By Pat McGriff
Since we actually had a winter this year, after missing it for two years, the fishing has been tough on the flats and only fair to good if you had the right creek mouth to sit on or near. Most of the trout caught in the last six weeks have come from less than 1.5ft of water. The bite though, hardly lasts an hour before fading off again.
March will see our gulf water temps in the Big Bend come back into the low 60s and begin stabilizing the trout into more normal feeding patterns. Instead of a feed at the last of the high tide, the bite should shift to the incoming tide, especially after the pinfish become active again on the flats.
Expect the MirrOdines to catch more trout once the water hits 60 degrees. The New C-Eyes Pro Series MirrOdines are doing well this winter especially in the trout and redfish pattern. Don’t forsake your hard jerkbaits, like Bite-A-Bait Fighters, once the water holds 60 degrees overnight. I prefer the GG and the Coppertop patterns in Fighters in early March. Work the areas where the last of the sparse grassy spots adjoin the rocky areas.
Dust off your Cajun Thunders and your Back Bay Thunders once the 60 degree mark is held. Try a longer leader in cold water and stretch out your pause between jerks to three times your normal (warm weather) cadence for more strikes. Assassin’s New Elite Shiners will be hard to beat combined with your Cajun Thunder. I like the Wagasaki, Ripper, and Mamma’s 14 Ct gold patterns in the Elite Shiners.
I will be throwing some Paul Brown Specials (PBS) in the Devil and the Original for lethargic sow trout up in the rocks and bars. Spray BANG (shrimp) on your PBS baits to draw more strikes in March. I like the 808 pattern (09) and the EC. Remember to bow and feed the tap, and don’t set up too early on light-striking, cold March trout.
Reds will be mixed in but probably hold in the creeks and not be as prevalent out on the flats until the bait shows up. Try Precision Tackle’s Cajun Flash jig spinners once you get water temps around 65 degrees. I’m hoping to find water that warm in mid-March.
Meantime, give me a call and let’s set up a trip in March or April.
Let’s Go Fishing!
Pat McGriff dba One More Cast guide service for 23 years!
onemorecast@gtcom.net
www.onemorecast.net
cell 850.838.7541
ph.850-584-9145
