Best Weight fly rod for Redfish

When looking for the best weight fly rod for redfish you need to take into consideration a few different factors such as fly size, wind strength, and the location that you’re fishing.

Once you get the right set up you’re guaranteed to have a great time out on the water. These fish are so much fun to chase with a fly rod. Often they’ll be shallow enough that their tails stick out of the water!

What Locations Produce Trophy Redfish?

There are several states where you can find some great Redfish fishing. We’ll cover some of the most popular areas for Redfish and where the best spots are.

Louisiana

If you want to catch some of the biggest and baddest Redfish then Louisiana is the place for you. You’ll often need heavy and bright flies in order to get the attention of these fish. This is because the water is normally muddy.

For these fish you’ll usually be throwing a 9-10wt rod. Often you won’t be casting very far for these fish. Thanks to the muddy water they wont be too spooky and often you’ll be throwing quick and short casts.

Because of this its best if you use a rod with a fast action to it. However, if you’re after a trophy redfish then you need to be looking at a 10-11wt rod. These larger fish can get up to thirty pounds and you’ll need some extra weight to haul those guys in.

Florida and Atlantic Reds

These fish are typically going to be smaller than their counterparts in Louisiana. This doesn’t mean you can’t get into some big ones though, just that they’re not as plentiful.

Since these fish won’t be as big then you can get away with throwing an 8-9wt rod. Find a rod that has a strong butt section for fighting and worry about presenting accurate casts to these fish.

A rod that you’re comfortable with is the most important thing when chasing these as accuracy is more important when chasing after these Atlantic Redfish.

How to Catch Redfish

Now that we know where we can find Redfish, lets talk about how we can actually go out and catch them. Below, we’re going to cover several different techniques as well as where these fish are located.

Check them out and see which ones are going to work best for you and your fishing style.

What Patterns Should I be Throwing?

There are many different patterns that can work well for Redfish. You just have to keep in mind that these fish are looking for a meal so don’t be afraid to throw something a little bit bigger than you might think.

Normally these flies could resemble baitfish, shrimp, crabs, or nothing at all but they look like something a fish would eat. Often they are around three inches in length but some of the bigger flies get up closer to six.

Where to Cast

Depending on the clarity of the water you will be casting your flies within a few feet to a few inches of these fish. In dark and dingy water you will need to put it as close to their nose as possible since they may not be able to see anyhting that is over a few feet away.

In normal water conditions, you can usually get away with a cast that is going to be several feet away from where a redfish is actively feeding. They feed by sticking their nose in the sand and foraging for their food. So, casting in front of their face and giving slow twitches to the fly will often times encourage a strike.

Look to the Flats

If you’re fishing in an area you’ve never been in then its best to put in some research to figure out where exactly the fish will be on the flats. Often you can go online and find this out, hire a guide, or speak with someone at the closest fly shop.

Once you’ve found out where you need to be then spend the morning or afternoon scouring the flats. Often time so you’ll be in shallow water, so a good pair of polarized sunglasses is really going to help you out.

Casting towards the shore and towards feeding or cruising redfish will often be the name of the game. Blind casting can work but it’s just not as effective as locating fish and putting the fly in front of their nose.

Products

Now that we have covered some of the basics on how to fish for red’s lets find the perfect fly rod for you and your style of fishing.

Orvis Helios 3D

The Helios 3D saltwater rod is perfect for casting in windy conditions and for fighting big bull reds. The fast action blank and the Helios technology combine to give you an increased rod strength, quicker recovery, and faster line speeds. If you have trouble casting large flies in the wind then this is the rod for you.

This rod is designed to be deadly accurate. If you’re worried about whether or not you’ll be able to put your fly within range of a redfish’s nose then you should be considering purchaisng this rod. You’ll be able to put your fly wherever you want.

This comes in two different lengths. The 9′ and the 10′. The 9′ is recommended as you won’t need the extra size for long casts. However, if you find yourself making longer casts consistently then upping to the 10 footer could make sense for you.

This rod also comes with the Orvis 25 year warranty. If the rod gets broken anytime within 25 years of when you purchase it then Orvis will fi the rod. If they cannot fix it then they will replace it.

Sage X

If you like using fast action rods then you’re going to love the Sage X. It contains a great recovery and a strong tip stop. This makes a tight loop that works well with all different casting styles and techniques.

When you purchase a rod that has a weight higher than a 5 then you will also be receiving the “fighting butt”. This is great for when you’ve hooked into a big fish and need to keep your arms from tiring out. All you need to do is set the butt in your gut and you’ll still maintain superb control of the fish.

This is a great all-around rod and can be used for many different types and stlye sof fishing. It’s also great for beginners as well as adavnaced anglers. If you want a versatile rod then this is the one that you should be thinking about.

Orvis Clearwater

One of the more popular fly rods out there, the Clearwater is a solid rod that comes at an even better price point. Coming in just about any size and weight you could imagine the Clearwater is great for both experienced and beginner anglers.

If you’re a beginner and not looking to spend four digits on a fly rod then this is a great deal. It has everything you need in a fly rod but it doesn’t come with the high price tag. This is also great as a backup rod for someone who prefers to use a more expensive piece of equipment.

It comes equipped with a rod tube so that you can easily and safely bring this rod wherever you plan on going. It can be stowed in your car or can be brought onto a plane as a carry on. No longer worry about whether your rod is protected or not when travelling to new fishing destinations.

Conclusion

Fly fishing for big bull reds is a goal trip for many different anglers. These fish put up a great fight and to throw a fly to shallow water fish is a great thrill that you’ll be sure to enjoy. On top of all that these fish put up a solid fight and can wear out your arm if you wind up catching a bunch of them.

So, hopefully, the information above has helped you with picking out the right fly weight rod for Reds. We know it can be a little daunting when starting out, but use the information above to help guide you when selecting your own rod for chasing redfish.