Seadrift
C ontact
class trout, major and minor moon rises and sets become extremely important. Over the years I have become a huge believer in the value of being in the right place at the exact right time. Too many are the times to count that I have witness a major feeding surge as the day reaches one of the major or minor feeding periods. I prefer the minor moon rises and sets. This hour period can produce a more defined and aggressive feed due to the reduction in the feeding period verses a two hour major feeding period. The winter of 2012 has further proven to me that this feed is more often than not the strongest of the day. Some other keys that will help many of you not on the water all the time is the presence of slicks and brown pelican activity. Where you find these two together there will be bait, trout and preferred bottom structure. One seldom exists without the other and all are proof positive of what lies below. I actually mark daily the movements of the baitfish along the barrier islands on my GPS. Where the food goes the predators go as well. I know many of you grow tired of the simplicity in my thinking but it has worked for me for many years so I think I’ll stick with this program and leave the big thinking to the bigger brains. Lure selection for me changes very little from year to year but over the past two years there have been a few new things that I have become confident in throwing. Of course the Bass Assassin in the 5” shad rigged with a 1/16 ounce 2/0 short-shank leadhead is always my go to fish finder. This year I have been throwing the 5’’ Die Dapper by Bass Assassin but rigging it with a Mustad 3/0 1/16 or 1/8 ounce flutter hook. I attach a screw-loc spring to the eye of the hook. This allows me to screw the plastic onto the spring and then place the hook through the slot, coming out the back and then slightly covering the point by pinching the plastic over the point. This makes the lure totally weedless and also creates a very level-running presentation when swimming through the water. The 1/8 ounce provides a slightly better action from the swimming tail due to the increased weight. This rig has proven to be deadly on larger trout in slightly off-colored water. MirrOlure’s MirrOdine XLs, Catch 2000 Jr and the MirrOmullet work best for me when trout are feeding shallow on mullet or menhaden over shallow grass beds. The Top Dog series of surface plugs are also great choices during the spring months in our waters. I prefer any combination of bone, silver, blue and chartreuse. I do appreciate those that relate to my simple approach to finding and catching fish. Catching fish is mostly dependant on going fishing. The more you fish the more you learn. The more you learn the more you catch. Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for Put the ones back you don’t more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading year-round for trout need so someone else can and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San enjoy them. Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. May your fishing always Telephone 361-729-9596 be catching. Email Jay@jaywatkins.com -Guide Jay Watkins Website www.jaywatkins.com
The Only full Service Bank
free internet Banking Walk up atM Financing Available for: • Recreational Vehicles – cars, boats, etc. • Real Estate Loans • Primary and Secondary Homes • Trust Services
www.fnbportlavaca.com Port o’Connor BranCh (361) 983-2508 Seadrift BranCh (361) 785-5321 Port LavaCa BranCh (361) 552-6726
TSFMAG.com | 49