Freshwater fishing roots...no problem!

While Chris is deployed he reached out to me and asked me to do a guest blog for his

4.5lb Largemouth in the Patomic

site.  What’s there to say about trout fishing that he hasn’t already addressed?  So, instead of giving advice on pursuing those speckled wonders, which he's covered thoroughly, I'd like to take a different approach, and talk about versatility between salt and freshwater fishing. Over the course of my life, I've been drawn to the water and there were few times I was found on a lake, river or pond when I didn't have a fishing pole. As a result, I've learned to fish for whatever would bite, which I believe relates to targeting trout or any species you choose to pursue. So, if you're new to trout fishing, I'd like to encourage you to incorporate your freshwater fishing roots, because you're probably further ahead in the game than you realize.  Although before I dip into my main topic, a recent trip to home on the Georgia coast, forced me to reflect on what makes specks so appealing.
As a kid growing up in an Army family, we moved around frequently.  My father

Kyle and his son Kaeden with some "Slabs"

loved to fish and it wasn’t long before he had me “hooked”.   We did a lot of ultralight pan fishing on rivers, streams, and lakes.  When fishing this way, an angler catches a bit of everything.  That style led to my passion of pursuing every fish that swims, and they all offer something different and exciting.
Considering my love of jumping from one fish to the other, the best compliment I can give trout is that out of all those species, the speckled trout is one of my favorites, if not my favorite. (Making me choose a favorite is a cruel thing)  They encompass multiple aspects of some of our most highly sought after species.  Many times they position themselves like a largemouth, sometimes schooling, maybe over a shell bed or underneath a pod of pogies.  Sometimes they are thick in cover, maybe under a dock or deep within a grass bed.   Of course everyone knows about the trout’s legendary head shake, gills flared, yellow mouth open, so similar to a bass as they both do everything possible to come unbuttoned.  When it happens, although painful, all you can do is tip your hat and search for that next bite.
Yet, just like the crappie or “other specks”, they are known for that unmistakable “tap”, “tick”, or “bump”.  It’s the only thing that can make the knees buckle, and elicit a lightning fast wrist snap at the same time.  Fishermen throughout the south live for that bite.  Also, trout migrate similar to the northeast’s popular striped bass, moving from ocean fronts during the summer into the bays, sounds, marsh, rivers and creeks in the fall. The poor soul chasing them is forever a step behind, and the “Shoulda’ been here yesterday….” mentality rears its ugly head. However, to avoid this, I'd like to offer encouragement.
For those just starting out in the trout game, fear not, as mentioned, your learning curve is probably not as steep as you think.  If that background is bass or crappie fishing, you’re in luck.  Odds are you already have the tackle, and many of the lures.

Personal best trout...5.65lbs Biloxi, MS

That's the great thing about trout fishing, from small soft plastics to big bodied swim baits and topwaters, it all relates, but don’t forget the best lure of all, confidence.  One of the most common mistakes I hear when talking to bass or crappie fishermen just starting out in trout fishing is a loss of confidence before they even start.  The trout is a predatory game fish that shares many commonalities with bass or crappie.  They will typically hold deep or suspended in the water column or relate to a certain bottom structure (sand, shell, oysters, mud). Additionally, they'll also relate to manmade structure high in the water column, like docks or bridge pilings. Which means if your confident in flipping docks for largemouth, relate that same concept to targeting trout. As mentioned, they're predatory so they'll relate to a dock, just like a bass ambushing a small finfish or crustacean.  The same holds true for die hard crappie fisherman, who have earned there keep putting a jig in front of suspended fish. Last but not least, river and stream fisherman in search of smallmouth or freshwater trout, know all to well the concept of water flow.  One of

the main concepts that successful rapid water fisherman key on is how fish relate to current.  Speckled trout are no different, they posture on points or structure based on the tidal flow. Sound familiar?  
Maybe that’s why if I had to choose my favorite species to target, trout would win everytime.  It not only taps into my childhood and the memories I've spent chasing a bent rod, but they offer up a little aspect of all the fish I’ve spent years chasing. In closing, if your new to trout fishing but have developed freshwater concepts over the years, let that give you confidence instead of feeding the fear of the unknown. I assure you once you have your first successful outing, you'll be hooked by the silver wonder bug.
Hurry home Chris...these trout aren't going to catch themself.

Its Hard to Explain...

“Why do you like to fish?”

If you’re like me and are totally finatical about fishing, then you’ve been asked this question a time or two. That said, if the person is unfamiliar with fishing, particularly for trout, then save your breath, because he or she that posed the question, will never understand your response.

Over the course of my life, my answer has changed a time or two. When I was younger, I loved filling an ice chest full of those silver wonders. However, as I’ve gotten older, the subtleties of the trip speak more to my soul than the gratification of the catch. From preparation the night before, to feeling the glide of ole’ yellamouth slip trough your fingers as you release her to make babies and fight another day. No matter where you’re at in your fishing endeavor, the response you provide I’m sure falls in the spectrum of the two.

Here is a brief reflection of the 3 things I LOVE about fishing for trout.

1. Feast or Famine: If you’ve been pursuing trout for very long you know what those 3 words mean. It means you can fish for 6 hours with minimal luck and then in desperation and little persistence you stop at one last spot and load the boat in an hour. So what’s to love about that? Everything. Its a microcosm of life personified in fish.Its a precursor that if we choose to put forth the effort, with mental toughness and purity of heart, the reward is iminent and gratifying. However, the pursuit itself is what separates the men from the boys. A lot of people give up on their dreams, they don’t stay the course, however if they only moved “to one more spot”, stuck it out one more day, the reward would have been way more than you could ever ask for. Stay persistent and never give up!

