Nature Coast

Time for transition

With the arrival of the cold weather, it's time to switch fishing tactics.

By DAVID A. BROWN, Times Correspondent
Published January 5, 2008

The North Suncoast never sees a "white Christmas," but with winter finally making its presence known, local anglers will need to shift gears a little bit.

Unseasonably mild weather persisted so far into December that live bait tactics remained viable long after Christmas. However, it's time to take down the decorations and switch fishing tactics.

Distinct seasons have always been a tricky notion to define in the North Suncoast, but switching to traditional winter patterns is a good bet after a cold front arrives, like the one in Florida this past week. That means trading the circle hooks and green corks for soft plastics and hard baits.

Always ready

Although winter forces artificial lures front and center by downplaying natural baits, the fake ones are never a bad choice. Convenient to carry, easy to use and abounding in shape, size and color diversity, artificials define "user friendly."

With no need for live wells or even bait buckets, artificials allow you to jump right into action with minimal fuss. Stuff a few lures in a plastic bag - or fill your pockets - and you're ready to catch some fish.

Moreover, with the exception of scented baits like the Berkley Gulp! and Mister Twister Exude products, you don't have to worry about leaving a few baits in a boat hatch, your vehicle or a jacket pocket. Do that with a shrimp, pinfish or finger mullet, and yours will be a lonesome existence.

Tried and true

For ease of operation, nothing beats the cast-and-reel simplicity of a weedless spoon. However, jigs of one-sixteenth to one-fourth ounce with grub, shad or curl tails offer great diversity. Changing tail shape or color takes mere seconds, so experimentation is thorough and response timely.

As winter ushers warm-season schools of sardines and threadfin herring from area waters, trout, snook and redfish turn their attention mostly to crustaceans. Slowly hopping jigs over grass beds with sandy potholes and around oyster bars and docks will tempt these fish, along with the occasional flounder, jack crevalle or ladyfish.

For a larger profile, try fishing soft plastic jerkbaits on jig heads or rig them weedless on worm hooks. The latter - sometimes bearing weighted shanks for deeper presentations - do best when thick grass threatens constant snaggings.

For either, use mostly darker colors to match crustaceans and to create a shadowy figure running across bottom. In sunny conditions, gold-flake patterns resemble pinfish - another winter forage source.

Daybreak during this time of year often finds the largest speckled trout lying in extremely shallow water in hopes of ambushing finger mullet. Walk a topwater plug or work a noisy chugger through the skinny brine, and expect explosions.

If you see trout running from your plug or if they follow without striking, it's time to give them a different look. Carry a variety of plug sizes, colors and styles - some with rattles, some without. Downsizing is the most common fix.

Tackle tips

When flinging live baitfish, you want a rod with a soft tip. This provides the essential flexibility that enables you to cast a livie without ripping the hook loose on the backward or forward motion.

Artificials require the opposite. Today's rod-makers offer finely tuned models for every use imaginable, but for general artificial duties, a firm rod with less flex in the tip will work best.

Longer rods mean greater casting distance, a definite plus when clear winter water leaves fish nervous.

The exception is topwater plug fishing, in which shorter rods work best for the downward angled "walk the dog" action. Less length keeps you from whacking the water on every twitch.

Braided lines also facilitate artificial presentations. Unlike monofilament, braids don't stretch, which means more control for working lures.

Braids also help you come tight on a fish without hesitation. Predators usually gobble live baits, as the authentic offering looks, smells, feels and tastes exactly as it should. However, when the imposters raise suspicions, predators may only swipe at the target, so quick response can help you convert close calls to catches.

Rig artificials on 20- to 30-pound fluorocarbon leaders and make your terminal connection with a loop knot. This allows your lure optimal mobility for a lifelike presentation - an obvious plus, given the mission of imitating a breathing creature.

[Last modified January 4, 2008, 20:19:26]