January 10, 2011
As we departed the dock for this morning’s trip, it was quite evident that the air temperature had climbed considerably since the passage of the most recent cold front that arrived four days ago. We had experienced strong north winds over the past few days and there was a lot of “new” water that had been pushed beyond the southern shoreline borders of San Antonio Bay (SAB) and into the neighboring backcountry of Matagorda Island. The forecast for today was calling for temperatures near the mid-70’s with mostly cloudy skies and a slight southeast wind that would increase steadily throughout the course of the day and the rest of the week. This southerly wind would mark the beginning of an emptying effect upon the back lakes, whereby evacuating higher-than-normal waters directly into the main bay system via area guts, bayous, and tributaries. Exiting waters carry with them rich nutrients and food sources that often immediately attract the attention of predatory trout and red fish that may be wandering these flooded areas, and I wanted to have today’s party properly placed so as to be able to take full advantage of the situation as the draining process began. Our initial target of the morning was an area consisting of several drains that would now be emptying water out of a large mud and grass flat that normally (during usual tidal conditions) is nothing more than an approximate fifty-acre tidal pool that’s most often simply inaccessible. These shallow drains protrude out of this flat and lead into a much larger back lake – an additional huge, and largely enclosed, body of water that is between the tidal pool flat and the main bay system – and they are usually only about knee-deep in depth. However, today these drains would be about waist-deep, if not deeper, and in many cases would now be covering some brief shell pads situated along their banks that otherwise might be exposed due to normally lower water levels. And if, by chance, we find ourselves fortunate enough to be wading in front of the right drains at the right time while throwing the right bait, we might just be in for some really fun and exciting wintertime fishing.
Upon arriving at our destination, we noticed there were six different drain areas to pick from. There were four of us, so we would each get to choose our own area to experiment with. The first two drains on the far left end of our approach were very close together, but the others had a good amount of distance between them, so I’d use the boat to shuttle everyone to within about 50-100 yards of their chosen sights before dropping them off to approach their area in a stealthy manner. I was just about to shut down the motor at the first drop-off point when the subject of baits arose. I mentioned to everyone the fact that other guided parties had experienced favorable results over the past few days while utilizing plastics rigged beneath popping floats. With that said, the first guy exited over the side of the boat with a “New Penny” colored Gulp shad that he had suspended about two feet below his rattling alameda float. He headed off toward the first two guts that were positioned close together on the far left end of the opening while the rest of us headed off to the next drop-off point. On the way, I shared with the other two guys my thoughts on how we should each attempt to cover all aspects of the water column in each of the drains that we choose to wade in, and I explained to them that in order to properly accomplish this I would be allotting equal experimentation time to three different types of artificial baits during my initial wade session. I’d be starting my presentations in the lower water column with the use of one of Texas Tackle Factory’s Killer Flats Minnows (KFM) in the Pumpkinseed-White/Chartreuse color. I went on to tell them that if I was unable to draw a strike at the floor of the drain, that I would then proceed to explore the middle region of the water column via the use of a slow-sinking bait like that of my favorite pink Corky Fat Boy. And if the middle column proved to be unproductive, I told them I would then move up to the water’s surface and present any one of my preferred top water baits. I like a number of different colors of top water baits at this time in the year, but today was extremely cloudy, so I explained the importance of presenting a dark-colored bait at the surface – if not all black, then perhaps something like that of the baby trout pattern.
Adam Brewer all the way from South Carolina shot well with Capt. TJ Christensen of Bay Flats Lodge, 1/6/2011.
We got everyone in the water and I had been bouncing my KFM across the bottom for close to thirty minutes without even so much as a nibble before making the decision to tie-on my slow-sinker. I worked the Fat Boy another twenty unproductive minutes, and then finally started chunking my top water for a while. Still no luck! I had positioned myself outside the mouth of a drain area that probably ranged anywhere from three-to-four feet in depth at any given point. The water flowing through the drain itself was crystal clear. However, and for whatever reason, I noticed that the water was immediately becoming discolored as it exited into the bigger lake at the mouth of the drain (the exact place where I was standing while casting into the drain). I realized it was time to make an adjustment, so I settled upon making the most minor and subtle adjustment that was readily available to me. I slowly and quietly made my way some thirty yards directly up the middle of the drain where I then abruptly planted my feet and turned to face the spot I had previously been casting from in the mouth of the drain. With the wind now at my back, I was able to deliver long casts into the muddied water way beyond the mouth of the drain while working my top water bait back toward the mouth itself. I didn’t pull any strikes out deep, but had three blowups as my surface walker approached close-in toward the bank of the mouth itself. The surface hits were short strikes that yielded no hook-ups, so I went back to using my slow-sinker and almost immediately began to draw hits on a regular basis. I caught and released a number of smaller trout, but landed four really nice ones that were all in excess of twenty-one inches. Today’s venture was strictly a “Catch-n-Release” trip, but the three members of today’s party recorded the landing of twenty-seven trout and seven red fish. And, I think it’s safe to say that a good time was had by all…!
We hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday, and all of us here at Bay Flats Lodge wish you and yours a Happy New Year and an even better fishing season in 2011. And, don’t forget about the 2011 WINTER FISHING SPECIAL at Bay Flats Lodge during January, February, and March when you and your guests can fish at tremendously discounted rates. Also, keep in mind that you can always stay informed as to the latest that Bay Flats Lodge has to offer by simply signing-up on the website to receive your daily newsletter.
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
