Saltwater Flies
We have a lot of folks ask us about the flies we are using while fly fishing the flats in Rockport and the surrounding area. So our guides have begun to compile a collection of our favorite patterns here, for all to see. While we have only been able to add a select few for now, we will continue to add to this page as we can and keep everyone up to speed with the flies we are using.
And of course you can always check out our YouTube Channel for videos on how to tie most of these great redfish fly patterns.
Topwater
JJ’s Tube Top
- Our favorite topwater fly and colorway for redfish and trout.
- The Tube Top is light, easy to cast, yet still makes plenty of noise in the water
JJ’s Pop Tart
- Small and light
- Great for calm mornings
- Land soft to not spook fish
The Private Dancer
- The Private Dancer is all about movement in the water.
- A little larger than our other topwater flies, this fly will “dance” back and forth when stripped and still have plenty of wiggle while resting as well.
JJ’s Chug Bug
- The Chug Bug is always solid. Tied more similarly to a standard gurgler type fly.
- We tie these in a variety of sizes and colors. This fly has caught everything from redfish and trout, to jack crevalle and tarpon.
Other Tube Top Colors
- A few of our favorite color ways for this pattern.
- We tie these in small, medium and large sizes for redfish and trout. XL for jacks and kings.
The Shminnow in White
- In White for Jack Crevalle
- Tied in Black for Tarpon
- Learn how to tie this fly HERE
The Shminnow in Black
- Light and easy to cast
- Tied in Black for Tarpon
- Learn how to tie this fly HERE
Baitfish
JJ’s Reducer
- Easily one of our favorite patterns while fishing over grass and potholes, or to schooling fish.
- We tie The Reducer in a variety of weights, from unweighted to large lead eyes. Great pattern for the Texas flats.
JJ’s Thumper – Mullet
- Another great baitfish pattern for Southwest Texas fly fishing.
- This fly is tied with no weight, so it hovers well above grass or in shallow water.
- The rabbit gives it lots of action in the water, while stripping or at rest and the spun hair pushes plenty of water
JJ’s Thumper – Chartreuse
- Our favorite color in this baitfish pattern for Southwest Texas fly fishing.
- This fly is tied weightless, so it hovers well above grass or in shallow water.
- The rabbit gives it lots of action in the water while stripping or at rest, and the spun hair pushes plenty of water
JJ’s Thumper – Pink
- A great Spring color in this baitfish pattern for Southwest Texas fly fishing.
- This fly is tied weightless, so it hovers well above grass or in shallow water.
- The rabbit gives it lots of action in the water while stripping or at rest, and the spun hair pushes plenty of water
The Seeker – Purple
- A great baitfish pattern for Southwest Texas fly fishing
- This fly is tied a bit heavier
- The purple color is one of our favorites in off color water
The Seeker – Pink
- A great baitfish pattern for Southwest Texas fly fishing.
- Our favorite color for Spring
- Excellent color for bright days and very clear water
The Seeker – Olive
- A great mullet baitfish pattern for Southwest Texas fly fishing.
- A good year round mullet attractor pattern
- Great color to represent mullet and darker days
The Seaducer – Black/Purple
- A great baitfish pattern for Southwest Texas fly fishing.
- Tied in a variety of sizes and colors
- Click Here for tying instructions
Clouser Minnow – Chartreuse/White
- A saltwater mainstay pattern
- Tied in a variety of sizes and colors
- This fly catches everything under the sun
G’s Marsh Minnow – Brown
- Mud Minnow/Shrimp pattern
- Tied in a variety of sizes and colors
- Learn to tie this fly Click Here
Shrimp
JJ’s Spicoli
- A good little shrimp pattern for fly fishing for redfish.
- Nice and light, plenty of wiggle and small in size, make this a great option for redfish and sheepshead.
JJ’s Marsh Mop
- A very simple and easy to tie pattern that catches fish.
