Catching trout and reds under birds is a matter of the right approach.
Fishing under birds effectively sounds simple, and Gary Medicis admitted it’s really not rocket science. But he does have some tips on how to get the most out of a feeding school.
“I normally go by the wind, and ease in from the upwind side,” Medicis said. “I stay within 100 yards of them and use my trolling motor.”
In other words, don’t blaze up to the flock with the outboard and shut down on top of the fish; quietly move in to keep from scattering the feeding school of fish.
Another benefit of shutting down so far from a flock of gulls is that it provides time to determine the next move.
“I want to see exactly what they’re doing and what direction they’re going,” Medicis said.
That way, he can use his trolling motor to intercept the school instead of having to chase them from behind.
Also, he doesn’t worry too much if he sees birds working and they disappear by the time he gets there.
“With a lot of people, as soon as the birds leave, they think the fish are gone,” he said. “They just want to chase birds all day.”
However, that’s a huge mistake, he said.
“Nine times out of 10, the birds will pick for 10 or 15 minutes, and then they’ll stop,” Medicis said. “But the fish are still there; I just keep fishing. Just because the birds leave doesn’t mean the trout have left.
“And if they have moved, they didn’t move far.”
Editor’s note: This article is part of the Calcasieu’s triplets feature in the August issue of Louisiana Sportsman. Digital editions can be downloaded right to your computer or smartphone.
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