Tag Archives: fly fishing

Grateful Redfish

Kissed by a redfish…

Upon arrival it was soon discovered that the saltwater flat was almost drained dry making the normal redfish haunts obsolete and more than skinny. So much for depending on the accuracy of the printed tide tables.At least the wind was down and made for more dependable sight casting.

Without hesitation, the angler suits up for what proves to be a gorgeous day with blue bird skies and light and variable winds from the West. Wading out beyond the normal terrain, eyes are peeled back as if they were stuck open with toothpicks looking for anything that moved. Before to long, a large spot tail appears about 50 yards away and the pace is quickened to close the distance. With care, so as not to spook the finned creature from the skinny water lagoon, the distance is closed in a matter of minutes and once within casting range the fly is presented carefully and lands with a soft plop. The redfish turns and follows for a few feet then is distracted by the real deal and turns away to eat a live crab nearby. Another presentation is made just off the right shoulder of the hefty redfish and not more than 3 feet ahead. “Gotchya now” a voice is heard… Then WHAM! The fish eats the fly and with two good strip strikes the fish lets loose and clears the angler’s line as if it were on a power driven motor and with a few more kicks of its powerful tail the backing appears on his 8wt.

Strong 28-inch red drum in skinny water

After a brilliant tug-o-war the fish succumbs to its challenger and is posed for a quick portrait of a beauty of a 28-inch redfish. “There you go, swim free my pretty. Your game was great and more than fair.”he Lone Red Ranger swims a few feet away freely, then turns 180 degrees and comes back and kisses the anglers boot. A gentle nudge with his hand guides the grateful redfish away and a moment is taken in silence to consider that the redfish came back to thank the sportsman for his fair fight and safe release.

what the h3!!?

Bad Weather Fly Fishing

A very intimidating weather forecast…

Port Aransas Weather Forecast – POOR CONDITIONS

…accompanied by high winds and dense cloud cover lasting over a week and a half, only the dauntless are crazy enough to find these types of weather conditions just another extreme fly fishing challenge! In a true fly fisherman’s heart, visions and dreams of wicked redfish on the flats with an 8wt mingle and party hard. Venturing out into the wild grey yonder, the events that unfolded for 3 days straight warrant a play by play account of what happened a hundred times during this stint of pure craziness. Maybe being hard-headed is the key, otherwise you will end up tucking tail and running for shelter, or never leaving the couch in the first place. I consider these kinds of conditions to make one a true “fly man”.

rum, hard core, fly fishing, red fish, flats, port aransas

Dark and Stormy – Dreaming of Rum

You take the good with the bad. If you’re a true Flyman dedicate, these shitty conditions are good conditions too.

“11’Oclock, 30 feet and closing FAST!!! He yells to himself realizing he was very much alone miles from the shelter of his trusty pickup truck. Instantly a smile grazes his weathered and somehow sunburned face. “CAST man! CAST!” Into the wind a 30ft cast to a distance-closing redfish estimated around 30 inches will even make a seasoned angler’s knees knock. Especially since in only seconds, that 30 feet is now only 20 feet, and the wind driven currents are causing a tremendous amount of line slack.

The angler thinks to himself, “Even if this fish eats, good luck seeing or feeling the take.” And suddenly a blue tail with a distinct black spot appears 15 feet in front of him signaling that the fish ate the rough offering. “SET! SET! SET!”, comes another barked command held silent in his head. He strip strikes with all the length his seemingly short-ass arm can muster yet feels nothing but more slack in the line and with the motion and movement of his body the red fish heads for the depths of the black lagoon. “DAMMIT! NOT AGAIN!” …a good time for lunch he thinks out loud as if his fishing partner were nearby.

Sea Shell Bar a great place for lunch break

Once he crossed the deep gut that separated wet mushiness from a dry spit of seashell crusted land, the gear was ripped off his tired and sweaty person and a nice ham sandwich emerges. It of course is scarfed down faster than a redfish can eat a crab as he knows the tide continues to rise and it is about time that the primary flat in this area which is normally ankle deep should now be shin to knee deep and has potential to harbor more red fish. So off he goes, renewed with energy from the miniscule hamwich and determined to dislocate another redfish, or at least attempt to do so, even if some may consider his attempts to be unsuccessful, the hard-headed angler once again sees another opportunity to dance with a marvelous redfish in close proximity. Wading back, a lone boat with big outboard motor and two helpless dogs impede withing 50 yards and cut his wading path short. Blowing the flat and sending all red fish within 150 yards into hiding, the fly fisherman whistles and motions to the guy to be silent but he knows it is too late and continues wading away from the boat that just dropped anchor in the area he had planned to fish. One thousand yards further and 30 minutes later, the fly man is now setting up to work another grassy bank almost out of sight of the boatman with the honking wind in his “favor”. Thinking to himself, “the water is too deep (at the knees) to see any tailing reds”, he strategically sets up in position approximately 50 feet from the grass edges and shuffles slowly parallel to the shoreline, casting gently and as quietly as possible up into the grass edges, but not more than a foot into the grass so as not to spook anything further back in the grass.

