In winter, basically anytime the water temperature gets much lower than 75, you may want to suit up in chest waders such as the RedHead Classic Series II. After you fish a given flat a few times, you'll be able to pare down the necessary lures for that area.Ĥ. Wear a vest such as the Redington® Clark Fork Mesh Fly Fishing Vest to tote your extra gear, water and snacks. The synthetic materials don't drag a lot of water back into the boat or car and dry much quicker than cottons.ģ. In an average day on the flats, you'll be in and out of the water many times. (If you plan an all-day wading trip, it's a good idea to wear socks inside the booties as an added protection against rubbing.)Ģ. The above-the-ankle design keeps out sand and shell. These booties have hard soles to ward of oyster shells and barnacles, soft neoprene uppers that are comfortable for long-term wear, and corrosion-proof zippers that stand up to saltwater use. Get a good pair of wading booties such as the World Wide Sportsman Flats Boot. When wade fishing, a good pair of neoprene fishing waders will keep you comfortable while staying alert can help you hook up with a nice red.ġ. Here are some tips, gleaned over decades of tromping the Florida flats. Your profile is low and small, you can move very slowly, and you have complete control of those breathless moments when you need to stand stock-still as a fish comes by within a rod-length.īut there are a few things to know about being part of the wet-pants brigade. When the fish are in water that's barely ankle deep, stealth is critical, and that gives wade-fishers a big advantage. Wading is, by far, the best way to approach spooky flats species such as redfish, bonefish, permit, and sometimes snook and trout.

Shoes for saltwater flats fishing