2.The “Tap”: Again if you’re an avid trout fisherman, you know the tap. Its something so light that injects itself so heavy into our heart. Its a drug. It will cloud your mind and decision making, and  will cause you to make more poor decisions than good. However, the tap is more than a bite, its the result of perfection, here’s why. Trout, particularly big trout, get very finicky which means presentation is paramount. So when you feel it, it means you’ve embodied perfection, and setting the hook and watching the head shake is the reward. Its something so simple, but through its simplicity you understand the complexities of this world. Its perfect.

3. The head shake: This is my favorite. I’ve been fortunate to catch a few trout in my life, both big and small, and like clockwork, the most distinct characteristic is the head shake. Its a side to side action, with gills flared and that yellow mouth opened wide. With some of my more notable catches, its the thing I remember the most. Its like PTSD for trout fisherman. I sometimes get lost in a 1000 yard stare, and have to physically shake my head to brush off the memory of head shakes that have either ended is success or gut wrenching failure. Without a doubt, I’d have a few more trophies for the wall if it wasn’t for this consistent reaction of a trout, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. If it wasn’t for this action, it’d be like catching redfish, and who wants to do that :-) just kidding!! What I’ve learned the most from the head shake, is that when she’s successful in throwing the hook(s), the reaction is transfered over to you. If its a big fish lost, you find yourself  shaking it off, only to get back up, and with confidence know it won’t be your last. Another life lesson of coming back stronger. Without a doubt life is hard, but how we bounce back from those “head shakes” in life, determines our attitude to tackle the next task or embrace those times of success. Again, never give up. Instead, thread a new soft plastic on the jig head of life and get back out there.

“So Chris, why do you like to fish?” For those that share my passion for chasing trout, the aforementioned will do. However, for those who haven’t, my response is simple, “It’s hard to explain.” As suggested in my blog name, trout speckle truth into our lives. Having the wisdom to see it is something we should all seek, but it never hurts to try to catch a few along the way. I wish everyone well...

Tight lines and God Bless!

Chris

Troutmasters - Instructors of Trout Fishing

If your a consistent reader of my blog, you know that I'm a speckled trout finatic. However, for those of you that are new to my site, it won't take long for you to see that its not only an addiction, but that it started early in life.  

Capt Mike McBride

To give you an idea, when I was 12, while most of my friends were outside playing kick the can or wiffle ball, I was respooling my reels, retying my baits and studying the map for the next days trip. Most of the time, my dad's friends would take their boat to "follow us out", but what ended up happening most of the time, is that I'd be the one driving, operating the trolling motor and retying lures. I loved it, and if it wasn't for baseball, it would have consumed my life. After a while, they'd just end up calling the house to ask my dad if Bean, my nickname when I was young, could go with them. I was like a free charter captain, despite the tips and fish cleaning service, but it didn't stop there. What I didn't learn on the water, I learned from articles in Louisiana Sportsman, Gulf Coast Angler Magazine and TX Saltwater Fishing magazine. Glossy cover photo's of big trout being held up fueled the fire. In short, I was a student of trout fishing, and the "troutmasters" in the magazines were my instructors. 

Capt Adam Jaynes

Now 34 years old, my priorities have changed. However, I still love to pursue trophy trout, almost exclusively, and since my time on the water is extremely limited, I spend most of my time reading and writing about trout fishing. That being said, the list below includes the names of Troutmasters from across the Gulf Coast that I choose to follow and I'd suggest you'd do the same. By tapping into the knowledge each of these anglers possess you can't help but become a better trout fisherman. Here are a few to Google:

-Capt Mike McBride

-Capt Aubrey Black

-Capt Bruce Baugh

-Capt Adam Jaynes

-Capt Jeremy Waltrip

-Capt Jeff Poe

-Capt Dudley Vandenborre

-Tommy Vidrine

Capt Bruce Baugh

-Capt Steve Shook

-Capt Brent Roy

-Dr. Bob Weiss

-Capt Bobby Abruscato

-Capt Chas Champagne

-Capt Brandon Carter

Fortunately, I've met a few of these anglers and some of them I have the honor to call friends. What you'll find through this list, is that age isn't a common denominator, but persistence and pursuit for "big fish" is. It is my life long dream to be included in a list of sorts, but until that day, I'll pass you off to those that are true troutmasters. Happy reading...be prepared to look at a lot of Big Trout!

God Bless and Tight lines.

Chris

Go Big...

Its no secret, I love big trout. I love talking to people about them, I love looking at pictures of gator trout and more importantly I love fishing for them. As Jerry Labella,

a fishing author and trout enthusiast says in one of his articles "true trophies test the patience of an angler, and the degree of difficulty it takes to pursue them is what makes them so special." He also states that those who understand the “where,” “when,” and “how” can either make or break the success of an angler. For him though, depending on the degree to which you have appreciated each, leads me to the focus of this blog post.
One of the last tasks I performed before heading overseas was to give a talk about how to target trophy trout at a CCA Mississippi Fishing Seminar. It was a last minute invite by Johnny Marquez, CCA Regional Director, who heard I was on the coast filming an Episode of The Fishermans Guide with Capt Ronnie Daniels. So with a slight change in schedule and my parents in tow, I made the drive from Luling, LA to Ocean Springs, MS and discussed three things that I believe need to be present while in pursuit of the trout of a lifetime. In short, it boils down to 3 things, Mindset, Structure and Lure Selection. However, I've purposefully left out one key word.."Big".
Throughout my years of reading, researching and time on the water, I've gathered a few things from various troutmasters, all of which lead back to my word of emphasis aforementioned. Big trout, and their pursuit, require everything in terms of scale to be of a larger capacity, first of which is your mindset.
Having a "Big" mindset, helps manage expectations and frames the level of effort. In an article from Todd Masson, NOLA.com outdoors writer, talks about the success of 3 SE LA troutmasters, particulrly in tournments. He states that main reason for their success is due to their "remarkable level of self-discipline." He goes on to state that this team, "forces themselves to leave a school of 2- to 3-pound speckled trout that were biting every cast," in search for those big loners. In other words, its like a BASS Elite Series event, where the best anglers in the world, push the limits in search of "5" bites, knowing good and well that the 20 smaller ones to success, let alone a pay day of $250K. The same principal applies, that having a "Big" mindset towards pursuing a trophy, will help manage your expectations and fulfill the void when "just getting bit" isn't good enough. Of course, self discipline is the key, because at times its awefully difficult passing on a limit of smaller trout, to look for those gators that will eat the peanuts you've been catching.