A flood tide can push redfish deep in the grass banks

The small brown creature fly sits for a moment after a decent cast lands in a small nook between thicker grass patches while a small knot is removed from the running line. Wonder races through the fly man’s fatigued mind and his strained eyes begin to see a mirage. “A wake, coming straight at me!” Tick tick, the fly is moved with two short strips and suddenly it is realized that this is no mirage but a redfish coming out from deep in the grass to inspect whatever had just plopped down in the water. The 30 second pause after the cast must have been just enough time for the red fish to move from its previous position over to where the fly had landed in the water. “Perfect, I got him now” I say to myself out loud, then a small tap is felt in the line and in the same instant a strip strike is deployed only to feel what? You guessed it, nothing.

The water then explodes as the human’s body movement tips off the wily creature and send him away swimming as if the redfish’s life depended on it. And it does. You can’t argue with natural instinct, and if anything was learned during the last 3 days of hard-core fly fishing the flats of Port Aransas, it is to let your natural instinct guide you. When you feel the instinct, don’t delay and ask yourself, “Is this my natural instinct?” because only practice makes perfect. Especially in a time where humans are more disconnected from their natural instincts than ever. Let yours guide you, and “GO FISH Flymen and be not deterred!”

Keeping the hooks sharp,

Captain Ken Jones

361-500-2552

ken@kenjofly.com

wade in wade out

Five out of the last 7 days has been spent wading the flats, at all all hours, morning, afternoon and evening, in all kinds of weather such as winds blowing North at 20-knots or a gentle breeze from the East at 10-knots. As usual the fish behavior and locations along with water levels are certainly different each time. This morning was no exception and as my lower back cried out for relief and a much needed break, I can’t help but wonder when I will have a few hours to spare and go back out to see what kind of no good the fish are up to!

Red fish counts are strong but not in great quantities just yet, some days the balance between number of stingrays and red fish is toppled like just the other day when I only saw one red fish but counted 22 stingrays.

Red Grass Flats Redfish

The Texas Shuffle is a critical maneuver if you want to keep your legs from being pierced by the barb of an old stingray and at this point it is quite the primal instinct for me to glide my feet across the mud and grass flats much like one would glide along while cross country skiing. Same motion of the legs and feet and one other benefit of doing this is to allow the toes of the front foot to feel for the next hidden hole that is ever so slightly filled in with a light smackery of detritus. It seems that most holes I discover are caused by old prop scars as they can be trench-like in shape and size. Others are soft mud pits which you could lay down in if it weren’t for the 12-24″ of water covering it. That’s one bath I don’t really want to take. Onto the next one! Keep your hooks sharp, just in case you run across some big bull redfish busting tiny shrimp just before sunset and you still have a one hour wade just to get back to dry land.

Captain Ken Jones

361-500-2552

Port Aransas, Texas

Hareline Dubbing Mullet Imitator

hareline dubbing, texas, saltwater, tarpon, mullet, fly fishing

Hareline Dubbing Baitfish Emulator Flash makes a great mullet imitator

Having recently discovered Hareline Dubbing’s Baitfish Emulator Flash I instantly knew it would work perfect for tying finger mullet patterns on the big gaped tarpon hooks made by Tiemco (600SP) in 1/0 & 2/0 sizes. These flies are sure to smell like fish. Its only a matter of time. Everybody hurts sometimes.

This particular pattern uses splayed tail hackles (4-6 hackles max) then hand blended some ice dubbing (also by Hareline) for the body using a dubbing loop to build the shoulders of the mullet. The dubbing is tapered in thickness as it is applied to the dubbing loop to give the bulk forward placement on the fly. The emulator flash is then tied in at the front like a collar and palmered in place 3 or 4 wraps then tied off. The bottom fibers can also be trimmed if desired.

Overall I am truly impressed with this material as it is a way to build the body of baitfish patterns with ease and cuts some time from behind the vice which can be a while for me. Over the next few days I will continue playing with this material to see what else can be tossed around.

