Been trying for twenty years

Every year for the last twenty years I've been spending a week or two down here on the Texas coast chasing anything that will eat a fly on the flats. I have probably casted to several hundred Sheepsheads over the years. Had a bunch of them follow the fly, some of them almost to my rod tip. But I never could figure out how to get one to eat... until today.




I was wading the back side of some islands out East of Port Mansfield when I spotted this one tailing right up on the shoreline. I quickly tied on a small crab pattern I tied and moved into position. I've done this lots and lots of times, with no luck, but I wanted to try something different. Each time I tried it in the past I would drag the fly in front of the fish, when it got their attention and they would start following it I would strip a little faster - short, quick strips. I read a book a couple of weeks ago about two guys trying to catch Mutton Snappers on flies out of Key West. One of the guys finally caught one by getting the fish to chase it, then dropping the fly on the bottom and not moving it -at all- until the fish picked it up. Goes against everything I do in saltwater fishing but I thought I would give it a shot... it worked. I dropped the little green crab about three feet out in front of the sheepshead and stripped in to about a foot off his nose. I saw the water swirl and thought he spooked. Then, he was right over the fly, nose down. I pulled the slack out of the line, trying not to move the fly even a little. Then time froze for what seemed like a minute (probably five or six seconds). All at once I felt a thump that felt like some slapped the end of my rod tip and I strip set the hook - fish on!







I wanted to try for another but lightening has me in the motel room right now. Maybe tomorrow...

Great job man. Cool looking fish and bug.

Awesome fish Capt., thanks for sharing.

Congratulations!!!

Nice picture too!!

Nice...want to do that so bad

Awesome, those sheepshead are the toughest sell. Thanks for the details on the catch.

That is awesome. Congrats. And thanks for posting that tip. I don't think I would ever stopped retrieving either, since they only seem interested when they're chasing. I actually got one to eat last year and lost him right at the boat.

Never can get over those weird teeth.

Thank you guys! I've been dodging thunderstorms down here all week. I managed to get out for about three hours of fishing early this afternoon. I bet I casted at thirty sheepshead and a handful of black drum. Couldn't buy a bite. That water was flat calm and the fish were very spooky. I tried a longer leader, lighter tippet and smaller crab flies and a couple of Bonefish patterns. Had two sheepsheads look at a small crab fly I tied for about two seconds and then they turned off and swam away. I really thought I had the first one, he swam a good distance over to check the fly out but I don't know what happened. I'll try it again tomorrow if the weather lets me off the dock...