The second point, which I beleive is the most important, is stucture. As we become comfortable with fishing an estuary or location, its easy to learn spots and become pleased with their productivity. From ledges and drop offs, to flats and bottom contour, its easy to accentuate why some areas are more productive then others. The same holds true with big trout...but they don't want structure, they want "Big" structure. To give you an idea, think about your favorite fishing areas and consider why some spots hold bigger trout then others. It may be the time of year and the structure on the bottom (spawning), it may be a bayou draining into another bayou (current), or it may be something like dock pilings or a cement wall (type of bait it attracts). For me, I'll use the MS Gulf Coast as my example, since I've been fornunate enough to call it home for awhile. The MS Gulf Coast is unique, small but very dynamic. It has rivers, beaches and I believe most important, the biggest structure of all...Manmade structures. Gulfport Harbor located smack dab in the middle of the coast, is an enourmous man made combine which provides not only structure but lots and lots of "Big" structure, from steep 30' drops to concrete walls to catwalks for ship docks. Everything about this structure is big. It has big water adjacent (the MS Sound), big tides, and more importantly, attracts a variety of bait and fish. Its a smaller ecosystem, in the grand scheme of it all, and nature, as raw as it is, lends itself to the food pyramid (the bigger you are the better chance you have to survive). As a result, its no surprise that it's produced numerous 8 plus pound trout in recent years, and tops the list of local anglers looking for one to put on the wall, but the harbor is not alone. MS also has other large manmade structures along its tiny coast to include, casino's, ship yards like Ingall's in Pascagoula and bridges. Although it doesn't have a fraction of the productivity of its neighbor Louisiana, it makes up for in quality trout. So what if you don't live in MS? Look for structure previously described in your area and see the same holds true. Each estuary has spots that hold bigger fish, but cracking the code is what seperates a everyday angler from a troutmaster. South Texas is undeniably a big trout heaven and no place is more famous tha Baffin Bay. This place is the most notable big trout bay in the world, and I've been fortunate enough to fish it. However, one thing I found while researching Baffin is that they have what is called "worm rock". Really, what looks and feels like a cross between cement and oysters, is ancient calcified worm excrement that has mounded up over the centuries of Baffin's existence. Not only does this provide superb trout habitat, but it provides the "Big" structure  that gives the apex predators the upper hand while looking for a meal. Unfortunately though, for boaters, it makes this one of the most formidible places to navigate, and has probably consumed more lower units, than its yielded trophy trout. That being said, I think you get the gist...big trout, like big structure. So if you have jetties in your area, bridges, rigs, etc...its probably best to start looking there for big trout.
Last but not least, lures. This is probably, in my view, the least important, but it does hold weight when all the other conditions have been met. Notable big trout anglers generally throw 3 things, a corkie, a topwater, or a larger soft-plastic 4.5" or bigger. Its not to say you can't catch them on a smaller soft plastic but if you want to increase the size of the trout you catch, increase the size of your bait.

As always, I'll use my dad as an example. Since he's hopped on board as my biggest disciple, he's really tried to focus on walking my walk with me (targeting trophy trout exclusively). A process that invloves, putting aside decades of success catching smaller trout and learning how to target trophy fish i.e. throwing bigger baits, fishing bigger structure and learning new tecniques (corkies, mirrOdine's, etc...). As a result, and much to my delight, I've been peppered through many text messages of him hoisting larger than normal trout, as I sit at my office desk, staring at my work computer, and even while I'm deployed.  So there is truth to teaching an old dog new tricks...just kidding, I love ya' pops, but it does show that a change in focus can lead to bigger trout hitting the deck of your boat. Once that starts happening, the trophy addiction takes over, and before you know it, you're calling New Wave Taxidermy to get a replica mount made capturing your pinacle of success.
As we know,trophy trout are hard to catch, and since I'm currently unable to wade the flats in pursuit of ole yellowouth, I'd figure I'd put into words some of what I've learned and seen over the years. So if you want one for the wall, just remember, everything about big trout is exactly that...big.
Tight lines and God Bless!
Chris

The Pursuit of Perfection...

As many of you know I'm deployed, and despite the daily absence from all things familiar and comfortable, the thought of fishing hasn't been one of those. In fact, it wasn't till I got a message from my friend David Constant about how to improve his hook up ratio during a topwater trout bite, that I haven't thought about pursuing my favorite quarry. Instead, what has occupied my mind is how to navigate each day by overcoming the extreme heat and brutal winds to steer my team to success and fostering my relationship with my loving wife and kids back home in Texas. Skype and technology certainly helps with one, but unfortunately, there is no solution to sweating through two sets of uniforms and sand from ending up everywhere to include your eyes, ears, hair, room etc... However, despite these unfavorable conditions, my family and Airman have displayed incredible resiliency, and have embraced every challenge head on, and for that I'm appreciative. So, other than a public status update, how does this relate to a fishing blog? It doesn't. Instead it has everything to do with Life and how we live it. In the last two months, I've come to a stark realization, that the pursuit of what we do to acheive a certain goal is way more important than actually acheiving it. If your like me, you're a perfectionist, and this endless pursuit of perfection drives us through our days and shapes our decisions. My caution is don't overlook those who have helped along the way, or the intracies of the moment when your pursuit is fulfilled. There is an old saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and despite being true, I'd ask you to think about why its was so fond in the first place. As I often do, I'll use my dad as an example. Everytime we would go fishing he'd back the boat off plane and pull out his camera and take a picture of the sun coming over the horizon. Even though he knew it would annoy me because I was ready to get set up on our trout spot, he'd remind me that this was the best part of his day. Maybe it wasn't because it was beautiful and breathtaking, but a reminder that despite how the day shaped out, whether we caught em or not, he was where he wanted to be...in a boat, in the Louisiana delta, with his son. So in the hustle and bustle of life, take a minute to reflect on the subtle details rather than the result.

