Winter Fishing in January 2011

Welcome aboard to this year’s annual Houston International Boat, Sport and Travel Show. By the time you read this article, we ought to be set up in the Reliant Park to display our guide service, as well as other tackle distributors and area guides. Under one roof, you can shop till you drop for that fishing, hunting, boat purchase or professional fishing guide.

This year is no different from years past. The Houston Boat Traders Association does an excellent job in allowing all of us to display our services and products.

Fishermen and women alike who catch fish along the Texas Gulf Coast this time of year are those who fish slow and deep. And, as an afterthought, it helps to know which lures to use and how to fish'em, because January is one of those months when live shrimp are often very difficult to obtain.

Fish in deep waters, because that’s where the trout and reds go when the temperature falls. Fish take on the temperature of the water in which they live. Cold water sinks, but when the sinking water is about 40 degrees, it starts to rise back to the surface. And then if the cold air is intense enough, the water freezes. We loose fish, speckled trout and redfish and a lot of others, every time we have a hard freeze along the Texas Gulf Coast.

The fish that are lost are those that failed to get to protection in deep water. These fish losses occur when hard freezes follow a lengthy period of moderate surface temperatures.

Fish continue to feed in cold water, but they do so less frequently than when the water is just moderately cool. Not only that, they feed in a different manner than when the water is warmer. When the water is cold, fish tend to only nip and peck or just hold the bait. Consequently it is important to work the bait slow. Then when a nibble or tension is felt set your hook hard.

The fisherman who scores consistently in cold weather works their bait slow along the bottom of deep structure; especially where there are no strong tidal movements. The most productive way to work the bait is to bump it slowly off the bottom.

Since the fish are sluggish because of the cold, it is important to work the entire bottom within casting range. Cold-numbed speckled trout or reds just do not pursue their food the way they do in spring or summer. Fishing in January or for that matter in any of the wintertime requires a great deal of patience and dedication. Besides having chapped lips and a dripping nose, along with cold hands and feet, fishermen have to concentrate on catching. You have to work the bait all the time. No throwing it out and just waiting. Keeping it moving in a series of short but slow hops along the bottom and this holds true whether you are using lures or natural baits.

Effective ways to fish the deep holes is to allow the boat to drift but keep a drift sock or sea anchor to slow your movement. This type of fishing technique is to jig the bait or lure up and down. Allow it to touch the bottom if possible, point the rod tip to the surface of the water, lifting it up and again point it at surface causing the lure to flutter as it falls back to the bottom.

Most fish strikes occur when the lure falls toward the bottom. Fishermen who drift over the deep structure in wintertime can greatly improve their success if they use a depth finder. Garmin Electronics among others are excellent units. Cost varies with each unit’s ability to show different configurations along the bottom. Schools of fish do not blanket the bottom of holes. On day they may be along the north side of the hole, the next day it might be on the east, south or west side. You can locate them quicker if you have a good fish finder.

An interesting aspect about winter fishing is that frequently the fish that pecks and nibbles turns into a real fighter when brought to the surface. Another plus about fishing in January, most of the speckled trout are generally in the 2-4 lb. Range. Occasionally, specs to 6-7lbs. are caught this time of year. Redfish on the other hand will usually be in the slot.

Color selection should be light – glow-pearl or limetruse, using a 1/4oz. or 3/8-oz. lead head depending on the tidal flow and structure you are fishing. Dark colors will also work like plum-red and fire tiger. Bass Assassin and Stanley Jig lures will be one that gives you all of the above and more. Use the wide gap screw on ultra point lead heads by Bass Assassin or Stanley new one as well for that super strong hook set. Spoons in either gold or silver and red buck tail will show a lot of flash on or near the bottom. Use ½ to ¾ oz Johnson Sprite. Mirro-lure slow sinking plugs work extremely well this time of year. Either the series 38, 51 or 52 work well in flash colors.

The one advantage of Bass Assassin and Stanley Jigs is they are soft and feel like something edible. Hence fish will make a second or third pass at it.
Enough said about fishing for this month. Stop by our booth in the Arena area at 632.

Look for my seminar the fourth Saturday, January 22rd, 2011 at 8:00 AM and we’ll continue some more aspects of wintertime fishing methods. Seminar will be at Fishing Tackle Unlimited. Email for cost and limited space

Happy New Year to everyone. May the Lord indeed bless you and your family.

See you at the show and if not, before on Galveston Bay.

Capt. Paul Marcaccio
http://www.gofishgalveston.com/

Fish Slow and Deep for Winter Bay Action

When winter cloud cover prevails, fish the deep holes located on your Hot Spot maps. Should the sun come out, simply move to the flats adjacent to these holes.

A bit later, we will discuss how to fish the flats, but first, we will work on those deep holes.

Even though you are anxious to bring home that big catch, take the time to use your fish finder to locate the pockets of fish suspended at different depths. Each day the fish will move to different parts of the deep structure. Always take the time to check out the entire hole and don’t just fish blind in deep water. Your catch will no doubt reflect the efforts of your search.

