The time has come: Cobia Season

Big cobia on the Fly

        The months of April, May, and June are some of the most anticipated months of the year for any angler in the Beaufort or Hilton Head area. These 3 magical months bring a fish inshore that is mostly caught offshore or in much deeper water, which is what makes these 3 months so special. The big, brown, and most of all hard fighting Cobia! The Broad River is one of only two places on the east coast where cobia come inshore, which allows the every day angler to target a fish that is mostly caught offshore in deeper water.
    Cobia come inshore into the Broad River to spawn, which is why its a seasonal fish, and we can only target them for 3 months out of every year. Usually starting in mid April, the water temperature warms up, bait moves in, and the cobia swarm into the Broad River. The season always changes yearly depending on weather, tides, and temperature. Its always turned on by word of mouth, and declared over by word of mouth, so you can understand how exciting it is to hear of someone catching the first cobia of the year. There hasn't been much scientific research done about cobia here in Beaufort, but they are in the process of learning more, and figuring out the patterns of these great offshore fish.

A pair of Cobia coming up to the boat as we are sight casting!

          There are many different ways to target Cobia inshore whether your chucking live bait, dead bait, artificials, or my personal favorite; flies! Each situation has its own unique way of putting a cobia in the boat and also depending on weather and wind conditions. Tides also have a lot to do with targeting cobia, and being able to read when the best tide to target the cobia will be. Cobia fishing is technical, so spending time and figuring the fish out year by year is the key to success.
      Fishing the bottom for Cobia is most productive with live bait, or cut bait. Putting live eels, Pogies, Lady Fish, Whiting, or any cut bait on the bottom will catch a Cobia. The name of the game in these situations is patience, and being able to wait on a bite. Using chum will get you more attention from the cobia, and I highly recommend it any time when using bait. Throwing out a popping cork with a live bait on it is always a good idea too, and nice to have when a Cobia comes up to the boat, which happens a lot more than you would think!

Andrew with a nice male Cobia caught on a live eel

     Sight casting to Cobia is one of the most productive, and most exciting ways to target them! When the water gets slick, the sun high, and tide is slack, that's when its prime to look for Cobia cruising on the top. As a fly fisherman, its one of my favorite ways to target a fish with some feathers. Cruising the flats boat in the middle of the river slow,  and standing on the poling platform looking for the cruising cobia is how we target them on the fly. We also sight cast to cobia with spinning gear as well, mostly being artificials that are scented to get the fish interested.
   Cobia are not a very spooky fish, and in most cases pretty darn stupid. Allowing us to get the boat within a 30ft casting range, and pretty much eating anything you put in front of them! Watching a cobia eat your bait is amazing, and till this day one of my favorite fish to watch eat a fly or bait. Sometimes these fish can be tough to get a bite from, mainly from the females since they are still spawning, which causes there stomachs to be compact by eggs therefore not giving them much of an appetite. But in most cases a cobia should eat pretty fast, and very aggressive!

David with his 1st Cobia on the Fly!

     Cobia are a big fish weighing between 10-80lbs, so having heavy duty tackle is important. When using spinning gear I like a medium action offshore rod around the 6ft range, penn 6000 reels, and 60lb mono line, and 30lb braided lines. Hook sizes need to be between 4 and 6/0, and most leaders need to be able to with stand tough mouths, and gill plates, so a hefty bite guard is important. Using smaller tackle is fun too, but having to fight a cobia for over an hour can be quite a task, and in 90 Degree weather will wear you out quick!

Doug with his 1st Cobia on the Fly!

    When choosing a fly rod we are mainly using 10-12wt setups. The bigger the rod, the easier the fight, so I enjoy casting an 11wt Orvis so we don't have to fight the fish for 2 hours. Any kind of warm water, weight forward floating line will work great, I personally use a tarpon line for my cobia setups. When building a liter system for cobia I like to stay pretty beefy, going with a tapered liter with 44lb and 55lb fluorocarbon liters, which hold up great against a big cobia. My favorite fly to throw is the flash tail whistler, or the sea reducer. Anything thing bright, flashy, and moving fast will get a cobia to swallow it. There not a real picky fish, so most mullet, eel, and streamer patterns will work as well.

