“What do you look for when you are trying to find a spot to fish?” This is a question I get almost daily on the water and it makes sense to me why I keep getting asked the same thing over and over again. How in the world would we know what to key in on and where to go or stop when we are running the boat at 30 knots for miles on a shore-line, open bay, or back lake that all looks the same to a customer? The answer is a simple one for me since I have been fishing for these salt water fish most of my life. But maybe it’s not so obvious to everyone so let me explain a few techniques for finding and catching more fish.
Spring is a good time to look for bait fish because they are in such abundance almost anywhere in the salt water complex. Focusing attention to the slightest details of water surface, water color, tide movement, wind direction, bird activity and so on will pay huge dividends on your success for the day. Add to this the research you should undoubtedly perform concerning the moon phase and feeding times and suddenly you are nearing expert angler status before you launch the boat.
Glass minnows have been my key lately as hoards of them are in the water almost everywhere I run. Two weeks ago on a cool afternoon when I could not find a bite I ran into one of our most popular back lakes and noticed two pelicans crashing the water surface while three more were sitting on the water nearby. Also I noticed the water near the activity was stained a bit and not gin clear like the rest of the lake. Naturally, I powered the boat wide and far away from the spot and came into it from an upwind position so as to not spook the action. Each cast for an hour and a half yielded redfish ranging from ten to twenty six inches and we boxed a three man limit in no time at all.
There are times like this when the key to success is simply riding around through your home waters and noticing what is going on. Subtle changes in the waters surface indicating schools of bait can be easily missed if you are not paying close attention. Often times my customers will comment while I am buzzing around the bay system asking me what I am looking for, or where, we are going. I try to explain this is a journey to find fish and once I see some indicators I will shut her down and start fishing. The ‘where are we going’ question is always sort of entertaining for me too because likely my answer is ‘well I’m not really sure, but you will know when we get there.’ That one gets me some looks and maybe apprehension for at least some of the outing, but once they hang in there with me I can prove I’m not just taking them on a boat ride. What’s the saying, all those who wander are not lost?
Today we are experiencing a late season cool front so the wind has cranked up to 25 knots and there’s a crispness to the air which will cool our water temperatures down a few degrees overnight. Paying attention to the weather changes and trying to think about your fishing day with regard to details like wind speed, water temperature change, muddiness of the water from the wind and where to position yourself to get the best results is where your mind should be. What was the water temperature yesterday? What lakes are more protected from a howling North wind? Where can I find some water that is off color that the fish may be using as an ambush point on the bait fish? All good questions that you can find out methodically to make your outing the best it can be.
Once you approach your fishing trips from the standpoint of where you should go based on environmental factors versus simply going where you heard the fish might be, you will gain the kind of confidence needed to be successful most of the time you are on the water. A little preparation before you blast off especially with regard to feeding times, weather changes, temperature swings and water color will propel you way past the guessing game and you may find that while others are blasting off in a state of hurry, (some even following the crowd in order to find the fish) you will be more relaxed and informed. Not only will you know where you will be focusing your day on the fish, but it will be a much more satisfying trip knowing you did it all on your own.
Capt Stephen Boriskie
Bay Flats Lodge, Seadrift, Texas 888-677-4868
