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Mansfield Report: May 2013
Every month is unique on the Lower Laguna but the calendar doesn't always reflect which season we are enjoying. One day finds us bundled up in waders with north wind and the next we are sweating in shirt sleeves. However, watching huge rafts of bait flipping below gulls and parking lots filling up might be a clue that spring will soon blossom into early summer.
You probably do not want to hear this but our weather and our fishing have been consistently inconsistent over the past month. We found ourselves struggling under howling north and south winds that alternated in record time, only to encounter dead calm and begging for the slightest breeze to ripple the surface a day later. Putting a pattern together was nearly impossible at times. In general though, we're still getting it done and our better trout came from the shallow grass flats just outside the sand line, and redfish were best in muddy backwater areas with deeper depressions.
Best lures depended on the user as much as the conditions and I remain convinced that we catch the most fish on what we believe we can catch them on. Full-sized topwaters were often slammed hard by scattered flats fish but when the wind picked up and pushed them toward color or depth changes it became a soft plastic game. Kelley Wiggler's new Flomingo color on 1/16 ounce jigs did really well for us when the water trended slightly murky to off-colored. The key was keeping the lure just on top of the grass.
We should have plenty of topwater opportunity ahead and I'll be throwing my favorite Skitter Walks; green mullet, bone chartreuse and hot chartreuse. Lately it's been all about the pause after a few chops with the rod tip, especially true the shallower we are.
Strong south and southeast wind will become a major factor, sometimes forcing us to fish where we can, not necessarily where we want. But, a go-for-it attitude along with a good eye for bait activity can put fish on your line, even when forced out of favored areas. Start shallow early and when the wind increases head for the color changes, first grass lines, and then toward the waist-deep dropoff. As redundant as it sounds, just watch for bait, color streaks and birds for good places to start.
I've mentioned in previous articles that our sea grass is still not fully recovered from the 2010 floods and this causes some traditional springtime honeyholes to lose clarity almost immediately under strong southerly wind. When this happens, running the majority of flats areas and spotting fish from raised consoles no longer works, but many persist in trying in the few clear regions that remain. The result is a circus at times, with slow-planing boats cruising every which way, and the trout and reds now seem trained to avoid clear shallows where they consistently get run over. Surely we can come with a better plan.
Its springtime and the trout are thick-bodied and full of eggs. It is not uncommon for a 24-inch trout to push over six pounds. Please handle trout with care when releasing.
Rat reds are everywhere, but when conditions are right, some large schools of upper-slot brutes are pulling up way shallow. Typically this has been when the winds first start to really honk, and from among them have come some of our best trout. Play them all very carefully as your next hard-pulling flats fish could be the trout of a lifetime.
May has traditionally been great for big trout and redfish enthusiasts. The specks will remain heavy into June and redfish schools should get thicker. Tide levels will continue to build and while this can scatter fish it also presents lots of opportunity to explore new water. Pray that the wind will remain steady S-SE and not hamper our explorations too severely.
As surely as temperatures will be on the rise, so will boat traffic. I meet a steady stream of folks on their first adventure here, and trust me, it probably won't be their last. Some will know what they are doing and be respectful; some won't have a clue from the launch ramp to the cleaning table. Much of what they learn can be taught by the seasoned anglers that display courtesy in everything they do on the water. Let's all strive to set good examples and be good teachers.
I am very thankful for all my great clients and the wonderful fishing opportunities I've been blessed to enjoy. I hope you can come down and join us this month, the fishing should be great!
You probably do not want to hear this but our weather and our fishing have been consistently inconsistent over the past month. We found ourselves struggling under howling north and south winds that alternated in record time, only to encounter dead calm and begging for the slightest breeze to ripple the surface a day later. Putting a pattern together was nearly impossible at times. In general though, we're still getting it done and our better trout came from the shallow grass flats just outside the sand line, and redfish were best in muddy backwater areas with deeper depressions.
Best lures depended on the user as much as the conditions and I remain convinced that we catch the most fish on what we believe we can catch them on. Full-sized topwaters were often slammed hard by scattered flats fish but when the wind picked up and pushed them toward color or depth changes it became a soft plastic game. Kelley Wiggler's new Flomingo color on 1/16 ounce jigs did really well for us when the water trended slightly murky to off-colored. The key was keeping the lure just on top of the grass.
We should have plenty of topwater opportunity ahead and I'll be throwing my favorite Skitter Walks; green mullet, bone chartreuse and hot chartreuse. Lately it's been all about the pause after a few chops with the rod tip, especially true the shallower we are.
Strong south and southeast wind will become a major factor, sometimes forcing us to fish where we can, not necessarily where we want. But, a go-for-it attitude along with a good eye for bait activity can put fish on your line, even when forced out of favored areas. Start shallow early and when the wind increases head for the color changes, first grass lines, and then toward the waist-deep dropoff. As redundant as it sounds, just watch for bait, color streaks and birds for good places to start.
I've mentioned in previous articles that our sea grass is still not fully recovered from the 2010 floods and this causes some traditional springtime honeyholes to lose clarity almost immediately under strong southerly wind. When this happens, running the majority of flats areas and spotting fish from raised consoles no longer works, but many persist in trying in the few clear regions that remain. The result is a circus at times, with slow-planing boats cruising every which way, and the trout and reds now seem trained to avoid clear shallows where they consistently get run over. Surely we can come with a better plan.
Its springtime and the trout are thick-bodied and full of eggs. It is not uncommon for a 24-inch trout to push over six pounds. Please handle trout with care when releasing.
Rat reds are everywhere, but when conditions are right, some large schools of upper-slot brutes are pulling up way shallow. Typically this has been when the winds first start to really honk, and from among them have come some of our best trout. Play them all very carefully as your next hard-pulling flats fish could be the trout of a lifetime.
May has traditionally been great for big trout and redfish enthusiasts. The specks will remain heavy into June and redfish schools should get thicker. Tide levels will continue to build and while this can scatter fish it also presents lots of opportunity to explore new water. Pray that the wind will remain steady S-SE and not hamper our explorations too severely.
As surely as temperatures will be on the rise, so will boat traffic. I meet a steady stream of folks on their first adventure here, and trust me, it probably won't be their last. Some will know what they are doing and be respectful; some won't have a clue from the launch ramp to the cleaning table. Much of what they learn can be taught by the seasoned anglers that display courtesy in everything they do on the water. Let's all strive to set good examples and be good teachers.
I am very thankful for all my great clients and the wonderful fishing opportunities I've been blessed to enjoy. I hope you can come down and join us this month, the fishing should be great!