Practice (and Attention to Detail) Makes Perfect

How is it that many anglers do not view fishing the same as other sports that require practice to improve skill level? Perhaps they see fishing as only a relaxing pastime and, with that said, maybe I can understand that mindset. I frequently have people tell me that fishing with me is work; a good type of work, but still work. It is true that I tend to push my clients harder in the learning department, knowing that with learning comes greater success. I want my clients to succeed because this is what they have come to expect from me, and it is what I expect from myself and them as well.

I get a lot of young anglers wanting to learn and that’s a good thing. Over my long career I have developed one of the better lure/wade fishing clienteles in the business and it has not always been easy, neither has it come without a cost. I have unfortunately run a good many less-dedicated clients off with my persistent attitude about what I want them to do, and why if I am not feeling like I am getting maximum effort, I will sometimes speak frankly with them about it. I also have many longtime clients that I know are good with whatever I decide for the day. These groups have earned my respect in the effort department many times, so the mood becomes much more relaxed. My approach and style of wade fishing and teaching is not for everyone, but it is highly productive and well-proven once anglers gain an understanding of why I want them to do what I want them to do. With this all said, let’s get to what you need to be doing at present to catch a few more fish.

It is still unseasonably warm with little cooling in the forecast for several weeks. I always expect a slight cool down to arrive the last week of September. It brings some relief, but can be short-lived as hot weather often persists through much of October. Tides have remained low the past several months, which contributes to higher-than-normal shallow water temperatures. Elevated water temperatures on a daily basis leads to higher nocturnal activity in both bait and gamefish populations.

My game plans at present are based on multiple factors. Summer crowds have diminished but we still have serious daily pressure on our bays. I always seek areas where a food source is present and seems to be holding. I like areas where I can find varied water depths that contain the same type of bottom structure. The past two weeks, my targeted bottom structure has been secondary grass edges and submerged grassy points that lie parallel to shoreline areas of heavy grass and shallow potholes.

My thought process is this: Due to the elevated water temperatures, baitfish and gamefish alike seek the shallow potholes and adjoining grass flats for nighttime feeding. As sunrise approaches we typically find a short flurry of feeding activity despite what the solunar table might indicate for the day. Some may not agree but history supports this. The same can be said for a similar small window at sunset.

This week we found solid trout on a shallow grass flat under rafts of mullet in the grey light just prior to sunrise. As the sun broke the horizon, this bite would begin to fade almost immediately, followed shortly by similar activity over what I referred to as the secondary line of structure just slightly offshore, along the edge where solid grass begins to form. I think the fish see the edge as a wall and travel along it as they continue to feed. Later in the morning the fish will move out to the deeper drop-off where smaller grassbeds and mud ledges will become the holding areas.

I want to talk now about the importance of positioning when we are working the secondary edges referred to above. If you have read my articles, attended one of my seminars, listened to a podcast or watched videos, or maybe on social media/Instagram (my account is official_jaywatkinssrfishing), you have heard me speak of the importance of positioning. This aspect of wade fishing bears repeating because it is so very important to the outcome of your day. Today, I had to work to get the guys to understand why I wanted them to stand at an angle to one another, up shallow, and casting at an angle to the outer edges of the submerged grass edge. It was true that early in the morning they were having trouble seeing this edge. I have the distinct advantage of knowing exactly where said edge is and what it looks like through my polarized sunglasses. High-quality polarized sunglasses should be a priority among your fishing needs. I use Smith Optics ChromaPop bronze lenses with green mirror finish because they have great clarity and have proven to hold up very well to the abuses that my everyday saltwater abuse dishes out.

Getting down to business, we want the lure to land beyond the point where the fish are positioned. Take note of wind direction and currents, and understand that our targets will most likely always be facing into the current, whether generated by wind or tide. Placing your cast slightly into wind or current will create a bend in the line and result in the lure coming in front of multiple targets on every cast. More targets means more opportunity, right?

I typically position my anglers in staggered formation to the underwater edges where we are working. This allows each angler their own water. For instance, the lead wader gets the shallowest angle while the anglers farther back get successively deeper angles. I typically lead because it enables me to control angle, depth, and forward progress while keeping the group in formation. I make sure to mention that I will ease past the bite, allowing them equal opportunity to the area. I also stress that a single bite for any of the group is a signal to stop, in order that we can observe and establish the pattern. I watch where each anglers’ lures are landing so that casting angles can be tweaked when needed.

Many times, I will see an angler’s lures hit the water and say, “That’s a fish.” They are always amazed when they suddenly have one on. Years of experience have taught me exactly where the lure needs to be presented, so calling that shot is not as impressive as you might think.

Another super important aspect is to be constantly aware of exactly where bites are being encountered. This enables us to establish a pattern the others in the group can follow. We cannot get anxious and move along the edges too quickly. This is totally not a time or place to become a track star and cover tons of water. Neither can we get lazy with our lure presentations or other mental aspects of the game. A lazy mind tends to lead to a lazy body. I was taught that whatever it is you decide to do, do it well, and continue working at doing it well.

When we are on a bite, my attention to all the details of the bite is constantly being recorded mentally and verbalized to my anglers. I am talkative by nature, and this is especially true while a bite is occurring. If I am quiet, I am most likely asleep or trying to figure things out. I think as a coach we must believe that players are more attentive and open to learning when they are experiencing success. Reinforcement of what I am wanting my anglers to accomplish is only truly understood when they are seeing positive results.

This week I had my groups focused on feeling the lure bump the grass edge. By allowing the lure to do this, you force the fish to decide whether or not to attempt to eat it. We saw on multiple occasions trout hitting the lure after the lure entered the short bottom grass edges. It is so very important to understand and be able to know EXACTLY where that bite was received. Greed trumps hunger many times and trout will eat a bait just because it’s easy. Never is this more applicable than when we are fishing during small windows after major or minor feeding periods. I am that guide that believes I can make them eat if I can find them.

I use lures the fish show a preference to take and currently I am throwing tons of soft plastics on 1/16 ounce jigheads. I like MirrOlure Lil Johns and Lil John XLs for their toughness and ability to withstand constant abuse from tail-nipping baitfish that are so prevalent in our waters during summertime. I still throw the Texas Customs Double D, more so than topwaters, in belief that they will often take it more readily than rising to the surface for a floater. I honestly don’t know which they might prefer at the start of the day, however the versatility of the Double D should never be overlooked. It can be worked on the surface or swam as much as 14- to 16-inches below the surface. We can also pause the retrieve and allow the lure to suspend and then slowly rise to the surface. I encourage anglers to use whatever they have confidence in, but don’t hesitate to try something the guy fishing beside you is having greater success using.

Wrapping up, we have returned to a 5 trout limit with 15- to 25-inch slot, including one fish longer than 25 inches in the aggregate. I totally understand the process that requires the temporary regulations to sunset and revert to the prior regulations, but we now must push for more proactive and conservative measures from TPWD. With the losses during the 2021 freeze and continued increase in fishing pressure, I personally feel that the resource cannot withstand nor rebuild to pre-freeze populations without more conservation regulations. We need a stronger trout population overall to ensure a greater rate of survival, just in case Mother Nature deals Texas some bad cards in the future. It’s simple math, the larger the population prior to a catastrophic event, the higher the survival rate will be in the aftermath.

May Your Fishing Always Be Catching! -Guide, Jay Watkins