Paul Lenos Hosted Trip to Bay Flats Lodge
March 25-30, 2026 Trip Report
This was my second consecutive hosted trip to Bay Flats Lodge – we did the exact same dates as in 2025. I had 5 guys with me this time (two returned for a second go at it). I was excited to get back!
Tuesday
I arrived in Corpus Christi on Tuesday and spent the evening with local guide Tyler Brown and his wife (who is pregnant with twins) and son. I then went to the Quality Inn in Rockport, TX for the night, which was right on the water.
Wednesday
I woke up early to walk out and take a few casts beneath the dock lights before the sun came up. I could smell the salt in the air, and when the sun did break the horizon it was like a fire in the sky. On the hour and a half drive over to the lodge, I stopped and did a little DIY walk and wade redfishing. As I was wading back to the car I jumped two nice redfish, which I was not able to connect with. Arriving at the lodge Wednesday evening, all the guests met up and made acquaintances. Tom had encountered some flight delays and arrived just in time for dinner. With all the travel excitement taking its toll, a few cocktails were had and the crew went to bed early.
Thursday
The crew woke up Thursday morning, excited to get on the water. When we walked outside the lodge the sunrise was beautiful, and the air cool and crisp – it was going to be a clear day with only a moderate amount of wind. Thomas, one of two Toms on the trip, assumed his career nickname Tip Top; he was joining us on his first saltwater adventure and today he and I were paired in a boat.
Captain Matt guided Tip Top and I. Matt was patient, helping Tip Top to understand the game of sight fishing for redfish. Tip Top hooked up to a hard pulling redfish but the battle was short-lived. He realized a moment too late that you have to let them run – the powerful fish broke the thick saltwater hook in half! We fished hard the rest of the day, honing our skills for the week to come.
Captain Mike guided John and Tom, both of whom were part of the trip last year and returned again as fishing partners. The wind made seeing the fish challenging, and although they had a few opportunities, the fish were spooky
Captain Doron guided Jon and Dalton, a father and son team joining us. Dalton worked in Alaska as an Alaskan hunting and fishing guide for many years. And his skill showed through during challenging conditions as he brought five nice redfish to the boat on his first day despite the wind being a factor. Dinner was a dish that we’ve all become accustomed to at Bay Flats, a beautifully grilled ribeye steak letting you know you’re in Texas. After a good discussion and a few cocktails everyone hit the sack, eager for what tomorrow would bring.
Friday
Friday morning, I woke up and walked outside, finding Tom already up watching the sunrise. It was clear with almost no wind. We didn’t want to get too excited, but it seemed like today was going to be a good day. Captain Mike guided me and Tip Top. The difference in guiding style clicked between them – Mike synced up and he began to see the fish and the game was on. Tip Top quickly hooked up and landed his first redfish, and his saltwater journey had begun. Tom and I traded the bow back and forth a few times, enjoying the sunshine and the cooperative fish.
Captain Matt guided John and Tom, who have flats fishing together dialed, and both found good success sightfishing for redfish. Tom said it was one of the best days they’d had at Bay Flats thus far. Tom caught a great black drum which we were slightly disappointed he didn’t bring to dinner.
Captain Doron fished John and Dalton, and they had a phenomenal day. Dalton again showed his skill, landing six good-sized redfish. John was especially excited as Doron had two Turtleboxes and they jammed Grateful Dead all the way home in triumph. Dinner was red snapper and was especially delicious.
Saturday
Saturday morning I awoke early, and had an uneasy feeling when I went outside. Tom was already sitting there and his first words were, “It feels cold,” and it did. Which made us both uneasy as today was our day to fish together, and we had waited quite some time to do so.
Captain Doron guided myself and Tom. With overcast skies and high winds, it was a very tough day to fish. Captain Doron handled the situation expertly and provided a great day that was safe and educational despite the conditions, taking the time to teach us how to cast in the wind. Skills that would make the rest of our trip immensely more enjoyable.
As we searched for fish, captain Doron noticed an insane amount of activity on a shoreline a couple hundred yards away. He got excited and said, “I think it’s a jack, are you interested?” I wasted no time. The hunt was on as he began to pole closer. I noticed a commotion on my left, and my attention was drawn to a 5-foot blacktip shark, 15 feet off the boat. I looked at captain Doron with my eyes as wide as dinner plates. I asked, “Can I catch that thing on this?” He said, “Maybe, but it’ll bite through in a second. I have a 12 weight that’ll get the job done.” He again wasted no time and before I knew it, I had the 12 weight in my hand. As we pulled closer, searching for the shark, Doron again noticed an all out tornado of action on the flats and our target was acquired. As we got closer, we saw that our prey was a jack pushing 45 pounds. As it fed on the flats with a foot of its body out of the water, zigzagging back and forth, my knees began to shake. Doron expertly read the fish’s movements and as it closed the distance, the jack swam straight at me. The 12 weight rod was a lot. In the commotion I lost sight of the fish, and it was all over before I knew what happened. The event was so moving for me – as a student of the game of flyfishing, getting tested like this only deepens my connection and leads me on a journey to become a better angler.
