The popularity of winter speckled trout fishing in Eastern
North Carolina has risen drastically over the past decade and has become one of
the most popular inshore fisheries in the Tar Heel State. Back in the day on not so good rods, mono
filament and heavy jigs we didn’t think it was possible to catch specks with
surface temps under 50 degrees but now even with chilly 44 to 48 degree surface
temps, specks can be regularly landed.
There are differences in tactics yes, but much improved fishing tackle
has also made much of this fishery possible.
Also, many misconceptions on spotted seatrout winter locations,
migrations and feeding habits have been replaced with more facts. Recent studies like Dr. Tim Ellis’s tagging
program and many long hard days of on the water observation have shown that
there is an increase in winter trout populations in the Pamlico Sound Estuary
with an abundant winter population of fish in the “creeks” off the Neuse and
Pamlico Rivers. These areas are often
protected from wind and have close boating access, making them more appealing
to small boat anglers. Whether you have
been chasing these spotter fish for years or for months, here are some of the
tips and techniques I use to make a successful winter fishing charter.
What’s in a degree?
The 50 degree mark remains a standard for specks to actively
feed, however I have found in water temps greater than 47.5 in water 5 feet or
less to be warm enough to get bites and catch trout. By 49.5 the fish will be biting with
frequency. Keep in mind, specks do not
all run to deep holes. If there is bait
and at points during the day the water temps warm to accommodate feeding and
never get to cold to become dangerously low the fish may remain in those
shallow bodies of water. Shallow water
warms quicker and so do the fish.
In water over 6 feet deep, particularly to depths of 8 to 12
feet, specks seem to remain active with surface temps to about 44 degrees. The bottom obviously remains warmer but there
can be varying factors that can affect bottom temp, oxygen and salinity
levels. Often in deeper water specks
will hold tight to the bottom along the break line and not necessarily in the
deepest part of the creek or river.
The sun is your friend.
Warming rays of sunshine will increase the mobility and aggressiveness
of specks and I like lots of sun during the winter months. Anglers can watching the slow climb of
surface temp on even a cool day as long as there is plenty of sunshine.
Slow down and scale
down!
Everything is slowing down as water temps cool and so should
you. Baits and bait presentation that
work in October rarely does well in December and January. Size matters as they say and in cold water
fishing it’s the small bait that can get ate more often. When fishing the creeks in water depths 5
foot or less and with water temps 52 or below, I often fish a 1/16 ounce jig
head. Typically rigging the head with either their 3 inch shad tail or curl
tail grubs. The fall rate is very slow
and you have a much lower number of cast plagued by winter “snot” grass. There are many colors of baits and jig heads
and before moving on will say this about color selection; “if you believe that
one colors works better than the next, it will!” As a general rule of thumb, deeper or more
colored the water the brighter the bait, the clearer the water the darker or
more natural colors seem to get a few more bites. For those of you who insist on a color keep
this in mind, if you fish a bait or color 80% of the time you should catch 80%
of your fish on it!
Back to jig heads!
For deeper water situations I opt for 1/8 ounce heads and again prefer
both shad and curl tail soft plastics.
If there is any wind or current, you may need to increase the weight of
the head to maintain line contact. You
may also want to rig a larger soft plastic, like DOA’s 4 inch jerk bait on a
weed-less style hook like the VMC 3/0 heavy duty swim bait hook that comes
pre-rigged with an 1/8 ounce weight. The
rigging helps with grass issues, can be fished slowly and is dynamite on big
trout.
Suspending hard baits are very popular in Eastern NC and
catch plenty of fish. I do have a few
alternatives from Rapala that have helped me put more fish in the boat. The X-rap Countdown in #7 is 2 ¾ inches long,
weighs 3/8 of an ounce, comes in some beautiful colors and sinks faster than
the traditional “suspending” baits making it ideal for deeper water and fast
currents. The Clacking minnow is also a
good slow sink bait (slower than the countdown) and is perfect for winter
specks. Both baits are rigged with sharp
black nickel trebles and the rear hooks can be easily replaced with VMC
feathered treble hooks in black nickel or Perma steel. Whatever hard bait you are using, slow it
down!
Just for the record, no sent required!
“Sissy”cork! Is the
nick name given to popping cork fishing from a number of anglers from my
area. Maybe because anyone can out fish
you with one. Popping corks are an ideal winter bait, but again scaling and
slow down are keys. Reduce the size and
fall rates of your baits. 2 to 3 inch
lightly weighted shrimp imitations are perfect.
