I've caught similar fish by stripping clousers 1inch in front of their face. They will pick up on the movement and insinctually eat even if the fly is completely covered in grass/muck.
Sometimes a conventional shartruese curl/tail on a jig (hook imbedded "weddless" in the lure) works well too. Cast it close as possible and barely jig it like an ice fishing lure, they'll feel the tiny movements.
Good Luck!

 

The best fly is any fly you can put right in front of them on the first cast , but I am also amazed at how much gunk the fly can get on it and they will still eat it. Sometimes.

 

Don't be afraid to hit them with the fly or lay your leader over the top of them. Chances are, it'll illicit an eat.

 

Hang up the fly rod for the day and toss a Gulp in front of them. I deal with that slimy crap in Charlotte Harbor and it makes fishing insufferable at times.

 

Punch a heavy crab or shrimp pattern through the mess. Hit the fish on the dinner plate, and give it the slightest twitches. A rattle tied in can help sometimes too.
Something like an Avalon crab that has a keel weight system works too. The beads will rattle around acting like a rattle.

 

I’m out here again, going to try everything suggested. Thanks guys for the help, I’ll report back any successes, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

 

I’m not sure how things worked out but in the future, try not retrieving the fly/line. Drop it in front of them and just twitch it a bit. If the fish moves, pick it up and try to drop the next cast in their face again.

 

If those fish are tailing or sipping then they are eating. Sometimes spoon flies work in those conditions but it should not matter if there is slime or crud on your fly. It’s mostly the presentation and movement that triggers an eat. Sometimes there is brown oily slime laying in the marsh but that has never kept a hungry red from eating this fly. I caught lots of tailing and sipping reds in the marsh on this fly before it finally bit the dust when I hooked into a 30 inch red that bent the hook. Even though the hook bent I was still able to land it because it was hooked so solidly. Sometimes luck has a lot to do with it.

 

Solid fish there my dude. Buggy lookin fly too!

 

Owner 3/0 non-offset circle with 4” swimming mullet gulp with floro leader. You’ll catch every one. Once you’ve caught enough on that, go back to any fly you can land on their face that’s got enough lead to sink through the crap.

 

I was gonna say a seaducer, medium bead chain eyes and 30lb mono weed guard. At that point, just trying to trigger a reaction with that much goo.

 

Does anybody tie a hook up gurgler or foam fly that you can “frog” across the surface ?
Seems like that could work too.
I just can’t recall seeing a pattern like that. I may play around with it when I get home.

 

Does anybody tie a hook up gurgler or foam fly that you can “frog” across the surface ?
Seems like that could work too.
I just can’t recall seeing a pattern like that. I may play around with it when I get home.

Yeah almost like a bass frog with the two hook points up. That may be a solid idea to play around with.

 

I’ve also seen similar patterns tied with salmon double hooks, looks more like a bass style frog lure than this one does. I tied this one over 20 yrs ago, didn’t really like it that much.

 

I think you guys are overthinking this. A redfish that is actively feeding in the grass will eat just about anything that you place in front of it as long as it doesn’t spook it. I have been a marsh hunter for a little over 4 years now and black/purple seems to work best in almost all conditions…, clear water, dirty water, etc. I tie this same fly in tan, brown and pink but I always use the black/purple because it just works. I do tie and use gurglers on them as well. The gurglers work better when the reds are sipping instead of tailing.

 

I’ve been trying all of these suggestions, throwing a heavier weight fly, trying to hit them with it, working it crazy slow & not worrying if it has a little grass on it.

Mixed results. Caught one, had a few follows etc..

I think I’m going to give the weedless gurgler a try next. I also really like that fly Zaraspook posted.

Anyway, it’s pretty damn cool that you guys took the time to help me out. Thanks again.

Also, these are redfish in Tampa bay. Maybe it’s a cope, but I swear they’re the spookiest fish I’ve ever seen.

 

I’ve been trying all of these suggestions, throwing a heavier weight fly, trying to hit them with it, working it crazy slow & not worrying if it has a little grass on it.

Mixed results. Caught one, had a few follows etc..

I think I’m going to give the weedless gurgler a try next. I also really like that fly Zaraspook posted.

Anyway, it’s pretty damn cool that you guys took the time to help me out. Thanks again.

Also, these are redfish in Tampa bay. Maybe it’s a cope, but I swear they’re the spookiest fish I’ve ever seen.

You are correct our redfish are spooky as heck.

 

Yeah @Zaraspook , noticed the Gurgler had bead chain eyes on it. What does that do for you/ make the fly swim? Anything noticeably different from not having the BC eyes on?

 

The bead chain eyes give just a little weight up front which probably moves the CG forward and allows the fly to do what it does. I actually bought that fly at a fly shop in JAX. Here is one of my ties without the bead chain eyes and it works just fine.

 

You Florida guys ever try throwing something SUPER LITE but on a saltwater hook? Like a Grey ghost or Olive matuka? Maybe add some legs and flash. Seems like that could work well or I have no idea what I'm talking about...either or lmao

 

Yes and with no flash.