Mid-Coast Bays: January 2007

By the time you read this Christmas should already be behind us and we should be bringing in 2007. We all know that it's traditional on New Year's Eve to announce our New Year's resolutions; those things that we're going to do better or more of during the New Year. For all you anglers who have resolved to fish more this year; here are a few wintertime tips to get you started now on sticking to your resolution.

There are many advantages to fishing in January. One being that there is less pressure on the fish due to fewer boats and anglers on account of the cold weather. But believe it or not, it is this "bad" weather that can put catching odds in your favor. Now I know some of you are already wondering how can cold, dreary weather like we usually have in January be an advantage when fishing? Other than fewer anglers on the water, let me tell you about a few more benefits that come to mind.

Ever noticed how clear the water is in the cooler months? The water temperature in January usually lingers between 45-60 degrees, greatly depending on the fronts that move through, and how brutal they are. Because of the cooler water temperatures there are fewer microorganisms and more dissolved oxygen in the water, making it more transparent. The clearer water provides a great opportunity to practice your sight-casting.

Whether you are drifting or wadefishing, you have to remember that if it is easier for you to see the fish odds, are they can see you too, so don't bet the farm on getting a chance to cast to one close by. It is also known that motion is one of the first things a fish will notice from a distance, so keep your movements to a minimum and remain quiet. When the fish hears something that is not within the normal hearing inventory, the fish will be on a heightened level of security making it more difficult to get him to accept your offering.

Improve your odds of hooking up by working from elevated positions as much as possible. Remind yourself to scan 20 to 40 yards out away from the area from where you are standing. Since the water is clearer, you should have no problem seeing fish from this distance and, this makes for a great opportunity to practice your accuracy and gives you a chance to see just how fish react to different lures.

An extreme low tide usually always follows a cold front. Instead of worrying about all the places you can't fish, think about what this lower water level offers you instead. We are blessed with many oyster reefs in our area, and while most of these reefs can be located with a GPS, you can learn more about them once they are exposed.

I have acquired many of my "honey holes" by scouting on low tides and noticing features such as guts and drop-offs I would have never noticed unless I had waded through them. I have even discovered reefs that were not illustrated on my Blue Chart when venturing out on low tide days.

Another advantage to fishing in January is the lack of bait due to the colder climate. Unlike redfish, trout and flounder, many of the bait species cannot tolerate the cold temperatures and they are forced to retreat to deeper water. This natural scarcity of forage leaves the predators very anxious to feed on what is readily obtainable; and to accept our lures.

If you haven't fished with artificial lures in the past, this is a good time to start. With the lack of bait in the colder water I find that feeding fish aren't too finicky about their meals. I have had good success with Bass Assassin's Texas shad in salt and pepper silver phantom and pumpkinseed with a chartreuse tail. These two colors almost always produce for me so I make sure to keep them on hand at all times.

I rig them on a 1/16 oz assassin jighead and work them really slow in a yo-yo fashion, often letting them drop to the bottom before retrieving them back up. This yo-yo method works well in winter because it allows the lure to travel through all ranges of the water column.

Lastly, my first choice redfish bait is the good ol' spoon! I prefer to throw the half-ounce gold weedless model. I rig a split ring through the eye of the spoon followed by a small #8 barrel swivel. The swivel prevents the line from twisting as the spoon flutters through the water. The spoon is a truly awesome bait this time of year because it lends itself well to the slow presentation that coldwater redfish seem to prefer. You want to make sure that you do not "surprise" your target by retrieving the spoon too fast. It works best if it is retrieved at a slow pace allowing it to bump the bottom from time to time.

If natural bait is your choice then you will be pleased to know that those bait stealing hardheads, perch and minnows do not tolerate the cold water well and also migrate to deeper water during the colder months. Due to the lack of live bait during January, most anglers who decide to use natural bait depend on cut mullet or crab and usually have no problem enticing redfish to snatch them up.

So if fishing more often is one of your resolutions this year, get started now instead of waiting for warmer weather and remember to dress warmly. Good luck and Happy New Year to all!