Warmer weather is arriving in the Lowcountry and we’ve already seen a few days in the 70s. As the water temperature rises, trout and redfish will become more active. For all of you eager to get out on the water, the time has come!
Albeit starting to break up, redfish will still be in huge wintertime schools where you can easily find 50-100 fish in closely knit pods. To be successful, anglers will often have to be patient and fish bait on the bottom. Casting anything on these schools can send them fleeing! I’ll alternate between cracked blue crab, mud minnows and cut mullet on a size #3/0 circle hook. Set the drag lightly, leave your rod in the holder and let the fish set themselves.
It depends on the year as to when trout reappear. However, it has been so warm over the last few months, the trout bite is already in full swing. Popping corks cast over oyster beds and along grass banks will be a good bet paired when with mud minnows. I usually use a 24” leader and a size #1 circle hook. When working the popping cork, always try to keep slack out of your line and when that cork drops just reel tight to set the hook. Again, the circle hook will do most of the work for you.
This a prime time of year for fly fishing. Sight fishing abounds and stalking a school of a hundred plus fish is so exciting it can be nerve racking! Smaller flies in darker colors are working best and a black wiggler fly would be a good bet. Remember when the fish hits, resist the temptation to lift your rod tip and strip strike instead.
See you on the water!
