2007
Capt. Chuck Scates poles Steve Faris to a pod of red tails in Fence Lake near Rockport Texas. Photo by David J. Sams
Capt. Chuck Scates poles Steve Faris to a pod of red tails in Fence Lake near Rockport Texas. Photo by David J. Sams
The weather forecast called for 40 percent or more scattered thunderstorms, but dawn at the Redfish Lodge in Rockport didn’t look to have an occasional thunderstorm in it for a thousand miles. But dawn’s can be deceiving.

After setting out with Captain Chuck Scates, my fishing partner and I anticipated a great day of fishing. The winds were virtually non existent and the waters not quit as smooth as glass, but very close.

This was one of my few forays into saltwater fishing and the first time fly-fishing for redfish.

The short ride across the bay brought us to what are called and labeled “lakes,” but in reality are mostly skinny waters that are all interconnected to the bay. Since this is about fishing I won’t try to describe the plethora of waterfowl we saw on our ride and throughout the day. Nor will I mention the porpoises, nor the numerous baitfish that jumped and splashed and served no purpose other than to distract us from our quest.

Capt. Chuck is a legend in these waters and anything I write will surely not do him justice. So I won’t but, needless to say, he is good.

After reaching our destination, no “pods” of redfish could be seen tailing nor was any “nervous water” to be had, so we diligently set out to stalk and hunt our quarry. As long as the sun was out I did see fish once they were pointed out to me numerous times. When the sun was behind a cloud, all bets were off.

I cast a white contraption that looked like a sawed off clousser minnow. And to no avail. Even though I could see the fish and could actually land the fly in their swim direction and pattern, they just would not “open their mouths” as it was explained to me. Some days of fishing are like that. Finally, just before our break for lunch and after chasing numerous nice reds, one was hooked and landed, but only after putting the fly directly on top of the fish. And the take may have been solely a defensive move at that. Plus it was the other guy who had the hook up.

Steve Faris holds his first Red Drum caught on a fly. Faris was using a white Scates Shrimp pattern. Capt. Chuck Scates of Rockport Texas looks on. Photo by David J. Sams
Steve Faris holds his first Red Drum caught on a fly. Faris was using a white Scates Shrimp pattern. Capt. Chuck Scates of Rockport Texas looks on. Photo by David J. Sams
As the “occasional” thunderstorm grew behind us, I cast to every shadow and movement in the water regardless of distinction. This resulted in hooking and landing a flathead, otherwise know as a saltwater catfish. I don’t know why this was so funny, but both the other parties on the boat found this quit humorous.

Soon after Captain Chuck spotted nervous water a good two or three hundred yards from our position and started polling towards it. This was my first experience with such a phenomenon and it was exciting to watch the reds move through the shallow waters feeding with their heads down and their tails out of the water. Upon instruction, I cast slightly in front of the lead wake and the water exploded the second my fly hit the water. A nice red had taken my fly and the fight was on. What seemed much longer than I’m sure it was we landed a nice red of approximately 24 or 25 inches. Not a huge fish, but my first red no less.

We continued fishing until Chuck called out that he thought he saw a “catfish ball.” Don’t ask me, I was along for the ride. Again, he polled into position and I cast to what looked like a very nice fish based on the size of its tail. One strip of the fly and the line ripped through the water and I just knew I had hooked a fish of a lifetime. As a matter of fact I was told it was a fish of a lifetime and not to mess it up, until it jumped and a moan was heard across the water that this fish was just a ladyfish, or skipjack. I did not know to be disappointed. The ladyfish put up a great fight that reminded me of a large rainbow trout. The jumps were spectacular and the runs exhilarating.

The shower that refreshed us shortly afterwards was indeed refreshing and cool. The storm that has hidden behind the shower was a little more harrowing. We had waited just that instant too long on the water wanting one more fish. Chuck’s skills as a captain became quit evident as we hustled back to the marina. Yes, we got soaked and more than once would have probably swamped if it hadn’t been for his surfing skills. He maneuvered the skiff with the grace and style of a surfer riding a wall of water.

What a first day. And I still had tomorrow.

Red drum caught on a green deceiver. Photo by David J. Sams
Red drum caught on a green deceiver. Photo by David J. Sams
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 September 2007 )
 
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