With South Florida and Everglades National Park dipping into the low 50s for the first time since last winter, that can only mean one thing—very happy redfish! We caught up with Capt. Mike of Bird Dog Fly Fishing, who took full advantage of the beautiful weather and cooler temperatures to give us the lowdown.
“Fishing for tailing redfish in Everglades National Park during winter is a dream for any angler. As cooler temperatures settle in, the shallow waters become crystal clear, offering some of the best sight fishing opportunities you can find. This is my favorite time of year to chase redfish, especially when the weather cooperates. On this late November day, we were fortunate to have near-perfect conditions—very light north winds and not a cloud in the sky.”
I was lucky enough to have two of my favorite clients on the boat to show them what wintertime in the Everglades looks like. Needless to say, their visual expectations were met. Beautifully colored copper and blue tails popping out of the water and schools of fish trucking down the flats.
From First National Bank to Crocodile—and all the flats in between and beyond—there’s a tremendous amount of redfish, among other species. On this day, groups of fish were cruising and feeding on multiple flats. We also spotted redfish holding on stingrays, a very common wintertime pattern in the Park.
Don’t let Florida Everglades redfish fool you—they can actually be quite tricky to catch compared to other redfish around the country. This isn’t small feeder creek fishing where they stack up and you cast, knowing you’re going to get a bite. You need to be on top of your game and have a relatively accurate cast.
A good pair of fishing glasses (yellow or copper lenses are my favorite) with good peripheral coverage to reduce glare plays a significant role in success. A helpful tip for fishing in general: look for life on the flats, such as stingrays, sharks, crabs, and birds. These are telltale signs that fish should be nearby.
Water flow is also crucial—look for grass that’s bent over with a decent current. And lastly, slow down. Often, fishing too fast causes us to miss the small details. Take a calmer approach and absorb everything happening around you—the sun, wind, tide, baitfish, and crustaceans you’re seeing. Every element plays a role in determining where the fish will be and what they’ll eat.
The Gear
We started the day with an 8-weight Lamson Cobalt rod paired with an Airflo Ridge 2.0 Universal Taper fly line. This setup worked great in the morning when there was a bit more wind, allowing us to cast farther and more easily in the breeze.
As the day heated up, the wind died down, and the calm conditions caused us to spook a few fish. To adapt, we switched to a 7-weight Helios rod with a clear-tipped Scientific Anglers Magnitude fly line. This adjustment significantly improved our stealth and allowed us to get on more fish.
Flies
In the fly department, we stuck to just a few patterns: a Giacobba’s Blue Claw, a variation I tie of Rio’s Lagoonatic, and a bright pink version of a Kwan. All three patterns got eaten, but the bright pink fly consistently triggered the most aggressive and responsive reactions when cast.
Two critical factors in fly selection are ensuring the fly is weedless and choosing the right sink rate. For example, you don’t want large lead eyes in two feet of water with a heavy grass bottom—that won’t make for a fun time. Be thoughtful with your fly choice; it plays a significant role in helping redfish locate and commit to your pattern.
If you would like to get out and experience Redfish and everything that Everglades National Park has to offer reach out to Capt Mike!
