- April 28, 2024
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Wind, high water levels and cold temperatures have kept a lot of people off the water the last couple of weeks. Those who have been venturing out have been catching trout, redfish, bluefish and some snook.
Fishing when the wind is blowing can be difficult, but there are a few things you can do to minimize that wind.
One way is to fish close to the leeward side of a tree line or a canal lined with houses. A canal lined with trees on both sides can also give you good protection, but you may get a swirling wind effect that can push your boat around a bit if you’re using a trolling motor.
High water levels give the fish too many places to get to that they can’t access during normal tidal conditions. Try and get your skiff into those places where you normally can’t get at. Just watch out for falling tides because you don’t want to get stranded and have to wait for the tide to come back in.
Cold air temperatures can have a good and bad effect on fishing.
Cold air is usually associated with a front that is moving into the area. As the front approaches, the fish will feed more aggressively. As the barometric pressure rises, the bite will tend to shut down. The bite usually starts to increase a day or two after the front passes. (The theory of the effects of barometric changes on fishing is a constant debate among fishermen.)
Colder air will also drop the water temperature, which, for many of us, is a welcome thing, especially when it comes to redfishing. The colder the water gets, the clearer it gets. Clear water is what redfish seekers wait all year for. It allows fishermen to actually see the fish they are after. To be able to cast at a fish you can see and watch it eat your offering makes for a very exciting experience.
Also, when the water is cold, I believe the fish that you keep to consume taste better. The meat is firmer than when taken from warm water. That’s why I immediately put my fish on ice no matter what the water temperature is.
On Tuesday, I got an amusing voicemail from my buddy, Craig Wiggen. He was out in his canoe flyfishing some shallow water and hooked into a large redfish. I thought it was funny that he found the time to call me during the height of the battle. When I called him back, he said he landed the big red, which measured in at 32 inches with a 17-inch girth.
It took him 20 minutes to land the fish — the largest fish he’s ever caught on a fly rod.
Congratulations, Craig.