Cobia following a clients flash tail whistler.

   The unmatched cobia fishery here is one of my favorite times of the year as a guide, and also as a local. Watching a guest on my boat hook up with a cobia is always exiting, and a memory for them they will never forget. Whether your a spin fisherman or a fly fisherman, targeting cobia here in Beaufort, SC is incredible, and something I highly recommend to any angler. Give me a call to book for your own day on the low country waters of the Broad River targeting Cobia!! 843-812-3656 owenplair7@live.com www.baystreetoutfitters.com

The Hidden Jewel

Down Town Beaufort

     Beaufort South Carolina is one of the most beautiful small towns on the east coast, a place most people call the hidden jewel. Beaufort is an island surrounded by the lush saltwater marshlands and ever changing tides, which gives it unique beauty from all angles. From the history, old plantations, water ways, culture, and slow pace of life; Beaufort brings paradise to reality in every day life for many people. You hear the term "Low Country Living" a lot of times when people talk about Beaufort because its a unique and very special way of life influenced by the culture surrounding Beaufort's history.
     As a Beaufortonian I was fortunate to be born and raised here on the waters of the low country, and brought up on the culture of low country living. My mother and father taught me to respect the water, and be thankful to live in such a special place. Beaufort doesn't have a big shopping mall, huge sky scrapers, theme parks, or any big man made attractions. But one thing Beaufort does have however is the water, a natural and everlasting attraction that can not be duplicated, or built. The water ways that flow through out the surrounding towns, under bridges, past docks, and through constantly changing marsh lands. Life here revolves around the water, and every day as the tide changes so do the lives of the people here in the low country.

Aerial view of Beaufort

     My childhood was spent on the Whale Branch river which is part of the Broad River, and one of the best fisheries on the coast of South Carolina. As a child my 1st boat was a 12ft wooden Bato with a 25 Johnson Tiller steer, and for a 8 year old kid it was a dream come true. Navigating new areas, getting caught in thunder storms, figuring out the tides, and most of all learning in first hand experience. The feeling of being alone on that little wooden Bato is one I will never forget, a feeling that no one will understand. For me the water and marsh were home, and I was always my happiest when I was out there.

   Beaufort is one of the top Red fishing destinations on the coast, and provides a huge populations of redfish, seat trout, cobia, flounder, tarpon, Jacks, and numerous other species. Being 25% of the east coast marsh lands is what provides such a great fishery, and the reason Beaufort is so unique when it comes to fishing. Growing up my dad Frank is the one who introduced me to fishing, and really taught me how to find the fish. When it comes to fishing in Beaufort there are a lot more things that you need to know besides finding the fish. Tides, weather patterns, and seasons all effect the fish, and how to target them.

SC State Shaped Spot

        One very special thing about the fishing in Beaufort is that its not pressured, and with hundreds of flats, creeks, and rivers, its rare you fish within a mile of another boat. With Beaufort being such a small town it provides a hidden secret when it comes to our fishery, and keeps the pressure of anglers away. Whenever I'm fishing on a monday-friday I rarely see another flats boat, and if I do its probably Tuck Scott who is another guide for Bay Street Outfitters. Cobia season can get pretty rowdy on the Broad River May-June for the Cobia run, but its really the only time of year I see more than 10 different boats in a single day.
     As I got older in the town of Beaufort my respect for where I lived became even greater. From traveling to other states, cities, and countries, I realized how lucky I really was to live in such a special place. In my teenage years I can remember friends always talking about moving away into a bigger city, how Beaufort wasn't fun, and simply just wanted to leave. Every time I heard these kind of comments I would always smile and wonder why people said things like that. But I realized the kids who disliked Beaufort just didn't have the passion and love for the river as I did. Beaufort doesn't offer much more besides the outdoors and the water, so if that's something you don't enjoy, then I can understand why some people would say things like that. The way of life in Beaufort is slow, and for many younger age kids that's something they don't want, but for me living life slow was the only way.
   

