What's your winter time game plan?

seeinred · Post by **seeinred** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 12:45 pm

This is my favorite time of year to fish, negative low tides, depressions on the flats and curly tailed jigs = redfish, snook and trout.

Todd · Post by **Todd** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 12:48 pm

seeinred wrote:This is my favorite time of year to fish, negative low tides, depressions on the flats

And hardly anyone else out fishing.

LivelyBaits · Post by **LivelyBaits** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:42 pm

As long as the water isn't extremely cold, the worse the weather the better the fishing is.

There are a mix of opportunities inshore from the protected waters to the exposed flats.

I'll usually launch a little later in the day that I do the rest of the year but otherwise I am out there almost as often as I am April through November.

UT talked about scouting. Seeinred talked about negative lows. You'll learn more about your fishing areas in these situations that will benefit your fishing year round. Just take your fig newtons with you to be safe.

finatic · Post by **finatic** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:46 pm

I'll just head back to the big bend.

rich · Post by **rich** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:54 pm

Winter is my favorite time of year to fish the water is clear we get negative low tides and very few boats. I fish in the rivers dead sticking top water plugs it's a blast look for small spring's that popup in the middle of the river or on undercut banks. My personal best snook was 43" it was 28 degrees out I had ice on my boat there was a school of snook in this spring nailing topwater. Anyone who says snook won't bite when it's cold are fishing the wrong spot's. You just have to take extra care with those winter snook keep them in the warm water and make it a fast fight. Pinch your barbs and never ever take them out of the water unless you plan on taking one home for dinner.

It's also a great time to fish the back areas of Cockroach on a strong outgoing tide.

Dustin · Post by **Dustin** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:55 pm

There are no fish and no water in the Big Bend during the winter...

Kingslayer · Post by **Kingslayer** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:27 pm

Back to the canals and rivers. I've got a few places staked out for winter fishing this year that should produce good reds and snook. Maybe even a trip up the Peace River for tarpon.

BearsFan · Post by **BearsFan** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:39 pm

The fish all move SOTE. There are very few N. of Blind Pass, one North of Honeymoon. Especially none anywhere near St. Mark's.

Mako · Post by **Mako** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:30 pm

this winter, I'll be exploring some rivers and creeks for snook and baby poons.

Reds can still be found on the flats if the water is not too cold.

in January of this year I had my best days catching reds on the flats

TerryW · Post by **TerryW** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:03 pm

My plan is the same as always:

- go to warmer waters whenever I can
- stay away from using waders to the best of my ability to stay warm without 'em.
- appreciate that the fish, like me, don't like getting up early in the colder months.
- enjoy the beautiful winter sunsets.
- try some new lures, but refer back to the trusty fishing journal, tides, and solunar tables.

Yakpappy · Post by **Yakpappy** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:14 am

The good part of fishing the Bend in the winter is you don't need to bother with bringing your kayak.........you can just walk wherever you want, and the mud keeps your legs warm all the way up to your thighs. For some of you vertically-challenged folks, you might want to bring a snorkle