Deep Holes & Shallow Flats

I’m sure by now most Texas residents have acclimated to the cooler weather we’ve been experiencing. February is considered the middle of the Texas winter and so far it has been a proper one. No freezing temperatures yet but we’ve still several weeks to go before any really significant warming trends are likely to appear. Not to worry though, even if we get another cold spell or two, I doubt it’ll last long enough to deter hardcore anglers.

This time of the year always seems awkward, deer and duck seasons are winding down and all that’s left is conservation order goose hunting…if enough white geese ever make it down to Texas. So, unless you’re a diehard, odds are you are going to put the hunting gear away and wait for some warmer weather to get back on the water.

As far as wintertime angling prospects, the shrimp have all migrated to the gulf and the birds have stopped working. The flounder have mostly left the bays for their annual spawning run. When I was growing up this was the part of the outdoor cycle we dreaded so much, the lull that seemed to last forever until springtime finally came and rescued us, long about spring break in March. It wasn’t until years later when I could get out on my own that I learned there are plenty of fish to be caught during this time.

One of my first times finding fish during late winter was right around the last weekend of duck season. My buddy and I were back in the marsh duck hunting in our kayaks and decided to bring our fishing rods with us. The duck hunting was painfully slow, so we picked up our decoys and decided to try our luck at fishing. We decided to anchor where two channels that drained a big pond merged. Knowing there was a deep hole there, we were hoping that there might be a few fish seeking refuge from the cooler temperatures. What a lucky discovery.

It didn’t take us long before we started catching redfish and the action never slowed. We sat there for at least two hours, catching redfish nonstop, until the tide slacked. We were amazed at the number of fish holding in that small area; it was as if they were stacked on top of one another. I call it on of my Aha! fishing moments. The day I discovered that there really was something special about fishing during the dead of winter.

Since that day I have learned many things, and certainly one of them has been that not every deep hole in the marsh is a wintertime honeyhole. For whatever reason, it seems that fish can be very selective in their choice of where they will stage in numbers this time of year. One consistent aspect of finding fish though, is that they are never far from shallow water to feed, and they always prefer to eat during a strong, moving tide. That being said, I like to focus on bayous and channels since these are the highways for delivering water and bait to the marsh.

My favorite places to focus my efforts are the mouths of the bayous located directly off a large marsh pond, or where they dump into the main body of Sabine Lake. I prefer outgoing tides for a couple of reasons; one of them being that it’s pulling all of the baitfish off the marsh flats and funneling them down into the channel. The other is the water coming off the marsh flats will be slightly warmer. I believe this warmer water getting mixed with colder lake water triggers the appetite of otherwise sluggish or even lethargic game fish.

Weather can be very temperamental this time of year, make no mistake about that. Some days are overcast, wet and nasty, while others can be downright gorgeous. For the days that the sun is out and shining, you need to be on a flat or backwater pond, taking advantage of sight-fishing opportunity. These days have come to be personal favorites, up on the casting platform, eyes peeled, with my rod at the ready. In my opinion, right now in the dead of winter is the best water clarity you will find on your favorite lake or bay. There’s not many days on this part of the upper coast when you can actually see the fish before you cast to them!

From what I have found, incoming tide will push fish into the backwater ponds, where the current delivers schools of baitfish and other forage. If the tide is outgoing and water level too low to access the backwater ponds, find a shoreline near some marsh drains and keep an eye out; fish this time of year are not going to travel too far from deep water.

One of my wintertime go-to lures is the Johnson weedless gold spoon. There is something about that flash that redfish find irresistible. If not that, then a swimbait or Zoom fluke on the lightest possible weedless hook or jighead you can cast accurately. The reasoning here is that you are able to keep the lure in the strike zone longer and give that somewhat sluggish fish a chance to eat it. Typically, they don’t need a lot of persuasion, but there are also times when it will make a world of difference.

I know that the weather this time of the year may not be as favorable as the summer months, but if you dress properly, the fishing will more than make up for it. There are plenty of options to get out and keep you busy until the warm weather gets here. Don’t think that you have to wait until it warms up to find some fish. Stay warm, stay dry and enjoy your time on the water.