Beaufort Sandbar

      My career as a fly fishing guide was born from my love for Beaufort, and the surrounding water. As friends grew up and moved away, I stayed to follow my dream, and became an Orvis Endorsed Fly fishing guide for Bay Street Outfitters when I was 18 years old. Sometimes I feel that this was the path I was born to follow, almost like a calling. Things happened that I never could of imagined, and I found that I was doing something that I had always dreamed of. My favorite part of guiding is seeing how much people who are visiting love Beaufort, and watching the look on there face as we run the boat through the tall spartina grass into the Broad River. It amazes me everyday how the city of Beaufort is growing, and I cant really imagine where it will be in the next 20 years.

Ed from Columbia, SC

     Fly fishing is a passion for most people, and Bay Street Outfitters supplies Beaufort and Hilton with everything they need to feed that passion. Guiding for an Outfitter to me is an honor because I'm not only representing myself on the water, but a whole business in general. Tony Royal who is the owner of the shop is one of the most experienced anglers I know, and one of the best guys you could ever work for. The days I'm not on the water are usually spent in the shop working the front, and helping guys get rigged up with there fly equipment.
    Beaufort is filled with southern hospitality, and the reason so many people love to live here. Its almost like everyone around you is a friend whether its a wave, smile, or simply letting someone pull out in an intersection. Being a smaller town you become friends with a lot of the people you see on a daily basis which to me is special. When you can walk down the street and say hello to four or five random people, that's low country living. Life here in Beaufort is special and to me the only way of life. A fishing charter in the morning, motorcycle cruise to Alvin Ords in the afternoon, and dinner with a pretty lady at night; my perfect day here in the low country of Beaufort, SC.

Some local buddy's and I with our catch of the day

2011- Living a Dream

David with his 1st Cobia on the Fly!

    Through out the year of 2011 I learned a lot about life and realized I was living the life I've always dreamed about, and most of all on the right path to a great career. Most people say as you get older you realize things you didnt think about when you were younger, and now I see exacly what they mean. I realized this year that when you have a passion for your job, you give all heart and soul into everything for that job. As a fly fishing guide my passion for fishing turned into a passion for guiding, and through the past year that passion and dedication as a guide showed itself in a lot of different ways, which led to an unforgettable year of guiding.

   Starting my career in October of 2009 at 18 years old was something not many people do, but I was focused and ready to prove myslef which was a risk I took instead of going to college. The realization that I could take my passion for fishing and turn it into a job hit me instantley after my first charter for tailing reds on the fly. From that very first charter I learned a tremendous amount about being a guide, and cant even start to explain how much I've learned in the past 3 years guiding. It seems that every day on the water is a new day of learning as a guide, because you have new clients, new seasons, new weather, changing tactics, and most of all a lot of time on the water which is followed by true experience to better yourself and your ability as a professional fly fishing guide.

Gary and his son Scott with there keepers

    One factor of guiding that was very ovious from the start was that it wasnt always about catching fish, but the learning experience in a whole, and really helping guest learn and understand our fishery here in Beaufort. From the double haul cast, sight casting to redfish, looking for cobia, the tides, certain flies, weather patterns, are all things that I teach my guests about when were on the water. The learning experience of a charter makes the feeling of landing a redfish or cobia 4 times better because you know exacly what it takes just to catch a fish, which makes the experience of fishing in the low country unforgettable. Every day I'm on the water with guest's teaching and experiencing with them the fishery I was born and raised on, I get a feeling that doesnt have words to explain it, a feeling that tells me I'm where I belong.

    

Calyton with his 1st red on the fly!
 They key Ive found as a guide is to always have fun, and never let something slow down the moral of the trip. Whether you have a bad caster, lose a big fish, have a slow day, or really windy weather, always stay positive and the trip will end great because fishing is fun, and as a professional it should always be fun. Some of my favorite days on the water are with beggining saltwater fly fisherman because they in most cases have a tough time casting and seeing fish, but then get ahold of the double-haul cast and seeing the fish, which leads to landing there first redfish! Watching any guest land there first redfish always makes my day, and most of all a great memory for them.

