Cold Water Trout on Flies
A recent fishing trip began when I was standing outside of our editor, Bret Gamrot’s, home in St. Petersburg, where I had just spent some time getting some technical help from Cynthia with my new digital camera. Bret started helping me, but fortunately she was home and speeded up the process. We both had the same camera and were having downloading problems. The day had been cold and windy earlier, but the midday sun felt good and the wind seemed to just be a whisper. Bret said, “I’d sure like to go fishing, do you think conditions are good enough?” On my way there, I passed over a couple bridges and could see some whitecaps in the bay. Where we were standing, the surrounding trees sheltered us, so I told him I would call him as soon as I arrived home to let him know how the wind was. Once inside, I called him and told him it didn’t look bad at all. “I’ll grab a burger on the way, and we’ll go, he said excitedly.”
The tide was coming in and the water was a little discolored from the wind swept gulf. After putting my Hewes Redfisher in, it only took five minutes for us to get to our first spot. A couple days before I was out with my daughter, and we caught a lot of trout and ladyfish in the deeper water adjacent to this grassy flat. Using a bow mounted electric, I maneuvered the boat so that we could cast to the irregularities in the flat where it met deeper water. This was one of these days when the wind was blowing one way and the tide was going the opposite direction. Very little use of the Minnkota was needed to hold our position.
Three fly rods were rigged. An 8 weight, with a floating line, which Bret immediately chose. Another 8 weight, with a clear sinking tip, which I used, and a 9 weight with a floating line which we did not use that afternoon. The cold weather had chased baitfish that were plentiful before our recent cold fronts into the gulf or deeper water so we were both using size 1 weighted shrimp patterns. A sinking tip fly line, especially one that is clear, works best with a short leader, a twenty pound fluorocarbon tippet was used. Four to six feet is more than adequate. The floating line had a nine to ten foot leader that tapered to a twelve pound fluorocarbon tippet. I later changed this to twenty pound fluorocarbon because some ladyfish decided to crash the trout party and were giving our leaders a beating. Since the water was not very clear, it didn’t seem to make a difference.
Bret’s first cast to the flat’s edge was taken before the fly hit bottom. “Fish On,” he shouted, and he wore a grin from ear to ear. We spent the next hour or so catching trout that were a little lethargic, but a lot of fun. Several were quite large and gave a good account of themselves on our long rods. Two experienced fly fishermen can both fish from an 18 foot boat at the same time under these conditions. Drifting a submerged grass flat, with the boat parallel to the area being fished, is easy to do.
A lot of boats are put up for the winter, and I should be glad, because there are very few fishermen, especially during the week. Dressing properly and going out when the water has a chance to warm up later in the day increases your chances of success. As the incoming tide slowed, so did the fishing. With low winter tides, the amount of water on the flats was relatively shallow and would now have a chance to warm. While the tide was slack we explored a couple more areas, checking to see if any reds were taking advantage of the warming shallows.
When the tide started to go out, a submerged grass bed, adjacent to a shallower flat a half-mile from where we started, began to give us action similar to when we started. Several times we had doubles. With the receding sun, and its chill, we decided to head for home.
Fly fishing isn’t only for the summer months. Warming trends between cold fronts can be a bonanza. Finding fish isn’t any different than if you were using spinning tackle. Very slow retrieves are necessary. Keep your fly close to the bottom. A trick I frequently use is to let the fly remain motionless on the bottom for a few seconds and then start my movement with a small strip that may only move the fly a couple inches. Look for irregular areas in the grass flats, especially adjacent to moving deeper water. Sand holes should never be passed without several well-placed casts slowly exploring them. Use a small crab or shrimp pattern and let it lay on the bottom a few seconds. Don’t be surprised if your line tightens as soon as you begin your retrieve.
Trout do like clear water; large grass flats will act as a filter and will have crystal clear water on them. The deeper water adjacent to flats will also be clear. You’ll have to practice stealth. Long casts and no boat noise are imperative. If the wind is making you drift too fast, have a small mushroom anchor tied to the stern so that you can quietly slip it over the side and more carefully fish the best spots. Many trout of the same size will hang out together. In the time it takes you to land a fish, show him to your buddy, take a picture, and get it back in the water, your “hot spot” will be lost. As soon as you hook a good fish, get the anchor quietly over the side. Try to get out of the wind. If it’s comfortable for you, it will be for the fish.
How important are fly patterns? Just like spin fisherman that use artificials, most fly fisherman have their favorite confidence lure. In colder weather, shrimp and crab patterns may replace baitfish imitations. Although I’ve caught many trout with crab patterns, shrimp imitations are preferred. Colors, other than natural, can follow the same rules. I have shrimp patterns in white, pink, and brown. Colors can be combined also. Materials that have some flash are helpful. Marabou dressing and softer hackle material gives the patterns a more lifelike appearance just from current effects. Trout seem to be more observant and less instinctive in cold water. Most crustaceans’ colors will match the bottom where they live. If you fish some backwater protected areas, you will see baitfish in the shallows. Match their color. Big trout are great followers. We get frequent strikes as we are starting to lift the fly in preparation for the next cast. The more your fly is in the water where there are fish, the chances of success increase. A minimum amount of false casting is required to accomplish this.
Use a Boca Grip to minimize stress and handling. Crimp the barb on all your flies, they will penetrate easier and make releasing the fish a snap. Grabbing the fly with a long nose pliers or hemostat will release the trout with a simple twist.
Some of the biggest trout of the year are in shallow water and are easily accessible. Get out and limber up your fly rod with a lunker trout. You’ll wonder why you haven’t done it before.
