This past week has seen a variety of different fishing styles prove effective. Fishing for trout in deeper depressions with live shrimp has provided steady action. Rig as follows: Use a ?-ounce jighead, grab a shrimp from the well and pinch the tail off. Thread the shrimp tail-first up the jighead. As it curls around the hook, push the point through. Once this is done the shrimp should be straight on the jighead. Using a bass fishing technique, I have clients drag the shrimp across the bottom slowly, then execute a sharp, short twitch. This makes the shrimp hop and often entices a strike from a trout. Remember water temperatures are in the mid 50s in most places across the bay. The bite slows when it cools like this and a slow presentation is key to getting a strike. As the day warms and the bottom begins to heat up the bait can be moved a little more rapidly. This is a great time of year to throw artificial baits. The lack of bait fish on the flats and in general has fish hungry. That forces them to let their guard down and eat something, even if they’re skeptical. A variety of soft plastics such as shad tails, shrimp imitations and jerk worms will produce. Hard plastics are great too if the exotics (puffer fish) are in the area. Stick baits that are slow-sinking work well, using a twitch, pause, twitch, pause retrieve.
Tim Whitfield can be reached at (813) 714-0889 or [email protected]