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John N. Felsher's Redfishing Adventures
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Chasing redfish in shallow marshes
similar to tempting largemouth bass
similar to tempting largemouth bass
TOP AND SIDE:
Charlie Thomason, a
professional redfish
angler and guide
from Hopedale, La.,
assists Jen Carroll, a
professional bass
angler from Texas,
look over a redfish
she caught in the
marshes of south
Louisiana. Just
about anything a
largemouth bass will
eat, a redfish will
eat. Fishing for
redfish in shallow
marshy ponds such
as those found
around Hopedale,
La., closely
resembles fishing for
largemouth bass
since they hit many
of the same lures.
Charlie Thomason, a
professional redfish
angler and guide
from Hopedale, La.,
assists Jen Carroll, a
professional bass
angler from Texas,
look over a redfish
she caught in the
marshes of south
Louisiana. Just
about anything a
largemouth bass will
eat, a redfish will
eat. Fishing for
redfish in shallow
marshy ponds such
as those found
around Hopedale,
La., closely
resembles fishing for
largemouth bass
since they hit many
of the same lures.
Long ago, bass anglers fishing in coastal waters discovered that a
different bass sometimes tested their mettle and tackle with powerful runs
and devastating strikes. Many switched from fresh water impoundments to
brackish water estuaries to tempt channel bass, more popularly known as
redfish.
While they changed venues from fresh water to salt, old habits died
hard. With thousands of dollars invested in lures and equipment, they
simply brought their bass lures and tactics into the new environment and it
worked. Redfish feed on many of the same forage species as largemouth
bass and often share the same tidal waters. Since they eat the same
forage, they hit the same lures, often in the same place.
“Fishing for redfish is a lot like fishing for bass,” said Stephen
Browning, a Bassmaster Classic veteran from Hot Springs, Ark., who also
fishes professional redfish tournaments. “A redfish will hit anything that a
bass will hit. I’ve caught redfish on conventional safety-pin style
spinnerbaits and many other bass lures.”
Anglers frequently catch redfish on topwater baits, spinnerbaits and
spoons. Reds also hit jerkbaits, crankbaits, buzzbaits or even worms and
jigs. Just like in bass fishing, many anglers slowly and stealthily glide along
shorelines tossing these lures into cover. Ambush predators like bass,
redfish cruise marshy banks, lurk in pockets along broken shorelines or
burrow into weed patches or hover near other structure. Frequently, they
feed in water less than a foot deep. Often, anglers spot redfish tails, dorsal
fins or movement along shorelines and sight-cast to specific fish.
“In clear water, we sight fish,” said Greg Watts, a professional redfish
angler who won the 2003 Redfish Cup championship with his brother,
Bryan. “If we see a redfish cruising, we have about a 50 percent chance of
making it bite. In water that’s not as clear, we throw to targets like matted
grass, stumps, points, the ends of logs, etc.”
In shallow water, topwater baits offer exciting angling action. Making a
commotion like a concrete-filled tire dropping into the water, redfish don’t
just hit topwater baits; they demolish them with vengeance. Many topwater
baits resemble mullets sticking their heads out of the water, a prime redfish
food. Some examples include MirrOlure Top Dogs, Rebel Spit’n Images
and Excalibur Super Spooks. When jerked, they bob and weave from a
side-to-side with a scintillating “walk the dog” action.
Keep working walk-the-dog topwater baits side to side constantly, but
slowly. Once it starts “walking,” it usually keeps going with just a little
effort. Walk such lures all the way back to the boat because sometimes a
big redfish might follow a bait for a long distance.
“I started fishing smaller topwater baits after reading a stomach content
survey done by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department,” said Capt. Kris
Kelley of Coastal Waterfowl and Fishing Guide Service in Seadrift, Texas.
“The survey indicated that redfish mostly feed on finfish less than two
inches long. I switched to smaller topwater baits and discovered a
noticeable increase in blowups.”
Around weeds, spinnerbaits or buzzbaits slice through grass more
easily than topwater baits or crankbaits. Anglers can work these baits with
a stop and go motion or a steady retrieve. If a redfish holed up in grass
noses up to a topwater bait, but doesn't really hit it, sometimes, a buzzbait
will aggravate it into striking.
