Questions from a noob

[Infidel]

Several questions for the experts.

Best weight rod for chasing gulf coast specks and reds? Assume normal windy conditions and typical size flys.

What length leader and what weight tippet?

I tie several weighted flys that are very difficult to cast using my 6wt. Will the rod in question I handly weighted flys ok?

How succesful are you in the bays, blind casting not sight casting?

Do any of you cast in the surf and how succesful are you?

When Specks and reds are slow do you go after panfish, flounder etc?

Thanks for any info, I'm trying to make the transition from fresh to salt water. I'm in the Houston area if anyone has any tips.

I'm also headed to lake Calcasieu in a month so any tips on that are welcome too.

Tim

[Animal Chris]

I'm no expert, but here is what I can add:

Q) Best weight rod for chasing gulf coast specks and reds? Assume normal windy conditions and typical size flys.
A) I use a 8 wt., WF-8-F line (Cortland Redfish), 9' of 20# Mason Hard for a leader and flies from #4 to 2/O. I also carry extra spools 1 rigged a 9 wt. line, 1 with an intermediate line and 1 with afull sinking line. I have a 10wt, sinking line rigged for surf or jetties.

Q) What length leader and what weight tippet?
A) See above. Sometimes I will add a tippet of lighter weight, but I don't like to tie knots. This set up works for me.

Q) I tie several weighted flys that are very difficult to cast using my 6wt. Will the rod in question I handly weighted flys ok?
A) Try backing off on the weight. All depending on where you fish, you may not need any weight at all.

Q) How succesful are you in the bays, blind casting not sight casting?
A) It's a lot of work, but can be successful. I have good luck in the summer when the fish suspend off the shell pads in the bay. I use a WF-8-I line, about 5' of leader and a lightly weighted fly. Work with the set up so your fly, leader, line all sink about the same rate.

Q) Do any of you cast in the surf and how succesful are you?
A) A little. It can be a blast. If you can hit the conditions right, right now the surf is full of jacks. Later this summer, you will find some good specs, lady fish, jacks, bonito, etc. The same things you catch on conventional tackle. Use a sinking line, though.

Q)When Specks and reds are slow do you go after panfish, flounder etc?
A) Flounder in the fall. Also in the winter and spring, drum and sheepshead can fill the gap. They can be just a tough to stalk and even harder to get a cast to.

Thanks for any info, I'm trying to make the transition from fresh to salt water. I'm in the Houston area if anyone has any tips.
A) Check out the Texas Flyfishers. We meet the last Tuesday of the month and try to have a monthly outing. (http://www.texasflyfishers.org/)

I'm also headed to lake Calcasieu in a month so any tips on that are welcome too.
A) Check with Marcus at Orvis, or the guys at Anglers Edge. They should be able to help you out.

Tight Loops. AC

[Infidel]

Thanks a lot for the info, now for some follow up questions.

You don't use a tapered leader, sounds strange but I don't know why it wouldn't wor. How is "hard mason" 20# different from regular 20# leader material?

I'm getting the impression that a sinking line is preferable to floating, maybe that's my alternative to weighted flys. I plan on wading in Galv bay but also want to get out in the surf and onto the Jetties so maybe an intermediate or sinking would suit me better, or spare spools with both.

Unfortunately I'm up North in the Spring/Woodlands area so I'm a little far north for the TFF meetings but I have attended the tying festival for the last couple of years. I've also talked with a guy at AE about Calcasieu and I may rent an 8 wt from him to try it out.

Questions about your success derive from many days of sparse strikes fishing with live shrimp, I would imagine the difficulty in raising fish is much greater.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[Animal Chris]

You don't use a tapered leader, sounds strange but I don't know why it wouldn't wor. How is "hard mason" 20# different from regular 20# leader material?
A) Like the old saying goes " If I fell off a cliff, I would like to have a tapered leader (or what ever else might fit the bill) in my hand, it hangs up on everything". 20# Mason is sublte to tie a know, stiff enough to turn a fairly bulky fly and abrasion resistant enough to keep you from having to re-tie all the time. As far as the tapered leader goes, there are times and places for it, but I have never found redfish or flounder to be real leader shy. As stated in my earlier post, sometimes I'll add a lighter tippet, but normally I don't find it necessary. Also, knots hang grass and fishing the middle Texas flats, there is usually lots of grass.

I'm getting the impression that a sinking line is preferable to floating, maybe that's my alternative to weighted flys. I plan on wading in Galv bay but also want to get out in the surf and onto the Jetties so maybe an intermediate or sinking would suit me better, or spare spools with both.
A) It all depends on the situation. I would guess that 90% of situations in the bay can be covered with a floating line. It all depends on the depth of the water and the type of fly you are fishing. I have extra spools I carry with loops on the end. I can change over in about a minute. The surf is another beast. I very rarely fish a floating line in the surf, 1 - because of the water depth and 2 - because I want to get down below the turbulence of the surface.

Unfortunately I'm up North in the Spring/Woodlands area so I'm a little far north for the TFF meetings but I have attended the tying festival for the last couple of years. I've also talked with a guy at AE about Calcasieu and I may rent an 8 wt from him to try it out.
A) Check out the Montgomery Co. FF. I hear they have a fairly active group.

Questions about your success derive from many days of sparse strikes fishing with live shrimp, I would imagine the difficulty in raising fish is much greater.
A) No one said it was going to be easy. I buy more shrimp for the table than I do for fishing. There is a big argument going on with the "soakers" and the "purists". The biggest thrill is watching a spec or a red slam a top water. It's magnified many times when that top water is on the end of a long rod.

Thanks for the encouragement.
No problem and Tight Loops, AC