Bob with a true 1st redfish smile!

    The past year was full of absolutely awesome days on the water, which led to some great relationships with clients and friends. Getting a lot of return clients was my goal from the start, and a goal that was being met while fishing some great return guests from 2010. Fishing here in the low country is so unique do to the tides, seasons, and how we target redfish and Cobia, which leads to a lot of people wanting to get back down to target a certain experience of fishing whether its tailing reds, cobia, schooled up reds at low tide, or the fall months between September and October when the weathers perfect and the bite is incredible. The changing seasons are what I love about our fishery, and something I like to see people experience first hand.

     

Jarret and Thomas with a nice double

     I found that building relationships with friends and fellow anglers also taught me a lot when it comes to finding new tactics, having fun, and scouting new areas. This year I fished with a lot of new people on my days off, which led to some very exciting memories. One goal I have for 2012 is to fish with people from all around the nation who have the same life style as I do. This year I had some great days with friends like Patrick Fulkrod who is an Orvis guide in Bristol, Va, Thomas Weldon who works for Hunter Banks in NC, Bryan Bowers who is a writer for SC Sportsman and Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine, Oliver White from Abaco Lodge in the Bahamas, and of course all my local buddies who are just as addicted to fishing as I'am. 

Orvis Guide Patrick Fulkrod with a nice red

Thomas from Hunter Banks in NC giving some fish love

    One very new event for me that was introduced this year was "Reds and Rails" or "Cast and Blast". This is a charter we provided when you can shoot Marsh Hen in the morning, and catch redfish in the afternoon, and to me it is one of the greatest trips to run! From this came a great article in the SC Sportsman by a good friend and fellow fly fisherman Brian Bowers, and also a contract with CCA South Carolina for 5 Donations I did for there fall banquets. It also led to an article and photo shoot I did with Thomas McIntyre who is a writer from Sports Afield Magazine, which will be my first National Publication at 21 years old. To top it all off I also did a short video about reds and rails for a new upcoming website called sportsmanonline.com which will launch the end of January. It amazed me how sportsman were so excited about a cast and blast trip and I can't wait to see the popularity of Reds and Rails grow within the next few years. 

Pat and Lance there limit of Rails

    Being such a young guide I always get excited when big things happen, especially when it comes to publications. Growing up you read about guides, see there photos, and dream of being like them one day. That dream for me came true more than once in 2011. During the last year I was featured in 5 different issues of SC Sportsman Magazine, had a published article in the Ladys Island News Paper, a feature photo in the Beaufort Gazette, our team of guides at Bay Street Outfitters picked readers choice Best Fishing Charter Service in Beaufort, winning the Scout Boats video contest, helping produce 2 new videos "Reds on the Rise" and "Wake", placed 2nd in the Brays Island Redfish Tournament out of 10 other guides, and finished the year with a photo-shoot with Sports Afield magazine for a marsh hen article. Doing all of this at the age of 20 was something I never thought would happen, and it made me realize that hard work and dedication always pays off in the end.

2nd Place finish with two lady anglers 

Sports Afield photo-shoot

     Guiding is a passion to me, and when your passionate about your job it will always show to the highest extent in the end. Now at the "legal" drinking age of 21 and 3 years into my career as a guide, I never would of thought that I'd be were I'am today. Everyday I thank my Father and Mother for everything they did for me growing up, and teaching me to love and respect the water. I thank my boss Tony Royal for giving me the opportunity to become an Orvis guide at such a young age, and giving me the chance to share my passion for guiding and prove my capability. Tuck Scott who is a fellow guide, and idol to me as a guide, has taught me tons about the profession, and I hope that some day I can be as helpful to someone as Tuck has been to me. All the support from my family and friends means everything to me, they have helped me in every way possible. My goals for 2012 are high, and I can't even start to explain how excited I'am to see what the new year brings!!!

