Stalking Your Prey, Location, and Sneaking Up on Fish

Ever wonder why some guys catch more fish than others? There are several reasons this could be. The right location, the right lures, and you being quiet are the keys to success. Some folks never think about how being quiet may hurt their odds of catching fish.

I tell all my clients that catching fish is a lot like deer hunting. If that big buck hears you, hell just turn the other way. The same goes for big trout or reds; if they hear you they typically will run and hide. Always remember to not slam the lids on your hatches or yell at your buddy who is wading a hundred yards away. Most of the time, bigger trout and reds are caught while wading because being quieter and getting away from the noise of the boat slapping the waves helps to not scare them off.

Next is location, location, location. Most folks think that the cleaner the water the better. Yes and no, this year I have caught more fish in the off-colored water than in the greener water we call "trout green". This is not always the case, but this year it has been the ticket for us. From what I have seen, the off-colored water is holding the bait that the fish are feeding on.

Off-colored water does not mean muddy water or dirty water. Clear water makes the fish see you because of their visibility, but on off-colored water, their visibility becomes less, leading you to more hook ups. But I like better the grass flats for fishing.

I usually use top-waters on the grass flats, while in some area with deeper water I would usually cast down the Amber colored Sea Devils by Brown Lures. Whenever the reds pay no attention to the lures, I would then fling the Gulp near them so they would be able to smell it and soon they will bite it. This is how I spend my fishing day at the Matagorda Bay.

I will expect to see you next time.