RIO Fly Recommendations | Redfish Patterns with Chris Martin of Bay Flats Lodge

RIO’s Lagoonatic: A Redfish Fly That Gets It Done

There are plenty of flashy redfish flies out there. But when it comes to reliability, visibility and fish-triggering movement, RIO’s Lagoonatic has earned its place in my box. If you’re sight casting in challenging water or fishing through thick cover, this is a fly that won’t let you down.

The Lagoonatic isn’t flashy just to look good in the vise. It’s built for function in the kind of rugged, technical waters we fish every day on the Texas coast.

My Go-To in Dirty Water

If you chase redfish on the fly, you know the game demands the right fly in the right place—at the right time. Water clarity can shift fast. Conditions change by the hour. And when visibility drops, you need a pattern that both you and the fish can see.

At Bay Flats Lodge, we guide in a variety of conditions, and clear water isn’t always guaranteed. When the bottom disappears and visibility drops, RIO’s Lagoonatic stands out; if I can’t see the bottom, it’s the first fly I reach for. That visibility—combined with its action and balance—is what makes it a difference-maker.

Why It Works

Neutral Buoyancy: keeps the fly suspended in the strike zone—right where slow-moving redfish can track it before committing.

Reinforced Tail Post: prevents fouling on the cast or strip, so the fly tracks clean and true every time.

Monofilament Weed Guard: lets you work this pattern through heavy grass, shell pockets and off-color water without constant hang-ups.

Specs that Matter

Hook size: #4
Color: Lime and Peach

RIO’s Lip Lettuce: A Shallow Water Sniper

When it comes to sight casting for redfish on the Texas Gulf Coast, stealth and precision are everything. That’s where RIO’s Lip Lettuce truly stands out. This fly is designed for shallow, clear-water scenarios—exactly the kind of conditions you’ll find on calm flats and marsh edges. The light bead chain eyes give it a slow, controlled sink and a soft landing, which reduces the chance of spooking cautious redfish in skinny water. That’s a critical advantage when you’re stalking tailers in just a few inches over mud or grass.

For redfish hunters who thrive on close-range, visual eats, RIO’s Lip Lettuce deserves a spot in the fly box. Whether you’re wading the flats or poling through a back lake, this fly gets noticed—for all the right reasons.

Mimics What Redfish are Already Eating

RIO’s Lip Lettuce excels at matching the menu. Whether redfish are keyed in on shrimp, crabs or small baitfish, the fly offers a subtle, lifelike profile that blends in just enough to trigger eats without flashing too much. It’s a fly that speaks the language of the marsh.

Made for Windy Days

Texas coastal conditions aren’t always calm. Fortunately, this fly’s lightweight construction makes it easier to deliver accurately—even in a stiff breeze. That balance of stealth and castability is what makes it a true workhorse for technical sight fishing.

Why it Works

Slow Sink Rate: less spook, more eats

Soft Landings: perfect for skinny water and tailing fish

Natural Profile: mimics shrimp, crabs or baitfish

Wind-Friendly Design: better accuracy in tough conditions

Specs That Matter

Hook size: #2
Color: Cream and Olive

RIO’s Gurgler Alarm: The Surface Solution

Not every fish wants something below the surface. For every redfish chasing a baitfish pattern, there’s always one that wants the drama up top. That’s where RIO's Gurgler Alarm earns its permanent spot in my fly box.

Your Do-Everything Topwater

I call this fly my Swiss Army Knife for surface bugs. RIO’s Gurgler Alarm is a topwater utility player—designed to pop, gurgle, and grab attention without blowing up your presentation. Whether you're working marsh drains, grass lines or mangrove edges, it's loud enough to stand out, and subtle enough to seal the deal.

Why It Works

Heavy Saltwater Hook: built to take on redfish, snook, jacks and juvenile tarpon without bending or breaking.

Weed Guard: ideal for pitching into structure, floating grass or the sloppy stuff where predators wait.

Surface Action: signature gurgling pop mimics a wounded baitfish or surface bug for triggering violent, can’t-resist eats.

Specs that Matter

Hook size: #1/0
Color: Black, Olive and Sunburst

RIO’s Aldous Armed Critter: Soft Landings, Hard Eats

Some flies are born out of frustration. The Aldous Armed Critter is one of them—and that’s exactly why it works so well. Designed specifically for the ultra-skittish redfish of shallow, clear-water environments, this pattern came to life after multiple failed attempts to create a crab imitation that wouldn’t spook fish on the drop.

It’s the result of trial and error and problem-solving in the real world—and it’s proven itself again in some of the toughest sight-fishing conditions out there. The breakthrough? A miniaturized strong-arm Merkin claw paired with a slimmer, more subtle body profile—just enough crab to get noticed, but not so much that it screams “fake.”

Built for the Wary Ones

Whether you’re poling in slick-calm backcountry, stalking sheepshead over light sand, or sending long shots at tailing redfish, RIO’s Aldous Armed Critter delivers. It’s stealth, accuracy and realism will turn heads even in most pressured waters. If you fish shallow, technical water for picky eaters, this is a fly that deserves a permanent home in your box.

Be sure to pick up the Black & Purple colorway because when the light is low and the water’s got a little stain, I’ve seen them turn on a dime to crush the “burple” Armed Critter.

Why it Works

Soft Landings: fewer spooked fish

Slim Profile: crab vibe without overkill

Versatile Design: deadly on redfish, bonefish, permit and even picky sheepshead

Specs That Matter

Hook Size: #2

Color: Black & Purple, Tan and Brown