Fly and Light Tackle Adventures: Topsail, Bald Head, Carolina Beach, and Southport

  June equals big schools of happy Reds here on the Cape Fear historically. This month hasn't dissapointed, even though things were lagging a bit due to our brutal prolonged winter. The Mullett are streaming onto the flats now, and the Redfish are hot on their heels(or tails should I say?) We are seeing some of the best schooling activity in recent years from half tide through both the flood and ebb. Larger schools of 3 - 4 year class fish have been pushing over sand flats especially on windy days, giving us shots with both Fly and Spinning tackle. These 24" - 27" fish are always moving, making them a challenge to set up on and get a bait or fly to the forward edge of the school before the boat settles in behind and pushes the school. The fish are hungry though, and Waldner's Spoon Flies and Sliders have taken most of these fish on fly. Spoons in copper and gold, as well as weightless jerkbaits and spinnerbaits have proven tasty as well, basically, if you can get good position on these cruisers and put something in front of them they are going to inhale it. Lots of finning backing Reds have been hitting the mud bottom flats at dead low tide as well this month making sight fishing a breeze as you can spot their muds from great distances before even spotting tails and fins. Speckled Trout are stacking up near structure with lots of current in 5 - 10 feet, and should only get better as the shrimp begin to show. The first official day of Summer is behind us, and the action should  continue to rise to a level to meet the mercury. Have fun, and we'll see you out there!