I imagine most normal people will be staying warm somewhere this month, recovering from hunting season perhaps. The rest of the crazies and myself will be looking at solunar calendars and functioning on hardly any sleep while living on caffeine looking for the next tug from a trout at the end of our line.
Let’s face it, fishing in February can be downright miserable especially if you are not adequately prepared for the wind and cold. Make sure you are wearing plenty of GORE-TEX type clothing with high quality layers underneath to help prevent from having a shortened or uncomfortable experience on the water.
If you are willing and able, I would strongly encourage you to wade if you are chasing after speckled trout this month.
I personally believe that it will increase your odds of catching a true giant as well as more and higher quality fish overall. However, if you are determined to fish from the boat, then proper utilization of a drift-sock, PowerPole or anchor of your choice may increase your odds of success as well.
In any trophy trout fishing article, you will undoubtedly read about the Corky Fat Boy or a Super Spook and rightfully so. Lures such as those have assisted anglers in landing many trophy trout and making memories to last a lifetime.
Unsung hero
However, there is an unsung hero when it comes to landing quality trout on a consistent basis. Affectionately referred to as tails or worms, simple soft plastics rigged on a jig head, have most definitely caught more trout than any other lure there is.
For some reason they are often overlooked when it comes to targeting higher quality fish in the winter. They are cheap, relatively simple to fish and they catch fish, albeit, not as glamorous as the newest and shiniest hard plastic to hit the market this year. But they work and any angler that can cast can learn how to use them.
Bass Assassin makes my favorite tail when it comes to chunking them in the winter for big fish. In my opinion they have the best colors. My gripe with them is that they tear up easily and you may have to change out soft plastics often, but I believe their softness is an advantage during wintertime fishing. Fish tend to hold on to them longer giving the angler a greater opportunity to detect the strike and set the hook.
Pull their chain
I particularly like their 5-inch Shad in the colors Morning Glory and Chicken on a Chain. Jig head size is critical — too heavy and the sink rate is too fast and you will spend more time hung up on oyster shells. A 1/16-ounce or 1/8-ounce will typically do the trick, but the fish will tell you which they prefer, you can count on that. Working that tail with a medium light fast action rod such as the Smooth Dog from Sarge Customs will step up your game to the next level and increase your odds even more of landing that next trophy trout.
I would guess I have spent more time wading in Coffee Ground Cove than any other location on Sabine or Big Lake.
It is relatively easy to wade, which is nice. A large percentage of the bottom is sandy and is easy to walk. The cove tends to stay relatively salty and with good water clarity. Most importantly for me is the consistency.
We can consistently catch fish there whether it be winter, spring or summer. It also provides a somewhat close proximity to deeper water, which in my opinion is a must for any quality trophy trout location.
Capt. Adam Jaynes can be reached at (409) 988-3901 and on Facebook at Just Fish Guide Service.