I hope everyone is good back in the states, and I wish you bent rods and ice chests filled to the brim. Just don't forget the subtleties and its the pursuit of perfection, not perfection itself, that helps shape our life.

Save me a few for when I get back. Tight lines and God Bless!

Chris

Fish more often...

To be honest this will be a quick post only due to the circumstances, and for those that know me on a more personal basis, understand. So with time, or lack therof, I can't help but reflect on my family...after all, today my wife and I celebrate 7 years of matrimony. However, in addition to family, I'd be remorsed if I didn't mention that I love fishing, and my faceboook feed would validate that claim.  Its a constant reminder of what has shaped me as a man, and encourages me as to where I want to be in my angling career. So in a USO surrounded by soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, i'll pass on one bit of advice...if you like to fish, do it more often, and with the ones you love.

I remember walking down to the pond on my families property in Kiln, MS with a Zebco 33 and two slices of Bunny bread to unleash an onslought on the local bream and bluegill population. Its funny because after 30 years I can still feel the moisture in my hand of what it took to make the perfect bread ball.  At the time, very few things mattered over the anticipation of  that little red and white cork slipping under the water seconds after it layed next to the dock piling. These actions, although simple, were the seeds sowed in a field of fishing ambition. I loved it, and that never waivered. As I grew older, bars and getting drunk with friends, were way less important than catching 50 trout with my dad. I got to admit, a few of the mornings were tougher than others, but a trout coming up to shake his head was way better than sleeping in, particularly when I knew I could be 'catching 'em." Other than academics college was an extension of high school, with little changing other than now living in Baton Rouge. I swear, everytime George Straight's song "Run" comes on

the radio, my brain immediatly associates that with my solo trips down LA 23 to our camp in Happy Jack. The cool fall air, and the full moon glistening over the orange groves, was a experience in itself, and more educational than any of my $200 textbooks. The light ground fog and the moon cast an ambiance unparralleled, as if it was guiding a 100 ton vessel to safe harbor. In other words, South Louisiana was my auditorium, in which I wrote the curriculum, and my test results were determined by how many bags of filets I brought back to my roomates at LSU.

Now having been in the Air Force for a decade, still little has changed, except I hope to instill the love of the outdoors in my children. Of course, I still have greater ambitions, but none greater than sharing the angling experience with my kids.
So as I prepare to depart to a place with no rods, reels or lures in sight...take it from me, fish and do it more often. No matter the cost or company, get it done. I used to have a No Fear shirt when I was a teenager and it said, "Fishing is Life, the rest is just details." Now throw your rods in the boat and put the battery charger on, and prepare to make everlasting memories...Trust me, you'll thank me later.

Tight Lines and God Bless!

Chris

Fishing with a Twist - A Quick Reference Regarding Swivels

I’m certain very few would argue that we’re creatures of habit. There’s just something about a daily routine that soothes OUR soul and keeps OUR earth on its axis.  Whether it’s waking up to read the paper, stopping at Starbucks to grab a coffee of the day or reflecting on your favorite scripture verse, it’s evident that we all have intricacies in our routine that set each of us apart. That said, when a fellow charter captain told me I should consider using a swivel between my main line and leader while fishing my corkies, let’s just say my expression probably resembled that of a dog who just heard a high pitch whistle.

Never in my life have I ever used a swivel until this past winter. To be honest, I saw them once on an old episode of Bill Dance Outdoors, when the Bassmaster himself, was teaching his audience about the advantages of fishing a Carolina rig. Other than that, I’ve probably thought about using a swivel about as much as I’ve considered getting my nails done….never!  I remember thinking, “Do big trout enthusiast, like myself, really use them?”  In fact, I was always under the impression that people who fished with swivels, weren’t very good fisherman and had little clue when it came to catching fish.  So here’s the twist, pun intended, swivels, if used properly can help you catch more fish, but they aren’t always necessary. I’d like to explore, in the next few paragraphs, a once taboo topic in the Bush household and talk about when, how and what kind of swivel you should consider, or if you should even use them at all.  However, before we discuss, let me expound on why my mindset was always anti-swivel.

The Good Ole' Days - Pre- Swivel

For starters, braided line, while growing up, was still in its infancy as far as development.  Spiderwire was the only line company that sold braided line in the late 80’s/early 90’s and since we did fine catching boatloads of trout on 10# test Ande line, switching really never made any sense, and neither did adding a swivel. The second reason was pride in your angling ability. It was almost a rite of passage to tell people, you caught you’re limit of good trout on 8 or 10# test. It was a true mark of an angler, and comparable to a baseball player leading his team in home runs and being the smallest member of the team…a respectable feat. Lastly, and most important, swivels gave away the transparency of your line and compromised your ability to trick a trout into eating something plastic. After all, this is what we hung our hats on and anything that impeded that goal was an obstacle.

However, with the advancement in line and lure technology, I was forced to rethink these age-old obstacles and learn more about their capabilities. It’s almost ironic that something as small as a #12 swivel could possess so much information. That said, I’m not saying we all need to rush out and buy every VMC swivel from your local tackle shop, but hopefully this blog will open your aperture and at least put a few in the boat/wade box.

I have 3 different rod/reel/line/lure/swivel combinations.