A nice red caught with my buddy Bryan Bowers

Check out our videos!  www.baystreetoutfitters.com

      

Low Tides & Winter Reds

David with a nice red at the Low

      Now in the beginning of winter, we start changing up the way we fly fish and spin fish for reds. Cold weather, windy days, clear water, and schooled up fish is what our winter fishing is made up of, and a great time of year for some serious sight casting! As a local there is nothing better than a slick calm day, blue sky, 50 degree air temp, and seeing a school of over 200 redfish fight over your fly! The other good part about this time of year is that I'm not running a lot of charters, which leaves a lot of time to find new fish, and have fun with friends. Getting some time to be on the bow casting instead of on the tower poling is always a plus too.


Mike with his 1st Low Tide Red!

    The excitement of watching a redfish eat your fly in mere inches of water is something that I think every fly fisherman should experience. Whenever I see guest on my boat hook up with there 1st fish of the day I always gets the same feeling, a feeling of excitement. Because its not everyday you get to sight cast to redfish, and that excitement is why I love guiding, and love seeing people catch there first redfish at low tide.

    Poling the boat in 8-12 inches of water, looking for signs of the fish moving around is how we target redfish at low tide. During the winter months the water clears up tremendously which makes it much easier to see the fish from far distance, and can make for more hookups out of a big school. A long cast is necessary this time of year do to the clear water, so be ready to throw a constant 50-80ft if you want to have a very productive day. The fly of choice this time of year is the Everglades, or any kind of minnow pattern because there will not be much bait left in the water.



Mark with a fat daddy red at the low

     I have a lot of good friends that love to fish, but not many know how to fly fish, or pole a boat. So more often in the winter when it comes to my days off from guiding I'm always out scouting and having fun, and usually like to spend those days with my good friend and writer Bryan Bowers. He's the kind of guy who dreams about being on the water, knows how to throw a fly rod, and can guide as if it was his job. Whenever I'm on the water with Bryan we not only have a great time, but always seem to catch some nice fish while were at it!
   One reason Bryan and I get along so well on the boat is because we understand each others style of fishing, and seem to put those two styles together to make a great partners in crime when chasing reds. Whether its poling the boat, seeing the fish, making the cast, or knowing the exact moment to strip set, we both understand each other, which is why we are so productive whenever we fish together. Bryan has done articles for Eastern Fly fishing Magazine, and is a monthly column writer for SC Sportsman, and you can tell by reading his articles how much this guy loves fly fishing.



29.5 inch "Donkey" Bryan put me on at the low

     Ive recently really got into filming, and video editing, which has really got me addicted to always having the video camera available to get footage on the boat. Seeing something in a video is always much better than a photo and with fly fishing it really helps you understand how things work, and what to expect when your out on the water. Adding some great music, a couple slow motion views, makes a day on the water seem like a movie in the theatres. During the next 3 months of winter fishing I will be getting a lot of footage together since I will be on the water mostly with friends, so keep an eye out for a new low tide video at the end of February.
   We started doing some video stuff last year including "Reds on the Rise", which was a tailing red film, "Wake" which was our low tide film, and "Cast and Blast" which was a video I did a few months ago about our reds and rails trip. So after a year of learning about filming and editing I feel that this year will bring some really awesome videos, including a cobia video! Check out our current videos and keep an eye out for our new video on our website, or facebook page at http://www.baystreetoutfitters.com/.
     



Fall Fishing "Cast and Blast"

Clients Pat and Lance with a double hook up

   The fall fishing here in Beaufort, SC has been in full swing! My favorite time of year as a local, and the best time of year to fish for Redfish, Trout, and Flounder. The months of September, October, and November provide great weather, lots of bait, and most of all hungry fish. As guides this is our most busy time of year, do to a lot of return clients coming back down for the cooler weather, and great fishing. Whether your using light tackle gear, or throwing the fly, fall fishing is the best time to fish in Beaufort.


