[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.19.18″ custom_padding=”3px|0px|54px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”By Thomas R. Dempsey, M.D. CCI” _builder_version=”3.19.18″]<\/p>\n
Local Fishing<\/em> By Thomas R. Dempsey, M.D. CCI<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/gulfcoastflyfishingschool.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/black-drum-1.jpg” _builder_version=”3.19.18″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.19.18″]<\/p>\n Black drum,\u00a0 a cousin of the red drum,\u00a0 is not of the same kinship when it comes to fly fishing for these guys. They can be the most frustrating of all species when it comes to hitting a fly. Found in large numbers in the gulf waters,\u00a0 the black drum can reach huge proportions,\u00a0 feeding on crustaceans and other hard bodied shellfish. A fully grown black drum can consume 2 commercially-sized oysters for each kilogram he weighs; meaning an adult black drum can eat up to 40 oysters a day,\u00a0 and it is easy to see how they can do some real damage to the oyster industry!<\/p>\n So,\u00a0 how can we snag one on a fly? Tech,\u00a0 some skill,\u00a0 and some luck. Skill and technique requires you to “feed” the fish. This means you need to literally put the fly on his nose so he expends the minimal amount of energy to eat it. Usually you see them slowly coasting in a pod. Forget these guys – they are on a mission and seldom eat. Instead,\u00a0 pick off the singles or better yet the ones with their head down and fan tail waving in the breeze. They seem to like muted colors,\u00a0 greens and brown. Crab patters on 4\/0 hooks with 30# tippet and at least an 8wt. rod. The fight is usually anti-climatic when compared to the size of these big boys,\u00a0 often requiring you jump out of the boat and “walk-em down.”<\/p>\n The little ones,\u00a0 4-8 pounds,\u00a0 are good to eat if you have a chain saw to filet them. Let the big ones go. All in all,\u00a0 a great challenge for the fly fisherman.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Black Drum on a Fly Local Fishing By Thomas R. Dempsey, M.D. CCI Black drum,\u00a0 a cousin of the red drum,\u00a0 is not of the same kinship when it comes to fly fishing for these guys. They can be the most frustrating of all species when it comes to hitting a fly. Found in large […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-fishing"],"yoast_head":"\n