Tangible results

Three bits of advice for finding fortunes in the backcountry

In fishing, there is an adage that goes something like this… 90 percent of the fish are in 10 percent of the water and 10 percent of the fishermen catch 90 percent of the fish. Like all clichés, sayings like this don’t become clichés by being easily disregarded. Instead, they are burned into our collective consciousness because they are proven time and time again.

 Although modern technology has leveled the playing field a bit, there is simply no substitute for experience when it comes to catching fish in shallow water, especially during the fall and winter months.

In 10 years of competitive tournament angling and professional guiding, I’ve learned that there are basically three things that separate those who catch fish in tough conditions from those who don’t.

Scouting!

No matter where you fish, scouting is an invaluable part of becoming a better shallow water angler. Spending time on the water learning how, when and where local fish populations move and stage during a variety of conditions is paramount to finding success on a consistent basis.

Although it yields tangible results, scouting isn’t easy to clearly define. To me, scouting is spending time on the water doing something I don’t normally do, something outside of my usual routine. That something could be as simple as fishing a shoreline on a different wind or tide, stopping to make a few casts on a point I’ve never fished before; or spending an entire day exploring a single bay from top to bottom.

Scouting isn’t necessarily something I do only when conditions are favorable. In fact, the opposite is true. I tend to do most of my exploring when conditions are tough. I’ve found the efforts pay off most during inclement weather in the midst of, or just after a cold front; and during extremely high or low tides.

Scouting can also be defined as extensive chart study. No matter how familiar you are with a particular waterway, there’s always more to learn. Although it is no substitute for practical experience, studying the areas you most frequently fish in two dimensions offers invaluable insight into the routes fish are likely to travel during certain times of the year. That’s the real benefit of scouting – the ability to pinpoint fish concentrations in various conditions.

Stealth!

Consistently catching fish in shallow water is all about stealth. In fact, the majority of our skinny water success is determined long before we ever make a cast. The way we approach our opponents, the presentations we make, and how we make them ultimately determine the outcome of each encounter.

Stealth can take on many different forms when it comes to stalking fish in water only inches deep – from the size of the skiffs we use and the methods of propulsion, to the types of tackle, lines and lures. 

As a general rule, fishing during fall and winter requires a higher degree of stealth than any other time of year. This is a result of many different factors. First, the majority of inshore game fish we pursue during the cooler months actually prefer warmer water temperatures, making them less likely to be interested in feeding. Second, clearer water associated with fall and winter usually leaves our quarry with their senses piqued; making them less susceptible to unnatural presentations. Third, this is the time of year when we pursue our targets in the skinniest of shallow water, making stealth an absolute necessity.

If you seek to catch quality fish during the cooler months, I recommend unbolting the trolling motor, breaking out the push pole and preparing yourself for longer, more strenuous days of fishing. That’s not to say the inshore action isn’t good during this time of year, in fact quite the opposite is true. However, approaching fish in shallow water during the fall and winter often requires considerable patience and attention to even the most subtle details.

Scale Down!

Downsizing is key during the cooler months. In fact, using smaller baits, lighter rods and thinner diameter lines has become the late season hallmark of experienced backcountry fishermen around the State.

Whether frequenting the fertile waters of Flamingo, Pine Island Sound or the Indian River Lagoon, savvy anglers everywhere have learned that conditions brought about by changing weather patterns and cooling water temperatures make scaling back their presentations a necessity. Being aware of subtle changes brought about by each season will ultimately make you a better angler, but if you don’t learn how to make adjustments in your techniques, your results will never improve. That’s where downsizing comes into play.

Using lighter tackle and smaller baits imitating primary forage in your area during the cooler months, allows shallow water anglers the versatility to target a variety of species in all conditions. Whether skipping a 4” soft plastic under overhanging mangroves, casting a small top-water plug across a current swept point, or pitching a ¼ ounce skimmer jig to a redfish tailing on a grass flat, always having a variety of small imitations at the ready will leave well prepared to make the most of each situation.

The next time you head out to your favorite shallow water estuary during the late season months, look outside the box. Invest a few hours scouting new areas. Approach potential ambush points and likely staging areas as stealthy as possible, and scale down your tackle a bit. Implementing these three simple steps to success will often make the difference between fortune and failure.

See ya’ in the backcountry….