By Capt. Daniel Andrews
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s the water temperatures continue to drop, the fish follow different patterns. Wintertime can provide lots of excellent fishing opportunities; however, you will need to change your strategies. Stealth is critical for having successful days on the water this time of year. Expect to find fish in different areas based on water temperature and time of day. Fish are less aggressive so you must present your bait accordingly.
When the water temperature drops into the 60s, the suspended algae die off and the water clears up. This makes the fish even more wary. Avoid wearing any brightly colored clothes; I prefer light blue shirts that blend in with the sky. Sudden movements will spook fish. The best way to sneak up on fish is to get out of the boat and wade. Wading is quieter and gives you a lower profile than being on a boat. Scaling back to 15-pound or 20-pound fluorocarbon leader for Speckled trout and redfish also can make a difference for picky fish.
Different water depths and bottom substrates make a big difference in water temperatures. Mud bottoms hold heat a lot better than sand, and shallow water heats up earlier in the day. During the hot summer months, fish tend to be in the extreme shallows at dawn and move out as the water heats up. The opposite is true in the winter—the fish move into shallower water as it heats up once the sun comes up. Once you find some fish, pay close attention to the water depth and substrate, other similar areas will most likely be holding fish as well.
Once you’ve found fish and have figured out how to get to them without being seen, all you have to do is pick your bait. While whitebait and pinfish are popular summertime baits, shrimp is the best wintertime bait. Shrimp are much bigger during the winter. For reds in shallow water, a shrimp on a jighead is a good choice. Pinch off the tail and thread the hook backwards through the shrimp’s body coming out the top. If you are targeting trout in deeper water, a shrimp under a popping cork will produce good numbers of fish.
Chunk mullet also works well if you are in an area that you know is holding fish. For artificials, lighter colors work best. White is a great wintertime color. Paddle tails or stick baits on a jighead, or spoons work well. Just remember to slow down the retrieve. Topwater plugs work well in shallow water, especially on warmer days.
Wintertime fishing can be excellent, especially right before a front comes through. Fishing can be tough for a few days as the fronts push through, but as soon as it begins to warm up the fish are hungry. If you’re not seeing fish look in different places. If you can see fish but can’t catch them change your bait or your presentation. Good luck and most importantly have fun!