#1. No Swivel: You’re probably thinking, “Chris, you just made me read 550 words about swivels and the first point you make is to use “No Swivel?” Yes, understanding when not to use them, is just as important as knowing when to use them. I don’t use a swivel about 85% of the time. For example, I never use a swivel when fishing a jig, topwater or a Slow Sinking hard bait (MirrOdine/Catch 5/Catch 2000).  It’s important to know that because if you can get away without fishing with a swivel, I recommend it. It’s one less failure point from your rod to a hooked fish and less failure points means less line/knot compromise, thus equaling more landed fish and less heartbreak. For these rod/reel/line set ups – I use a 6’5” Medium Light CastAway Skeleton Waders special rod paired with a 7.1:1 low profile (Lews SS/Abu Garcia Revo SX/Daiwa Tatula) spooled with 15lb test braid (6lb diameter) spliced to a 6’ 20lb test fluorocarbon leader. The reason I don’t use a swivel with this equipment and lure pairing is because swimbaits and most of the MirrOlure hard baits stay horizontal in the water column and don’t spin when either retrieved or twitched.  So my bias is still somewhat present to the fact that if you don’t have to use a swivel…don’t. A bait that swims perfectly straight caught plenty of fish pre-swivel and will do so post-swivel.

No Swivel...notice the line splice just above the tail end of the bait

However if you do or wish to explore…the next 2 applications will hopefully help.

Swivel in Main Line

#2. Swivel on your main line: I only use a swivel on my main line when fishing a Corky, either Fatboy or original, or a Paul Brown SoftDine. I’ve found through trial and error that regardless of how I bend my corkies into place, I always find that they always sink or swim slightly off kilter. So to avoid this, and probably more of a confidence thing, a swivel will keep that corky horizontal in the water column, thus presenting my bait as in #1.  This set up differs greatly from #1. Instead of a Medium Light rod, I like a 6’6” Medium action with a fast tip. I still use the same reel and line set up except I tie my braid (main line) to one eye of the swivel and a 12” piece of 20’ fluorocarbon to the other side, with a loop knot to the lure. I find this set up gives the lures aforementioned, a great deal of flexibility/range and spontaneity…thus triggering more strikes, and less twisted line and tilted lures.

 

#3 Swivel directly to the lure: This is almost a hybrid of #1 and #2 since I still splice a 6’ piece of fluorocarbon leader to my main line, but instead of the tag end of my flouro going directly to the lure it goes to a swivel on the front end of the lure. I generally use this with my set up from #1, since I only use this with 1 lure. Tidal Surge lures makes a great line of products to include the Crazy Croaker and Maniac Mullets. In addition to these 2 lures, they make them in either a slow-sink (1/8oz sink rate) or a fast sink (1/4oz jig sink rate). Due to the combination of sink rate and profile, I like my swivel to have direct contact with my lure only because I compare it to fishing with a jig.  When a big trout inhales that bait, you feel a slight tap, which means less lag in hook response. Less lag equals quicker and more direct hook sets, in-turn equaling more fish. That said, it’s the only time I ever have a swivel on the eye of my bait, and I let conditions dictate the use of my Tidal Surge’s.


Swivel directly to lure

So what kind/size swivel? My general rule of thumb is the smaller the betterI usually use either SPRO #10's or AquaTech's clear plastic swivel rated up to ~30lbs for main line attachment. For direct lure connection, I go with the Norton Quick Twist in the smallest size the have (check the factory pound rating).



Finally, as I’m typing this, I find that consistency in lure presentation, despite lure shape/weight/profile is the key to more strikes. Which is ironic, because I was texting a friend today and in one of the responses I said, “Getting bites and getting it done are 2 totally separate endeavors,” and I think swivels can be that lynchpin to success in getting a few more bites while tuning in your lure presentation (whether to use them or not). So I encourage you to step out of your normal fishing routine and open your aperture to what your lure is doing below the water, establish some consistency, and make the determination if swivels can unravel your poor production into greater success.

Spring has sprung…now go get ‘em!

Tight Lines and God Bless!

Chris

Beyond the Banks

Inspiration comes in many forms, and to be brutally honest, it has been about as absent from my writing as musical talent at the Grammy’s.   It’s sad I know, even despite a journal full of topics.  However a simple story took shape last week that not only renewed my faith in society, but inspired me to set aside some time and share it with you in this blog post.

Some of "The Bull" members

As angler’s, we get so caught up in scheduling that next trip, catching that next trophy or impressing social media followers with pictures provoking jealous onlookers to “Wish they were fishin’.”  However, as my blog name suggest, there is a raw “Truth” that lies within the angling realm. Despite having made a name for ourselves to stretch the truth, Angler’s at the core, are genuine and loyal. After all, there must’ve been a reason Christ chose fisherman to be his first disciples, right? I wonder if they we’re good trout fisherman? J I digress, but what I do know is fishing, and the qualities that anglers possess sometimes extend beyond understanding the tide or what lure to throw, and manifest well beyond the oyster laden banks.  In this case it started about two weeks ago on a Mississippi outdoorsman forum, www.bullnettlenews.com. 

For many of you that have never been part of a fishing forum, they serve two general purposes…to give and get information.  However, on “The Bull” it has morphed into a fellowship forum that often times has little to do with “How to catch them?” and more to do with “How are you doing?”  In short, its like a cyber version of the 80’s show Cheers, but instead of yelling Norm when the main character walks in, we yell “SJ!!” SJ, or Jimmy Barnes, has become the teacher and we are his students when it comes to trout fishing, but in addition to his superb angling ability, he’s a superb human being, and a good man. However he is not alone. Many others on the site share his “down home attitude” and possess qualities that I’m certain make our four father’s proud, and better yet they vary in age.

So when a thread titled, “Lost tackle bag bay harbor…not mine” showed up on the main forum, it didn’t take long for people to chime in looking to help.  The original post was simple…it was a mother’s plea asking other anglers to keep an eye out for her Forgetful Son’s lost tackle bag. In fact, it wasn't even the mom that posted it was someone who copied and pasted it from the Local Fishing Reports Fishing facebook wall.