Often belly weighted these baits fall slow and are easy for specks to
suck in to those big mouths of theirs. I
prefer smaller cigar shaped corks that make less noise and can be pulled under
on light cold weather bites.
Sensitivity!
Speckled trout don’t like to waist calories and in the
winter chasing a bait can mean not having enough energy to survive. Just because the bite is not strong doesn’t
mean the fish did not eat you bait. The
two things; not including you, that can make a difference in sensitivity is
your line and your rod. Starting with
the rod; Temple Fork Outfitters makes some outstanding light weight, super
sensitive rods. Starting with the rod,
Temple Fork Outfitters/Edge Rods makes some outstanding light weight, super
sensitive rods. My two choices for winter speck fishing, or for that matter any
of my fishing, are TFO’s Inshore Series ML 6’9” and the new L action 7 ft. rod.
Both are outstanding for soft plastics and small baits. The Edge Line 7 ft.
Inshore ML and L action rods may be the best tactical salt water rod I’ve ever
fished. The blanks are practically in the palm of your hands and the high
modulus graphite telegraphs the slightest peck.
Braid! You better
have it!! Small diameter supple braids
are the way to go and Sufix 832 fits the bill perfectly for all my fishing
needs especially during the winter months.
I typically spool my reels with 10 pound test when fishing clients but
will often drop to 6 pound if I am fishing on my own. The lighter the better
for distance and fall rate so keep the 20 and 30 pound stuff for later in the
season. I do a lot of line watching as
well, looking for any movement in the bait that could indicate the lightest of
bites. To best do that I prefer my 832
in Lime green. The color contrasts our
dark waters well and is easy to keep track of. This is also a good time to
mention the importance of good eye wear as well. Quality polarized lenses in a few shapes to
improve visibility can make a huge difference is seeing your line and your
surroundings. Check out Costa for the
options you need in eyewear. I never
tie braid to my baits and always run a stretch of 18 to 24 inches of leader
material. Again with our darker waters
mono works just fine but in the conditions change as they may to gin clear then
Sufix Invisaline is a great way to go.
In most cases 15 pound test leaders are fine and will give you a good cross
between durability and sensitivity.
Complete you outfit with a good light weight reel. Penn offers both the Conflict and Battle II
reels that have both performed well for me.
The 2000 sizing is a perfect match for the Temple Fork rods I mentioned
earlier and will hold just the right amount of line.
Boating, yes boating!
Boating handling is vital at any time and can be more so
during the winter. Slow and methodical
boat movements can help you locate fish in borderline water temperatures. Use your trolling motor and your Power Pole
for controlled approaches. When fishing
shallower creeks, fan cast from the bow of the boat and give yourself ample
time to hold in any stretch of shoreline you have had a bit. One strike can mean a thousand fish, so don’t
rush off hoping to find the mother-lode somewhere else.
Just because it is cold doesn’t mean the fish enjoy having
all 150 horses run over their heads.
Slow stealthy approaches still work best and don’t run over fish then
fish back over that same area. Specks
may reach a peak of feeding for very short periods of time during the winter
and you put them off that feed, well don’t expect great results for you and
your fellow anglers. That leads me to
through in the “be courteous to your fellow anglers statement”. If you are in an area that is narrow and
holding fish move as much as you can with your trolling motor or at minimal
idle speed…you’ll make a lot more friends and catch a lot more fish that way!
Fish dinner or not….
Spotted seatrout are
great eating especially fresh and anglers will have the opportunity to catch
many fish during the winter season. Keep
a few things in mind when you’re looking at taking home your limit of fish: Yes some fish may freeze during the winter
but they all won’t. Big fish are most
likely females and have the opportunity to spawn in big number come spring,
they don’t eat all that well and you can get a NC “citation” for a trout
released at 24 inches or greater, that fish won’t be 5 pounds. You do not need the fish to mount it, in fact
the taxidermist will measure your fish and chunk it in the trash. You can get a length and girth, a photo,
release the fish and get the same mount.
Specks in the 16 to 20 inch range are great eaters but they don’t taste
quit the same after a few days in the freezer.
Keep what you need and put the rest back for your next trip.
Yes it is winter and yes it is cold outside but let’s go
fishing! Enjoy every bite and have a
blast catching fish we couldn’t 15 years ago.
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