LIP GRIPPER TAKE A LOOK INSIDE ALEX
TEJEDA'S FLATS FLY BOX. PHOTO: ALEX TEJEDA
[TACTICS] BONE COLLECTOR [1] SEASONS ON THE FLY
To understand the flats, study the flats. Captain Alex Tejeda spends hours tracking the tides and weather conditions for the best skinny-water scenario. From April through September, he stalks the ocean-side flats for bonefish and tarpon. Through the winter, he hides deep in the estuar- ies targeting redfish, snook, black drum and tarpon. Best days for flats fishing feature light and variable winds. He likes a low tide early in the morning so he can fish the clear, cool incoming water all day. Clouds and wind make it harder to spot fish.
[2] FEATHERS AND FUR
Tejeda lives by the motto: “Match the hatch.” Crabs are by far the fa- vorite meal for bonefish and permit. He likes a Merkin crab, but he’s careful to choose a color pattern that matches the crabs in the area. "Look carefully at the local crabs and match the color and size," he suggests. Tejeda will use a darker fly over dark bottom and light color on sandy patches. Many times bonefish are keyed in on shrimp, that’s when he pulls out a Gotcha or Crazy Charlie. Size matters. He starts fishing with a larger fly then downsizes through the day.
28 … KAYAK ANGLER
Flats pro Alex Tejeda opens his box of skinny-water flies
Miami local Captain Alex Tejeda (
www.facebook.com/bigcatch.kayakfishing) started fishing at age three. When he discovered kayak fishing, he turned his passion into a business. Tejeda stalks the clear, blue waters of Biscayne Bay and Everglades National Park flinging flies for bonefish, snook, trout and reds. As a pro angler for Jackson Kayak and Redington Rods, Tejeda has appeared on national television programs. RIC BURNLEY
[3] TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER
Tejeda uses a short bite leader attached to a nine-foot, tapered leader. A taper allows the leader to roll out and unfold easily. A five-inch piece of 12- to 16-pound bite leader keeps the fish from breaking off. Modern fly lines are scientifically engineered to cast perfectly, still each line has its own personality. Tejeda recommends trying several different makes and models to find the one that matches the angler’s style of casting and fishing. He likes a line such as the RIO Bonefish Quickshooter that has a shorter head for use with a fast-action rod. Fish appear quickly, so Tejeda looks for a line with a lightning fast response.
[4] WHIPS AND WINCHES
Tejeda relies on two rods: an 8wt and a 9wt. He uses the 8wt in light winds that require a technical presentation to tailing bones in skinny water. When the wind picks up, or he is throwing a heavier fly, like a tungsten crab for permit, Tejeda will switch to the 9wt set-up. He likes a Redington Predator rod and Rise reel. The rod loads fast and shoots hard to launch the fly from the kayak. The reel has a large arbor, so Tejeda has enough line retrieval speed to tackle bigger fish like tarpon.
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