Keep those hooks sharp,

Captain Ken Jones

Kenjo Fly Fishing Charters

Port Aransas TX

361-500-2552

Tarpon Style

Dreams should jump high. Be ready thru the very last second. You wont regret it. I will be trying to hit’em HARD this spring during the tarpons northerly migration along the South Texas Coastal Bend. You can only fly as high as your dreams take you. Here’s to the month of March!

Its not YOUR fish It is OUR fish

Take a moment to consider all the coastal fish species and other marine life for that matter.

Then apply the thought that its not just “your” fish, but these are “our” fishes. A sense of responsibility goes with this, to protect and respect those that came before and those which will come after.

See ya’ll out there. First to arrive and last to leave. An ethic which I can get down with and understand beyond what mere words can explain.

Keep your hooks sharp and your minds sharper,

Captain Ken Jones

Port Aransas, Texas

361-500-2552

Fly fishing Tarpon in Texas Winter Storms

IT’S GO TIME!

The phone rings while sitting in the truck at the airport fully loaded with enough fly fishing gear, food and water rations for two people for four days. The restless ringer on the phone indicates that a fishing buddy has landed at Corpus Christi International Airport. “You ready for this?” I ask and Captain Natereplies, “READY AS EVER!”

Heading to Fly Fishing Heaven

First things first! Get to Wal-Mart and purchase a non-resident fishing license for the tourista. “You better get the annual, you WILL be back!” We promise each other there are no doubts. If this winter’s fishing season is as good as it has been lately, it would be a good idea to change your return flight now and stay a few more days to be able to enjoy some decent weather after these gale force winds and small craft advisories lift. Good luck with surviving that cold front!

Nonetheless, we were going NOW, before the North storm hits with 30-knot winds freezing anything wet and we are running out of daylight since the flight landed around noon. Hot on the throttle of the old Chevrolet, all 4 wheels engaged and spinning like mad men, we head off-road in search of tarpon on foot in the South Texas Coastal Bend area.

There is nothing like rigging rods and leaders in the truck as it barrels down the dirt road leading to a dead end like most fishing trips, it is a rough road going nowhere and makes tying knots a true challenge of any skilled fly-angler.

“What are they eating?” he says with courage. “Baitfish in 3-6 inch sizes,” I tell him. “Here, use this, tie it on good, and it wouldn’t hurt to add a bimini twist to the class tippet.”

As we arrive and park, we scramble to find stripping baskets and then he turns to me and I see him grab a medium weight spin rod. I protest necessarily and inform him that if he’s going to use a spin rod, “You’re going to want a bigger rod!” Laughs are exchanged with a wink or two and we start to lace up, strap on, and close any open zippers with grueling anticipation of the approaching storm which could shut down our world-class fishing spot faster than an American Banker can foreclose a delinquent home-owner in America.

“Where do we start casting?” I am asked as we head in the direction of the rocky terrain most people call the jetty. “Hold your fire!” I respond with encouraging patience, “We are almost to the honey hole!”

City of Granite – South Texas Jetty

Within minutes of arriving on that special granite rock which would become our perch and our shelter from the tormenting winds and rain we see fishy stuff going on and the excitement builds. It is soon to be learned that those giant granite rocks will also become our refuge for the next four days. Our eyes are already stinging as the winds grow and white water spray begins coming over the jetty showering us, we scan the water surface for all 360 degrees looking for the tell-tail sign of megalops.

Almost covertly, a soft plastic flies from its 7’6″ cannon of a spin rod rigged with 30-lb braid and lands in the water with a big splash. “Are you sure this lure isn’t too big?” Nate says.

“Hell no! Keep it in the water, work it good and hold on when you snag a rock,” I respond.

“What rock? OH DAMN! That rock just moved!” Set the hook, wait for the screaming drag to slow to a dull roar and try your best to reclaim the long length of line that was just stolen from the spool minutes ago. “Done!”

Howdy!

First fish landed, a respectable red fish measuring just inside the slot limit. We release the fish quickly back into the water which is beginning to churn like a butter bucket strapped into the tea cup ride at Disney world.

Then it happens again, another nice redfish takes the soft plastic yummy bunny and this time the redfish is just over slot limit. Back it goes like 99.99% of all fish we catch. The sense of urgency increases and our motions begin to accelerate as we hop over a few more granite obstacles searching for another safe spot to stand with advantageous positioning.

