Riding the Cool Front Window
This time of year is usually when anglers around South Padre start bracing for the cold. Heavy jackets come out, tides drop, and most people expect the flats bite to slow down. But this winter has been different—in the best way possible. Instead of true cold snaps, we’ve been getting a series of mild cool fronts. Just enough change to flip a switch without pushing fish out of the shallows. And when that happens, everything lines up.
These fronts have dropped air temperatures without shocking the system. More importantly, water temperatures have settled right into the sweet spot, hovering between 65 and 75 degrees. That range is ideal for fish to get comfortable, feed aggressively, and remain predictable. When water temperatures stay in that zone for more than a couple of days, redfish, trout, and snook don’t just eat—they load up.
What I’ve noticed most is how willing these fish are to stay on the flats. Instead of sliding off into deeper water after a front, they’re happily cruising turtle grass, pushing wakes, and setting up in areas that make sense day after day. That consistency is what makes patterning fish easier this time of year. You’re not chasing ghosts—you’re following predictable behavior.
With stable water temperatures and light north winds following these fronts, the flats have been fishing as clean and clear as anyone could hope for. Sun angle still matters, of course, but once you find that window, you can watch fish react in real time—tracking baits, changing direction, and finally committing. That’s when things get fun.
Fishing with clients lately has been nothing short of a blast. Between the conditions and the mood of the fish, most days have been productive without feeling rushed. When clients get to see fish before they eat the lure, everything slows down. The pressure disappears, and the experience becomes about making good casts and watching things unfold, instead of trying to force bites.
Artificial baits have really shined in these conditions. The KWiggler 4-inch paddle tail has been a staple, especially when fish are cruising or loosely schooled. It has the right amount of tail thump without being overpowering in clear water. When I want something more subtle, the Wig-A-Lo Jr. in Bart’s Ninja has been money. It really excels when fish are following closely and just need a little extra reason to commit. That same bait in Flamingo has also been hard to beat. In clear water over healthy grass, it stands out just enough without looking unnatural. It’s been one of my most productive colors to date and has earned a permanent spot in the rotation.
Gear matters when you’re fishing this way day in and day out, especially when guiding. Lately, I’ve been throwing the Salty Mag from Waterloo Rod Company, and it’s been a killer stick—reliable, sensitive, and strong when it needs to be. Whether I’m making long casts to schooling fish or working tight quarters in skinny water, it’s handled everything I’ve asked of it. Paired with my Bahia BC from Florida Fishing Products, it’s become a trusted setup. These aren’t flashy choices; they’re proven, utility-grade tools that work consistently, trip after trip, letting me focus on reading water and fish rather than worrying about equipment.
Another major factor this season has been the tides. We’ve experienced extremely low water levels lately, and that has changed the playing field entirely. Many back bays have gone dry, forcing fish out and into the open waters of the Lower Laguna Madre. When that happens, fish don’t scatter—they group tightly together. This concentration factor has made it possible to locate large schools of redfish, many of them upper-slot and larger. When you find them, it’s obvious: big pushes, nervous water, and schools moving with purpose. These are the conditions that reward patience and observation more than anything else.
As good as this bite has been, I won’t lie—I’d love to see a true cold snap roll through. A real one. Those are the fronts that make fish feed with urgency. When trout, redfish, and snook sense tougher conditions are coming, they gorge. And when they gorge, the fishing can reach another level entirely.
Until then, I’ll gladly take these mild cool fronts. Comfortable water, predictable patterns, happy clients, and fish that want to eat. Sometimes the best fishing doesn’t come from extremes—it comes from balance. And right now, South Padre has plenty of it.
