The Best Redfish Flies in the LowCountry
The toughest question any angler has to answer is what fly to use. So many factors influence the decision: weather, tides, location, and the list goes on and on. That’s why, in an effort to make myself as a guide obsolete, I’ve compiled a list of the best flies for fly anglers in Charleston, SC for May. Enjoy!
For me, the first factor to consider is size. While bigger is always better… Redfish typically feed on small baitfish, crabs, and shrimp, so it's important to choose a fly that mimics the size of a redfish's natural prey. A good rule of thumb is to look at flies that range from 1-3 inches long. When fishing in the Lowcountry, I find that flies that are on the smaller side from the 1-2 inch range work best in those warmer May conditions.
The second most important factor to consider when making your fly selection is color. While a lot of people will tell you it's dependent on the location, water clarity, or temperature, I like to look for flies that match the natural prey in the area I’m fishing. For example: if there are a lot of brown shrimp in the water, a fly with a brown or tan coloration may be more effective, like a Kwan Shrimp. The same goes for things like mullet and fiddler crabs. This allows me to have a wide variety of options when I’m standing on the bow of the boat and to make a decision based on what I’m seeing rather than trying to guess in advance.
The next factor you want to be mindful of when making your fly selection is weight. This is an oftentimes overlooked section, but in fact, is extremely important. The fly should be weighted in direct proportion to your fishing conditions. If it's windy or the water is choppy, then a heavier fly may be needed to get down to the fish. If you’re fishing clearer water with spooky fish, then a lighter fly may land more delicately on the water. This is all relevant to the conditions you’re presented with. Along the lines of weight, deciding whether to fish a fly with a weed guard can be equally as important and change based on conditions or location. Fishing a wide-open large creek, then a weed guard is probably irrelevant. But when you find yourself in a tight creek with spartina grass or lots of growth in the water, then a weed guard is paramount to your success… and decreasing the odds of losing a lot of flies.
Finally, the last factor you want to consider is the line. And no, I’m not talking about the fly line, although that deserves its own article. I’m talking about leaders and tippets. Oftentimes your guide will advise you as to the best weight and strength of the line, I like to run my leaders to match the environment. If I’m in clear water on a flat then I get as light as I can with leaders. If I’m in a muddy oyster-heavy creek I’ll run something much thicker.
Ultimately, the best fly for redfish will depend on the specific conditions you're fishing in and the behavior of the fish in the area. If you ever have any questions feel free to reach out to me over email/text/Instagram and as always, just do what feels right. Sometimes it’s the crazy decision that ends up working best!
*Here is a link to one of my favorite fly shops for all my fly-tying needs.
https://239flies.com/collections/all-flies
Hope to see you out there! Tightlines!
Dont be like everyone else
Flies just work better when they are tied on a vise like this lol