As reported by Chris Martin . . .
Imagine checking your favorite wind app – day after day, it reads 25 to 30 mph gusts. You step outside in the morning darkness, coffee in hand, onto the upper deck overlooking the bay.What you hear in the darkness sounds like a freight train barreling toward your front door.
Welcome to May on the Texas coast. The wind hasn’t let up, and it’s tested even our most seasoned fly fishing guests. But those who’ve adapted? They’re finding the payoff.
Where to Find Fish
Targeting clean water, especially over grass and mud, has been key. Anglers willing to hunt for those windows are finding redfish, black drum, and sheepshead still very much in play.
If there’s a silver lining in these windy conditions: The gurgler bite is turning on. We’re starting to see schools of redfish pushing shallow, creating solid opportunities for topwater eats and sightcasting. Larger redfish? They’re often riding solo, hanging just outside the schools. Look for them sitting low and still – ready to ambush.
What We’re Seeing
- Small grass shrimp continue to show along marsh edges.
- Redfish trailing stingrays have been a frequent pattern.
- Doubles are happening, especially when guests stay alert and remain ready to cast.
Pro Tip
Be patient, trust the tide windows, and get out early. The best shots are often in that calm, magical moment just after first light—when the wind’s down and the fish are cruising. Natural fly colors like tan, off-white, and brown are producing well. Use light to medium dumbbell eyes when fishing for redfish lying flat on the bay floor – “You gotta get that fly down fast.”
Tough conditions. Smart strategy. Solid rewards. That’s the May fly fishing at Bay Flats Lodge.