You can only visualize the fun I was having fighting this flash of silver on a such a "whippy" fly-rod, but after a few swirling leaps and line zipping runs, a solid 3lb speckled sea trout slid into my landing net and after photos released back to the bayou.

Fishing an early outgoing tide on the edges of a salt marsh provided a superb fish-fest for my catching several marauding specks feeding on "tons" of shad that were fleeing the gnashing teeth of a feeding frenzy. These specks were ambushing shad which were swimming out of the salt-grass on a dropping tide fleeing the specks who were greedily snapping them up like pop-corn at a Saturday matinee.

The notion of chasing speckled trout with a fly-rod comes natural to me as I often enjoy the challenging edge of sport-fishing. I had fished this same area the day before when schooling specks provided some exciting fishing action which initiated my interest for fly fishing. The main reason for the sea trout being here in the first place was due to dropping tides, the shad, and receding waters. With the shad having no other option but to swim out where the specks were waiting in ambush. I realized then that a fly-rod rigged with a shad imitating fly just might be the key for some very exciting fishing action.

Now, although I’m not well versed in proper fly tech lingo I’ve handled fly-casting gear for many years and can roll cast with the best of them. Choosing an 8 weight fly-rod, a

9footer, with enough backbone to battle big fish. I rigged a 6 ft mono tippet (leader) to the fly-line (floating weight forward "high visibility" orange fly-line) spooled on my fly reel with enough backing to defeat a possible redfish hookup. For lures I opted for streamer flies resembling shad with pop-eyes tied in. (the specks really key in on the eyes)

Typically, you won’t have to fly cast very far (20 yards or less) but I highly recommend practicing fly casting in the wind prior to your trip. Casting from a boat, kayak, or wade fishing can be tricky, especially when stripping line out for casting, or stripping in your retrieve. You can either strip your line into a bucket at your feet to keep from tangling, or directly into the water in front of you as I do.

Fly fishing may not be for everyone, but to those who can master this technique it can provide true sporting pleasures. And believe me; the extra work with a fly rod will more than provide the extra fun on your trip. But if you can’t adjust to a fly-rod, try Ultra-Lite fishing, which offers anglers that "little extra" edge you may crave for adding excitement to your "SPORT" of fishing.

Ultra-Lite involves using light-weight spinning rods matched with miniature open faced spinning reels. My choice of ultra-lite rods are 5ft Browning graphite Gold Medallions or Pharr rods matched with Cardinal ultra-lite spinning reels spooled with 4- to- 6lb premium mono line. Anything heavier wouldn’t be classified as ultra-lite. Rig 1/8th oz jig-heads with twister tails or mini-grubs. You can find these soft plastic lures in the fresh water crappie fishing section of your tackle shops. Small 1/8th oz spoons in gold or silver will also work. Smoke colored twister tails were my key speck producers, but chartreuse or white tails should work just as well. Tie on an 8inch, 10lb test mono shock leader to your fishing line before rigging up. This will give some protection against those gnashing teeth of a speckled trout. Use a black barrel swivel when tying on the leader.

Although 9ft fly rods work well as shock absorbers when fighting fish, not so the 5ft ultra-lite rigs where you’ll have to master the techniques of playing fish to land them. Using the drag system is very important but back reeling will also help when fish make those power runs, threatening to break line, rod, or both. Another trick is to manually strip off line from your reel when the fish runs to avoid having them break your line. Ultra-Lite is a very exciting way for fighting those toe-to-toe battles that speckled trout or redfish are famous for, especially when wading belly deep in water. My best fly rod speck was a 6lb Gator-Speck with my largest ultra-lite red stretching 36inches.

Premium tackle shops such as Academy, Bass-Pro, or Gander Mountain should have the type of fly assortments you may need. Gander Mountain inBeaumont, TX, has a good variety of hand tied flies with a very good assortment of flies that resemble shad, croaker, or shrimp. If you choose the shad streamer be sure it has Mylar tied in for flash.

Fly-reels have no drag system, so you’ll have to press your thumb to the side of the reel housing to slow the fish down. Too much pressure and you’ll break the tippet and too little pressure the fish might spool the reel. When spooling is about to occur lay your rod to the side and began pumping the rod from the waist to hopefully turn the fish. You’ll have to apply pressure to the fly reel when doing this. If the fish turns and you retrieve line you’ve just about won the battle but you may have to do this several times to keep control of the fish. Pitched "toe to toe" battles with big fish will either hone your skills to skilled status or cause you to fish with heavier casting gear. Your pleasure, your choice.

Boating & releasing eight nice keeper specks to 3 lbs before the tide turned, then grabbing an ultra-lite before the action ebbed, I managed to catch & release five more nice specks, which really made my day of fishing within the salty marsh of Christmas Tree Bay.

It’s all in what you wish to do, whether you choose to keep a few for eating, and they are excellent table fare, or if you just want to have fun catching and releasing. It’s your option. But what an option it is when choosing fly or ultra-lite gear to provide those memories for a lifetime. ……..Specks on a Fly? UBETCHA!!