- Tied with bead chain eyes, so it is lightweight. A variety of colors work well for reds, trout and sheepshead.
JJ’s Polar Shrimp
- A solid shrimp imitation pattern for fly fishing Southwest Texas.
- This fly lands soft, sinks slow and has lots of motion in the water. Excellent pattern for Texas redfish.
The Pronz
- A realistic looking, and swimming, shrimp tube fly.
- We tie The Pronz on both a medium and heavy tube. Excellent Spring time fly for redfishing in Texas.
The Pronz
- Additional color ways for The Pronz.
G’s Grass Shrimp – Tan
- Great Summer shrimp pattern
- Tied smaller for spooky fish
G’s Grass Shrimp – Olive
- Great Summer shrimp pattern
- Tied smaller for spooky fish
- Excellent sheepshead fly
Crustaceans
JJ’s Crabcake Special
- Not only our best crab pattern for the Texas flats, but our best fly year round.
- We tie this fly in a variety of sizes, weights and colors. A must have for Sothwest Texas fly fishing!
JJ’s Crabcake Special
- Additional color ways for the Crabcake Special.
JJ’s Gremlin
- Another great crab pattern for fly fishing the Texas Coast.
- We tie this fly on two different weight tubes for varying water depths.
JJ’s Carrot Top Crab
- Excellent smaller crab pattern
- A little lighter, lands softly
- Great crab pattern for spooky reds
JJ’s Marty McFly – Olive
- Awesome for Texas flats fishing
- Lead eyes keep this fly on the bottom
- Great crustacean pattern for every season
JJ’s Marty McFly – Purple
- Awesome fly for all occasions
- Lots of wiggle as fly crawls along bottom
- Black and Purple, our favorite color
JJ’s Swamp Thing – Olive
- Great smaller pattern
- Lands very softly in skinny water
- Excellent for Sheepshead
JJ’s Swamp Thing – Black/Purple
- Great smaller pattern
- One of our favorite patterns!
- Our best color for this fly
JJ’s Swamp Thing – Black/Red
- Great smaller pattern
- Another great color combo
- Our best color for Tripletail
G Slide – Olive
- Great toad type pattern
- Medium weight
- Best in natural colors
G Slide – Brown
- Great toad type pattern
- Medium weight
- Best in natural colors
J Thaddeus Toad Esq. – Chartreuse
- Larger profile toad
- Lightly weighted
- Floats well above grass
J Thaddeus Toad Esq. – Blue
- Larger profile toad
- Lightly weighted
- Floats well above grass
J Thaddeus Toad Esq. – Tan
- Larger profile toad
- Lightly weighted
- Floats well above grass
G’s Baby Blue Crab
- Excellent blue crab imitation
- Rabbit claws move well in the water
- This fly works for Tarpon too!
G’s Mud Crab
- Tied smaller and lighter
- Excellent fly for sheepshead
- Click Here for tying instructions
G’s Texas Toad – Olive
- Toad style fly for Texas marshes
- Tied in variety of sizes/colors
- Click Here for tying instructions
G’s Yarn Toad
- Wool yarn sinks this fly fast!
- Toad style fly for Texas marshes
- Tied in variety of sizes/colors
G’s Mini Mud Crab – Brown
- Realistic mud crab pattern
- Great Spring pattern
- Sheepshead love this thing!
G’s Mini Mud Crab – Black
- Realistic mud crab pattern
- Great Spring pattern
- Sheepshead love this thing!
JJ’s Gold Member
- Great crab/shrimp fly
- Great Spring pattern
- Lighter weight for spooky redfish
Nearshore / Offshore
G’s Kingfish Ballyhoo
- Larger baitfish imitation
- Tarpon, Mahi, Jacks, Cobia & Kings
- Learn to tie this fly Click Here
JJ’s Black Fly of Death
- A favorite fly for Texas Bull Reds
- Unweighted for suspended bulls
- Tarpon love this thing!
