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Angler's Update
Valentine’s Day is usually the first thing brought to mind as February rolls in, although for anglers, February means the chance to land a career-size trout. Most outdoorsmen have yet to steer their mind away from muggy morning duck hunts or mindless blind-sitting, however, as any serious angler knows, during this particular time of the year our bays offer up treats much sweeter than anything found in a box of chocolates. For those who aren’t aware, mid-February to mid-March is possibly the most promising window of time to land a record trout. By this time of the year, the trout have reached the precipice of their spawn. Any giant caught during this time will surely be a sow; these females begin to pack on weight as they prepare for spawn, and more importantly, to survive their post-spawn. Being that the water is still cold and the mothers are searching for a calm spawning site, fish will most likely be found in the shallows of bays and along mangrove roots. Since the fish are trying to conserve as much energy as possible, and likewise, gain as much weight as possible, I’d suggest fishing with big lures that resemble bait fish. Many fishermen make the shameful assumption that fishing February is a fool’s errand simply because they don’t change their tackle and techniques. Unlike summer, where you can fish with small Gulp! shrimp and lures with high action, late winter fish are looking for the meal that provides them with the most bang for their buck. The bigger the lure, the more likely you are to catch a trophy trout. I’d suggest anything big, bulky, and slow, preferably one of those hideous red and white topwaters you never use, or a big mino. The go-to technique in late winter is no technique. Simply reel in. Don’t jig or jerk the rod at all; the more work the fish have to do to get your lure, the less likely they are to strike. Reel in just quickly enough so that you’re not dragging along the ground and catching weeds. If you choose a topwater, treat it like you’re walking a dog with a heavy nose - work your retrieve very slowly and even let the lure sit motionless for a couple of seconds. Despite your tackle or technique accommodation, the most important part of catching a trophy trout is timing, and for the next several weeks, the time is right. Don’t miss your chance to land a trophy speck. David is a sophomore studying business. You may contact him at dsanchez@neo.tamu.edu.
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