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John's Journal...
Entry
81, Day 5
More Speckled Trout
EDITOR'S
NOTE: Gary Davis, a charter-boat captain from Foley, Alabama, has
fished the back bays of the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area along Alabama's
Gulf Coast all his life. He's guided for 30 years and consistently catches
more inshore species than most other anglers do because he knows the secrets
of successful back-bay fishing. Each day this week we'll look at the tactics
Davis uses to catch different species of fish throughout the year in back-bay
areas.
Question: What are some other secrets to catching
speckled trout?
Answer: Speckled trout like their breakfast early, especially during
the hot summer months. If you don't get out on the water before the sun
comes up, you may miss the best bite of the day. On a clear bluebird day,
the speckled trout will bite the most from daylight until about 8:00 a.m.
To catch speckled trout, you have to know when they feed and when the
tide will change. I have been on several trips where we've taken 90 percent
of our total catch in the first 1 1/2-hours of daylight. When an area
has cloud cover, rain or cold weather, the trout will often feed all day
long. On a clear, warm day, however, you won't catch trout unless you
get out on the water before daylight and fish when the sun comes up.
Question:
You're also a night fisherman, aren't you, Gary?
Answer: I love to fish at night, and the fish are much easier to
catch then than they are during the day. The trout will congregate under
dock lights, bridge lights or any other type of light in or above the
water at night. Usually the fish will bite better at night also. I'll
generally throw a Berkley Inshore Power Tube with Berkley's Inshore Nibbles
or Nuggets shoved in the tube, and use a small shot lead 18 to 20 inches
up the line. I want to use just enough lead to get the tube under the
water where the fish can see it. I believe that the glitter trail left
behind by Nibbles and Nuggets often causes trout to bite. I also like
to fish with live shrimp at night. I horn-hook a shrimp, cast it upcurrent
and let the shrimp swim through the light. As the shrimp comes through
the light, I'll begin to shake my rod tip on an extremely slack line.
I'm trying to get that hook in the horn of the shrimp to wiggle back and
forth just a little bit to cause the shrimp to jump. As the shrimp jumps,
it gets the attention of the trout and triggers a strike.
Question: How critical is line size for catching
speckled trout at night?
Answer: Line size is very critical. I believe that trout can see
line better at night than they can in the daytime. I usually use 8- to
10-pound test at night and never use more than 10-pound-test line. If
trout see the line, they won't take the bait. I believe that Berkley Vanish
line is a great line for night fishing because that line disappears underwater.
When Vanish enters the water, you can't see it, and neither can the fish.
Question:
How critical is line size when you fish for specks in the daytime?
Answer: If the trout aren't biting, I'll use a lighter line with
a smaller diameter. Eight-pound test is about as light as I usually fish.
If I've been using a grub, then I may change to a Berkley tube and put
the light shot lead 24- to 30-inches away from the tube. I'll also load
the tube up with Berkley Saltwater Formula Power Scent and put Nibbles
or Nuggets in the tube with the scent. When the trout aren't biting, you
want to pull out all the stops and use everything you can to make them
bite. I believe that adding scent and glitter to bait gives me those added
fish attractants that can turn dormant trout into actively feeding trout.
Question: What's another tactic that will make
speckled trout bite?
Answer: I've tried a popping cork with a rattle in it and been
very successful in causing trout to bite when they're not biting. I'll
have about 24 inches of line below the popping cork and put a Berkley
Power Grub on a jighead or a Berkley Power Tube 4 to 6 inches up the line
from the tube. I'll also fish live shrimp below the popping cork.
Question:
Why do most people lose the trout that takes their baits?
Answer: Many anglers lose trout because they've got their drags
set too tightly. Trout have very soft mouths, and you can tear the hooks
out of their mouths very easily. So, you want to set the drag tight enough
to set the hook, but loose enough for the trout to pull off line when
it runs. Don't try to stop a running trout. When a running trout stops
its run, lift the rod to pull the trout to you. Keep tension on the line
and on the hook. Also, don't try to boat trout to quickly. Let the fish
run, and play it down.
Question: Gary, if there's one major secret to
catching more trout, what is it?
Answer: Shut down your big engine 30 to 50 yards from where you
want to fish. Don't spook the trout you're trying to catch. Try to drift
to the spot where you want to begin to fish, and then just use a trolling
motor if you have to use a motor at all. If you won't spook the fish,
you will catch them.
Call or write Gary Davis at 218 West Marigold Avenue,
Foley, Al, 36535, (334) 943-6298.
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