Hey’ Duck Season isn’t over just yet! We are prolonging Duck Season to February 23rd. We just have to shift our sights South Of the Border. We are teaming up with Laguna Vista outside of San Fernando on the Lower Lower Laguna Madre. So if you want to go on 1 more Duck Hunt, pack your bags, get your passport and let’s go Duck Hunting. If you can’t make it this year we can book it for next year. Now we have an option during the Split.

The mild foggy weather has been warming the waters just enough to get those fish up shallow for a great topwater bite. Then here comes the Freeze Out Tournament bringing a Nice Big Cold Front and more Ducks. Typical Texas weather, Right? It’s so ironic pre fishing for any Tournament the weather is Great. The fish are everywhere and everyone is catching good fish which elevates all fisherman’s confidence. Then here comes your biggest best planned Tournament Strategy and Mother Nature throws a hum dinger curve ball weather change. Those major weather changes at go time bust most fishermen’s proverbial bubble, it drives us crazy. Here is a Prime Example. As I’m sitting here with my Team discussing what we have found, we are now dealing with 30+ mph North Winds as it shakes the house changing all our ideas because everywhere we found fish are now swimming in chocolate milk stained waters with a substantial temperature drop. No Shocker, huh?!?!?We are just going with what we know cause the wind will blow.

Even with this February cold front, I believe we are going to have an early Spring. We will be chasing Trophy Trout till late Spring. We also have Back Bay Redfishing out of Airboats all year long. We have been seeing a bunch of Reds over the last few days scouting for the Big Tourney so put on a jacket and let’s go catch ‘em!

The Jetties are still producing plenty of Sheephead with a few Reds mixed in the days catch. An occasional Black Drum are making their way into the bay system. The Big Ugly migration should be cranking up. Some Cracked Crab around the Coast Guard Station is a great place to hang a monster Black Drum. Just make sure after a long fight with one of those beast you spend time reviving her so she can live to spawn another day.
We are looking forward to a Great Year of Fishing on the Middle Coast. We are catching solid fish already even with the changing weather conditions. If your freezer is getting a little low on fillets give us a call so we can get you re-stocked up. Remember fishing this time of year you don’t have to get up early. We sometimes leave the dock at 10 a.m. and fishing until sunset.

Billy has the Lodge Calendar and is ready to book your dates and trip. Billy’s Direct Number is: 713 907 4796. Let’s get you in the Books.

Looking Forward to Fishing with You in 2019,

Captain Jeff Larson
281 217 0399

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’!