Fly Fishing for Fall Specks texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout As fall continues toward winter, most fly fishers have one thought in mind - redfish. After all, most areas of the Gulf Coast have plenty of "spot tails" waving above the waterline during October, as fish feed nose  down on shallow flats. Casting to tailing reds is most fly fishers "perfect day." However, don't be so quick to rule out specks on autumn afternoons. Speckled trout have a secondary spawn during the fall. And, although common knowledge holds that the odds favor catching a trophy sow during the primary spawn in spring, fall often offers the best opportunity for fly fishers to catch gator trout. The reason is simple: wind, or lack thereof. More fish spew more eggs in the spring. Hence, there are more, fatter fish swimming in the bays. However, most areas also experience their strongest winds during the early part of the year. Not every fish spawns in the fall. But, enough do to offer a better-than-average shot at catching a trophy trout. In addition, most every fish is beginning to add girth in anticipation of winter. The water temperatures reach a comfortable level, inspiring fish to cruise the shallows, much as they do in the spring. But, unlike spring, fall days are near-calm, giving fly casters of all levels a legitimate shot at casting the necessary distance to sunning sows. Sight casting is the preferred method of taking trophy fish in areas where the water clarity allows it. However, be prepared to exercise your eyes. Trout, with their moss-green back, are considerably tougher to spot on grass flats than redfish. Concentrate on the fringes of sandy potholes, oyster clumps or other structure that offers a contrast. Specks, particularly the large versions, are also quite a bit spookier than reds in skinny water. So, be prepared to rip off a relatively long cast in minimal time. Not the easiest of tasks, but a thrilling pursuit nonetheless. The other option is to blind cast. Again, the nearly windless days of fall are appreciated in this arena. The lack of wind allows for longer cast without nearly as much effort. The end result is covering more water, more comfortably. This time of year, there is really no need to go extra small for the sight casting end of things. The same flies can be used for both sight and blind casting. Ultra big flies (2/0) certainly produce, but really flies in the medium size range (#2, 4) seem to work more consistently. Deer hair sliders, Sea Ducers, Bendbacks, Deceivers, Snake flies and other baitfish imitating patterns are among the best. Clousers certainly catch fish while blind casting, but aren't always the best choice for sight casting to fish on calm flats since they tend to land with an audible “plop.” Floating or intermediate lines will suffice to deliver these flies, although intermediate is probably a little more functional for blind-casting over somewhat deeper water. Spooky skinny water fish require a fairly long (9' - 12') leader. But, shorter lengths (7 1/2') can be used for blind casting. Either way, a 12 to 16 pound class tippet will suffice. It is, however, a wise idea to attach a short length of 20 pound shock tippet to protect against the vampire-like teeth which protrude from a speck's mouth. So, while it is tempting to toss flies at redfish for the whole month of October, be aware there is another option. And, taking the road less traveled this fall could lead you to a trophy speck. texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout