Bay Flats Lodge
Travel & Tackle Guide

Welcome to your Fly Water Travel trip guide. We’re excited to help you prepare for your upcoming adventure! Inside, you’ll find everything you need: your to-do list, travel logistics, destination notes, and a curated tackle guide tailored to your trip.

Getting Ready

We’ve created a quick checklist of essential tasks to make sure you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead. If questions come up or you need anything at all, just give us a call, we’re here to help every step of the way.

To-Do List:

✓  Arrange flights to/from Austin (AUS), Houston (IAH), or San Antonio (SAT), Texas

✓  Arrange a rental car

✓  Purchase a Texas fishing license (see below)

Bay Flats Lodge
Travel Guide

From how to get there and what documents you’ll need to tipping guidelines and destination details, this section covers the practical information to ensure smooth travels.

Getting to the Lodge:
To get to Bay Flats Lodge, guests need to arrange travel to and from Austin (AUS), Houston (IAH), or San Antonio (SAT), Texas, then rent a car and drive to the lodge.  

Bay Flats Lodge:
391 Bayside Dr.
Seadrift, TX 77983

Driving Directions from Seadrift:

  1. Continue on 185 through Seadrift approximately 1.0 mile to Dierlam Road
  2. Turn right on Dierlam and travel 0.25 miles to Old Settlement Road
  3. Turn left on Old Settlement Road and travel 1.25 miles to Swan Point Road
  4. Turn right onto Swan Point Road and travel 1.6 Miles to the new back entrance into Swan Point Landing - DO NOT attempt to enter Swan Point Landing though the front gate. You must enter through the new back entrance that the neighborhood has provided us.
  5. Turn right at West Wind Ln. - it's the gravel road just before getting to the Bill Sanders Park
  6. Enter gate code 2686

Arrival Day:
Guests are asked to check in between 4:00-5:00 PM

Departure Day:
Guests are asked to check out between 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Travel Cash:
We recommend that guests travel with enough cash to cover gratuities and incidentals.

Credit Cards:
The lodge accepts credit cards

Gratuities:
The following are guidelines, and all gratuities are up to the discretion of the individual guest.

  • Guides: $100-$150 per guide per day
  • Housekeeping and Kitchen Staff: $20 total per person per day

Fishing Licenses:
Guests are responsible for acquiring their own fishing license. Please call 800-895-4248 to purchase your license or visit the official Texas Hunting & Fishing Licenses online portal.

Cell Coverage and Wi-Fi:

  • Cell coverage: Good at the lodge but spotty while on the water
  • Wi-Fi: Available at the lodge

Power:
All power and outlets are consistent with modern U.S. standards.

Laundry:
Full laundry service is not available. Please pack accordingly.

Water:
Plenty of potable water is widely available and included in your package.

Beverages/Alcohol:
Bay Flats Lodge does not carry a liquor license and is not allowed to sell alcohol of any nature. However, guests are allowed to bring their own alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is allowed aboard the boats if preferred, however it cannot be in glass containers.

Emergency Medical Assistance:
The nearest hospital is in Port Lavaca, approximately 30 minutes from the lodge.

Recommended Medical Evacuation Carrier and Insurance Provider:  
Global Rescue

Bay Flats Lodge
Tackle Guide

Here you’ll find everything you need to be ready on the water: our preferred setups, favorite flies, recommended packing list, and notes on tackle available at the lodge.

BAY FLATS LODGE - SAGE EXPERIENCES PROVIDED TACKLE:

As a Sage Experiences Outfitter, Bay Flats Lodge is an elite outfitter that has committed to offering their guests onsite access to first-class Sage and RIO tackle that has been carefully curated to ideally suit their respective fisheries.

Bay Flats Lodge Perfect Setup:

  • Rod: Sage R8 SALT 890-4 (8wt)
  • Reel: Sage Enforcer 7/8
  • Line: RIO Premier Redfish (8wt)
  • Leader: RIO Saltwater Fluorocarbon Leader – 16- and 20-pound
  • Tippet: RIO Fluoroflex Saltwater Tippet – 16- and 20-pound

Bay Flats Lodge Tackle Overview:

When traveling to Bay Flats Lodge, a 9-foot, 8-weight fast-action rod is the gold standard for most sight-casting situations, though a 9-weight is an excellent addition for punching through the afternoon wind. Pair your rods with high-quality, anodized saltwater reels featuring corrosion-resistant drags and at least 100 yards of 20- or 30-pound backing.

For line choice, weight-forward floating lines in redfish-specific tapers are essential for turning over flies in the salt. Your leaders should be 9 to 10 feet long, tapered to 16- or 20-pound fluorocarbon; we recommend bringing extra spools of tippet in those sizes to match. Since you will be primarily sight-casting in the flats, focus on size 4 patterns or smaller. Proven producers include shrimp and crab imitations like Redfish Crack, Skinny Water Shrimp, and Baffin Blue Crab. It is wise to carry a variety of eye weights—ranging from plastic and bead chain to heavier dumbbell eyes—to adapt to changing water depths and tides.

