Sometimes a great fishing trip has very little to do with catching lots of fish. This was the case on my last fishing trip for 2011. I was fishing with David Hand and his son CJ. Both are accomplished anglers so I had high expectations for the trip. Unfortunately, someone forgot to notify the fish. The bite was simply just not happening.

We were fishing mud minnows on ¼ ounce led head jigs. This time of year, catching redfish on the flats is a pretty good bet (especially when using live bait). However on this day, all bets (and bites) were off. We did catch a couple of fish but fishing (or should I say catching) was slow. With the redfish on the flats proving to be uncooperative, we switched patterns and began fishing docks. This produced a few fish and helped CJ build a commanding lead of four fish to one over his Dad. Given the slow bite, a three fish lead seemed insurmountable. Of course, CJ and I were quick to point out this fact.

Then we switched to fishing creek drains and channels and David closed the gap. Near the end of the trip, CJ had a slim five to four lead. Rather than head to the dock with the victory in hand, CJ and I decided to try one more spot. This left a crack in the door for his Dad and he stepped right through it for a five to five tie. Fishing was slow, but David and CJ did not let this detract from their time together. They made the most of a tough fishing situation. CJ was especially good about staying positive and having fun. People fish with me to learn about fishing, but in this case CJ taught me a little about life. Thanks CJ!

Looking at the weather forecast, it seems we are in for our first truly cold spell. I expect our water temperatures to drop into the low 50 degree range. When the weather permits, fishing should still be pretty good. In cold water situations, I recommend smaller lures and slow presentations. Last winter, the Z-Man Rain MinnowZ was particularly effective using a "hop and stop" retrieve. This is a slow presentation that hops the lure an inch or two. When the lure settles back to the bottom it kicks up a little mud. In theory this gets the fishes attention and the bite usually happens when the lure is stopped. A good winter rule of thumb is small (lures) and slow (presentations).

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at captaingreg@shallowwatercharters.com or (843) 224-0099