Croaker Soaker
“I fish live bait — live croakers,” the 68-year-old says with conviction, as if looking for a challenge. “Using plastic can be a good way to find the fish,” he adds, seeming for a moment to soften a bit, “but when I find them, I throw croakers to catch more. The reason I don’t stay with plastic is to catch bigger fish. You gotta remember that I like bigger fish.” Carol “Zutie” Auenson can afford to ooz self-confidence. The box beneath him is thumping with speckled trout showing their displeasure with being introduced to ice. Not a cloud mars the sky as the boat rocks easily in the gentle beach swell near Grand Isle, summertime headquarters for the veteran fishing guide. The break of the small waves on the beach sounds like the crinkling of crepe paper. The water is “trout green.”

Earlier that day, Auenson had his boat launched well before daylight, but like the old bull that walked down the hill rather than run down it, he sat patiently in the dark tying leaders. He explained that he needs enough light to see well when he runs down the beaches. He wants to be able to see signs of feeding fish or interesting current patterns.

Soon enough, he is running out of Caminada Pass. The sky to the east is aflame with outlandish colors — fuchsia shading to lavender — like a Van Gogh painting. Out of the pass, he hangs a right to gently coast 75 yards out along the Elmer’s Island beach.

He responds to an almost imperceptible flick on the...