- Experience world-class accommodations and cuisine.
- Sight cast to schools of tailing redfish in ankle-deep, gin-clear water.
- Travel pristine Matagorda Island as you stalk redfish along 38 miles of uninhabited shorelines teaming with hundreds of species of birds, alligators, deer, and various other wildlife.
- Cast from the bow of deluxe technical poling skiffs, eyes peeled for the tell-tale sign of a feeding redfish.
- Discover a uniquely diverse fishery located along the middle coast of Texas.
Who is best suited for our fly-fishing experience?
Fly-fishing anglers with average to expert levels of experience will be right at home at Bay Flats Lodge. Winds can blow 15-20 mph on any given day, so those fly-fishing anglers who can single-haul and/or double-haul accurately while using a 7, 8, or 9 weight fly-rod will be most comfortable in this environment.
Where is the lodge?
Bay Flats Lodge is located in the middle portion of the Texas coast along the shores of San Antonio Bay just outside the small fishing town of Seadrift, TX. Our address is 391 Bayside Dr., Seadrift, TX, 77983.
How do I get there?
If you’re traveling from outside of Texas, or even from far west Texas or the Texas panhandle, you will need to fly to Houston, Austin, San Antonio, or to Corpus Christi. Houston offers both the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and the William P. Hobby Airport, both of which require an additional 3-hour drive to the Lodge. Austin and San Antonio offer the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and the San Antonio International Airport, respectively. And, again, each will require an additional 3-hour drive to the Lodge. CCIA – Corpus Christi International Airport is a closer option, which only requires an additional 1.5-hour drive to the Lodge.
When should I go to experience the best fishing?
Fishing is good year-round, with spring (March, April, May, June), late summer and fall having more consistent weather patterns. In the fall (October and November), fish are actively feeding on shrimp and other bait as they fatten up for winter. During wintertime, the uncertainty of predicting cold fronts pushing through the middle coast of Texas is undoubtedly the biggest challenge. When frontal passages do occur, lower tides tend to concentrate the redfish, and fishing can be on fire.
How will I be fishing?
You’ll be standing on the bow of a technical poling skiff, possibly on a casting platform, or you may be wading the shallows of a protected shoreline.
Is there wade fishing?
Certain fly-fishing guides prefer only fishing from the boat, while others encourage both boat and/or wade fishing. It’s a conversation fly anglers should have with their assigned guide prior to their trip.
Where will I fish?
To our southeast is Matagorda Island, presenting mile upon mile of shorelines, back lakes, and slough areas offering some of the most unique sight casting opportunities anywhere along the Gulf Coast. To our northeast is the Guadalupe River Delta, consisting of marshland lakes and grassy shorelines unlike anything you may have ever swum a fly.
How long does it take to reach the fishing grounds?
Depending upon wind and weather, your boat ride to your first fishing destination typically averages 30-45 minutes.
What type(s) of fish will I catch?
Your targeted species will be the redfish. However, there’s always a chance at an occasional speckled trout and/or southern flounder, as well.
How many fish will I catch?
This depends solely upon the fishing that day – possible single or double digits.
Will I see other anglers?
This usually varies depending on the day of the week. On a weekday, you may see a single boat all day long, whereas on weekends you may see a few boats throughout the day.
What are the guides like?
All Bay Flats Lodge guides are English-speaking, U.S. Coast Guard licensed, full-time, professional fly-fishing guides, who are all knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful.
What are the physical demands?
Being able to stand on a casting platform in a poling skiff or being on your feet while wading most of the day.
Are there any special skills required?
You will have an advantage if you’re able to cast accurately for a distance of at least 30 feet in all directions, and in all kinds of conditions.
Does the lodge provide equipment?
Your Bay Flats Lodge fly-fishing guide will have rods, reels, terminal tackle and flies available for your use, but you are always welcome to bring and use your own equipment if you prefer.
What is your favorite setup for the trip?
A favored set up is a 7 or 8 weight rod with weight forward floating line, with a 12 pound, 12 foot long tapered leader.
What are the top flies?
In that you will be primarily sight casting to the fish, you’ll like using a fly with a small size 4 hook, and maybe even smaller flies. Patterns that are proven producers are shrimp, crab, bead chain or plastic eyes. You’ll never want to use anything that’s too heavy. We like flies like the Redfish Cracklin, Skinny Water Shrimp and Baffin Blue Crab from Sightcast Flies.
