Thinking of fishing Rudee Inlet and Lynhaven Inlet soon

[HeaveToo]

I am thinking about packing up the tent, the kayak, and a few things and taking a trip to Virginia Beach to do some fishing in Rudee Inlet and Lynhaven Inlet.  I have heard about the redfish, sea trout, and flounder and it sounds like a good place to fish.

Has anyone else fished these areas?  Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for the trip?

Which tide is better for fishing for Redfish?  Any good flies that have worked for you?  Any specific time of the day that is best?  Any good spots that you know about?

Thanks in advance for the tips.

[Vic Velasco]

I'm not one to push guides, but if it will be your first time there, you might want to look up Cory Ruth - he does fly fishing guided trips on kayaks - should be able to get you on the fish and you won't have to bring your own yak.

If yak fishing doesn't ring your bell, Lynnhaven has spots you can hit from shore - just be careful wading as there are sudden dropoffs and you can easily get swept out into the current.  There may be some spots you can shore fish at Rudee, but I haven't found them.  There is a big boat ramp right by the aquarium where you can launch a kayak or john boat.

Those inlets work best on a shifting tide.  

Orange and brown clousers work for me.  Good luck!

[HeaveToo]

Have you ever fished bendbacks?  I tied up a few of a special kind of bendback that is supposed to be good for redfish and they look like shrimp, supposedly.

I will post a report when I am finished.  I will not use a guide as this is a budget trip.  I plan to camp at the state park.

I was really wanting to do Kiptopeake State Park sometime but I don't want to do it in my inflatable kayak.  That makes me a little nervous with the ships and other issues.  When I eventually get a rigid kayak I really want to try there.

[Eric Y.]

Rising tide for reds at Lynnhaven - especially on the little island/marsh system just south of the VA-60 bridge. 

Bendbacks in tans, browns, olives, and chartreuse (all over white) will work. 

You can also whip out some shrimp patterns pretty easy:

2 - 1/0 hook 

small to medium lead eyes tied on top of the shank just behind the eye

tan bucktail or EP fiber tail 

a few strands of flashabou (root beer color is prime, but anything works)

tip of orange marabou, rear-facing, over the top of the tail

palmer grande chenille in tan up the shank and tie it all off. 

This is basically your standard dumbell-eye wooly bugger patterns in a tan/brown but with grande chenille and 1/2" of bright marabou tip over the tail base. If you don't have grande chenille, use what you have and then palmer a neutral-colored hackle feather over the chenille.  

You can play with this pattern, adding mono eyes, chenille for the egg sack instead of marabou, etc. I typically bring half the tail over the back of the hook like you'd tie a wing casing, tie it in at the eye, and then CCG/epoxy the wing casing.

[Dave Marcus]

HeaveToo,

I'm taking a similar trip this weekend. I wanted to check back and see if you had a trip report, how'd you do? Any flies or patterns in particular that were working well or that I should avoid?

Thanks,

David

[HeaveToo]

I fished hard and long and came home with a skunk!

On Tuesday, May 6, 2014 10:24:00 AM UTC-4, HeaveToo wrote: