![]() These flies provide more of a meal for big fish and will get to the bottom quickly, which is where they are most effective. A brown Merkin or black Clouser are worthy considerations. If you encounter larger drum, fish over 20-pounds, Kumiski recommends switching to a fly with a slightly larger profile. If you want a bite, you had better show them the fly,” continued Kumiski. “You often have to make repeated casts to the same fish, dropping the fly right on their nose. “I prefer to wade if at all possible, as wading allows for a lower profile while also enabling the angler to concentrate solely on casting and not having to control the kayak or canoe,” says Kumiski.įor the average Banana River drum, Kumiski tosses a black redfish worm fly tied on a #4 hook. During this period cooler temperatures make the water on the flats crystal clear, which makes sight fishing much easier. His favorite time to target black drum is from Thanksgiving to Easter. Captain John Kumiski ( ) is a veteran of many kayak and canoe trips in the Banana River. The northern end of the Banana River is a no motor zone that’s famous for schooling black drum. You can either keep throwing the standard flies and hope for the best, or experiment with some less popular patterns. When tailing fish refuse everything you have in your fly box they may be on a shellfish binge. And while we know drum love crustaceans, at times they can be extremely selective about what they eat. While numerous fly patterns have been developed to replicate crab and shrimp species, duplicating a clam or mollusk is much more difficult. In addition, most fly patterns commonly used for drum are quite small, so it is no surprise casting accuracy is extremely important. Poor eyesight, however, means your offering must be presented within inches of the drum’s face. It is still imperative to use stealth when approaching these fish, but their limited vision enables anglers to get within 20-feet or closer. On the positive side, it is often possible to get much closer to black drum than it is to redfish or trout. It’s important to note that a fish with poor eyesight can be both an advantage and hindrance to the fly angler. ![]() Unlike redfish, black drum are equipped with barbells on their lower jaw and since they rely on smell more than sight to locate food, sensitive chin whiskers greatly enhance their predatory pursuits. Shrimp, marine worms, clams, mollusks, and whelks are also on the black drum buffet. From palm-sized blue crabs to tiny mud crabs smaller than a dime, drum are especially fond of crunchy critters. While redfish will eat nearly anything they encounter, the diet of a black drum is much more limited. Tailing also means the fish are focused on small crustaceans, which can easily be mimicked with a fly. ![]() Whatever the color, a tailing fish is a fly angler’s dream because when fish are tailing there is one thing we know for certain they are hungry and actively feeding. In addition, black drum tails have a straighter edge, which ranges from dark gray or black to a nearly transparent orange. Often misidentified, the tail of a black drum is more rounded at the corners when compared to the reddish, blue-tipped tail of a redfish. Depending on the ferocity of their appetite you may spot just the tip of a tail or as much as half of their body protruding from the water. Like their cousins, black drum can often be seen tailing as they dig their noses deep into the substrate in search of crustaceans. …a tailing fish is a fly angler’s dream because when fish are tailing there is one thing we know for certain they are hungry and actively feeding. While these powerhouses can be caught year-round, the winter and spring months bring the greatest number of drum onto the shallow flats where shots at fish up to 40-pounds are commonplace. Although world famous for fantastic opportunities with trophy redfish and seatrout, these shallow bodies of water also offer incredible sight-fishing for monster black drum. Encompassing the Banana River, Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, the pristine shallows of the Indian River Lagoon system are a fly caster’s match made in heaven.
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