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jeff89 · Horse Mullet Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 183

Sorry for the late report, but anyways...

I had read, stalked, creeped on, and drooled over Capt. Sparrow's articles and reports regarding the lower laguna madre and fantasized about the east side sand flats enough. I needed to go see what this was about. It really did sound like a mystical area that doesn't get much fishing pressure. Ankle deep, gin clear, water with redfish crawling is a fly fisher's wet dream. And well, I didn't want to wait until July when low winds are reliable enough to go. It just so happened that last Saturday, 3/25, a window presented itself. A short, day-long window. I didn't have anything better going on, so I loaded the boat in ATX and headed south for Harlingen. I remember the wind was blowing it's a$$ off on the drive down that Friday, but the weather kept suggesting that it was going to lay over night. I trusted it. Pulled into Harlingen and found a clean/cheap motel and settled in for the evening. But it's still Harlingen and my paranoia convinced me to bring the push pole and stake out stik in the room with me. I hardly slept as I couldn't stop thinking about redfish and possibly even gator trout snaking around on the sand.

Wake up. Coffee. Headed out for Adolph Thomae park on the river east of Arroyo City. It's Saturday morning and I'm sitting in line with everyone else that checked the weather out the previous night. Evidently, the only other nearest boat ramps are Port Mansfield or Port Isabel. Still, I got on the water before sun up. I sent out GPS coordinates to my parents in case something went wrong and headed east. The little 10hp Merc was running like a champ and the Gheenoe was turning heads, boy.

5 miles from the ramp and I had reached the mouth of the Arroyo, but still, I continued east. The Shallowsports, Majeks, and Pathfinders started dropping like flies as I continued further east to the skinny skinny. Eventually the lower unit slowed me down as it couldn't handle the shallow draft. Pulled it up and broke out the push pole and continued east.

Finally in ankle deep water, I stopped and observed while I still had low light conditions. It's crazy out there. Sand flats for milesssss. And I couldn't see any other boats either.

Slammed some crackers and water, loaded the fly rod and backpack, and started the barefoot wade. Redfish #1 came to hand after I spotted her, back out of the water, crawling around digging up crabs. You definitely cannot put the fly right in front of these fish. You have to get the general direction they're heading and place the fly out in front and twitch it as they approach. It was true hunting. Love it.

Only caught one other red this trip. It was definitely a learning experience in this water. I don't think it's even possible to do it from the bow. The fish sense the boat and just start drifting away before you even have a chance to launch a fly 60-80'. Wading is the way to go. I blew a few more shots where I would cast and leave the fly in one spot, hoping the fish would head that direction and I would get impatient and pick up cast again trying to get closer...and the fish would blow up and bolt off. I'm sure if I were to leave it and let the fish find it, I would've been more successful.

5 hours is a long drive for a one day trip. I'll probably wait until this summer when longer low wind, weather windows will present themselves; but I could see myself playing on these flats for a few days in a row. I also think the same style of fishing is available in Yarborough flats. Getting there is another story with Y-pass effed up.

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manuel9622 · Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 12:21 pm Post subject:

Sweet report and pics. OH and sweet rig! I'll be down next Wednesday thru Sunday in Port Mansfield. CANNOT wait. Baffin a few weeks back during spring break was windy and rough. Port Mansfield is not so bad even if its windy, I run the east shoreline up to the landcut and is pretty much protected.
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Shallow Sportn' it

ziacatcher · Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 1:32 pm Post subject:

Great story in pics. Been awhile since I've used my fly rod for Reds. Vowed to do it when the winds die.

lifeaquatic · Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 2:18 pm Post subject:

You came, you saw, you conquered!

Thanks for sharing your story. Someday I will find enough time to fish and make my own story, and I got my sights on going South.

Towboat Trash · Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:55 pm Post subject:

LOVE the report. Awesome pics and story. Thanks.
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BayFly · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 10:14 am Post subject:

Congratulations on the trip Jeff. I hope you get a chance for more days together on the flats soon.

RPool · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 3:13 pm Post subject:

Nice report! There is nothing like an afternoon on the sand when the reds are there - nothing. I fish with Scott Sparrow a couple of days a year and it's always amazing. I was feeling pretty cocky until he told me the good doctor from Padre Island, TMCPADRE from this board, can hit a pie plate at 90 feet with a fly! Back to practicing!

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

Wow thanks for the great report and pictures. You really captured the experience.
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