Mansfield Report: April 2022

Greetings from Port Mansfield! Settling in to write this article, I am still defrosting from what may have been the coldest day I’ve fished in several years. We departed at the crack of 9:30am, with air temperatures hovering around 39°F. As we idled from the boat slip you could see and feel the heavy mist as it was building on my windshield and beading on my AFTCO Hydronaut jacket; one could have easily mistaken it for sleet if not paying close attention. A crisp 15-mph north wind greeted us as we exited the harbor. After a lengthy boat ride we settled into our location without a boat in sight. Not a flicker of bait was present, but a tight group of pelicans told me what I needed to know.

With 45.9° water temperature I was skeptical to say the least, but I knew from previous years of experience the fish would be in this draw in this particular area. Within 15 minutes one brave angler connected with a pleasantly plump redfish; its belly covered with sea lice, and the distinct pink discoloration that proved the fish were burrowed into the mud (see photo). Low and slow was the name of the game as we “flickered” and “inched” Wig-A-Lo and Willow Tail plastics along the bottom. The cold was mentally blocked for the next few hours as we caught numerous redfish up to ten pounds.

A deeper dive into the why and how the day unfolded the way it did – You see I have spent a number of days fishing in similar wintry conditions, though not always similar results. Every scenario is different, and one must not expect the same results every time. Pick apart each scenario and load it into your Fishing Equation, then build on it accordingly.

The prelude to this day was a gradual cool down, not a rapid one. It was also later in the winter season, meaning the fish had become acclimated to cold water temperatures. The north wind had been consistently favorable for several days, no greater than 15-mph. The solunar minor feeding period was also in play, and we made note of that as well. Another variable to consider is the anglers schedule, this however should not outweigh any other variable, but it should be part of the conversation. You see if anyone of those few factors were different the results could very well have swayed toward a tough day of fishing.

I discussed all these variables with my group and leaned toward a reschedule; not only for concerns of not catching, but also concern for personal discomfort. That said, and everyone adequately clad in layers of the best from Simms and AFTCO, we elected to give it a go. It worked this time just like I hoped it would. So, consider reflecting on this scenario the next time you are planning a trip under similar circumstances.

Our trout remain semi-consistent when conditions are right, such as warming trends between cold snaps. However, if it gets too warm they scatter and become difficult to find. The perfect window for finding them grouped up is during the initial warming phase. When this occurs you can even get them to hit topwaters, as was the case when Chris Irwin landed this beautiful specimen (see photo) on one of his Mansfield Knockers. Congrats to him for catching and, more importantly, practicing CPR.  

Redfish have been steady, quite often mingling with the trout, and always fun no matter what you are targeting. Additionally, I am pleased to report a few flounder are beginning to show. As we move into April expect water temperatures to gradually increase and water levels to do the same. Winds will shift back to their predominant southeasterly direction which will create good color changes along the flats. Working these wind-lines and color changes will be key this spring when the wind is blowing. As always, bait presence will be an important variable in selecting fishing locations.

If you are reading this in time, I would like to invite everyone to the Houston Fishing Show, March 23-27, at the George R Brown Convention Center. The KWigglers team will be in the Fishing Tackle Unlimited booth where I have been advised there will be tons of specials going on, such as discounts on KWigglers apparel and lures, Costa Sunglasses, and the FTU Xcel GII Next Generation Green Rod. There will be guides from the entire coast at one location so come by and shoot the breeze.