Winter Fishing Tips to Give You an Edge

Let me begin by first saying that this is not the ONLY way to catch fish, but some tips that have worked for me. Spending time and practicing your skills and observation techniques is very important as well. Getting familiar with your usual fishing grounds so that you will be prepared and know what you are looking for can help no matter what the conditions are.

One of my favorite marks to key on are the grass lines, especially those found in the southern portion of Baffin Bay. What you are looking for here is where the grass goes from being very dense to not growing in very shallow water. The transition is usually quite visible as it becomes a sandy white bottom, something to look for on clear and sunny days.

In addition to the shallow water transition, you can also look for grass lines that coincide with a depth change. When fishing in the Laguna Madre this change in water depth may only be a few inches, not the usual three to four foot channel drops that we often look for in Bass fishing. Even these subtle changes can impact fish behavior. Instead of transitioning from the shoal grass to sand, what we are looking for here is a change from long dense grass to very sparse short grass in shallow water. Redfish are very attracted to these places because of all the baitfish and crabs that hide out in these areas without a lot of cover.

Once you have spotted a key grass line, the next step is to focus on your retrieve. I typically start off fast and then work slower and slower until I find what they like. Often times you will get a reaction strike with the fast-steady retrieve, which is a nice immediate result. Mix in a "wave" motion with the fast or steady technique by raising and lowering your rod. This technique has worked very well for me, but the key thing is to keep experimenting. Some people may work their lure extremely slow, dragging it along the bottom with great results. Just remember to pay attention to what works so you can use it in the future.

In addition to the grass lines, be on the lookout for potholes that range from a few feet to yards across. The edges all around the sides of the potholes are very important as small fish will hang around looking for food here. Larger predator fish are usually nearby. Baffin Bay is home to many of these potholes, especially rocky ones with steep drop offs that plunge down 8-9 feet. I like bring out the old Bass fishing tactics here when working these structures and edges.

When working a slower technique I prefer to throw soft plastic lures like Brown Lures' Devil Eyes. These saltwater lures work great in short, quick bouncing motions with intermittent pauses, especially when Texas rigged on a quarter ounce sinker weight. This has been one of my staples since I started saltwater fishing. I find that the technique works whether fishing potholes or those rocky edges because of the "fluttering" motion of the lure which draws aggressive strikes from fish. The large eye on the lure also provides a nice target for the fish to lock on to.

With the birds already moving around, and the weather being very cooperative I'm looking forward to a solid winter fishing season. If you are looking for an exciting outdoor adventure give us a call and we'll hook you up.