February’s Big Trout Puzzle

Let’s talk about one of the trickiest months to find big trout in the Texas Lower Laguna Madre. I say this because I believe weather plays a huge role in whether these fish will be active and aggressive in their feeding habits, or slip into periods of what I term survival mode – mostly inactive, and not feeding. Traditionally speaking, on average, February can be the coldest month of the Texas winter season. However, the cold spells do not last the entire month. The coldest temps typically occur following the most severe of frontal passages; a week, perhaps ten days of bitter cold, with significant warming periods in between.

Now, for the lucky clients who schedule their trips leading up to or during these periods of declining temperatures, the bite can be phenomenal. The pattern for these fish is straight forward. We always try to target areas where they are likely to seek refuge, because usually during a front, we will see tide drops of up to two and sometimes even three feet. When you factor in that water temps can drop some 15 degrees in a day or two in this shallow water environment, fish can be forced to seek refuge in a deeper and more comfortable location, relying on the natural thermocline to avoid the chill.

My logbook over the years indicates that some of our best trout were caught during periods when water temps averaged between 55 and 65°F. I believe that when water temps decline lower than this range the fish will shift into survival mode. During this water temp range, fish begin to feed aggressively, almost as though they’re storing up for the days ahead. This usually means we are using bigger baits; beginning with the Down South Super Model plastics and/or the Corky Fat Boy, not so much smaller ones like a Softdine. Fish can sense the approach of these fronts before the weatherman can tell you it’s coming. This is accomplished through response to declining atmospheric pressure – we call it a pre-frontal bite. This aggressive feeding behavior will typically last until the barometer begins rising again, up to about a reading of 30 inches Hg or slightly higher. During the plateau period of pressure readings greater than 30-inches Hg, these fish will begin to feed less aggressively and live on their reserves. Typically, after maybe 3 to 4 days, as the winds shift back to east-southeast, we begin to notice atmospheric pressure declining again.

On a post-frontal bite, sometimes sleeping in an extra hour or so and letting the sun get well up can make all the difference. Sunny to partly sunny skies begin to warm the water and fish will once again return from their slumber and begin searching for food. This is when we have seen a steady bite on baits of every size. Personally, when this is happening, I like the smaller baits, something you could term snack size. We will likely never understand the full nature of their feeding behavior; all I can tell you is they might take a bait of any size, so I offer the snack-size lure. But that’s just me.

Remember, I said February can be the trickiest month. Well, let’s look at the flip side. We have seen times towards the end of February when wet wading was comfortable, with water temps in the upper 70s. This usually means that there is a lot of water in the bay, and for that our strategy changes. Usually under these conditions, it almost appears that the bigger trout begin to act as though they are feeding in preparation for spawning. With water temps up and the tides running higher than normal, it may well appear to them that spring has arrived. Of course, we humans know better, and the true arrival of spring is at least a full month away. But, when the weather and water conditions are springlike, savvy anglers don’t argue…they change strategies and take advantage.

Some of our best successes have come during early morning hours, even before sunrise. This is partly due to the fact that some of these bigger fish will pull up shallow when conditions allow, and we need the cover of pre-dawn darkness to get within casting range of them. On days like this, I believe overcast skies and a decent wind of 10-20mph helps conceal our presence and muffles the vibrations made when walking in the shallow water. Bait selections under these conditions can vary significantly; from topwaters to soft plastics of any size, and maybe even the occasional Corky floater. I think the reason the floater can work so well is because of the ability to keep it suspended longer or rip it through the water like a wounded bait fish. Midday bites can often be slower, but early morning and late evening bites almost never disappoint.

With whatever this month throws at us, we will adjust to the conditions, trying to stay one step ahead of the fish of a lifetime. Whether it’s the trickiest, or most strategic month, it is always fun planning on how to outsmart these fish, giving our clients the best opportunity we can.

Captain Nathan Beabout; USCG/TPWD Licensed
Full time guide since 2007
Seadrift, Port O’Connor, & Port Mansfield, TX
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