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Updated 3/01/10
Lower Your
Expectations
In Cold Weather
Despite the cold and windy weather, fishing around the
sound has been pretty good on the days I could get out. Once
located, trout, sheepshead and a few small redfish have been
making clients smile. Using live shrimp for bait, anglers who
could brave the cold conditions out there have been rewarded.
I'm not catching big fish by any means, but if you're not too
worried about catching one certain species and are willing to
work at it you can keep a rod bent and come home with enough
fish for dinner. |
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This colder than usual winter has really kept me fishing much
closer to home than I usually would. Short runs and keeping everyone
warm and comfortable have been high on the list of must-do's. Finding a
nice warm spot out of the wind where I know there are fish and sitting
for a hour or so to avoid a cold run to the next spot has been the
normal.
The warmer the day generally the better the bite has been. On the really
cold, windy days when I have found a spot with any kind of action, I
have really milked it, staying there as long as possible looking for
that one good fish. Often moving and looking for a better bite has just
not worked out. Sure you have to fish your way through lots of small
fish but small fish are better than no fish in the scheme of things this
winter.
I cannot remember a winter of having to juggle my schedule around so
much and cancelling so many trips due to the weather. Generally before
picking up a charter I have a species picked out to target on a certain
phase of the tide. For most trips this winter the only plan seems to be
to find anything that will eat a bait. Other guides and recreational
anglers I talk to are having the same problem. With cold front after
cold front the fish have just not gotten in a consistent pattern.
My rule of thumb for this winter has been if you start out with low
expectations on most days you can surpass them and still have a quality
day out there. I'm not the type of guide that will tell you tall tails
to get you to book a trip, What's the point I might book that one
fishing trip but will that client ever be back? Probably not, and its
not the way to have happy clients at the end of the day. So now when the
phone rings and I am asked, "What's going on out on the water right
now?" the answer is, "Not a whole lot, and keep you fingers crossed it
warms before we go fishing."
With March here the weather really has to get better soon. Spring-like
weather must be just around the corner. Luckily with spring comes some
of our best fishing of the year. I can hardly wait!
Click the links below to view copies of my other recent reports.
02-01-2010 -
02-08-2010 -
02-22-2010
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