Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By ROB GORTA
Published January 29, 2008

What's hot: The most productive target has been trout. Cold fronts make conditions difficult to target snook and redfish. With the water temperature staying around 60 degrees, I don't attempt to target linesiders. Redfish are unaffected by colder water - the conditions make them hard to target. Strong winds make it difficult to push-pole in shallow water. The wave action will cause water to slap the hull and spook reds.

Cold fronts: Higher winds create ideal conditions for trout. I use a bottom machine to locate grass flats in 3 to 5 feet of water. I motor to the edge of the flat upwind and deploy a sea anchor, which will slow the drift and allow for more effective coverage. If I have a good drift, I will run back upwind and use the GPS track to arrange the next drift. I target sandbars in the Fort De Soto area and spoil islands near Dunedin.

Tackle: Light tackle can make trout fishing more enjoyable. I like 10-braided line (2-pound diameter) with 20-pound camouflage leader and quarter-ounce red jig head with a soft plastic bait. There are many plastic tails available - it is just a matter of preference. Root beer and white are my favorite colors.

[Last modified January 28, 2008, 23:01:33]