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gettinwet
Posts: 1,366 Officer
Winter Advice - Northern Indian River Lagoon Titusville
gettinwet
Posts: 1,366 Officer
I'm not having a lot of success "catching" this winter - and as Duckman says it's because I'm not fishing where the fish are - which I think is because most of the areas I have access to are shallow water flats that just haven't been holding much bait. Even the bite at Haulover has been very inconsistent (there hasn't been a string of really cold nights to drive the bulls off the flats into the canal). I've been looking for deeper water and exploring more mud flats - but overall not a lot of success. I've been primarily using paddle tails, zoom flukes, and a catch 2000 (suspending hard jerk bait - got fed up with the puffers eating the soft plastics). I'm really tempted to throw a top water tomorrow since it is going to be so warm but since there is no bait about I'm doubtful on how effective that will be. I think I need to slow down my presentation more. That Catch 2000 is supposed to be a twitch bait which apparently you leave suspended more than you move it.........but not a lot of luck with it so far. I have been using mostly white, chartreuse, and pearl colors because the water has been murky. Any advice would be appreciated!
There are only so many casts in life, so shut up and fish!!
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My fav topwater is my skitterwalk. I throw it all the time, no matter time of day or conditions. If you're fishing water 3' or less, it'll work. There doesn't really seem to be a wrong way to work it either. I've heard folks say 'never stop a topwater from moving if you're targeting reds,' but I've found that advice to be baloney. Biggest explosion strikes I get is just stopping the walk-the-dog altogether and letting it sit. Count to at least 5 and start up again. While it's just sitting there or right when you start it moving again is when I get hits.
My fav soft bait is a DOA shrimp. It's my all time, never fail, no matter what confidence bait. True, it works much better when things warm up, but I've caught almost everything the inshore can offer on it. If you think you're fishing it too slow, slow down. A POP and it's off the bottom, slowly sinking back down. I almost always get hit right after that pop, just as the bait hits its apex and starts the slow drift down.
There are lots of folks here who've been fishing this area a lot more and a lot longer than me, so I'm sure their advice weighs heavier than mine. All I can say is fish where it looks fishy (I try to look for current and cover), find a bait you have confidence in and work it slow.
Good luck, amigo, and tight lines,
and spooky. They have not been eating very good. This year has been strange in as the cold fronts have not been that cold, but they are coming every couple of days. Most years the fronts come every seven or eight days. I think this has the fish moody. I fish all over the North end, some place different each time. I have been seeing Reds, Trout, and a few Black drum all over, but they don't want to eat. I use flies, they might eat cut bait, but that's cheating LOL. This month has been my worst February in a few years.
https://sites.google.com/site/thejonboatadvantage/
You have pretty much figured out this problem on your own...Most mornings in winter you are starting the day with water temps in the 50's.
Fish are cold blooded so even a couple degrees will be sought out by a fish. Generally, You want to find "thermal refuges" which can be either deeper water like Canals or inlets or areas around bridges and causeways. They will also be lethargic so you must slow your presentation down...painfully slow.....or use bait. It is all about not expending more calories to eat than the cost to get this or the fish will perish and they instinctively know this.
Another tactic is to not fish early...fish bright sunny days later in the day when flats warm and fish will move up to get warm and forage.
It is my experience that at this time of year on the flats...99.9% of the fish are on .01% of the water. Lots more looking to find fish this time of year...but when you find them...almost every fish will be close to that area.
Many things to do.
Knots to be unraveled
'fore the darkness falls on you
Get a nice 17 ft canoe( I love my Grumman ) and TWO Kayak paddles....You and your boy will be very versatile...and much more so than a Yak...
Many things to do.
Knots to be unraveled
'fore the darkness falls on you
I actually was just thinking about that while browsing some pro angler listings on Craigslist........now, I'm leaning towards a gheenoe possibly with a small kicker - that would get me just about anywhere I would want to go - with plenty of room for two. They seem to be pretty stable too - a canoe scares me a bit cause I'm big and clumsy.