Kristin with a nice trout

    When throwing the fly during the fall season, choosing the right pattern is key. There are a lot of shrimp around at low tide, and a lot of fiddler crabs around at high tide, so matching those patterns produces the best results on the fly. Poling low tide in the flats boat this time of year is a ton of fun do to the redfish being very active chasing shrimp, so seeing them on the shallow water mud flats is a lot easier for new anlgers. Focusing in 8-10inches of water, sight casting to schools of 15-50 fish at a time. The fall season is when our redfish really start to school up in high numbers getting ready for winter, so it gives you a good opportunity to capitalize on large numbers of fish.
   Fall is always a great time for tailing redfish on the fly, allowing us to fish any high tide through out the day, because of the cooler water and air temperatures. Crab patterns and the Dupre Spoon fly work great in the grass for tailing redfish, having a good weed guard is key in the thick spartina grass. Casting to a tailing redfish is one of the best sight casting opportunities you can have with a fly rod, getting within 15-30ft of the fish as its feeding on fiddlers. When you put the fly in the right spot as the fish is tailing, the hook ups are automatic, and offer a very exciting take! Full day fly trips this time of year are well worth the extra money as a client to be able to experience two different situations with redfish on the fly in a single outing.


Nat with a tailing redfish from the boat

Client Rich with his 1st tailing Redfish on the fly!

   Light tackle fishing this time of year is sometimes like catching fish in a barrel. Producing 15-20 redfish, 10-15 Trout, and large numbers of lady fish, flounder, etc in a 1/2 day trip. All of our light tackle fishing during the fall is done with live shrimp under a cajun thunder. Working grass lines, oyster beds, and any place where these fish are feeding. This is the kind of fishing that is great for beginners, kids, or the guys who like to catch and eat. For the experienced light tackle guys who like to use artificials, low tide is a great way to sight cast with gulp or D.O.A. Casting to big schools, single fish on white oyster, or tailing redfish in the grass.


Client Steve with a nice red on light tackle

   A new thing we started guiding for this year in the fall is Marsh Hen, also known as "Rail Birds". There are set seasons for these waterfowl, and only certain tides over 9ft allow you to hunt for them. When we get these huge high tides during the fall it brings the marsh hen up out of the high spartina grass, putting them in the open waters for us to shoot. Poling the flats  boat around and looking for these birds swimming, flying, sitting on grass, or making there famous call is how we hunt for them. Using small gauge shotguns like a .410, 20 or 28 gauge makes the shot a little more challenging. The marsh hen is not a very good eating bird, but does allow a good flying target, and a lot of shooting with a limit of 15 per person.

   The "Cast and Blast" is one of my favorite charters to run. There is nothing better to challenge a shooting sportsman, and also a fisherman in the same outing. Focusing on shooting marsh hen in the morning, then fishing for redfish in the afternoon is by far the best experience in the low country. I had the pleasure of spending 3 days in a row on the water this year with 2 clients that absolutely love the outdoors, who got to experience our cast and blast charter in first person. If you haven't got a chance to shoot and fish in the same day I highly recommend giving it a try, you will not be disappointed.

    

Lady Anglers

A Clients 2 daughters with one of the many nice reds that day

     Through out the past years of guiding I've really started to notice that more and more women are getting involved with the sport of fishing. Most guys wonder why ladies don't like to fish much, and I personally even wondered that at times. Imagine going shopping for a day, and spending hours in stores trying on clothing, or picking out a new pair of shoes, which for most guys is the last thing they want to spend there day doing. Well a day of fishing for most men is like a day of shopping for most women. Comparing shopping and fishing is a way that you can really see why men like to fish and women like to go shopping. Although this is not the case for a lot of lady anglers, because you would be very surprised by the amount of women who love to fish!