At first, my reaction to the post probably reflects your “so what’s the big deal about this” view. However after a week, 5 pages of replies and 2,000 views I decided to revisit the thread and get caught up. I’m glad I did. In one week, 3 Bull members, took it upon themselves to set up a donation table at the Biloxi Boat and RV Show at the Coliseum, and others were itching to donate and get this young man back on the water.  It was truly a collaborative effort that ranged from setting up free admission for the mom and son, to working with the event center staff on the table reservation. I was in awe at everyone’s generosity, but I wasn’t surprised.  It was like the story was unfolding in real life, and I was anxious particularly to see how it ended.

The phrase, a picture is worth a thousand words certainly holds weight in this case, below are some pictures of the bull members, the young boy and the generosity of the anglers across Coastal Mississippi (represented by the tackle on the table).



 

However, it would be unjust if I leave the conclusion to this blog post to just pictures.  Instead, I will let another bull forum member, huntingrev, take us home and offer some perspective …after all, and contrary to popular belief, fishing sometimes extends way beyond its banks.

Huntingrev:

“I have been busy and haven't been on here in several days so sadly I am too late to get involved this time, but I would like to say:

In reality, this (tackle donation) has nothing to do with fishing. Sure it involves fishermen and fishing tackle but it really isn't about fishing. What you guys are giving goes beyond lures and hooks, line and gear. The fishing line will tangle, the lures will be broken-off and the gear will eventually be worn and discarded. This “forgetful boy” will forget which lure caught which fish. He will forget more fishing spots than he will remember. This “forgetful boy” will forget to clean his room, forget his homework and his books. He will one day forget an appointment, a deadline and a return call. He may even, one day, forget an important birthday or anniversary date. But one thing’s for sure, this “forgetful boy” will never forget what a group of men did for him when he forgot his tackle bag and lost his gear.
In reality, this has nothing to do with fishing. More than hooks and lures -- you are giving hope and love. I know nothing about this boy or this family but I do know a little about people. Today this boy will smile and this mom will cry.

-- He will smile because of the lures he received, she will cry because of the love he received.

-- He will smile and dream of catching “the big one”. She will cry because she knows, in reality he already has.

-- He will be excited because he sees gear. She will be emotional because she sees grace.

Yesterday, they were discouraged -- today they are encouraged.
In reality, this has nothing to do with fishing.

More than a fishing spot and better than a fishing lesson -- you guys are giving him a “life-lesson” -- one he will never forget.

Today, you didn’t make him a better fisherman -- today, you made him a better man.”  

Light a light...Be a Light everyone. Tight Lines and God Bless!

Chris

 

Don't Blink....

You’re phone rings and on the other end of the line you hear your buddy say, “Hey man, a friend of mine just told me that Academy has all their fishing rods marked 50% off, do you want to go?”

Tools for the Transition Time

A quick glance at your rod rack makes you realize that 12 rods aren’t nearly enough, so you excitedly say, “Sure, I’ll come pick you up.”

As you and your buddy are riding, and between discussion, you find yourself doing quick math of your bank account transactions and fabricating excuses to your spouse to justify why you needed another $80 fishing tool. You quickly settle on, “Well it was originally $160, and if I needed to I could sell it for more than what I paid.”  Now with confidence and all the justification in the world you make a right at the sunglass counter and see the rods poking over the Under Armour display, as if they were neon lit arrow’s saying “Over Here.”

At this point, you turn right into the rod aisle and grab a Waterloo wader light, and visions of you setting the hook and seeing ole yella mouth shake her head, gets you as giddy as a schoolgirl. Then you look at the price…$160? I thought these were 50% off?

As you make your way to the guncounter, you hear the associate mutter those fateful words, “It ended yesterday.” There’s no way, you think to yourself, we just heard about this!  Your friend who is also in disbelief, calls his bud that gave you the information, and he says “Yeah, I got mine yesterday, but I didn’t know it was going to end so soon….sorry man!”

All of us anglers have been there, if not for rods, for some other fishing or hunting related purchase. It drives you mad. What was once a sure thing, has now been snatched from your grasp. In short, what was once there, is now gone.

Targeting speckled trout during the “transition months” equates to the story aforementioned, and like the characters in the story, you feel helpless and perplexed. Patterns and justification, as to why you caught them one day, lead to more questions and elevated blood pressure, why you didn’t catch any days after. Time and time again, I’ve read articles depicting this sensitive time of year, and although I don’t possess the answers, I can give ideas and encouragement. Below are three questions and responses to hopefully help navigate through a successful transition time.

28" - 8lbs - 1/17/2015

1.  Where do trout go during the late winter/early spring? The cop out answer is each estuary is different, but it’s true. I’ve fished trout from the Cooper and Wando River in Charleston, SC to flats in Port Mansfield, TX, but for this blog post, I’ll stick to my bread and butter, the homewaters of LA and MS. Not only am I super familiar with these waters, but this is where I’ve gained most of my angling experiences. In LA, think of the estuary like a baking pan full of marbles. On the left side of the pan, you have the inner marsh, and on the right, the Gulf of Mexico. For points of reference, google lake hermitage, LA on the westbank of the MS river, this would represent the inner marsh. Then use Bastain Bay out of Empire, LA as the outer marsh. Now pick up the pan with a hand on each side and tilt the pan to the left. As a result, the marbles should’ve rolled to the left, the inner marsh. Trout, the marbles, typically make there way inshore to the deep parts of the estuary. They do so to follow the food source which I believe vacates the exterior bays and make there way inland for more nutrient rich water, to sustain during the harsh winter months. On the opposite side, when summer rolls around, bait and predators vacate the inner marsh and find more suitable conditions “to do their thing”. Now take my example and try to keep both of your hands as level as possible, what you’ll find is that the marbles will scatter…some on the left, some on the right and some in the middle. So to answer the question, there are no definitive spots in the spring time, because fish are all over, and more often than not, weather is the greatest precursor to success during these months. Just stick and move, think on your feet and use the saying I used in my last blog post…learn to read the water, then make the news.

