Winter is officially over! The days are getting longer (and warmer). As we transition into Spring, it can make fishing a bit challenging. The large schools of Redfish that spend the Winter in the shallows are breaking up. Depending on the day and barometer, Trout can be shallow or deep. For the next few weeks, all of this moving around can make locating fish difficult. During this time, being flexible is the key to success. Moving around can tip the odds in your favor.
On bright sunny days, shallow water will be a few degrees warmer than water in main river or harbor. Baitfish will congregate in the warmer water. Especially around structure like oyster bars. Small schools of Redfish will be hanging around the oyster bars enjoying the warmer water and seeking an easy meal. These fish should be relatively easy to catch. A well-presented lure or bait will most often lead to a solid bite. I recommend moving around until you find feeding fish. The water is still quite clear. If you are stealthy, it is easy to spot the small schools of Redfish.
Trout tend to move with the barometer. When it is steady or moving slowly, look for Trout to be actively feeding in the shallows. A rapidly moving barometer usually drives Trout into deeper water. That was the case this weekend. A cold front passed through the area. Leaving behind it windy conditions and a rapidly rising barometer. It took a lot of moving around until I located fish holding in 10 to 15 feet of water. Once located, bouncing a StreakZ 3.75 (Blue Back Herring) on a Trout Eye finesse jig along the transition from 10 to 15 feet produced good numbers of quality fish.
Winter is over. Get out and go fishing. I figure even if I do not catch any fish, at least I will be getting a jump on my tan!
nt cold spell put a big chill on the water temperature. It is now 55 degrees. A drop of 7 degrees over the course of a few days. This has pushed the Trout a bit deeper. Today they were bunched up in 10 to 12 feet of water. They were hungry too! A Z-Man StreakZ 3.75 or Slim SwimZ on a Trout Eye Finesse jig bounced along the bottom put up big catch and release numbers. The strike was a bit light but the fish were definitely feeding. Warmer temperatures are forecast for the next day or so. I believe the bite will get even better.
Late winter feels more like spring. This week, the water temperature hit 63 degrees, which is unusually warm for early March. Like the water, the fishing is heating up. Baitfish (glass minnows, mud minnows and finger mullet) have returned to the shallows. Trout are moving out of their winter deep water haunts and into the shallows to feed. Look for concentrations of baitfish around marsh points and oyster bars. If you see bait, there is a pretty good chance Trout and Redfish are nearby.
sse fishing can be highly effective in the Lowcountry. Especially in post cold front conditions. When the sky is blue and the barometer is rapidly rising, downsizing your tackle system and lures can tilt the odds in your favor. My favorite post cold front lure is a Z-Man StreakZ 3.75 on a Trout Eye Finesse Jig. This combination is a proven Trout producer (pretty much any time). However, it really shines after a cold front passes through. Smaller profile and lighter lures need a matching tackle system. My go to outfit is a 7′ St. Croix Legend Elite Light (fast action) paired with a 1000 frame Shimano CI4 reel. It is a joy to cast and can detect even the most subtle post cold front bite.
Fishing is an interesting past time. It can be very challenging, highly complex and extremely technical. But, it can also be relaxed, simple and fun. On Saturday, I fished with Alex Graudin and we opted for the latter. Alex is 6 years old and was hoping to catch his first ever Redfish. Our plan was simple. Stake out the skiff in shallow water and then soak mud minnows on lead head jigs. No run and gun. No fly rod. No lures.