Like the title said, I'm headed down to Port A sometime in late October, I'm not sure of the exact date yet. Seeing how I don't have an 8wt yet, I'm using this as an excuse to go shopping. I'm seriously considering an 8wt TFO TiCr-X combo from Cabelas:

Here's the Linky!

Does anyone have experience with this particular combo or with this Reel from Cabelas? How do you think it would perform in Surf and inshore salt conditions?

Also, this will be my first time fly fishing in salt water. What type of line would you recomend? I'm thinking a full sinking line, or would a full floating line be more appropriate? And do I need to buy line specifically for salt water? I'll be attempting to target specks and reds. I'd also love to pick up some tasty flounder while down there.

As far as flies are concerned, what would you pack for late October? I've heard clousers and gurglers. What colors would you take and in what size?

Is there a fly shop in town where I could pick up info from the locals?

I will be limited to wading on this trip. Can anyone give me some ideas of places to try? Right now I'm thinking anyplace that looks fishy! Is sight casting possible down there?

I'm sorry for all the questions, I have many, and thanks for the help!
-Matt

i have a 9 weight in the ticrx. It is an awesome rod. I plan on getting a 7 weight ticrx also. You will really like this rod. I also have a Cabela's SR reel. It is similar to the LSR. It is a pretty good reel. I don't know how it will hold up to saltwater. i think it would be fine if you use it occasionally in the salt. But if salt is all i fished i would be looking for i higher end reel like a tibor, Abel, or Ross. But those combos cabelas has on their rod, reel and line packages are hard to pass up. If you are fishing for reds and specks on the flats, floating line will be best. especially if you are sight casting. The only place you really need a full sink line would be if you plan on going out to the jetties. A saltwater line will last a little longer. but you should be fine with regular line if you plan on fishing only occasionally in the salt. I would have clousers, and horbey spoon fly. Color should imitates a shrimp. they are fixing to start gorging on shrimp.

hey Kube

There is an online copy of Flyfishing the Texas Flats [url=ublishers/pruett/txcoast/intro.htm]here.[/url] Might have to register but it's free.

Thanks. Yes, this will rod will only be used occasionally for salt. Mostly I think of lobbing larger bass bugs around for the LMBs. Here's a stupid question since I'm new to salt water fishing, the term flats is used to describe what? Inshore saltwater marshes or what?

Cabelas has another combo on with your SR reel, I'm looking at that one too since it's on sale right now.

Also, is it difficult to target Flounder with a fly rod? I'm assuming I would need a sinking line to get down to the bottom for these.

Thanks

Thanks Robin, I'm definately going to check that out.

I think I found it: http://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers/pruett/txcoast/intro.htm

Man, I did a hack job on pasting that URL in huh?

Does the color of your fly line matter in the flats this time of year? I was looking at some Cabelas saltwater line that was sand colored. Then I thought about buying some freshwater line since I won't be salt water fishing to often. The freshwater line is flourescent green or orange I think.

It sounds like you are thinking about flats fishing rather than surf fishing, so yeah, the 8wt TiCr-X combo would be awesome. If you decide not to go with a combo you can pair the TiCr-X with an Okuma Integrity reel (Academy, $70, bullet proof in the salt / surf) and a Scientific Anglers Mastery Series Head Start fly line ($40, Cabelas, other places).

Just carry #4 flies that will get you going, besides clousers, gurglers, consider a seaducer. Sometimes you got to throw something that doesn't sink down into the grass immediately. Have something with a weedguard. Do not leave home without this. If you buy flies, get a hard popper with a weed guard or buy bendbacks.

For flounder you will do better fishing the cuts with clousers and a leader at least 9 feet long, cast, let it sink to a count of ten, then retrieve slow.


Whether the color of the flyline matters or not is debatable, I would not worry about it. I think it is irrelevant in almost all cases.

What kind of Leader and tippet would you guys use down in Port A for Flat's fishing? Do I need something special? The last time I was down there as a kid, we were using steel bite leaders. That was loooooong before my fly fishing days.

Also, could I use the 8wt I mentioned ok for surf and jettie fishing? Or do I need to be using a two handed spey rod?

8 wt is ok for surf.

Leaders: in the surf make sure you have a bite tippet, something like 1 foot of 50 pound flourocarbon. Does not have to be expensive flouro, you can use the $8 or so spool of Vanish. In the surf, I might use 5 feet of 50 pound mono and then maybe loop on two feet of 15# tied to a 50# bite tippet. The 15# is in case the system has to break (before your fly line).

On the flats you can buy a "saltwater" or "redfish" leader from any fly shop terminating anywhere between 10 and 17 pounds. Some guys use 6 feet of straight 17 mono or flouro on the flats.

we use about 3 to 5 feet of what ever mono that is on our spinning rod at the time of. but that just my buddy and myself.

Kube, Your 8 wt will be fine for the surf and Jetties.


:::::::::WARNING!::::::::::::

Do not venture out on the jetties without shoes that can grip those rocks and a shooting basket of some type.

The first could save you a trip to the hospital, the second can save your fly line from certain destruction.

Well,

I ended up picking up a Orvis Mach IV reel this afternoon. I was orginally going to do the Cabelas SR/TiCrX combo, but they were on back order. I did some looking around and it turns out Orvis is having a sale. So I got one of what appears to be the last Mach IV reels available for $155. I'm going to go pick up the 8wt TiCr X maybe tomorrow or Tues. I'm looking forward to casting this thing.

I'm thinking about over lining the rod/reel with 9wt line. I'm hoping this will so the rod down just a bit. Would this approach work, or should I stick with 8wt line? Are there any strange considerations I should make when considering over-lining?

Try the 8 weight line first. Many people enjoy overlining the TiCr (without the X), not as many like to overline the TiCr-X.

I picked up the 8wt TiCr X today and it's stout! I can tell I will have to seriously adjust my casting stroke in order to make big casts. So far I've noticed that the double haul is pretty much mandatory in order for me to load the rod up enough.

I've also noticed my forward casts with this rod seem much nicer than my back cast. I seem to not be generating enough speed on the back cast. Although I was really focusing on continual acceleration to the stop point, this was only on the front cast. Now I need to focus more on the back cast.

As far as where my hands should be when hauling on this rod, how long should my hauls be?

Right now it seems like I'm putting a lot more effort into getting out the same 40-50 feet that I've been consistently casting for some time.

I cast my ticrx 8wt better then my 4wt or my 6wt and thats with 8wt line and i dont dbl haul..lol thats just me..(I built my tfo)And I love it I matched it with a trion 8wt reel..