KEATON BEACH

#1 Dawn Taylor and Juan Perez of Perry, Fl. with a true double of trout. caught in late August. 
#2 Tracy Carr of Lake Park, Ga., with a nice trout taken on a live pinfish under a Back Bay Thunder 

Trout fishing has been great in September, so far, (today is the 12th) as long as you find the right mix of stain and clean water, with very little difference in how to fish, unless you choose to fish in the darker end of the spectrum. Folks have reported shortening leaders to catch fish from the darker (coffee-colored) water, way up north, and this makes sense, since the light penetration can only display your offering, so deep in those conditions. They can’t strike what they can’t see.

We have continued to catch limits of trout on board One More Cast, with nice fish over 20 inches, mixed in the catch on almost every trip, while still fishing with live pinfish rigged up on 34 inches of TrikFish 30-pound mono, under Back Bay Thunders. We have averaged one or two reds a trip, as these “rock eating devils” as I prefer to call them, are scattered in the stained water over the past few weeks.

October should see the flats bust wide open, with most species present, willing and able to begin gorging themselves, for the oncoming change in the season. Cooler nights should make for cooler surface temps bringing shrimp further up in the shallows, as well as schools of white bait. This influx of food and protein, makes for great fishing, as the trout and reds are beefed up, and are in their healthiest condition of the year in October and November. Almost any bait you want to toss will take fish, once the water temps get down in the mid 70’s which should happen by late October. Top-water, including stick baits, prop baits and chuggers, lipped jerk baits, soft plastics rigged and bounced on jigs alone, or combined with an Original Cajun Thunder, will take limits of trout and reds. If the floating grass moves out, the plug fishing will be fun; if not, wait for the Northeasters in November to clear the way for top water fun.

Reds will gang up and move up on the flats, back towards the creeks (once this too-fresh water, from the torrential amounts of rain we have experienced this summer subsides). Weedless spoons, like the Intruder and Hex spoons by Precision Tackle, will find and catch reds. Have Gold and Copper in 1/2 ounce handy; but don’t forsake the new Cajun Copper Hex spoon in clearer water later in the fall, and early winter.

Meanwhile, Let’s Go Fishing!
Pat McGriff dba One More Cast guide service for 28 years!
www.onemorecast.net
onemorecast@gtcom.net
850.838.7541