Capt Charlie - Photo courtesy of Todd Mason

2. What techniques should I use to target transition trout? Personally, I believe this is the easiest question to answer, because there is no particular technique for these months. For example, I’ll use Capt Charlie Thomasson, a renown guide out of the Hopedale, LA area, who is Mr. St Bernard. He is without a doubt one, if not the best guide in the business, and knows the Breton Sound estuary better than most people know their own neighborhoods.  Aside from his knowledge, he’s always the first to start catching trout in his area, but his technique is far different than most southeast LA anglers. He almost exclusively throws MirrOlure Top-Dogs or a Paul Browns original corky. His theory is that fish are coming out of a lethargic state and are feeling frisky again. As a result, they want to eat and will go to great lengths to fill their belly. He capitalizes on that friskiness to present notable big trout baits in hopes to catch more quality fish since quantity has yet to make a grand appearance.

Realistic Expectations

3. What is your approach to catching transition trout? This, I believe, is the best question, not because I get to give my opinion, but because having a plan leads to consistent catches during this time of year. Kevin Van Dam, Bass Fishing legend and probably the best angler on the planet, I think has the greatest saying of all, and it totally applies to this time of transition. He says, “Don’t just plan to fish, fish your plan.” For me my plan, is to set realistic expectations…trout are hard to come by because they aren’t ganged up like summer and winter patterns, so I don’t expect to go and catch a limit before the suns comes over the horizon. Although it may happen, it’s pretty unlikely. That said, I don’t plan to get skunked either, so what I do is start targeting nicer fish, in the 2-4lb range and target areas that may produce a consistent bite. These areas are in the middle of the typical summer and winter time fishing holes. A limit in LA is 25/person/day so I try to catch 10 quality trout. In MS, the limit is 15/person/day so I try to catch 6 quality fish. By having realistic expectations, it takes the pressure off of me to try and fill the boat, but instead mentally prepares me for that “next bite” line of thought, similar to bass fishing.  Additionally, I hit key areas in a spot (points, passes, oyster reefs and drop offs) and if I don’t get a bite on that first drift, I move to the next spot. The more spots you hit in the spring, the law of averages will play to your favor. Quick story to highlight my point, I was on a charter and my client, who’s also a friend of mine after exchanging dialogue on a saltwater forum, hired me to catch some trout. In typical early April fashion, it was windy and cool, which had the fish scattered.  Additionally, it had my waters in Port Sulphur pretty murky. So my plan of attack was to hit every point on every island from Grand Bayou going west to Barataria bay.  Long story short, it was about the 20th point we pulled up to and we started mauling nice trout, every cast. What took an hour and a half of point hopping led to us loading the boat with 50 trout in less than an hour. The law of averages…if it looks fishy, chances are in the spring, it is.

As we all know, the transition time of trout, which we are about to embark on, is an unrelenting time for anglers. One day its feast and the other day its famine. It can humble the most seasoned anglers and produce more questions than fish in the box, but hopefully, a little more understanding of the playing field will benefit you while chasing those silver wonders.

Bear in mind those three questions and get off the couch and overcome the stigma that you can’t catch fish while they are in transition. After all, if you don’t want to be left at the gun counter thinking to yourself “What If?” you have to go actively look for the greatest sale of the century.

God Bless and Tight Lines!

Chris

Don't Read About the News....

Pops with a nice S. LA trout

Happy New Year everyone, I hope this post fits in nicely with your new and prosperous beginning for 2015. For me, it’s calm and cold, and looks and feels like big trout weather outside, as a result, I’m looking forward to my next trip to the coast. As for now, we returned to TX last week after a wonderful visit with my folks and as advertised in my last blog post, it was high energy. More fitting, though, was that it was just what the doctor ordered for the soul, to be “home”, even if for just 8-days. We got to visit friends in Baton Rouge and catch up while enjoying red beans and rice and shrimp po-boys.  We also hosted friends and family at my parents, and not only discussed the then and now, but what the future holds and as in any southern household, it took place over chicken and waffles.

During our visit home, my dad and I got to fish for 2 days, and like most the times we fish, it wasn’t fishing…it was catching.  In addition to the catching aspect, I also learned something new which feeds right into one of my dad’s favorite phrases - ultimately leading to the topic in this blog post. 

”Don’t read about the news, make the news.”

Frank Davis - Naturally N'awlins

In order to fully digest this phrase, let me give you a little background on its origin.  Growing up in New Orleans, as well as an inshore saltwater angler, it was hard not to tune into WWL’s Fish n’ Game report which airded on Thursday nights, hosted by Frank Davis. In his 5-minute segment he would show trout and redfish coming over the gunnels like they were fresh beignets coming out of the fryer at Café du Monde. He’d always mention, that it’s a sure bet to go to place "X" and you’ll be sure to end up with a box full of fish, that’s “Naturally N’awlins.” 

Given that information, most anglers would load the boat on Friday night, and set a waypoint for the bay system Frank was “whackin ‘em in” just days earlier. We, on the other hand, never heeded his advice. Instead, we always trusted our fish logs and intuition, rather than an edited 5 minute clip. What my dad, an auto repair business owner, generally experienced on Monday morning was that those who banked on Franks “sure bet”  were left scratching their heads rather than feeling a tight line.

Typical Fall/Winter box in LA

Having had that mindset most of my life, I really don’t give it much thought anymore. To be honest a person could be catching 100 5lber’s on the Causeway in Lake Ponchartrain in 45 minutes, and it wouldnt peak my interest. On the other hand, I know plenty of anglers that would chase that golden nugget. For me, I’ll stick to remaining versatile given the weather and use my experience to read the water and make adjustments, even if it’s in my home waters. 