What are the options if weather conditions become challenging?
If you wake up to challenging weather conditions, your guide will decide for you what you should do that day. Based on the day’s weather forecast, you may simply be required to wait until later in the morning to get out on the water. When the wind is blowing, there’s usually always somewhere to fish – somewhere protected. An east wind, however, is the toughest wind to fish in because there is really no place to hide. if it happens to be blowing 30 knots, your trip will not take place that day, and you’ll need to reschedule the fishing portion of your trip for a future date.
What is a typical day like?
A typical day is 8 hours, which includes travel to and from the fishing grounds. Typically, in the heat of summer, there is a mid-morning and mid-afternoon break to rehydrate, and an approximate 30-minute break for lunch. A couple of the guides may even provide music while you enjoy your lunch.
What is the general vibe, atmosphere and style of the lodge?
The atmosphere at the lodge is one of fun and relaxation, to say the least. From the moment you arrive, you’ll know we’ve been waiting for you.
Is there an on-site owner, manager or other point-person at the lodge?
Our staff of four lodge managers allows us to provide onsite management beginning very early in the morning until late in the evening each day of the week.
Where do we eat, and what are the meals like?
Pre-dinner appetizers are served fresh daily at 5:30 PM in our spacious outdoor kitchen. Dinner follows at 6:30 PM each evening with a four-course meal, accompanied by a complimentary bottle of wine, in the upstairs dining room of the Main Lodge. You’ll awaken the next morning to a hot buffet breakfast served, again, in the upstairs dining room of the Main Lodge. Later that same day, you’ll enjoy a full boat lunch consisting of sandwiches, chips, soft drinks, and purified water while fishing with your guide.
What is the alcohol policy?
At Bay Flats Lodge, we do not carry a liquor license, so we are not allowed to sell alcohol of any nature. However, guests are allowed to bring their own adult beverages should they choose to do so. Alcohol is allowed aboard the boats if preferred, as long as no glass containers are used – absolutely no glass containers are allowed on any of the boats.
Where do we stay, and what are the accommodations like?
Typical room accommodations consist of two queen beds per room, with sometimes 1-2 rooms per suite. Single-occupancy is available upon request, but is an up-charge to our standard nightly rate.
Is there internet and/or cell service?
Cell service and reception is typically good while at the lodge, but your cell signal will often be reduced while you’re fishing out on the water. The lodge offers free Wi-Fi service in all the rooms and the outdoor kitchen area.
Are there other activities?
Aside from fly-fishing, Bay Flats Lodge also offers bay fishing and wade fishing with conventional gear, with artificial or live baits, year-round. Other favorites include Airboat fishing adventures, as well as our Blast & Cast packages, where we duck hunt in the morning, return to the lodge for a hot lunch, and then hunt speckled trout and redfish in the afternoon.
Are there any other expenses?
Gratuities for your guide(s), for kitchen or housekeeping personnel, and for lodge staff members are not included in the price of your stay with us. Should you be wading during the colder months of the year, we also provide SIMMs chest waders and SIMMs wading boots at an additional per/day rental fee.
Do I need a visa?
U.S. citizens do not require a visa to visit and stay at Bay Flats Lodge.
Are there any health concerns, dangers or annoyances?
No. Our efforts to eliminate single use plastic from our lodge operations have allowed us the opportunity to provide Culligan reverse-osmosis watering systems for our guests at every property. This same purified water is provided for each boat of guests each day via a YETI backpack filled with YETI jugs and YETI drinking bottles full of purified ice water. Each guest receives a complimentary YETI lowball cup when they arrive that can be used for morning coffee, water or a cold cocktail.
We recommend that guests always consult with the U.S. Department of State and the Center for Disease Control websites for general travel information and guidelines.
Does Bay Flats Lodge support CATCH and RELEASE?
Absolutely. In fact, we encourage it. An introduction of harmful materials into the environment, ever-increasing fishing pressure, and winter freezes in recent years have all posed serious threats to the ecological balance of our Texas bay systems and fisheries. As stewards of outdoor conservation, we must all do our part wherever and whenever possible, so as to preserve for the future that which we have enjoyed so very much in the past.