I'm going to Padre Island Natl Seashore in two weeks. We will be camping for a week and fishing both bay and gulf sides. Any recommendations would be helpful for which patterns to use. I've tied up some clouser's and baitfish so far.

Those all look great. I have been throwing tan Seaducers from the poling skiff for reds. As far as the surf goes I cannot say since I haven't been out there. Normally trout start to show up in the surf but it is so windy this time of year I don't even bother. To get even one day of calm weather has been tough lately. To get 2 or 3 back to back probably won't happen this time of year which is what it takes to lower the surf and clear it up a little.


Fish the conditions. If the surf is fishable then fish it. If its not then don't bother with the frustration. Check out Yarborough. Think I spelled that right. Walk shallow looking for movement in the water. We have been seeing LOTS of reds up shallow. Take plenty of soft presenting slow sinking shallow water flys such as Seaducers, shrimp, or weightless crabs.

I agree!

All look good for surfside and bay guts. How about spoon flies, crabs and maybe shrimp for the bayside of things?

The ReyRam Fly (at least that's what I call it) - is one I have total confidence in on the saltwater flats (bayside). These are a bunch of variations with the one on bottom left being most true to original ReyRam. A little heavy in the grass, but if you are within one strip or two of a red, they will take ...

Mybrainisflied had great advice as to conditions - fish the surf if it's fishable. Clousers are a great staple, as are crease flies and surf candies. For variety, you can throw heavy flies like texasflycaster posted to get down to the bottom of the guts and catch things like reds, whiting, pompano and whatever else can be found.