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Mid-Coast Bays: February 2008
Kathy Jones shows that topwaters have a place in your winter arsenal.
February is normally our coldest month of the year with more arctic fronts and less time in between them. This means fewer fishable days and less time in between fronts means fewer warming trends in the water temperatures. Which is why we will talk about protected areas to fish and what lures will be most effective for catching reds and trout from these frigid waters.
One thing you will notice about me, no matter what time of the year, I am constantly monitoring the temperature of the water. Until about eight years ago I would not normally target trout until the water temperatures reached 55 degrees, I would target redfish instead till temperatures rose during the day.
During my shoreline burning days I noticed many trout on shorelines and pockets in water much cooler than 55 degrees. Probably the coolest water I have spotted a trout in was 48 degrees. Now I am talking shallow water and these fish probably moved up on these shallows to catch the sun's warming rays.
The coldest water I have caught trout in is 49 degrees. I have caught trout in colder water in deep holes where there is a thermocline. You are probably scratching your head right about now and thinking "HUH?" Let me explain. The surface temperature could be 47 degrees but ten feet down where the fish are it could be 52 degrees, 5 degrees warmer! You may not think five degrees is much difference but when there is no heater nearby five degrees could mean life or death for these fish.
Okay back to catching. The areas I target will always have soft mud bottoms so I am talking back lakes. Still no clue? Try Contee, Pringle Lake and Long Lake for starters. On a mild weathered day you will have some company as these are well-publicized areas and easily accessed.
If boat traffic becomes a problem move to a different location. Boat traffic and discourteous boaters will a lot of times shutdown a bite! Sometimes the fish will move to coves or corners of these lakes to escape the boat traffic. Try these areas before relocating.
So now you are fishing in warmer water because of the muddy structure below. Next you will need to locate another main ingredient.bait! When the water is 55 degrees or less the mullet will usually be subsurface. They won't be as actively jumping around on the surface like they do under warmer conditions. Look for ripples, swirls or any other kind of water disturbance.
One last ingredient you will need to look for is off-colored water. This can be caused by mullet milling around on the bottom or due to high winds. The reason this ingredient is important is because most of the bay water becomes ultra clear when the water temperature gets colder making it difficult for predators to sneak up on their prey and for prey to hide from predators. Redfish and trout take advantage of these "muddy" waters enabling them to better ambush baitfish.
Once you have found the four main ingredients to the recipe your next step will be choice of lures. Normally I start a day with soft plastics when the water is below the 55 degree mark. The type of soft plastics varies from Saltwater Assassins, Swimming Shiners and the Eel Assassin to the suspended types like Corky's or Crazy Croakers by Tidal Surge. Good choices for hard baits include Mirrolure Catch 2000's, Catch 2000 Jr., or the Catch 5. It doesn't matter which lure I choose I will work them slowly and in the lower portions of the water column.
The colors I choose in the winter months are your more natural colored baits such as pearl/chartreuse, pumpkinseed, and the salt-n-pepper silver phantom. The cooler the water the slower you will work your lure. The fish will dictate what speed is best.
I don't get serious about using topwaters till the water temperature is anywhere from 55 to 58 degrees and rising. I don't care what anybody else says, my experience tells me this is the optimum temperature for me to have the most success using topwaters. The topwaters I will throw vary from She Dogs to Top Dogs usually in the 804, 808 or chartreuse/white/chartreuse patterns. If I am consistently getting blow-ups and no hook ups I will switch back to soft plastics. One little tip that I always apply to winter topwater fishing is that if the mullet are active on the waters surface meaning jumping or flipping I will not hesitate trying out my surface selections. There is nothing scientific about the temperatures mentioned; they are simply the product of my personal on-the-water experience and from my detailed logs that reach back more than twenty years. I hope these tips make your February fishing more productive. Fish smart, fish hard!
One thing you will notice about me, no matter what time of the year, I am constantly monitoring the temperature of the water. Until about eight years ago I would not normally target trout until the water temperatures reached 55 degrees, I would target redfish instead till temperatures rose during the day.
During my shoreline burning days I noticed many trout on shorelines and pockets in water much cooler than 55 degrees. Probably the coolest water I have spotted a trout in was 48 degrees. Now I am talking shallow water and these fish probably moved up on these shallows to catch the sun's warming rays.
The coldest water I have caught trout in is 49 degrees. I have caught trout in colder water in deep holes where there is a thermocline. You are probably scratching your head right about now and thinking "HUH?" Let me explain. The surface temperature could be 47 degrees but ten feet down where the fish are it could be 52 degrees, 5 degrees warmer! You may not think five degrees is much difference but when there is no heater nearby five degrees could mean life or death for these fish.
Okay back to catching. The areas I target will always have soft mud bottoms so I am talking back lakes. Still no clue? Try Contee, Pringle Lake and Long Lake for starters. On a mild weathered day you will have some company as these are well-publicized areas and easily accessed.
If boat traffic becomes a problem move to a different location. Boat traffic and discourteous boaters will a lot of times shutdown a bite! Sometimes the fish will move to coves or corners of these lakes to escape the boat traffic. Try these areas before relocating.
So now you are fishing in warmer water because of the muddy structure below. Next you will need to locate another main ingredient.bait! When the water is 55 degrees or less the mullet will usually be subsurface. They won't be as actively jumping around on the surface like they do under warmer conditions. Look for ripples, swirls or any other kind of water disturbance.
One last ingredient you will need to look for is off-colored water. This can be caused by mullet milling around on the bottom or due to high winds. The reason this ingredient is important is because most of the bay water becomes ultra clear when the water temperature gets colder making it difficult for predators to sneak up on their prey and for prey to hide from predators. Redfish and trout take advantage of these "muddy" waters enabling them to better ambush baitfish.
Once you have found the four main ingredients to the recipe your next step will be choice of lures. Normally I start a day with soft plastics when the water is below the 55 degree mark. The type of soft plastics varies from Saltwater Assassins, Swimming Shiners and the Eel Assassin to the suspended types like Corky's or Crazy Croakers by Tidal Surge. Good choices for hard baits include Mirrolure Catch 2000's, Catch 2000 Jr., or the Catch 5. It doesn't matter which lure I choose I will work them slowly and in the lower portions of the water column.
The colors I choose in the winter months are your more natural colored baits such as pearl/chartreuse, pumpkinseed, and the salt-n-pepper silver phantom. The cooler the water the slower you will work your lure. The fish will dictate what speed is best.
I don't get serious about using topwaters till the water temperature is anywhere from 55 to 58 degrees and rising. I don't care what anybody else says, my experience tells me this is the optimum temperature for me to have the most success using topwaters. The topwaters I will throw vary from She Dogs to Top Dogs usually in the 804, 808 or chartreuse/white/chartreuse patterns. If I am consistently getting blow-ups and no hook ups I will switch back to soft plastics. One little tip that I always apply to winter topwater fishing is that if the mullet are active on the waters surface meaning jumping or flipping I will not hesitate trying out my surface selections. There is nothing scientific about the temperatures mentioned; they are simply the product of my personal on-the-water experience and from my detailed logs that reach back more than twenty years. I hope these tips make your February fishing more productive. Fish smart, fish hard!