- May 1, 2024
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I know a lot of people living here in Florida, including myself, who don’t like the cold weather. But it’s something we have to live with every winter.
On the other hand, it does bring good things for those of us who fish year-round. The colder air and shorter days makes for colder water temperatures, thus making it advantageous for those of us who like to hunt redfish in the shallows. The cold water kills off the algae, which has a lot to do with dark water coloration. Clear water in the shallows means we can actually sight fish for redfish. The cold water causes the redfish to school up, and because the shallow water heats up faster during the course of the day, they tend to come up into the shallows for warmth and to feed. It’s not unusual to see schools of 50, 100 or even 200 fish roaming the shallows. I have had situations where my entire boat was surrounded by redfish.
Sure, there are a lot of days in the winter when it’s nearly impossible to fish, but when conditions are right, you can’t beat it. A good west wind for a couple of days will push much of the water off the flats, making it all but impossible except for the shallowest drafting watercraft to enter. A bad cold front will also keep fish off the flats. Give it a day or two after the front passes, and the fish will return.
Having a poling platform on your boat gives you a distinct advantage when it comes to sight fishing. The added height of standing on the platform allows you to see into the water at a greater distance. Also, using a push pole to propel the boat gives you the advantage of stealth when approaching a school of fish. Stay on the perimeter of the school and cast to the outer edges of it. Casting into the middle will usually spook the whole school. They will take off like a shot. We’ll talk about what baits to use in future columns.
I had the chance to fish this past Saturday. I did well with trout while casting a fly. Then, on Sunday, I had a real good shot at a feeding redfish. He was feeding on an oyster bar and had half of its body out of the water. I placed my fly right in front of it, but it rejected my offer.