Then I hear someone familiar scream. “TARPON! It just rolled! There! Quick! CAST! CAST! CAST!” we yell to each other. “Damn! No takers.” Cast again, this time with a little bit of frustration. “What are they eating?” our eyes strain to try to identify any visible bait in the water.

Telling myself to keep calm, I prepare for another cast of the fly line and launch it out into the open water as if it were a hot grenade with only a second remaining before detonation.

Count to 15 while recovering from a small bird’s nest in the running line. Stripping line in slowly, the last of the slack is removed from the 80 feet of fly line in the water and contact is made with the fly. Slow long pulls, short strips, and toss in a few A.D.D. twitches, a tap is felt in the line, however slight, I set the hook and immediately the silver king erupts from the water like a government missile sent on its one-way mission. “TARPON!” I scream at Nate, “You should have grabbed your fly rod! HAHAHAHA!”

Estimated at 50 inches of Pure Rock Fury

As the first school tarpon is released into its watery lair, the sun begins to set on our environment and we notice that the tarpon are feeding more actively and the pressure is building. Suddenly we see a large shark in the distance also get airborne and the image of a 200-300 pound shark is burned into our minds as we imagine it trying to eat a tarpon from our hands rock-side. I hand the fly rod to Nate and say, “Here! Use this! It’s your turn homey”.

Off it goes the 3/0 tarpon fly flings about and lands in the water. Strip, strip, strip, And SET! Nate’s virgin tarpon launches itself into the air in desperate attempts to throw the razor-sharp Tiemco hook to no avail and soon Nate has landed his first tarpon on the fly. Snap some pics and off it goes quickly before Mr. Shark decided to join us on the rocks for a cocktail!

So as night falls and the tarpon continue feeding at our feet, Nate and I take turns with the fly rod and we land a total of three more poons, once of which took its rightful place as my personal best and Nate was lucky enough to mark two more species (the tarpon and redfish) off his bucket list. We retire for the night not wanting to wear out the fish too much, and of course, allow them to continue to feed on their own uninterrupted.

Fly Fishing Tarpon into the night in the South Texas Coastal Bend

With the flower of sugar cane made into a welcoming beverage, we shed our saltwater soaked clothes and prepare a sandy dinner of steak and hot chili peppers on an open fire. We recount our experience from the evening and strategize ourselves into a stupor while we dance around the fire with Clutch for our evening tunes.

When we awoke the following morning we notice that the Winter Storm had not arrived and we begin preparing our gear to go knock on Mr. Tarpon’s door again. But just minutes later, gale force winds with gusts over 30+ knots set down on us hard and we move the truck into what little lee can be found on the beach and watch the sandstorm ensue. “There goes our morning fishing session” we say to each other.

By the afternoon we couldn’t stand to watch any longer with hopes of diminishing winds, we reluctantly venture out into the granite city of rocks and hope for the best even though the winds have not dropped below 20mph. Low and behold we find some tarpon still feeding and are able to land three more teenage tarpon and jump just as many more. Time to retire, day 2 seemed to take forever but ended so fast. The third day conditions had not improved and no sign of weather change coming in the future for day 4, we decide to fish the morning and head home late afternoon with little fuel and a luckily low tide to lick our wounds, regroup and try to target some other species a little more local to my house where fresh water showers and dry clothes await.

In retrospect it is always good to break a personal fish record and to do it on foot brings such enjoyment in our sport and why we do it regardless of the weather. We claw our way around exposed to elements regardless of how horrible the conditions are. Bearing our teeth and with true grit setting ourselves up for a single moment of excellence, or pure accidental catch, it is truly the fish themselves that makes our efforts worthwhile however invaluable the experiences are priceless. In any other case, our determination would be unnecessary and futile if the fish were not a more determined individual than we.

Early Morning Colors

As we head back to the airport to bid my fishing buddy farewell, comrades reflect, and we realize that our concrete passions are shared. Not only as mere mortals, hard-core sportsmen, personal conservationists and obsessive about the next time Mother Nature deals us some brutal fun but also filling us with vibrancy for life as we know it.

I’d rather not be in any other place than where my mind lives, my body resides and where flies are eaten eagerly by the next awesome creature that fills our thoughts by day and dreams by night.

Keeping the hooks sharp,

Captain Ken Jones

USCG OUPV-6 Licensed

361-500-2552

Port Aransas, Texas

New Waters – Texas Coastal Bend

Many things in life change; like leaders, tippets, flies, fly lines and Destinations.

