Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By TROY P. SAPP
Published December 5, 2007

Slow it down: Recent high winds and the dropping water temperature will move the fish around for the next few days. Favorite live baits will become harder to obtain and may not be worth the time spent to catch them. This is a great time to start using your favorite artificial lures, giving you time to cover more water and the ability to regulate your presentation. Soft-plastic baits such as jerk shads, shrimp imitations and swim baits will produce strikes from trout, redfish and snook when presented in a more subtle fashion during colder weather. Keep changing your retrieve rate until you get strikes.

Techniques: Light-braided lines in the 10-pound test range with a short piece of fluorocarbon leader in 20- to 30-pound test will work for most applications. Rods and reels properly matched to the line will allow for long casts and much less fatigue for the angler.

Tips: Look for areas that have been protected from high winds and have the cleanest water. Small coves and creek mouths often will hold larger concentrations of fish, so approach these areas quietly and make long casts to avoid detection. Watch your electronics and monitor the water temp. Just a few degrees of warmth in certain areas may well lead you to what you're looking for.

[Last modified December 4, 2007, 23:19:07]