Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By DAVE WALKER
Published January 3, 2008

What's hot: The return of "seasonal" weather has the fish behaving more like they should for January. Prior warm weather created difficult conditions. The fish were not in their normal patterns. Once things settle down from several days of stout winds, fishing should stabilize. On the positive side, the recent cold weather has turned on the speckled trout.

The trout bite has been good for those braving the elements. They will bite on the coldest of mornings, making them a viable target, especially now that they are back in season.

Tactics: They like to head off of the flats toward deeper and slightly warmer water. Any deep hole adjacent to an established grass flat is a likely place to find specks. A slow retrieve with a soft plastic jig is all you need for a recipe of success. A live shrimp with a small split shot or free-lined usually will be irresistible to winter trout. The mouths of residential canals are also a favorite hangout.

Tips: Trout have keen eyesight. This, coupled with exceptional water clarity, makes it necessary to use light leader material. They do not have sharp teeth, so thin leaders are sufficient.

Circle hooks work well for trout. The light circle or kale style work wonders. The important thing to remember when fishing with circle hooks is to not set the hook. After years of jerking, it is hard to kick the habit. If you set with a circle hook, it will usually pop right out of the fish's mouth. Just reel it in after a strike is noticed. This style of hook is very effective and good for novice anglers.

Dave Walker charters out of Tampa and can be reached at www.snookfish.com, captdavewalker@verizon.net or 813 310-6531.

[Last modified January 2, 2008, 23:56:30]