Hello everyone,

I've lurked on this forum before, but now I've created an account to ask for some help. My family/extended family is taking a trip down to South Padre for part of the Holidays (Beginning of January). I'm an avid fly fisherman in Colorado when I have time away from college, but I haven't ever fly fished in saltwater. I'm just finishing up an 8wt rod that I've been building (Pike and Bass rod) and would love to break it in on some salty fish. I'm looking for any tips or information on the fly fishing around South Padre. Anything I should be aware of, or things I should definitely not come without? I'm not entirely sure where we're staying, but I'll have access to a car. I don't care what kind of fish I catch as long as I'm fishing!

I also tie flies, but being so unfamiliar with saltwater fly fishing I have no idea where to start. Any recommendations for a few patterns that I could tie before coming down would be awesome!

Also, if anyone is in the area (Beginning of Jan. like I said) and wanted to meet up for a few hours a show me around I definitely would have no objections!

Thanks!

Here is a good article from one of the best guides in the Lower Laguna Madre, Eric Glass.
Lower Laguna Madre and Padre Island Fly Fishing

Here is the web address for the Laguna Madre Fly Fishers located in the South Padre area. Laguna Madre Fly Fishers

The Fly Shop, run by Larry Haines, can be found at 318 Queen Isabella Blvd., Port Isabel, TX 78578, 956-943-1785, saltyflyshop@sbcglobal.net; web address is The Fly Shop

I caught my very first saltwater fish in the Lower Laguna Madre in 2007, a Redfish followed by two Speckled Trout.

Good luck and welcome to the board!

Awesome! Thank you very much!

One of my relative's family friends actually goes on guided trips with Eric Glass, and recommended him. If anyone else in my family knew how to fly fish I would have pushed for that but I've settled for a guided spin fishing trip(s) so that everyone that wants to fish can be included. I figured it would be fun to wander around and figure things out by myself anyways.

I'll check these links out when I take a study break. Thanks again.

+1 on Eric Glass

I wish I could just get a day with Eric Glass, but since no one else in my family fly fishes we're going to do a conventional fishing guide so that everyone can be included.

I'm on my own this time!

Here is another good source and will do more than just fly fishing: The Flats Guide 956-399-8281. If you have a facebook account, look for The Flats Guide/Saltwater Fly Fishing/Laguna Madre, Texas. I know it says Fly Fishing, but he does guided trips for spin fishing, too.

This past June the family and I spent a week down in South Padre. I booked 2 morning trips with Capt. Bill at Island Outfitters.
He put me on fish both days. These were my first Texas redfish that I had caught on the fly and my personal best a 25 inch red!
I would have had opportunities at MANY more fish my cast always seemed to be about 10-15 ft. short of where I needed to be. The bay is absolutely gorgeous and is about 2-4 ft deep. We saw HUNDREDS of fish tailing and that is a beautiful sight!

Only drawback to the whole trip was that on my 2nd fish I broke my brand TFO BVK. It was my fault for trying to horse a fish that had gotten under the boat.

I know you aren't getting a guide, but these guys http://www.lagunamadre.net/ have a well done website offering a lot of information including what flies they use and how and where to fish plus fantastic videos. I personally drove to the northern most spot on SPI road and hiked to the bay. It's a long walk and you might contract malaria from all the mosquitos, but the solitude was priceless. Saw one boat the whole time. Waded 8 hours knee deep to ankle deep. Good time.

And you may want to keep an eye on the continuing red tide at - http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/environconcerns/hab/redtide/status.phtml. Unless they get a bunch of fresh water, this could go on a long time.

Eric will do conventional tackle. My cousin used his spinning gear and i used my fly gear and we had a blast

Just don't go near off-shore with the S.P. guide that didn't have a depth finder on his boat and couldn't find a sunken wreck - bad experienmce.

I would go to the FLY shop in Port Isabel and speak with Larry Haines. He is very knowledgable about the area.