My mom and I on Mothers day

    One of my favorite charters is when a guy and his special someone are on the boat. Whether there newly weds, married for 30 years, or just going on a date, these are always some of the best days. Its really awesome to see ladies get so excited when there out on the water catching fish, the action from a redfish fight is something they will never forget. Usually its the ladies first time fishing, so there is quite a bit of instruction needed, which is my job, so it saves the husband a lot of stress and even a future argument after the trip! Its a great thing to see a lady who enjoys fishing with her husband or boyfriend, something not many guys are lucky enough to experience.
  There are a lot of things that seem to push women away from fishing like hooking the bait, touching the fish, or being able to cast the rod. It seems like there mostly too worried about messing up or being scared to try it, but what most women don't realize is how easy, fun, and relaxing fishing can really be. I find that 9 out of 10 times when a lady catches her first fish, she realizes that fishing is actually fun, and understands why we as men love it so much.  Fishing should always be fun, whether your an experienced fly fisherman, or just a weekend warrior, so try taking your wife, girlfriend, mom, or daughter for once instead of your best fishing buddy and I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as she does.

Husband and Wife Clients with a nice redfish

         There are tons of different kind of groups, clubs, and organizations for lady anglers. Whether your a fly fisher or love going offshore in the deep blue water, there are a lot of different organizations for ladies to join. Even in a lot of tournaments now and days you'll see categories for women, which make the tournaments a little more fun when you bring a female angler along with you. I personally think its great that women are getting so involved with the fishing industry in general, its no longer just a mans sport these days.

Lady Client with a nice winter redfish

       In a lot of the fishing magazines I read weekly there are more and more articles about women fishing, pictures, and stories of there adventures on the water. I had the pleasure to meet a female guide from NC a few months ago, and the knowledge she had of her freshwater trout fishery blew me away. She knew her stuff, and got me very excited about coming to fish for Brook Trout with her by the way she explained hiking through the mountains, and fishing small streams with tiny 3wt fly rods.

Giving a casting lesson to a lady client on the boat

     A few months ago I had a 2 hour fly casting lesson with a lady well over 60, who decided she wanted to go fly fishing in Montana after watching the movie "A River Runs Through It". I could tell how excited she was to learn, and how eager she was to go on the trip. This lady informed me that her husband had passed so she would be doing the trip alone and really wanted to go fly fishing, and from the moment I heard that my focus was turned to teaching and getting her ready for the trip. We worked hard for 2 hours as I taught her the basics of a fly cast, and the technique of being able to cast a fly line for the fresh water trout in Montana. The lesson was a success after 2 hours she had it down, and I could tell how excited she was by the smile on her face, which made me just as happy. The days like that remind me how lucky I'am to have the career that I was born to follow as a fly fishing guide.

My baby sister Zelie with a nice trout!

    At Bay Street Outfitters we have a Ladies redfish School which is a one day casting school that is held with only women. This is a great way for women to get into fly fishing and not only learn how to cast a fly rod, but to really be able to understand how the sport works. You will learn about the rods, reels, lines, casting, and so much more through out the one day ladies redfish school.
     Most people would think that my dream girl would be a girl who loves to fish, which in certain ways of reasoning is very true. But in the long run its very rare to meet a girl who actually likes to fish, and can understand why I personally have a passion for fishing. So in reality my dream girl would be someone who simply understands my passion, and why fly fishing is a part of my life, not just a girl who likes to fish. Of course joining me on the water every now and then would be a plus! The respect I have for lady anglers is huge, and I strongly urge any women to give fishing a try, I'm sure you will not be disappointed!


Clients daughter with a redfish



Lady Client with a Speckled Sea Trout

      

South Dakota on the Fly

1st Trophy Carp on a 7wt

     I recently made a trip up to Sioux Falls, SD in search of Carp and Northern Pike on the fly, and yes I did say Carp! My friend and also past client Dan Fraiser was the one who got me hooked on the idea of targeting Carp on the fly, which most fly fisherman think is pointless. To them a carp is the last fish they want to target, but to me it was the new freshwater fish on my list to catch. Dan would send me all sorts of pictures of these huge 25-35inch, 8-15lb Carp, that he was catching on a 7wt. Casting to these fish is very similar to redfish, because your seeing the Carp cruising is shallow water, then laying an accurate sight cast to them, watching them chomp down your fly.
   Soon after seeing constant pictures, the urge to catch a Carp soon became a reality. The dates were set, plane tickets purchased, and tackle packed for Souix Falls, SD. Tuck Scott who is a friend and also a guide at the shop joined me for the trip, and off we were to South Dakota.  Dan and his brother Mike picked us up at the air port, knowing Tuck and I had high hopes of catching our first Carp and Northern Pike on the fly. Dan is one of, if not the best Carp fisherman in SD, he had the tactics, flies, streams, and knowledge to produce for a great trip. Dan and Mike are not guides so it was a ton of fun watching them share with us the knowledge they had of there fishery, and treating Tuck and I as if we were paying clients.