Early morning sunrise flyfishing in the South Texas Coastal Bend

Some of them unexpectedly and even sometimes unplanned and hopefully things turn out more rosy than imagined. After working the grindstones of New York City for what 6 years seemed to have been 12 and for the most exciting times of my life, day in and day out, non-stop action on and off the water, I recently have found myself settled in South Texas after a grueling past year with some seriously pinched nerves. Warm climate seems to be the best medicine for this country boy, aside from actually being able to see the stars at night.

Quite literally, having run out of road in Port Aransas, Texas, a place twice visited by President Roosevelt to fish for Tarpon, the little piece of Mustang Island north of the Laguna Madre is a nice spit of sand and hopefully is here to stay for a while.

Upon arrival I immediately began scouting the local waters and found many excellent fishing scenarios available.

Redfish habitat

Whether on foot or from some sort of watercraft of your choice, the rich biodiversity of the marine ecosystems in the South Texas Coastal Bend area will get you hooked and keep you coming back for more. Truly, this place is prime and the fish are eager.

To get up to speed, I’ve compiled short bit of notes on the fly fishing opportunities available in this area from boat and on foot (sand, mud, rocks, beaches, rip-raps, jetties, bulkheads, cuts, guts, swaths, piers and docks), and will continue to track fish patterns based on seasons and other relevant environmental conditions.

Hooked up!

In October, the redfish are running hard and is prime time for bull reds. I feverishly attempted to intercept these big bulls on fly, although it may take some more time to nail them consistently.

Fly Fishing juvie tarpon in South Texas

At the jetties, multiple shots from juvenile tarpon exist with a good chance of hooking up.

Even during the North blows, the Spanish mackerel even respond well. The larger tarpon in the 60-80lb class have also been sighted with a keen eye. I have yet to hook into a tarpon in this size range but they do visit Port Aransas during certain times of the year.

Speed Demons like this make smoking hot drags!

King Mackerel also come in close to shore and are a serious test of your tackle and fish fighting skills. A lone 30-lb king mack like this one can take 175yds of line off the spool in about 10-seconds flat.

During November, the redfish continue to haunt the flats, while the speckled trout are lurking around the edges keenly out of sight. Bird variety and populations begin to explode in the marshes, flats, and along every 50 yard stretch of mangroves. Spoonbills are a treat to sight with their pink colored plumage and odd head/neck behavior when feeding. They are truly marvelous animals! Seagulls and terns take flight all along the beaches and fight every morning for their next meal. When times are tough the terns will even sit on the backs of the pelicans immediately after the pelican dive-bomb some bait and the tern will pick scraps from the pelicans beak as it drains the bucket-loads of seawater from its pouch filtering the bait fish it had caught.

Mangrove cays such as these are excellent fish attractors

Load of mullet in all sizes keep the water shaken but not stirred unless a over slot red fish cruises nearby. Nervous water appears on every turn in the shoreline, and with the multitude of mangrove islands the next trophy red could be ahead. Top water flies are good game this time of year and can produce some exciting takes from redfish on the flats.

Mangrove snapper are also plentiful and can fill up a 5-gallon bucket quickly with small pieces of shrimp dangled around the rocks. Or you could simply tie on a small clouser and nymph-fish it around the rocks as well although you don’t need boobers. Sometimes anglers get lucky and bag a nice Gag Grouper from the rocks.

Nice Gag Grouper from the rocks at Port Aransas

For now it seems the variety of species is dwindling but the redfish, trout, and flounder are still abundant and should hold average population levels to keep fisherman busy throughout the winter down here in South Texas. There are always rumors of snook lurking and can be a tough challenge on fly given their rare but confirmed presence in the coastal waters of the Laguna Madre.

The one secret I can really tell you is you gotta go (fishing) to know (fishing).

Keeping the hooks sharp,

Captain Ken Jones

361-500-2552

Popular redfish hang-out

all you need for albies

Here’s a little somethin for those wondering what to tie when chasing the false albacore in NYC. Reports are in that these speedsters are working the coast good. Get out there frequently and there’s high chance that you’ll even get shots at these fish from the beaches (just beware of rampant tornadoes)!

NY Sewer Discharge

This is good news for Public Notices relating to environmental alerts in New York City and only hope to see more preventative measures taken in regards to avoiding and preventing the discharge of raw sewage. Hopefully they will also realize that pouring pure chlorine directly into a waterway following the raw sewage doesn’t “help” really and can be even more detrimental. In an uncontrolled environment such as a river, the chlorine kills good bacteria too, not just the bad.

Riverkeeper is an organization which provides a good resource for latest news.

Looking north past Brooklyn Bridge from East bank of the East River