I have always been ruled by the calendar. Flipping the page gives me hope of the next opportunity to come. Another year of angling opportunities and a renewed sense of duck flight anticipation gets my blood pumping as the new year is upon us.

My January calendar is almost full with trips for both duck hunting and fishing and I couldn’t be more excited. Changes in the air temperatures are more frequent now as blast after blast of cold arctic fronts are in the forecast. This will drop our water levels more and more and force the fish to bunch up making it easier to find them. New arrivals of ducks are certain with the passing of these fronts as they continue to migrate from frozen Northern ponds and waterways to head South in search of the luscious grasses that adorn our shallow waters. The birds are later in the season now in physical development and are as healthy as they get with their full plume making it more exciting to down that trophy duck for your wall collection and table fare.

This is a favorite time of the year for the guides because of the weather changes forcing an easier find on the fish with fewer areas for them to thrive. The other thing though is it’s a time even for us to slip into the water and have a chance at that large trout that has eluded us in the warmer months. Remember these big girls, talking trout here, eat maybe once a day so have the right gear and lure selection and go methodical on your wade taking your time to survey the water looking for jumping mullet or herds of finger mullet. Then dedicate the time to work that area hard making more casts to the same location because often times your trophy sow trout gives the bait one look then once more on your next cast daring it to get close to her territory before she blasts out at the prey and slams it into oblivion.

Gearing up during January is key to your comfort and success in the marsh for water fowling as well as for being in the boat bait fishing or out amongst the fish wade fishing. You can always remove layers of clothing but if you don’t bring them with you can find yourself in dire straights as the water temps drop and the wind inevitably increases during your adventure.

Capt Stephen Boriskie Bay Flats Lodge, Seadrift, Texas, 888-677-4868