Sharon and Gina Combat Redfishing on their Ladies Day Out. Ladies are so much fun on these Combat Redfishing Trips, they really enjoy the Airboat Ride. -Capt. Jeff Larson

Hey! Hey! Spring is getting it on!

Chilling out today, I noticed the Mud Swallows arrived today under the house. As luck would have it, I didn’t take their nests down after last years hatch. They are taking two of their nest back over and looking for another place to start mud dobbing another one of their houses. I just hate cleaning up after them and if you leave it on the ground for too long, it stains the concrete. Their arrival is a perfect signal that Spring is springing. We have been wade fishing for trophy trout with plenty of success. Reds are also plentiful taking whatever bait you want to throw at ‘em. Captain Braden Proctor gave me a couple pounds of crawfish for some stake out boat fishing. Lol, they worked! So I guess its safe to say if you don’t boil all your crawfish this Spring Break, you can save them for Redfish bait. Don’t knock it till you try it. Black Drum eat crawfish too. We haven’t tried cooked 1s yet to see if they like mild or spicy. If you figure that one out, please let me know.

Speaking of Crawfish, We were eating at Bubba’s the other night and they are getting em in. The all you can eat Wednesday special can only come back if they have a good hatch at the Farms.

February, as usual, had the same unpredictable weather patterns but as the water warms between fronts the barometric pressure rises and falls making for yearly fishing patterns that seasoned fishermen take advantage of to harvest some wall hanger trout. Reds are always accessible while targeting Trophy Trout during our early springtime conditions. Any artificial wounded mullet bait floating or slow sinking will land you plenty of fish for the stringer and for a possibly personal best.

The fish kill has NOT really impacted the fish catching around our part of the Coast. We are seeing tons of Trout hit the fish cleaning table. The Big Girls, over 25”, have been very photogenic. This past week several Trout over 27” were CPR’d that made for some happy mid coast wade fishermen’s day. It makes you wonder if we wouldn’t have had a freeze if it would have been any better. Maybe for the Big Back Bay Girls it hindered those trout. Tops fished shallow seem to be a good tactic to getcha a good un. Corkys and DSL Big Eyes fished shallow are the other baits that have been getting the Big Girls to bite. The way I’m seeing it, fishing is really good and there are still plenty of Trophy Trout for a CPR session.

Throwing shallow brings out the reds and the occasional flounder. Flounder are showing up which is good news for flounder giggers.

My Ol’ Flounder Buddies, Pat and Chuck have been going out and sticking a bunch of ‘em. Weather is always a factor so you have to be flexible when you go out at night. We can always add a gigging trip, weather permitting. If you’re an Old Salt, you know that high winds can make for a tough evening, if you’re okay with that then we will go for it. Forcing a gigging trip in 25+ mph winds is always interesting and can be very rewarding. The key to gigging limits of flounder in high winds is finding clear enough and calm enough gigging water. All the Captains that offer gigging trips in our reading area are the best I have ever gig’d with over the years. They live on the water and they are also commercial fishermen making flounder gigging a way of life. They can see those flat fish in any kind of conditions.

Saltwater Lodge is known as a Casting and Blasting Lodge. Calhoun County has a small but huntable number of Wild Turkey. We book only one weekend of Turkey Hunting and Trophy Trout Fishing Combo every year. We are seeing a bunch of Jakes and numerous long beards strutting around the Ranch. The numbers seem to be up compared to just a few years ago. We have maintained a pretty good predator control program which is necessary if you want a Big Population of Turkeys. Some Deer Hunters do not care for Turkeys because they eat their deer feed. Every Ranch has a different program for Turkeys. We always enjoy watching the Spring Strutters do their Thang! So we grow the herd.

We are looking forward to hearing from you and booking your next fishing memory with us at The Saltwater Lodge.
Billy is booking trips weekly so have your preferred dates ready and call him to get it booked: 713 – 907 – 4796

Springing for Fins, Feathers and their Fillets,
Captain Jeff Larson 281-217-0399

Looking back in my journal that I’ve been keeping for years we are entering my favorite time of the year for catching good size and numbers of speckled trout and redfish while wade fishing throwing lures working the water column.

