Mr. Pat Ginder and his 35-37 inch redfish (didn’t measure it) caught in Port O’Connor Jetties using a 6 weight Orvis Access, Access Reel, Floating Line, and 9ft of 16lbs leader with a homemade fly (The Fat Pat) in FEBRUARY!!!
I created my new company (Back Bay Entertainment) in late summer of 2011 and began guiding full time in fall out of Port O’Connor, TX after spending my whole life fishing this area. I had yet to host or even market to fly fisherman but that all changed two weeks ago. I had a group of family friends that I hosted and they brought along their cousin Mr. Pat Ginder who is a professional hunting and fly fishing guide on a 20,000+ acre ranch in near Casper, Wyoming. He decided to bring his fly fishing gear. After fishing at the POC Jetties for a few hours so the three girls in the boat with us could have some quick and fast action and have fun putting fish in the boat, I decided to move to another spot in the POC Jetties bottle neck.
As I approached the spot I could see what I thought was porpoise but soon identified the define wedge of a large spotted redfish tail surface. I then proceeded to put the boat nose into the current, leaving the boat in gear without anchoring (really swift tide movement), and had my clients casting dead shrimp on top of the boiling oversized reds heads. We tried that for 10 minutes without a single bump.
About that time I see Pat emerge from behind my leaning post holding his fly rod with a homemade fly tied on called the Fat Pat and he was determined, locked, and loaded. He steps on the bow and began making elegant flowing casts on to the rolling reds noses. After about three rounds of casting sessions (about 2-4 minutes worth) I say, “OK guys and gals; looks like they have lock jaw.”
As I began to idle on to greener pastures Pat says lets try one more time so I swing around to reposition the boat just a tad closer to the bottle neck. Pat makes two beautiful lays with his rod and on the third cast the fly lays perfect in the current. I see five large bronze heads surface and dart towards the fly like it’s their last meal. His line pulls tight and the fight was on. He had on 16 lbs. leader and the fish stripped the reel down to his backing three times. After an amazing 30 minute fight he landed this beauty.
He and I were some happy campers and I can honestly say it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had on the Texas Coast in my 20+ years of fishing. Without the love and support of my family, girlfriend, and friends I could never have made the leap of becoming a full time guide and I am so very blessed for the opportunities and the experiences I am able to have in God’s country.
Capt. Ross Brunner, Back Bay Entertainment
(361) 772-4809 backbayentertainment@hotmail.com
