There are times and events that remind us just how blessed we are. This morning was one of those times for me. Here at Bay Flats Lodge we had our annual meeting with the guides, staff and ownership. The picture that accompanies this post is of our guides and the check written to the Building Conservation Trust this month. I’m blessed to work for great owners Chris and Deb Martin. I’m also privileged to work with the best group of professional guides anywhere. Add to that equation an outstanding management staff I share an office with and I’m one lucky guy. And don’t miss the number on that check. Our generous guest contributed $2005.00 dollars in January which was matched by Bay Flats Lodge and every dollar goes to creating a better fishery here on the Central Texas Coast. Life comes with good and bad for all of us but today I was reminded of just how much good I have to be thankful for.
Randy Brown, Manager Bay Flats Lodge

We can probably anticipate the approach of some harsh weather this month as fierce frontal passages make their way down to us from places like Canada and Alaska. But don’t let the frosty weather push you off the water entirely this month. Learn to take advantage of the weather patterns associated with these fronts. Some of our most prosperous February days have been the one or two days just prior to the onset of a front when the winds tend to build substantially out of the south. Learn, also, to pay close attention to the backside of these frontal systems, generally the second or third day when the strong north winds begin to subside, the tides begin to level-out again, and the water color once again begins to clear. Those can often be some mighty fine fishing days to look forward to in February.

The process you used for maneuvering your plastic baits in December and January won’t change in February. The secret will be to work them slow. And just when you think you’re moving them as slow as you possibly can, slow down some more. Attempt to pump the lure across the bay floor without reeling it in. This creates miniature vibrations and mud clouds as your bait is slowly worked across the bottom, and this also helps to keep your bait in front of the fish for a longer period of time. This technique has worked on many occasions in February’s cold water, especially on the redfish, and especially when pairing dark-colored plastic tails with very light 1/16-ounce jig heads.

If it’s February reds that you happen to be after, they are not always difficult to find this month due to the transparency of the water that’s brought about by the cold temperatures. Redfish generally feed on the bay bottom, so they have their nose in the mud a lot of the time while foraging for their next meal. This creates a cloudy area in the otherwise clear water that many anglers refer to as “mud boils”. When one or two reds are feeding in the same area, the mud boil may start out no bigger than the size of a dinner plate. Cast your bait beyond the boil, reel the bait to within close proximity of the murky water, and then work the bait slowly across the muddied area. This is a proven technique that has produced over and over again on February reds whenever the water becomes extremely cold and really clear.

Good luck, and keep grindin’!

As of this writing, I have been writing this column for seven years, well over half a decade. In that time, I have written a lot on the month of February and in the month of February and I thought it would be fun to take a look back.

Now February has two things that almost everyone thinks about…Spring is around the corner and of course, Valentine’s Day. Both subject matter has made its way into this column, including me wishing I was in the Gulf still at this time of year rather than the cold (the very, very cold) Midwest:

 “As I sit here writing this it is currently seven degrees for a ‘high’ and soon two to four inches of snow will arrive. The extended forecast here in the Midwest says warmer weather will be here in less than a week, but right now I’m “Texas dreaming” on such a very cold Winter’s day.

    Soon the trees and other plants will experience their reawakening, the early morning will be filled with sunshine rather than darkness and people will escape their homes again with hardly a regretful thought about the cabin fever that preceded it.
    And I can feel like I finally moved away from the Arctic Circle for a few months as well.”

This year could be a bigger and better sequel as in the week I am writing this it was colder here in Chicago than some locations in Antarctica…next time you complain about a hot Texas Summer day, please clip out and keep this article to your fridge for a soothing reminder of how location can indeed be everything.

Of course February is about hot romance more than hot weather, and I think we have covered it pretty well over the years, from the history of the holiday’s origins:

I looked up the history of Valentine’s Day and discovered that in reality it was more about three Christian Martyrs with the name of Valentine, who became saints, than about love. It was not until a man by the name of Geoffry Chaucer wrote these lines in his 1382 work Parlement of Foules that the reference took on a more romantic note:

 “For this was Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.”

This poem was written to commemorate the one year anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia.

By the time 1797 rolled around, a company in England had started printing a book entitled The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, which contained a collection of verses and romantic drawings for young lovers to place in their own homemade Valentines. By the mid 19th century, the Valentine industry made 1.3 million pounds in England, somewhat sped along by lower postal rates which allowed more ‘racy’ subject matter to be sent privately to lovers as well as the first anonymous Valentines to be sent by secret admirers.

 “Of course now a days it is more then just personalized letters that we send out to our loved ones, we have our children pass them out to their classmates, we buy chocolates, jewelry and other gifts to go along with mass produced cards written by large companies with professional greetings writers expressing our most personal thoughts.”

However, before I leave you (and turn up the heat), please note that despite my ending the last memory on a snarky shot and the modern state of consumerism, I also have made my true feelings on love known here to the readers as well, and after going through seven years of February columns this passage stands out the most:

 “Hardest of all to achieve is the greatest love of all, which is self-love and should never be mistaken for arrogance or someone who appears on the outside to be perfect and have it all figured out, but might just not be all they seem to be.

    I suppose because from the time we are born till the time we all die we all look for some form of love, it makes it one of the most encompassing desires across the entire planet, taught by our prophets no matter the religion, at the heart of our wildest dreams of a perfect governmental system is the society based love we hope we one day achieve for our fellow man.

 Hopefully this soon will mean that as we all desire love in one of its many guises, it should become easy to both give that love out and receive it ourselves. “

Jeanine Gayle Bricker, 68 of Port O’ Connor, TX, passed Friday, January 25th, 2019.

Jeanine was born June 13th, 1950 in Kenedy, TX to Jesse and Pat (Smith) Atkinson. She was a graduate of Victoria High School, Class of ‘68. Jeanine chose Port O’Connor to be her permanent home in 1985 and was always proud of her community. She worked many years with the public at several PO’C businesses to include the Hurricane Junction, Opry House, Bob’s, “Johnny’s” Auto Marine, PO’C Shamrock, PO’C Fishing Center, and most recently the hometown Speedy Stop, where she was a recognized face to so many. She greeted customers, knew your name, your family, and your dog’s name. Jeanine was a great friend to so many and many for a lifetime. She enjoyed the love of her beautiful grandchildren, her pets, rock n’ roll music, a seafood dinner, and a quality cocktail.

Jeanine is preceded in death by her husband Mike Hammons and mother Pat (Smith) Atkinson. She is survived by her father Jesse Atkinson, sisters Marla Wright and Lisa Boyd, daughter Amber Bricker (Zac), and her precious grandchildren, whom she loved deeply, Keegan Short and Torunn Short.
There was a Celebration of Life Service for Jeanine February 10, 2019, at Port O’Connor Community Center.

Special Thanks to the caring staff at Memorial Medical Center in Port Lavaca, who cared for Jeanine through many years.

We have lost a part of our PO’C Community. She will be missed by so many but we know now she rests easy and is with good company, as she always wanted to be.

Arrangements entrusted to the personal care of Grace Funeral Chapel. Visit Jeannie’s Book of Memories to share a memory or condolence with the family at www.gracefuneralhome.net.

To send flowers to the family of Jeannie Gayle Bricker, please visit the Heartfelt Sympathies Store.