As days get shorter
and the temperatures get cooler, the fishing here in the Tidewater area
only gets hotter. These changes cause most gamefish to go into a feeding
mode, and it is the best opportunity to get them on artificial baits.
In the fall, skinny water holds some great fishing opportunities for an
Inshore Slam of red fish, spotted trout, and flounder. There is a limited
amount of time to take advantage if this locally, usually from late September
through October. Mild weather has even kept these guys around through
November. In my adventures, five lures have never let me down when looking
for a slam. Here is a brief description of what they are and how to use
them.
A little magic
Redfish Magic Spinner Baits - Spinner baits have made their way
over from bass fishing to salt. Using the flash and vibration of a gold
spoon combined with the action of a 1/4-ounce paddle tail minnow, you
get a combination that causes a commotion that redfish cannot stand.
On a good day redfish will hit this lure as soon as it hits the water.
Trout and flounder also find this lure irresistible. The best way to
fish this lure is with a constant retrieve; the faster you retrieve
it, the higher is stays in the water column. It is versatile bait that
can be slow cranked near the bottom, or buzzed across the surface with
a fast retrieve. For color selections see the jig section.
A little splash
Topwater lures are very popular in the south, but do not get much use
in the water of Virginia. I have found that on a calm morning just before
sunrise, topwaters can result in some spectacular “blow-ups”
and even a few nice fish. My personal favorite is the Rapala Skitterwalk
and Skitterwalk Jr. The “walk the dog” action and internal
rattles are an irresistible imitation of baitfish common to our waters.
This lure is very effective in water too shallow for lures or over grass.
Trout and redfish almost always take this lure if presented properly.
The retrieve takes a little skill, but is easily mastered with baitcasting
reels. Spinning reels also work, but the action is slightly different.
The key is to slow down and pause occasionally, especially after a fish
hits the lure and does not get hooked (blow up). My favorite colors
are bone (white), chartreuse, natural (black or green over silver),
pink, and black.
A little deeper
Suspending lures are a great way to get to the fish in deeper water,
lets say from 1 to 6 feet. As the sun gets a little higher surface feeding
fish tend to find deeper water. Suspending lures such as the mirrorlure
and the new Rapala Subwalk do a great job imitating injured baitfish.
I use the same “walk the dog” retrieve as I do with the topwater
lures. Some old pros simply slow retrieve the lure with no action at
all. New to the scene locally are the soft “Corky” lures and
are proving to be very productive. Their soft bodies make for a better
hook set with soft mouthed fish like spotted trout. I prefer the same
colors here as I do in topwater lures.
A little weight
Jigs are an old stand by and still a very effective way to catch fish.
I carry multi colored jig heads from 1/16 of an ounce to ½ ounce
for skinny water. I prefer two types of plastics, paddle tail minnows,
and curly tail grubs. I use the paddle tail where I want commotion and
vibration, and the curly tail for spooky fish. With a variety of weight
the jigs can be fished in the whole water column. Jigs can be drifted
in the current (good for trout), bounced along the bottom (flounder
and redfish), or steadily retrieved. For jigs my favorite color is pumpkinseed
with chartreuse tail, white, pink, minnow colors, clear with gold flake,
and chartreuse. White with red, pink and chartreuse tails also get a
slot in my tackle box.
A little jerk
Another crossover from bass fishing is the jerk shad. They are becoming
a staple for skinny water anglers. In skinny water situations with lots
of weeds and snags, the jerk shad can get to fish that hide in these
areas. These lures are designed to be virtually weedless when used with
a large gap worm hook. I like to weight mine with lead nail to get them
a little lower in the water column. You can also buy hooks that are
weighted along the shank to give them a realistic action. Slow retrieves
with occasional jerks give this lure a wounded bait action that most
skinny water fish cannot stand. For a deadly flounder lure, the jerk
shad can be attached to a jig head and bounced along the bottom. For
colors see the jig selections, but add electric chicken to the box.
Editor’s
note: Cory “Ruthless” Routh is a Kayak Fishing Guide/Author/Photographer
from Virginia Beach, VA. He works as an Environmental Specialist with
the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and in his spare time
guides kayak fishing trips. He has just published his first book “Kayak
Fishing-The Complete Guide” and is currently working on a video
project for release in 2009. You can find out more at www.ruthlessfishing.com.
|