Once you have located schools of fish, mark the location with orange floaters. While drifting over the area, bounce the bait off the bottom as if you were jigging in freshwater. Always cover the entire area around your boat, and if the prevailing winds move you along too fast, simply use your drift anchor. Of course, you must not forget to check out those favorite spots you have developed from previous experiences in deep water.

Each time you cast, allow the bait to reach the bottom. Point your rod tip toward the water and jig up or twitch it side-to-side. Usually a trout or red will strike as the bait begins to fall. Always keep the bait moving in the area in which you are fishing since the fish are not considered aggressive and may need enticement to assume they have located a wounded fish. Fishing during January and February does require significant patience and dedication, bur generally, fish caught this time of year will put up a better fight and can weigh 3-to-5 pounds each.

Fish feed differently and less frequently during the winter and tend to nip or peck similar to some perch. Simply wail for a two-count, then set your hook.

Live bait is often difficult to find during the winter months, so you might want to try soft plastic shrimp tails, shad imitations and jerk worms. The best colors being strawberry with white fire tail, pearl with chartreuse tail, smoke, grape, or root beer. For additional movement, you may add the Flex-Jig.

The use of   ¾ - to - 1 ounce spoons are excellent, Try gold or silver with teaser. The fish can feel the vibration with their lateral lines.

Generally, you can cover more water with soft plastic and spoons, both vertically and horizontally.

Now its time to discuss fishin’ those flats after the sun has come out and begun to heat everything up.

You might try a topwater lures (Mirrolure Top Dog and She Dog, or Baby Spooks.

Any large bait is good to imitate the specific fish both the trout and redfish are looking for.

Most smaller bait is absent in the winter. You should look for slicks or pockets of live bait.

Always remember to relax and have fun outdoors and the best time to go fishin’ is anytime you can.

See ya’ll on Galveston Bay.

Capt Paul Marcaccio

Winter Fishing is Hard Work

Most of the fishermen we know have put up their rods and taken up rifles and shotguns, at least temporarily.

From December through mid-March, this period offers trout that feed very much like piggy perch or hardheads. The cold weather often makes the trout very sluggish. Since the body temperature of a trout is that of the water in which it lives, the cold slows the metabolism of the fish.

Trout fishing is supposed to be fun, but only for about nine months of the year. With winter fishing comes more work than fun. All the time you are suffering through the cold day. It is apparent that there are fewer fishermen in the bay and you should not have the problems encountered during the summer months.

Needless to say, if one endures low temperatures and sluggish fish that nibble, you can enjoy great action during these frigid months.

Passage of these northers are sometimes frequent and the more violent the front, the poorer the fishing afterwards. These fronts cause the bay system to turn chocolate milk and can lower the water level. I have seen a two or three foot drop in the water level after one of these fronts passes Galveston Bay, leaving a lot of good fishing areas exposed as mud or shell reefs. This then will force the trout to move to deep holes and the channels.

Depending on whom you ask it takes sometimes three to four days for the return of normal tide levels and clear water.

Once the front passes, a fisherman can experience several days of good fishing. Most often, the trout are suspended in water that is six to nine feet deep. Work areas like oil and gas platforms, shell or oyster reefs. If you know a well pad has been productive in the past, anchor up and work it for 15 to 30 minutes. Then you might want to try drifting certain oyster reefs and return later to the wells when the alternate tide starts moving again.

Remember that the fish will be deep, so work the bait on the bottom.

Birds (working gulls) are not usually found due to shrimp migration in the fall. Occasionally, you may find some trout along the shoreline adjacent to deep structure. Trout will feed during these periods and prior to frontal passages, thinking they need to store up food before the next winter blast of cold air arrives.

The shortage of live bait during the winter keeps many fishermen at home. Some don’t know how to fish lures, or they dislike using them.

When live bait is available, use it under a popping cork about four to seven feet deep from the cork to the hook. You also may free shrimp or use a slip weight depending on the bottom you are fishing. Also, the use of live finger mullet or mudfish is good when live shrimp are not found. The above mentioned should be hooked at the top dorsal fin or the tail and hooked on the bottom. Make long casts and when the bait hits the water, let out enough line to drop the bait where you first hit the water. This will keep the bait from coming back to you because of the current. The method is to retrieve slowly and pause until the bait is back at the boat. Each time you cast, move your location and cover as much water as possible.

The use of artificial baits during the winter will test your patience.

This is not the time for the novice angler to use these baits without some prior experience.

Remember that proper presentation is important. Lifting the rod tip as you retrieve is important, as you will have to put the bait within a few feet of the trout.

Be sure and cover as much water as possible as you drift or anchor the boat. Another popular winter fishing trout lure is bottom-bumping plugs with two sets of hooks. The extra hook gives the fisherman the edge.

Keep this in mind while wading in the winter: trout have a much heavier than usual coating of protective slime. Be sure to carry a landing net. If you think these fish are slippery in the summer, try grabbing one in the dead of winter when your fingers are numb.

The clothing you wear is also important. Be sure and layer the clothes you select, so in the sun should come out, you will be able to remove a layer at a time as necessary.

As always, have fun and enjoy the outdoors.

See ya’ll on Galveston Bay.

Capt. Paul Marcaccio