February 21, 2010

[beaufortonthefly]

February 21, 2010
Sunny with calm winds. Headed out with two fly fishers on board after a dawn low tide. We entered a small lagoon with a glass surface and anticipated easily sighting redfish movement. Immediately, splashing water and a large commotion erupted -- as a dolphin ripped into our quarry. Sensing no need to stick around for this spooked school, we shifted to a large expansive flat at the head of a tidal creek with varying densities of oyster reefs where we fished the rising tide through the morning. Still surface waters allowed us to spot pushes by two schools of redfish. As we poled towards the closest pod, our bow fly fisher threw a brown/white clouser to the edge of the wakes. The second cast resulted in a strike that doubled the fly rod. After a good tussle, the first red of the day was landed – a hefty 24” spot tail. After a photo op, we were back to work and shortly smaller brother was on the line and bull dogging like a much larger fish. After our disaster in the first lagoon, things were looking good with two reds landed in quick succession.



With bright sun and extremely clear water, we began to have schools meander towards our stakeout and then spook as they sighted the boat just out of casting range. Finally, a school barrelled across the flat directly at the boat and was greeted with a well thrown black clouser. The lead fish in the group grabbed the fly and showed us why he was out in front of the others. This bruiser criss-crossed the flat without breaking the surface for a few minutes while the fly line sliced the water nearer the boat. After one more run when the boat was sighted, a 27” seven pounder provided us with a photo op! After a dry spell the brown clouser picked up a few fish from a school working over an oyster rake. Rising waters finally shut down the sight fishing and we headed for home with the score black clouser three to the brown/white clouser’s eight.