Captain Matt fished John and Dalton. Dalton made the most of his time with his dad and fished hard through the inclement weather and found success despite the conditions.
Captain Dane – who was supposed to replace captain Mike on day three and four – was stuck in an airport in Denver. Fortunately, Captain Cole jumped in and saved the day. Despite being a newer guide at Bay Flats, Cole worked extremely hard to put the boys on fish in the tough conditions. His positive attitude and conversation went a long way during the inclement weather. Dinner was a hearty Southern dish of shrimp, poppers, and hush puppies.
Sunday
When I met Tom outside for a morning coffee, the sky was clear and calm. We both took a sip of coffee and nodded. Hopefully, today would be the day. Captain Dane, an original guide on our trip and general stud, flew in through the night, turning and burning but still ready to roll Sunday morning to fish John and myself. Dane pulled out to his first spot and quickly spotted fish. John delivered with his cast – fish on! John and I were able to catch fish and utilize the conditions that we had waited for. Dane sought more of a challenge, and asked if we wanted to try to catch them on a topwater Gurgler – I was up for the challenge. Captain Dane searched for just the right pod of fish and when he found a group of reds basically doing headstands with their tails in the air, he began to pole us into position. A well-enough presented cast followed by a chug, chug…and we watched a redfish chase the popper down and smash it as if it were a shrimp on the surface. Wow, what an experience; it was one of those days. Dane said, “Let’s stop for lunch.” I agreed and as I began to rack the rod, a redfish 20 feet away dug its head in the mud so hard, it did a summersault. Utilizing the back cast that captain Doron had taught me, I flung the fly over and caught a quick one before we ate lunch. Eventually John and I had both caught our fill of redfish, so Dane quietly began the search for something more predatory. As we fished the flats on our way home, another jack crevalle was spotted. Dane put me in position and I utilized the cast that I had worked on from the day before. As I stripped the fly past its face, I got a denial…which was enough to keep me coming back for more.
Captain Matt guided Tom and Tip Top. Tip Top had a solid day of redfishing and was able to utilize the skills he learned from previous days.. His practice paid off when he landed three redfish, and broke a couple off (“Let’em run!”). Tom, who really honed in on the casting lesson from Captain Doron, caught his share of redfish but was most ecstatic to deploy a well-timed cast to a 36-inch redfish that gave him the fin. Captain Matt quickly spotted another one and with a perfect second cast this fish ate and it was game on. Nice work fellas!
Captain Doron guided Jon and Dalton. After fishing together a couple of days, Captain Doron and Dalton really synced up and Dalton put 10+ fish to the net and had 20+ opportunities, with John jamming along the whole time. It was one of those father/son days on the marsh that will always be remembered, and a great way to end the trip. As a highlight of the last night we always like to keep a fish and have it for appetizers. Luckily, as the day was coming to a close, John caught a drum that would serve the purpose.
That night for dinner we had our choice of ribeye’s, but me and Tom did not pass up the opportunity to have snapper again. As we sat at the table and reminisced about time well spent and experiences we had and new friends gained, it was hard not to start talks of planning for next year. We enjoyed dinner together and exchanged contacts. As we walked back to our rooms, all feeling successful in our own way, we began packing up our stuff, at the same time quietly planning our redfish trip for next year!
Paul Lenos is headed back to Bay Flat Lodge for a third hosted trip in as many years – yup, it’s that good of a fishery and experience.
Hosted trip dates: March 21-26, 2027 (5 nights and 4 days of fishing – $3,553 / angler)
Call or shoot Erik Argotti an email to join Paul on his hosted trip next year. (800) 669-3474 | (530) 222-3555 | E-mail: argotti@theflyshop.com.
Bay Flats Lodge is a terrific destination to visit for a winter fly fishing fix. Fishing is straightforward, the lodge excels at hospitality and travel to and from is easy, no passport required. Give us a call or shoot us an email if you are interested in joining Paul on his hosted trip next year.
(800) 669-3474 | (530) 222-3555 | E-mail: travel@theflyshop.com | Web: www.theflyshop.com