Bay Flats Lodge - Provided Equipment:

  • Rods/Reels/Lines: As a Sage Experiences Outfitter, Bay Flats Lodge provides guests with first-class Sage rods, reels, and RIO lines curated specifically for their fishery.

  • Flies: The guides will have all the flies, leaders and tippet available, but it is always nice to bring a small selection of flies, tippet and leader to carry with you.

    Your Bay Flats Lodge fly-fishing guide will have rods, reels, terminal tackle, and flies available for your use, but you are always welcome to bring and use your own equipment if you prefer.

Bay Flats Lodge Lodge Primary Setup

If we were to choose only one fly rod to take with us to Bay Flats Lodge, it would be a fast-action 9-foot, 8-weight four-piece travel rod. An 8-weight provides the necessary backbone to punch bulky fly patterns through a stiff Gulf breeze while remaining delicate enough to land a fly softly in front of a tailing redfish in the skinny waters of San Antonio Bay.

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Top Bay Flats Lodge Flies

Since fishing at Bay Flats Lodge primarily involves sight-casting, most presentations will utilize a size 4 hook or smaller. Proven producers include various shrimp and crab patterns tied with bead chain or plastic eyes for a soft entry. However, it is also important to carry a range of flies with weighted dumbbell eyes to effectively respond to deeper water or faster-moving tides.

Click HERE to learn more about these flies recommended by Bay Flats Lodge owner Chris Martin.

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Support Your Local Fly Shop

If you need assistance with assembling your gear for your upcoming travels, we encourage you to support your local fly shop. This curated list of tackle is handpicked for your destination by our experts and can serve as your shopping list to get your ready for your next adventure. Find your local Far Bank dealer.

Bay Flats Lodge Other Productive Patterns

Redfish Cracklin: A staple for the middle coast. Useful colors include Copper/Rust, Blue Crab, Purple/Black/Pink, Brown/Rust, Olive/Chartreuse/Tan, and Purple/Black.

Freeport Fiddler: An essential crab mimic for fish feeding aggressively on the bottom.

Straight Shooter Crab: Designed for high-accuracy presentations when sight-casting to cruising fish.

Longhorn Crab: A high-profile pattern that moves plenty of water, making it easy for redfish to track.

Bolivar Blue Crab: Specifically designed to imitate the blue crabs that serve as a primary protein source in the local bays.

Marsh Mohawk: Recommended in Gold or Tan for a natural presentation in stained or marshy water.

Skinny Water Shrimp: Best utilized in Tan or Sand colors for the clearest flats when a delicate landing is required to avoid spooking wary fish.

Suggested Packing List

We understand packing for an adventure is not easy. On a trip like this it is very important to have everything you need and nothing you do not. As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Anglers should be prepared with thermal underwear, fleece/soft shell jacket, and a rain jacket. Synthetic fabrics are preferred to cotton. Dress at the lodges/camps is neat but casual.

Documents:
Government-issued ID, airline reservations, lodge itinerary, credit cards, cash, and business cards

Flats Shirts:
Three long-sleeve, quick-dry technical shirts

Flats Pants:
Two pairs of lightweight, quick-dry flats pants

Socks:
Two pairs of synthetic or wool-blend socks to wear on the boat during cooler weather

Lodge Clothing:

  • Two shirts
  • Two pairs of shorts for evening wear
  • Four pairs of quick-dry underwear
  • One light sweatshirt for the airplane and cooler nights

Hats:
Two fishing hats. Note: We suggest at least one wide-brim or safari-style hat for maximum sun protection.

Rain Gear:
One high-quality rain jacket and one set of bibs or rain pants

Footwear:
One pair of lightweight sandals, flip-flops, or Crocs

Backpack:
One waterproof backpack (suitable for the airplane and as a "boat bag")

Sun Gloves:
One pair of UPF-rated sun gloves

Face Protection:
One UVP-rated “Buff” or facial sun protector (good for bugs too)

Sunglasses:
Two pairs of polarized sunglasses (one rose or copper for sight casting; one amber or yellow for low light). Note: Bring lens cleaner and a soft cloth

Pliers:
One high-quality pair of saltwater pliers with a holster

Sunscreen:
One full bottle of SPF 45+ cream or lotion

Lip Balm:
One tube of SPF 45+ lip balm

Camera:
Small digital camera with extra batteries, memory cards, and a waterproof case or dry bag

Headlamp:
One small LED headlamp with fresh batteries

Bug Repellent:
One bottle of repellent for mosquitoes or gnats

Wading Shoes:
While wading is limited, a pair of zip-up flats booties is sufficient if you prefer to get in the water. Most fishing is done barefoot or in Crocs for added cushion while on the boat.

Contact Max Salzburg

Contact our expert, Max Salzburg, below for more information about this unique destination and to inquire about setting up the perfect trip to match your goals.

CONTACT US