4/28/2007

Boy what a day!

The wind was almost non existent today and we had a good tide. We headed out to Bessie Heights marsh in hopes the Red fish have finally started the move onto the flats.

To our great pleasure we had a nice Red in the boat during the 1st 15 minuets of our outing! There were a pair of them working along a grass line and with a well placed cast the fight was on. We were also pleased to see the moss had grown back in this area also. Last year it was just a mud bottom and the fish never really showed up in the area.

Looks like we may have turned the cornier in this part of the marsh. We saw at least a dozen slot sized Red fish today! They weren't really feeding hard but we did manage to put three keepers in the boat and lost 3 more. The water was very clear in the areas with moss but was turbid when we got out over a mud bottom. The Sheep's heads were hanging out over the mud bottoms and tailing. If we had took the time to get out the Sheep head fly rod there is no doubt we could have hooked up.

I had to cut the day short so we left at 12:30pm. in hopes of returning tomorrow.

Today was more of a scouting trip and I didn't get to cast the fly rod. The fish we caught ate either a gold spoon, a Horny toad or a big bladed spinner bait with a Pumpkin/Chrt. DOA shad tail body.

The rig I used to cast the very light soft plastic Horny Toad was a CastAway Titanium light action spinning rod spooled with PowerPro braided line tipped with a 24inch Fluorocarbon leader.

This set up allows for a soft presentation and no back lashes! The rod has plenty of back bone to set the hook but a soft tip for casting the light bait a long way.

If your interested in fishing the flats this season give me a shout, it looks like the action has finally began.

Tight lines, Mike