Southwest Favorites – Wintertime’s When, Where & Why.

Southwest Favorites – Wintertime’s When, Where & Why.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the large redfish cruising down the oyster-laden bank. I picked a spot that was sparse of obstructions so I could get a lead on the roving fish. The small crab pattern I was throwing was highly effective; one that I was confident would get inhaled the moment the foraging fish detected it. I watched as the methodically-moving red worked his way towards my offering before suddenly doing an about-face and heading in the opposite direction just feet from the artificial morsel. As the event unfolded it reminded me that if there is one thing about wintertime in South Florida’s many inshore waterways is that success for fly-fishermen comes via missed shots and a bit of frustration.

When it comes to our inshore waterways and the predominant game fish that call them home, snook are the least tolerant to Ol’ Man Winter’s harsh conditions. Because of this characteristic, countless linesiders choose to ride out the season in the relatively warm water hideouts comprising the Southwest region’s numerous back-bays. Many of these back-bays - which most of us call “coves” - feature tidal creeks and small rivers and provide the perfect habitat for snook to hang out in when water temperatures fall to life threatening levels. The reason they are so appealing is because of the freshwater spilling in from the small tidal creeks. Brackish water tends to hold heat more efficiently than saltwater due to high levels of acidity and organic plant matter. These same coves are carpeted with dark-mud bottoms which help the matter by acting as solar panels that hold heat during even the chilliest of nights. As the sun rises during crisp mornings, snook slowly make their way out of their usual wintertime havens and swim up into these shallows where they casually search for breakfast.

Since the water is generally gin-clear during the winter, it is often possible to spot snook lying in ambush from great distances. Fortunately, these great game fish are quite lethargic in the cold water conditions which means stealthy anglers may get several shots at them before they get too agitated and blow out. On more than one occasion, I have been able to switch flies two or three times while my target hover motionless directly in-front of me. This type of situation offers winter fly-casters the perfect opportunity to experiment with different patterns in an attempt to determine which is the most effective.    

The pros will tell you that redfish are not as sensitive to cold water and can generally be found hanging out at just about any of their favorite haunts and at just about any time. Stumbling upon a pocket of hungry reds is precisely when nothing beats a crab imitation. While shrimp patterns can be effective with the Puff, Meat Whistle and Redfish Candy all favorites I highly suggest you add to your collection, when redfish are clearly in the crosshairs, tie on a crab!

Longer ago than I care to remember, I kicked off my backcountry fly-fishing career with a small Del’s Merkin, but even when properly presented to unsuspecting targets, I couldn’t buy a bite. It didn’t take me long to realize that the redfish were feeding heavily on tiny dark brown crabs hiding in the cracks and crevices amongst the numerous oyster beds. I quickly got my hands on a pure dark chocolate crab tied on a #4 hook and immediately my strike ratio increased considerably. Thanks to that dark brown crab, I can tell you that not too many things are more exciting than witnessing hungry redfish charge 10 feet to nail this fly. The aggressive behavior proves to me that redfish can see a lot better than most “experts” would lead you to believe.  

Trout are another inshore species that are excellent targets during the year’s coolest months. Juvenile trout under three pounds can generally be found in some level of abundance hovering over grass flats and along deeper runs and trenches around spoil islands. It’s in these situations when I have had excellent success with Gurglers and even variations of the Hair Bug. While the grass flats we fish around the Ten Thousand Islands are usually pretty shallow and typically aren’t covered by more than four feet of water, there are occasions when trout simply aren’t interested in top-water flies. When this happens, Clousers are a great choice and often result in a mixed bag with bluefish, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and pompano all making a showing.

Mature trout – fish exceeding three or four pounds – typically feed in even shallower hunting grounds. Again, look for flats adjacent to deeper runs where the larger trout, too, can easily make a quick getaway.

The fact that shallow-water can be so clear during the winter means that it pays to be stealthy. With the negative low tides we experience during the first few months of the year, it is often difficult to fish the ultra-shallow regions without spooking our quarry. Even though you can spot fish easier, the prevailing conditions also mean that up in the shallows, it is easier for fish to spot you. Serious sight-fishermen know that shallow-draft skiffs are a must while being as quiet as possible on the push-pole is a good advice as well. If you don’t have a fishing buddy to pole you around, don’t throw in the towel. You can effectively sight-fish while working the trolling motor, and when conditions permit, wade-fishing provides the stealthiest approach for effectively fly-fishing the shallowest of flats.

Let’s shift gears for a moment and discuss tides. I can tell that if I had any control over the matter, I would set dead low tide to fall around 10 o’clock in the morning. This allows the late morning and early afternoon sunshine plenty of time to warm up the dark bottom shallows as well as offer the perfect lighting conditions for enthusiastic sight-casters.  

Make no mistake; fly-fishing during the winter isn’t a bowl of cherries with no pits. There are occasions when for unknown reasons, you just can’t find any life roaming around the open shallows. The back-bays, small coves and often productive flats all seem void of life. I’ve searched for hours and still couldn’t find a single fish to throw at, not even a single ladyfish. Such ‘dead-zones’ aren’t so detrimental if you are out fishing with your buddy. However, when fishing with paying clients, “No Action” is a different story altogether. As a professional for-hire guide I am expected to know where the fish are and exactly when they are going to bite. When all else fails, I turn to a tactic that has many times saved my bacon – an approach I call “dredging.” This isn’t a new form of sight-fishing, but rather a method that produces day-saving results. Although I must say that I am a bit reluctant to share my secrets, here it goes…

If you have learned anything from this editorial it’s that near every stretch of skinny water, there is generally a deeper trench. It can range from a short two foot deep ditch to a long trough of up to six feet in depth. I start by instructed my client to tie on a weighted fly – a favorite Clouser is perfect for this application. As far as “dredging” is concerned, the heavier the fly the better and while weighted flies can be unwieldy to cast, keep in mind that the fish don’t care how the lure gets into the strike zone.

Present your offering in the deeper troughs and channels and allow the fly ample time to sink. Once you reach bottom, bump the fly painfully slow by moving it with your stripping hand. The idea is to impart a “hopping” action to the fly where it will allow lethargic game fish an opportunity to take a swing at it. Expect to snag a lot of oysters and other inanimate trophies, but it pays to be persistent. Strip-strike on everything and you will often be rewarded. I have scored double-digit days employing this approach when there was no life to be seen anywhere. Give dredging a try. You’ll find that snook, redfish and large trout all hang out in these deeper trenches and will all fall victim to a properly presented fly.  

Along with weighted flies, there are also all sorts of fly lines ranging from sinking tips to full sinking lines. While dredging with sinking fly lines certainly leaves the realm of conventional fly-fishing, it is, in fact, an effective alternative when all else fails. I am convinced that it is so effective because it allows my clients to fish the entire water column. Plus, there is just something really special about pulling an unseen adversary from a deep reach on a long, limber fly rod.

In closing, let me leave you with the fact that I really enjoy skinny-water fishing. With Southwest waters predominately stained during most of the year, wintertime’s super-clear water clarity is a change I welcome with open arms. In addition, I tend to do quite a few inshore spinning trips during the winter so when I get an opportunity to spend the day sight-fishing, it is a breath of fresh air. Tight loops.