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| Vudu Shrimp - Match the Hatch |
If you would have sat me down and told me that I would be
able to fish two days in early November with air temps hovering about 50
degrees, water temps in the low 60’s and mild winds before a major front pushes
through and not catch a trophy trout, let alone A trout. I would have called
you a liar, and said you have no idea what you’re talking about, but that’s
what happened. I fished for close to 20
hours in 2 days and only caught 3 redfish on the same flats that produced 100’s
of fish earlier in the month, and trophy fish in Feb/Mar last year. So what
happened? To be honest I don’t know, but I was able to put my finger on one
thing that I think caused me to be unsuccessful. I could not find the
bait. Earlier in the last two months,
the flats that I predominantly fish had lots of bait, and again, that’s being
conservative. Not only we’re there
shrimp busting the surface, but the numbers of mullets in the air at one time,
if you scanned the horizon, were close to nearly 20. It was in fish terms, and
since we’re close to thanksgiving, a cornucopia of food…a big trout buffet, if
you will. There was so much food that I
think earlier in the month, the trout we’re predominantly targeting shrimp vs.
finfish. I was always under the impression that bait is bait in a predatory game
fish’s eyes, but like most living creatures, they had a “hankering” for a
certain type of food. Almost like most
Louisianan’s, when crawfish season rolls around, they’ll simply bypass a cheeseburger
and fries to get ahold of 10lbs of boiled mudbugs. In trout terms, I think the same held
true…they wanted a shrimp po-boy vs the fried fish platter…hungry yet? J 
But what does the aforementioned topic have to do with you
not catching fish? My answer…Everything!
From tournament BASS angler Elites to legendary trout masters to crappie
and walleye fisherman…one coined phrase that is in their repertoire is “Find
the bait…find the fish.” Never in my
life have I believed that to be entirely true until I drove back discouraged on
I-37 from Corpus to San Antonio. It was
2 hours of maddening thought that questioned location, technique and even
whether or not my travels for the remainder of the year, be worth the
investment (not really). In short, I was struggling to accept my failed attempt
to catch a trophy fish (really). But I trace it back to the presence of no
baitfish. 8th grade science
class indicates the importance of the food chain, and since I’m the apex
predator, the success of my efforts is null and void without the presence of
the tiniest of organisms. Fortunately
for trout and other predatory gamefish, they are smarter than me. In short,
they we’re able to adapt, but I on the other hand, was not, but I do have a few
theories as to what may have happened.  |
| I saw this way to much on my flats |
The first, its duck season in South TX, and unlike the
Louisiana delta, there is little marshland to house such a migration.
Therefore, they set up shop by the thousands on various flats, mine included.
Never in my life have I been mooned by so many pintail and big grey ducks, as
they dipped down into the water looking for shell or other millet lying on the
bottom. In fact, most of my time spent
fishing was wishing I had a slingshot and a rock, let alone a Remington 870. If
a shotgun were in my tackle box, I would have fielded a limit in 6 shots and my
wife and I would be eating A LOT of duck and sausage gumbo.
The second, and more relevant, is the water temperature.
Although I’ve caught plenty of trout in upper 40 degree water temps, I didn’t
sneeze at a water temp in the low 60’s. However when the water temps completely
skip the 70’s and plummets straight to the low 60’s from the low 80’s. The
shock of such a change may have pulled the bait and the fish off the flats for
just a bit. I compare this thought to getting into a hot bath, the first step
is rather uncomfortable, the feeling in your feet gives way to the initial
shock but after your body temps recalibrate to the external temp of the water,
it starts to feel really good. I theorize the same holds true in the Corpus
Christi estuary…those fish, despite being cold blooded, need to acclimatize to
the sudden shock of colder temps and once they do it will be “back to normal”
life on the flats. If and when that happens, those big girls will be right
behind them lumbering amidst the sparse grass that remains due to the dip in
temps, and when that happens, I’ll be donning my waders talking sense into my
brain about getting out into the cold. Ah, life as a trophy trout addict!
As many who know me would tell you, I’m not one for making
excuses. The last two days humbled me as
an angler, leaving me to only make excuses about my lack of productivity, but
to offer menial solutions to putting together the puzzle that I often talk
about. As mentioned one thing I will be
more vigilant of going forward is the presence of bait. I’ve come to appreciate
that concept of fishing and more importantly the meaning of that corny phrase.
I hope this blog post not only highlights that main point, but for me
personally, makes me and you appreciate those fishing trips that are good. Trophy trout are a tough quarry, and if
you’re into looking for them, know from my experience that you are wasting your
time, if you’re not fishing in the presence of bait. However, when you do have
that biggun weighed up on a boga grip, know that it’ll be worth it, and that the
mullet around you will jump for joy!
God Bless, Tight Lines and Good luck this trophy trout
season…it’s gonna be a good one!
Chris
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