The surprise of strong cold fronts are almost a distant memory and the bay water temps are slowly creeping back up to the high 60s and 70s. We will be spending days on the water during February and early March enjoying these cool waters wade fishing in depths of a few inches to chest deep. This is the time when we get larger trout and solid redfish by offering a myriad of sinking plastics and plugs. Customers that have gotten out of the boat have proven why this is a favorite time of the year with good numbers of fish on their stringers and by releasing many more.

The key to success will be having the right gear and clothing to enjoy a day in the water. Layering of clothes and having leak free waders are a must along with a stable pair of wade boots for ankle support. Since we spend the day in the water and often times we get foul weather with drizzle and wind a waterproof jacket will save the day. Wade belts should include all tools necessary for you to work alone fifty yards from the next guy so spreading out to attack a flat is the norm. Pliers, net, stringer, etc are available almost anywhere tackle is sold so prepare before the trip and get the gear right.

Some days are a grind and you will work hours without a bite but then stick the fish of a lifetime so go knowing this is as much about patience as any angling skill. Wade fishing is an art and one of the most relaxing methods of catching these beauties in salt water so keep that in mind and absorb your surroundings. Notice the wildlife that abounds on the coast and take in the feel and smell of the salt air. Try to identify the scores of birds by studying up beforehand on what you might see on your wade trip. Enjoy the serenity of a prolonged trek across a peaceful stretch of shoreline. Bask in the sun as it gleams through a cloud and gives you a hint of sunshine warming your soul. Take the time to slow down and appreciate the fish you are hooking and release a few bigger ones for next time.

Wade fishing is one of the best getaways you can do by yourself or with some good buddies. Learn from your guide his or her techniques for better more successful angling. Doing all of these things or only a few of them will make you a more experienced fisherman or lady angler and will surely add to your enjoyment of our magnificent coastal resources.

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

Specktacular Day – Capt. Chris Martin

The March equinox, which marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, will be on March 20th this year. But don’t let the start of spring fool you when you’re planning your next coastal fishing trip. The early part of spring along the Texas coast often brings with it weather that still fluctuates at times, to include strong and variable winds, chilling rains, and unstable water temperatures. A lot of the fishing time this month will be spent in the numerous back lake areas, or within the confines of the Victoria Barge Canal or the Intracoastal Waterway, as anglers drop in for some immediate protection from high wind and rough water. Any time you’re forced into these secluded places in March, always keep a watchful eye for the presence of mullet – any mullet, whatsoever!

Look for the winds to become more of a southeasterly flow rather than northeasterly, and for the tides to begin increasing once again. We’ll also find water clarity beginning to come off of that of being air-clear to more of a greenish color. We can also anticipate water temperatures to begin warming now, and to continue doing so, for the next few months as we progress through spring and into summer. This will mean that it will not be long now before you can start your search for speckled trout above warming sands and grass found along area shorelines just off the main bay systems.

Days that are less windy this month will find many anglers looking to setup morning wading sessions along leeward shorelines located throughout the San Antonio Bay area that can be influenced by the day’s forecasted tide and currents. Anglers should start out the day by wading mud and grass, and then transition to hard sand, or sand and shell, as the sun reaches high into the sky and the shallows atop the flats begin to warm. While it is important to fish atop mud and grass during the cooler parts of the year, you should start making a slow change from mud to hard sand this month, as doing so can often mean the difference between fishing and catching.

March is probably one of the more fun months to be out on the water. The bays are once again beginning to come alive with baitfish activity, and the trout are hungry after a long period of cold water. If you happen upon some decent fish this month in a private hotspot of yours, there’s a good chance you might be able to stay on the same fish for several days if the conditions are right, and if things don’t change drastically from one day to the next. Look to enjoy some premium action on top waters, and don’t forget to pack a couple slow-sinkers, as well. Have fun, and keep grindin’!

Capt. Chris Martin, Bay Flats Lodge, 1-888-677-4868