“We use a lot of spinnerbaits when fishing for redfish along shorelines
that drop off more than two feet,” said Keith Hartsell, a professional redfish
angler from Perryland, Texas, who partners with his brother, Greg. “If we
get in deeper structure or if we get into water that’s off color, we throw a lot
of spinnerbaits because they give off good vibrations that are good for
attracting fish.”
In matted weeds, even spinnerbaits or buzzbaits sometimes foul. Thick
weeds call for either weedless spoons or Texas-rigged soft plastics.
Redfish smash gold or chrome weedless spoons danced across grass tops
like topwater baits. For added action, tip spoons with curly tail grubs or
pork chunks. With a little flavor added, a redfish might hold onto a bait
longer. Throw the spoon to the shoreline and rip it out. As it hits grass, let
it bounce along the surface in enticing gyrations. In more open water, reel
steadily to let it wobble near the bottom.
Texas-rigged soft plastic jerkbaits combine attributes of fast topwater
action, the fish-finding abilities of buzzbaits and the weedless enticement of
worms. They closely resemble eels or other natural prey that might slither
across the weed tops. Keep the rod tip high and move the bait with the rod
instead of the reel. Keep the bait moving or hopping in short spurts.
Aggressive redfish may erupt through the grass to attack these baits
silhouetted against the sky.
Around the edges of cover, drop a Texas-rigged worm or jig and slowly
work it over the bottom, just like in bass fishing. Craw-worms often attract
redfish because they resemble crabs kicking up mud on the bottom.
Most bassers own thousands of dollars worth of rods and lures. At one
time or another, a redfish may hit just about any lure in that stash. Just
keep doing the same things as for bass, except use heavier line and fish a
little closer to the Gulf of Mexico.
“A redfish loves to hit a craw worm on a 1/2-ounce jighead,” said
Charlie Thomason, a redfish pro and guide for Bayou Charters in
Hopedale, La. “Hook it just like a bass rig. Hop it slowly on the bottom.
The main forage of a redfish is a crab. My favorite redfish colors are
Louisiana soft-shell crab by Bass Assassin. It is similar to tequila sunrise,
but with a clear blue and black top. I also like black and chartreuse or
brown with orange claws.”
Most bass anglers already own everything they need to start chasing
“channel bass” with the knowledge to use it. Sometimes, they might need
to use rods or line with more backbone or lures with reinforced hardware,
but the essentials remain. They could start catching “bronze bass” with
very little change in equipment or tactics.
different bass sometimes tested their mettle and tackle with powerful runs
and devastating strikes. Many switched from fresh water impoundments to
brackish water estuaries to tempt channel bass, more popularly known as
redfish.
While they changed venues from fresh water to salt, old habits died
hard. With thousands of dollars invested in lures and equipment, they
simply brought their bass lures and tactics into the new environment and it
worked. Redfish feed on many of the same forage species as largemouth
bass and often share the same tidal waters. Since they eat the same
forage, they hit the same lures, often in the same place.
“Fishing for redfish is a lot like fishing for bass,” said Stephen
Browning, a Bassmaster Classic veteran from Hot Springs, Ark., who also
fishes professional redfish tournaments. “A redfish will hit anything that a
bass will hit. I’ve caught redfish on conventional safety-pin style
spinnerbaits and many other bass lures.”
Anglers frequently catch redfish on topwater baits, spinnerbaits and
spoons. Reds also hit jerkbaits, crankbaits, buzzbaits or even worms and
jigs. Just like in bass fishing, many anglers slowly and stealthily glide along
shorelines tossing these lures into cover. Ambush predators like bass,
redfish cruise marshy banks, lurk in pockets along broken shorelines or
burrow into weed patches or hover near other structure. Frequently, they
feed in water less than a foot deep. Often, anglers spot redfish tails, dorsal
fins or movement along shorelines and sight-cast to specific fish.