Capt Mike McBride, being the great author and fisherman he is, wrote in an article after fishing with my dad and I, about my Dad's favorite saying.  He, like he often does though put a little extra spin on it and wrote “don’t read about the news, read the water, then make the news.” Keep that in mind...

Now to bring this blog post all together. To say my dad has been catching a lot of speckled trout this fall is an understatement. Earlier in October, after attending the TAG Louisiana Annual Banquet in Lafayette, he set his sights on being the “top tagger” in the state.  Last year’s champ tagged a little over 1,200 trout for the fiscal year of 2014, which is a remarkable feat.  However, if you know my dad, you know once he sets his mind on something, he does it.   Since his return from the banquet, about 2 months, he’s tagged close to 700 trout.  In addition, he’s had 6 recaptures, one of which being his own. What that recapture revealed is that the trout grew almost 2 inches in the course of a month, despite being recaptured in the same bay system where it was tagged. Talk about fattening up for the winter….man alive!  In short, he’s been scorching the trout. 

So when he asked if I wanted to go tag some
trout with him, I quickly said yes, and couldn’t wait to get back in the boat with my dad on our home waters.

Monday morning we woke up at 0400 to near perfect conditions. Dead calm winds, low sky conditions and an approaching front had the makings of an astonishing day. Just how good?  We didn’t know, but keep that quote from Capt McBride handy. 

After an hour and a half truck ride, 2 egg McMuffins, and some Cajun French dialogue regarding LSU football and funeral caskets, we make our way to the launch. Scurrying to get the boat in the water, I'm backed down the launch and before you know it we're making the 10 minute boatride in lowlight conditions. Once we arrive to my dads two-month trout honey hole, it didnt take lomg to remove the doubt about this spot. Within the first 30 minutes, its evident the fish are loaded on this shoreline, especially when 25 trout are already wearing jewelry in the live well and the sun still has yet to hit the horizon. 

So after another hour of catching, we exhaust all 60 tags, with no indication of calling it a day. So like I always do, I ask my dad if hes willing to explore. Having little to do other than watch football at the house, he says "You drive Captain!"

The next 2 spots we try are similar to the first, but way less productive. Additionally we change tactics and start throwing 17MR's, MirrOdines, to try and target bigger bites, but after 3 hours we have less than a dozen fish to show for our efforts. In desperate need for a change, I recommend that we go to a spot we used to wear ‘em out in back in the day. No sooner, I can get the question out of my mouth, my dad responds ”Are you sure? Let’s go back to our original spot…we were killing ‘em there.” I reply, “you can go back there during the week…you’re fishing with me today. You know I enjoy figuring them out as much as I do catching ‘em.” 

“Yeah, you’re right!” he says and we’re off.  

As we pull into our old hotspot we notice that there are 10 boats stacked up in the Southeast cove.  To many potlickers, and in honor of the Epiphany, this was God’s way of showing his "wise men" to the path of rod bending action and tight lines. For us though...we were wiser. What many would classify as a pure gift from God, we classify as a putrid swamp puddle stagnant from the heat in mid-August.  So in our infinite wisdom, we pull up on the complete opposite side of the bay and start working a flat that we’ve never fished before. Our fishing intuition tells us that this spot should produce, especially with some of the key features present, like subtle depth changes, great tide movement and bait out of the wazoo. 

As we expected, our first pass produces about 15 trout, which in our book warrants another pass. The second pass, however, produces almost double and let's just say the third pass was an all-out assault on the trout.  We caught them two at a time, every cast for an hour and a half.  Additionally, these weren’t the pesky barely legal fish we were catching at my dad’s original spot, but solid 17-22” trout.  Needless to say we caught a limit of 50 and probably another 75, in addition to the 60 we already tagged. 

"Selfie Time"

22"er on a Red Shad DSL 

Now for the best part. Our production at this point is so on ridiculous that we're taking selfies with each of us holding a trout. 

No sooner than you remove the hook and make another cast, a trout bumps your lure. Somewhere in this pandamonium we noticed boats coming and going to that SE cove all afternoon. Without a doubt, someone has spilled the beans about this spot, and innocent potlickers heed the free advice and head for the promise land. One thing that we found striking, was that some boats would stay 45 minutes, other would make one short drift and be gone in less than 10 minutes. At least 2 dozen boats came and went all the while, we’re on the other side of the bay, by ourselves, catching nice fish, every cast.  With action this good, we say to ourselves that thwy must be smokin' 'em too.

So as our watches chime at 1600, we catch our last double and decide its been a great day and head for the barn. As we pull up to the launch, we’re idling alongside another boat. It just so happens to be the one and only boat that stayed in the SE cove with some longevity.  Being polite and in no rush, we let them pick up ahead of us. So while we’re waiting for them to clear out of the slip, my dad asks, “Hey, y’all do any good in that cove in Bay “X”? 

“Naw man, we struggled…we probably got about 10 or so trout and a few throwbacks.” 

In disbelief, my dad and I look at each other puzzled trying to connect the dots. How is this possible? We just left them biting, less than 1/2 mile from where these 2 only ended up with a dozen fish, and "struggled"? Remember that quote from Mike McBride...you can apply it now. You see the spot we've never fished before had all of the tell tale signs of a productive trout area. We let the water and conditions tell us that, not a third party or a TV show.

Without a doubt, fishing is a learning experience, and anglers who aren't willing to be creative or exert some elbow grease, will never be productive consistently. As a result, if your willing to gamble on some inside tip than I assure you that the golden nugget of success will elude you everytime, and all you'll ever do is read about the news.

Thanks Pops for a great trip…I love you bud!

God Bless everyone! Tight Lines…

Chris