Fly Fishing For Sheepshead In Louisiana
Sheepshead are known mostly for their value as table fare in the saltwater fishing world, and can be found along the entire Gulf coast and much of the southeast Atlantic coast of the US. Sheepshead are bottom feeders that mainly eat shellfish with an impressive set of teeth that will make any dentist proud. They can usually be found feeding around both man made and natural structure in various depths of water in small schools and occasionally frequent shallow flats and oyster bars in search of their next meal. When in shallow water, sheepshead will tail while grabbing a bite to eat off of the bottom, but are notoriously skittish making them a great sight fishing target for fly anglers looking to test their game. There are a handful of dedicated sheepshead fly anglers that frequent Louisiana to chase them, although on most days they provide variety during a day of chasing redfish.
Fly Fishing Louisiana Sheepshead
Sheepshead are a distant relative to both redfish and black drum, and the Louisiana marsh is home to a stable population of them from two to fifteen pounds. As mentioned earlier, there aren't many anglers traveling to southeast Louisiana to specifically target sheepshead, but they can be found using the same areas as redfish and black drum. Fly fish enough days in the Louisiana marsh, and there will most likely be some memorable sheepshead encounters. They have many of the same characteristics as both redfish and black drum, but the main difference with sheepshead is their tendency to inspect a fly, and sometimes even nibble at it, before committing to take the entire thing into their mouths. Their skittish nature in the shallow water makes getting close and presenting a fly to them a challenge. Longer shots (than at redfish) are common, and quiet stealthy presentations of small flies stripped slowly or stationary on the bottom are usually needed to get a bite.
The sheepshead in southeastern Louisiana get big (in sheepshead terms) and have tall bodies that they use as leverage in battle. They aren't known for their blistering runs and long fights, but the appeal of fly fishing for sheepshead is getting the bite, and when hooked, most anglers are not disappointed by the pull of a sheepshead at the end of their line. Five to ten pound sheepshead are commonly caught on fly in the Louisiana marsh, and multiple fish days are not unheard of.
More Louisiana Fish Species
Black Drum
Black drum are a “slower” relative to the redfish, and can often be found and caught in the same areas as the redfish most people come to Louisiana to fly fish for.
Redfish
Redfish are one of the most popular inshore gamefish and the star of the show in Louisiana, which is home to the largest population of the biggest redfish in the world.
Jack Crevalle
If redfishing was like opening a fine bottle of wine, then fly fishing for jack crevalle is more like opening a shaken can of beer. It is chaotic, explosive, and exciting.