   Our first spot of the trip was the tail waters of the Vermillion, which consisted of small freshwater streams full of Carp, Pike, Waleye, Small Mouth, Gar, and Mooneye. The flies of choice for the trip were an assortment of wooly buggers, streamers, crab patters, minnow patterns, and dry flies. We wet waded through these streams looking for the carp tailing, swimming around, and mud clouds were they had been sitting. Working these streams was pretty difficult at times do to all the high banks, so adjusting our cast from the bow of a flats boat took a little time. We mainly used 7wt rods, and 3x tippet do to the carp being liter shy.
    In the first few hours I sight casted to quite a few carp and had some trouble getting them to eat the fly, we must of switched flies 5 or 6 times till finally the choice was right. I laid a 30 foot cast out along a bank that I saw a fish come up and eat, after my 1st strip my line got tight, I stripe set, and BAM! The first fish of the trip was on, and putting up quite a fight. As the liter started to show, so did the fish with a huge surprise! It was a nice 28inch Northern Pike, which had me super pumped. Mike did an excellent job putting me on the fish and landing it with the net like a pro, he also informed me that it was a trophy Northern Pike for the waters we were fishing which had me double excited!


Trophy Northern Pike

      Soon after I caught the Trophy Northern Pike we went in search of more Carp. Mike put me on an area where I saw a group of about 5 huge Carp feeding and tailing in some really skinny water. I laid the fly in front of the fish 3 times and on the 3rd cast, first stripe, one of the carp chomped down my fly! Instantly I stripe set the fish and the fight was on, pulling and shaking his head, the carp fought surprisingly very well, and similar to a redfish. Mike netted the fish and I proudly stood with my first carp on the fly at 25in, weighing around 8lbs. The elusive carp met all of my expectations, and I could tell that Mike was very relieved to see me land both of my goals within the first 2 hours of the trip.
   Through out our adventure in SD we caught Carp, Pike, Gar, Bluegill, and Mooneye. Yes there is a fish called a mooneye, and a very interesting fish at that. We targeted these fish with small dry flies on 5wts as they were rising, which was exactly how you fish for trout. The mooneye were very aggressive fish, and had small sharp teeth that made it tough to land. We caught quite a few of the mooneye through out the trip, mainly focusing on them at sun down to end the day with some fun action.


Mike with a nice Mooneye

    Mike did a great job of guiding me, and Dan helped out a lot as well with fly selections, and area's for Mike to take me. After my epic first couple hours of the trip, I decided to give Dan and Tuck a hard time, naming our team "Team Big Fish" do to all the big fish we were catching. Tuck and Dan weren't to happy about that the first day do to a lot of bad luck with liters breaking, and hooks bending, causing them to lose some nice fish. There team name for the trip was Fire and Ice, and made for quite a few good jokes through out our trip! Team Fire and Ice soon caught up with up on the big fish by getting Tuck his first Carp and also Northern Pike the next morning we went out, which was a good way to make up for losing so many fish in bad situations, or what we call "Bad Fish Juju".
   At the end of our trip to South Dakota, Dan and Mike did an absolute great job guiding, and put Tuck and I on tons of fish through out the 3 days of fishing. We did lose a lot of big carp, and pike, but that's always part of fishing. The competition of Team Big Fish and Team Fire and Ice made the trip a lot of fun, and very humorous at times. All in all when you have 4 friends fishing together and having a great time, those are the memories that matter the most.

Mike, Me, Dan, Tuck
The Crew

    


Dan with a nice Northern Pike