“In clear water, we sight fish,” said Greg Watts, a professional redfish
angler who won the 2003 Redfish Cup championship with his brother,
Bryan. “If we see a redfish cruising, we have about a 50 percent chance of
making it bite. In water that’s not as clear, we throw to targets like matted
grass, stumps, points, the ends of logs, etc.”
In shallow water, topwater baits offer exciting angling action. Making a
commotion like a concrete-filled tire dropping into the water, redfish don’t
just hit topwater baits; they demolish them with vengeance. Many topwater
baits resemble mullets sticking their heads out of the water, a prime redfish
food. Some examples include MirrOlure Top Dogs, Rebel Spit’n Images
and Excalibur Super Spooks. When jerked, they bob and weave from a
side-to-side with a scintillating “walk the dog” action.
Keep working walk-the-dog topwater baits side to side constantly, but
slowly. Once it starts “walking,” it usually keeps going with just a little
effort. Walk such lures all the way back to the boat because sometimes a
big redfish might follow a bait for a long distance.
“I started fishing smaller topwater baits after reading a stomach content
survey done by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department,” said Capt. Kris
Kelley of Coastal Waterfowl and Fishing Guide Service in Seadrift, Texas.
“The survey indicated that redfish mostly feed on finfish less than two
inches long. I switched to smaller topwater baits and discovered a
noticeable increase in blowups.”
Around weeds, spinnerbaits or buzzbaits slice through grass more
easily than topwater baits or crankbaits. Anglers can work these baits with
a stop and go motion or a steady retrieve. If a redfish holed up in grass
noses up to a topwater bait, but doesn't really hit it, sometimes, a buzzbait
will aggravate it into striking.
“We use a lot of spinnerbaits when fishing for redfish along shorelines
that drop off more than two feet,” said Keith Hartsell, a professional redfish
angler from Perryland, Texas, who partners with his brother, Greg. “If we
get in deeper structure or if we get into water that’s off color, we throw a lot
of spinnerbaits because they give off good vibrations that are good for
attracting fish.”
In matted weeds, even spinnerbaits or buzzbaits sometimes foul. Thick
weeds call for either weedless spoons or Texas-rigged soft plastics.
Redfish smash gold or chrome weedless spoons danced across grass tops
like topwater baits. For added action, tip spoons with curly tail grubs or
pork chunks. With a little flavor added, a redfish might hold onto a bait
longer. Throw the spoon to the shoreline and rip it out. As it hits grass, let
it bounce along the surface in enticing gyrations. In more open water, reel
steadily to let it wobble near the bottom.
Texas-rigged soft plastic jerkbaits combine attributes of fast topwater
action, the fish-finding abilities of buzzbaits and the weedless enticement of
worms. They closely resemble eels or other natural prey that might slither
across the weed tops. Keep the rod tip high and move the bait with the rod
instead of the reel. Keep the bait moving or hopping in short spurts.
Aggressive redfish may erupt through the grass to attack these baits
silhouetted against the sky.
Around the edges of cover, drop a Texas-rigged worm or jig and slowly
work it over the bottom, just like in bass fishing. Craw-worms often attract
redfish because they resemble crabs kicking up mud on the bottom.
Most bassers own thousands of dollars worth of rods and lures. At one
time or another, a redfish may hit just about any lure in that stash. Just
keep doing the same things as for bass, except use heavier line and fish a
little closer to the Gulf of Mexico.
“A redfish loves to hit a craw worm on a 1/2-ounce jighead,” said
Charlie Thomason, a redfish pro and guide for Bayou Charters in
Hopedale, La. “Hook it just like a bass rig. Hop it slowly on the bottom.
The main forage of a redfish is a crab. My favorite redfish colors are
Louisiana soft-shell crab by Bass Assassin. It is similar to tequila sunrise,
but with a clear blue and black top. I also like black and chartreuse or
brown with orange claws.”
Most bass anglers already own everything they need to start chasing
“channel bass” with the knowledge to use it. Sometimes, they might need
to use rods or line with more backbone or lures with reinforced hardware,
but the essentials remain. They could start catching “bronze bass” with
very little change in equipment or tactics.
