Redfish on the Fly

Capt. John Kumiski

There is no denying that I am a sucker for an authoritative resource that is chock full of useful information. Capt. John Kumiski, in his recently released Redfish on the Fly - A Comprehensive Guide, continues his mastery of precisely that genre for the fly fisher. Combining his own extensive personal experience and exhaustive background research with the input of experienced local guides from North Carolina to Texas, Capt. John offers the reader practical insights into the pursuit of redfish throughout their entire US coastal distribution.

This latest book (his second on redfish) by Florida guide Kumiski is divided into four main sections. The first is devoted to the biology of the redfish. Here he liberally cites the available body of scientific knowledge, including such influences on redfish behavior as seasons, tides, diet and weather. While this may seem like standard fare, it is of particular import to those who care to understand their quarry and translate that knowledge into a higher level of fly fishing success.

Section 2 is all about the "How-To" of pursuing redfish - from equipment to casting and presentation to the different means of locating and accessing this often spooky fish. This instructive segment is based on Kumiski's twenty year experience guiding fly anglers for redfish in the Indian River Lagoon area of Florida's Atlantic coast. Practical insights are liberally sprinkled on every page. Newcomers to these fish may be pleased to find that the most expensive equipment is not necessary, and more experienced anglers may learn casting techniques for rapid-fire delivery to their nervous quarry.

Fly patterns for redfish are briefly summarized in the third section of the book. The major categories of patterns are discussed, and representative examples demonstrated. Fly fishers notoriously bring far more variety to the water than necessary for the pursuit of their target species, and this no-nonsense guide refuses to contribute to that excess. These are not the most discriminating fish in shallow salt water, and a more exhaustive discussion would not be useful - a point made abundantly clear in the next section of the book.

In his typical exhaustive review of the subject at hand, the author uses the fourth section of the book to present details of the successful pursuit of redfish throughout their range in the US. In so doing, he enlists the input of seventeen top local guides as he fishes throughout the "redfish zone". This inclusion of expert local experience is especially valuable, and Capt. Kumiski and his contributors deserve our patronage as we acquaint ourselves with their unfamiliar waters. In over 100 pages, the reader learns the regional variables of tide, wind, structure, and diet, just to name a few. The discussions provide particularly helpful insight into successfully fishing these locales, although inclusion of maps of the areas would have made the discussions more clear. Not to worry that all the secrets are divulged; the local environments change constantly, and there is ample opportunity for discovery as the intrepid reader ventures to areas not reviewed.

The author has a special talent for weaving useful pearls of wisdom throughout his text, and I find the destination reviews of special merit. In that regard, I would be remiss if I did not mention Kumiski's Flyrodding Florida Salt, revised and updated in 2005. This too is an invaluable resource for the shallow salt water angler, structured much like the redfish book. Notable experts provide the regional commentaries, including migratory fish movement, and maps of each area are included. The reader will be pleased to find that this book also affords that stream of useful information one wishes every guide provided when they are out on the water. These softbound black-and-white editions are not intended as coffee table fare, but rather are destined to become valued assets in preparing and successfully culminating that shallow water trip, whether from near or afar. My own copies of these books will grow battered and dogeared, but they will accompany me on every trip I make to that part of the salt water world.

If you have ever considered stalking redfish or other near shore salt water species in the the southeastern US and Florida (and who hasn't?), don't even think of going without Capt. John Kumiski's Redfish on the Fly and Flyrodding Florida Salt!

Reviewed by Don Bishop of Ask About Fly Fishing - Internet Radio