by Pat McGriff
If we continue to see these freezing cold fronts, the trout will be sluggish throughout February. Anglers working the creeks and rivers here in Taylor County will have better success than those prying the flats looking for trout. Choose your days to go wisely and don’t expect to do well if open Gulf temperatures are below 50 degrees.
MirrOdines in the smaller MR17 and MR14 as well as Catch Jr’s may be a better choice of jig than the larger Catch 2000’s in these frigid February waters. Find warmer water around creek mouths and adjacent rocky flats and be patient. I find the bite being best right at the top of the high tide and the first hour of the flop. S-L-O-W is the key to presentation now, and scent can also be the determining factor in getting strikes. Use BANG in the shrimp formula for your hard baits, as well as your soft bait offerings, this time of year.
If you just have to throw your floating hard jerk baits, then remember to let them sit for 5-10 seconds between your jerk with them and you will get more winter trout. Color choice is much more critical regardless of whether you are plugging or fluking as the gin-clear February waters will allow the slower-moving trout a long look at your lures. Pull out some of the colors you couldn’t give away in the warmer months and don’t be surprised if they are winter winners. I use this simple tip: if you can’t see your shadow, use solids and fluorescents. Can see your shadow? Use chromes, glitters, laminates, or multicolored baits, etc.
Most winter reds will be under the slot so be careful not to camp in a creek on a school of smaller rat reds with Gulp or bait and deep-hook next year’s keepers. Odds are there won’t suddenly be a keeper mixed with those smaller creek fish. Larger reds will often be solitary and usually set up closer to the mouths of the creeks cruising with the mullet looking for crabs or baitfish which have shuffled out of the way of the advancing mullet school. Use plugs for larger reds and scent is, again, a key component for success.
If you are planning to sit by the fire ’til it warms up…. then call or email me in February to set up a trip this Spring!
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
