Cold Water Trophy
Bay Flats Lodge
Cold weather should be prevailing this month as we head into this year’s holiday season. As a result, we will probably experience some less-than-stellar conditions on occasions. Don’t be discouraged when this happens. You shouldn’t, necessarily, alter your plans or cancel your fishing trip just because the sun isn’t shining and because the wind happens to be blowing really hard. However, safety should be your main concern. If you feel that the weather is altogether too much for you, then simply don’t go. The fish will still be there whenever you are able to make the trip safely.
If you do happen to make it out onto the water this month on a day when the weather decides to turn nasty, stop for a moment and try to think of alternate locations instead of immediately packing-up everything and heading back to the boat ramp. Areas along the stretch of our coastal region to look to in these situations are places like the many back lakes located on Matagorda Island between Port O’Connor and The Second Chain of Islands that are all the way down by Mesquite Bay – Pringle Lake, Contee Lake, Long Lake, and Panther Point Lake to name just a few. If you prefer staying closer to the mainland, then look to places like the stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway between West Matagorda Bay and San Antonio Bay, or the Victoria Barge Canal that’s accessible via San Antonio Bay near Seadrift.
For artificial bait enthusiasts, December can be a prime month for scoring a career-best trout. Top water baits can produce well this month, but they’ll sometimes be a challenge whenever fighting windy conditions. However, anglers should always make it a point to carry a small arsenal of plastic tails and some slow-sinkers in dark colors – Morning Glory, Red Shad, TX Roach. Whenever possible this month, toss these baits in some of the more popular reef areas of San Antonio Bay whenever the reefs happen to be accessible. When the shell becomes unavailable due to foul weather or wind, look to nearby protected shorelines and coves consisting of soft, warm mud with some dark grass mixed-in. And, as always at this time of the year, make sure to use a slow retrieve if you’re working soft plastics or slow-sinking plugs above the shell, or the mud.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL With the second-half of duck season in full swing, Bay Flats Lodge is already rapidly booking spring, summer, and fall fishing trips for 2019. This is a great time to pick your favorite fishing dates, so give us a call whenever you’re ready. The entire Bay Flats Lodge family hopes you and yours have a blessed Christmas, and a safe and happy holiday season.
Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…
Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com
1-888-677-4868.
